This ordinary is a historian who loves to talk about food. When she’s not busy being a history nerd, you can find her taking pictures of her friends or petting her cat.

What inspired and motivated you to go for a vegetarian diet?

I actually have a funny answer to this question. It all started very unexpectedly. When I was in elementary school, my mom always used to take me and my little brother to the Atlanta Zoo. I really loved it. Then when I went off to college, I thought about the zoo. I thought it would be cool to re-visit, and so I gathered a group of friends to go back over my Christmas break in freshman year. I always enjoyed animals, [but] my trip to the zoo was super depressing. It seemed like the animals were not treated well. Those magnificent mammals were trapped in a pit with dirt and pavement. The whole trip just made me feel really upset and made me realize how people mistreat animals for human commodities.

So then, I came back to school. I joined UGA’s animal rights organization. I started to go to those meetings every week, and every meetings, we discussed animal issues — such as factory farming and animal testing. Then I started to research on my own about inhumane animal treatment. After learning about that, I felt like my whole world was blown away because I couldn’t believe that I was eating meat from disgusting places. The ways how animals were tortured and treated unfairly just for me to eat a hot dog, I decided to stop eating meat. Also, I’d always been interested in eating healthier. So I went vegetarian, it left a big gap in my diet. My health turned around, and I started to love all kinds of vegetables. This vegetarian diet has changed my pallet.

What are some challenges of having/practicing vegetarian diet?

I was actually dealing with this today. Toughest thing is not avoiding meat. Hardest for me is that a lot of people have misconception about eating meat and what it means to be vegetarian. Some adults get offended when they find out that I’m a vegetarian. A lot of people find it uncomfortable because I am avoiding a “normal” diet. I also find it a bit difficult that people relate vegetarians as progressive, young hippies — and a lot of adults think that. I find that really irritating. Vegetarianism doesn’t have to relate to politics; it’s a bipartisan issue.

What is one food that you constantly think back to and you wish to eat again?

This is a weird answer. Hot dogs. I know it’s a least form of meat, but I don’t miss steak, I just really miss hotdogs. I used to go to the beach with my family and eat hotdogs all the time. I haven’t found good vegetarian hotdogs to replace the real ones.

How has your identity shaped your choice of being or becoming a vegetarian?

Identity wise, it’s easier for me [to be a vegetarian] than as for who is an immigrant. I don’t have specific cultural ties. I know that other people come from different countries with specific and unique ties to food culture. I think going vegetarian is interesting to me because I’m interested in social justice. Me going vegetarian connected my interest to social justice. Empathizing other groups of people. Having friends from other countries and cultures. Reaching me out of my comfort zone. Being a vegetarian teaches me how to empathize others and what they may be experiencing.

How would you introduce vegetarian diet to someone who is new to this idea and practice?

I would give them a vegetarian 101 course. There are many foods that vegetarians eat like tofu, hummus, soy protein, and how to have a balanced diet by using different sources of vegetarian ingredients.

If you could write a cookbook, how would you present vegetarian meals to the readers?

If they wanted to use my cookbook, it would only contain vegetarian meals. I would also say something about the misconceptions of vegetarianism and how there are various options to eat with a vegetarian diet.

Most importantly, what food makes you happy?

Fruit. They make me so so happy. Especially when I go to specialty grocery stores, and they have cool, special fruits. Like in the summer, when all these new fruits come out, I love trying them.