FRIDAY FEATURE: Interview with Angela of Canned Time

Happy Friday, everyone! Today we’re talking with Angela from Canned Time. I had admired Angela’s blog from afar and followed her Pinterest boards for quite some time, but it wasn’t until we were featured together in a post published by The Vegan 8 that I actually connected with her. She’s kindhearted, genuine and full of compassion – characteristics that are hard to come by these days. I love Angela’s IG because not only is she incredibly talented, she also has a great mix of photos from food to personal and heartwarming to eye-opening. I also learn about other cruelty-free people to follow, through photos she reposts and recipes shared through her blog.

Interview with Angela….

Tell us a little bit about yourself! “I grew up in the Washington D.C. Metro area but went to school in North Carolina, lived in upstate NY for a few years and have been back in D.C. since the early 90’s.”

When did you go vegan? What was your “Aha” moment? “I went full Vegan a little over 2 years ago, but I had already quit all dairy in 2010.  I started seeing signs of arthritis in my hands and knees back then and removing the dairy in my diet reversed the swelling almost immediately.  So it started as a dietary awakening and then, like many Vegans, I saw the light of how cruel the food industry really is.”

What is the hardest part about being vegan? “It’s only difficult for me when other people react negatively towards my views.  I have a sibling who’s very pro-meat and that tends to grate on my emotions because it seems to bother them that I care about animal welfare.  I spent most of my life eating meat, with the exception of a couple of years in the 80’s when I was vegetarian, but I don’t remember ever being ‘glad’ that animals are vulnerable to our desire for good tasting food.  I’ve always had animals in my life and I’ve always felt a need to make them as comfortable as possible so going Vegan really suits my personality.  When other people close to me find that ‘caring’ as silly?  It just grates on my nerves.  The food restrictions have never been a problem other than being difficult to find something to eat at times.  I try very hard not to push my views on others though so it’s not usually a problem. Just around family usually.”

Tell us about your blog! “Canned Time started out as a way to share home food preserving ideas and recipes for me about 5 years ago and now it’s mainly about Vegan foods, ideas and the lifestyle.  Once in a while I’ll publish something personal about my life but it’s mainly recipes and food related ideas.”

What is your favorite cruelty-free product and why? “I love Toffuti brand cream cheese. I know it’s processed but it’s a real time saver and tastes great in cheesecakes and sauces.  I haven’t had as much luck with beauty products and they’re way too expensive so I usually go without instead of spending the money on them. I did find a great cat food on Amazon last year that made me very happy.”

Who or what inspires you? “Lots of bloggers, Gena Hamshaw from Choosing Raw was an early idol of mine after going Vegan. I had the pleasure of meeting Gena this summer and she’s just as kind as she is brilliant about life.  Annie from AnUnrefinedVegan.com has about as perfect a lifestyle as I could dream of.  And then people inside my religious circle.  I think Veganism goes hand in hand with the teachings of Christ and how I envision what heaven must be like.  No hate, no overpowering.  Just a peace that we’ll probably never duplicate in this life. I believe strongly that animals will be with us in the afterlife as well.  Hopefully, we can make up there for some of the atrocities we brought on them here.”

A kitchen gadget you cannot live without? “I have a Ninja blender that’s been used probably 95% of the days since dropping dairy.  I even bought another one 3 years ago just in case my first one broke but the first ones going strong for me. Can’t live without it.”

What is your favorite meal? “Probably Mexican Vegetable Fajitas with Guacamole and chips. That’s my indulge meal.  My husband and I are spice addicts so that’s a good “forget the world for a while” meal for the two of us.  If I’m home alone I eat much cleaner, healthy foods and a favorite meal is just baked sweet potato with a little salt and red pepper.”

Favorite resources regarding a plant-based lifestyle? “Just the internet in itself usually is enough. It’s exploded in the past year with information on plant-based living so that keeps me busy.”

Any tips or words of advice to anyone considering a plant-based lifestyle? “Yeah, try not to let the “Vegan Police” get you down if you slip up or have questions.  I really hate that ‘holier than thou’ attitude from some of our folks when it comes to ingredients or restaurants.  It can be a real downer when you’re publically chastised for just trying to live a cruelty free life and you slip up on something.  I think too many of us forget what it was like in the beginning.  We’re standing up for animal welfare but somehow we don’t think anything of bashing some stranger online about a little oversight.  Really unattractive.  If we’re about cruelty-free, that should include humans as well in my mind.  I have enough trouble keeping myself on track without ridiculing others who’ve made the same choices in diet and lifestyle.  People can be unbelievably cruel when there’s no accountability like so much of the web allows. So I’d say, just ignore the criticism best you can and believe in what you’re trying to accomplish for yourself and the animal world. It also rubs me the wrong way though when I see people, bloggers, promoting a vegan recipe one week and then pushing a lamb dish the next.  The Vegan trend in the past few years has a few free loaders on the train is all and I just irks me to know they’re just pushing the recipe for the publicity and it has nothing to do with wanting to be cruelty free or healthy.”

Favorite quote “The more we incline our hearts and minds toward God, the more heavenly light distills upon our souls. Gradually, things that before seemed hazy, dark, and remote become clear, bright and familiar with us.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Three words to describe you: “Introspective, empathetic, workaholic.”

Where can we find you via social media?

Website:     Canned-Time  http://www.canned-time.com

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/CannedTime

Twitter:    https://twitter.com/CannedTime

Instagram    http://instagram.com/cannedtime

Pinterest    http://pinterest.com/cannedtime/boards/

Thank you, Angela, for sharing with us!! It was great to learn a bit more about you!

Thanks for stopping by!

❤