Steem USA State Wars Day 5: Food--Keeping it Clean in the Dirty South!

How are we already into day 5 of the #statewars?  This week has gone by in a blink!  Thanks to @steemusa for hosting such a fun challenge.  I know it has gotten me a little out of my normal writing sphere, which has been really enjoyable.

Coincidentally, we are back to my normal wheelhouse for today's prompt--food!  I know I may not win many "brownie" points in a battle with mostly omnivores, but I have to stick true to spreading the message of healthy plant-based foods.  Stereotypical southern food is pretty heavy on the frying and/or sugar (fried chicken and sweet tea, anyone?), but as I mentioned in day one's post we also have a rich agricultural history, as well.  The abundance of crops that can grow in the Georgia climate is quite impressive, making it pretty easy to eat clean without sacrificing flavor or variety!

I have adopted the tradition of black-eyed peas and greens to ring in the new year.  I just make mine without any pork to keep it free from animal products.  I talked about the history of this tradition back on my New Year's Day #fruitsandveggiesmonday post.  I think after living here for most of my life, they might kick me back to New Jersey where I was born if I hadn't adopted a few southern customs. ;)

I've already talked about peaches, but there tons of other great fruits that you can go pick at a number of Georgia farms every year.  I remember strawberry picking with my grandfather as a kid, so it is always very nostalgic to go do that and think of him.  @dksart and I have started to do a better job of going at least once a season for things like strawberries and apples.  It definitely gives you a greater appreciation for the grueling work that farmers do!  I am such a huge proponent of understanding where your food is sourced, so there is no greater lesson than going straight to the farm.

While Atlanta is still not quite the vegan mecca that some of the other big cities are, the options are growing!  We made it to the Atlanta VegFest this year for the first time.  Holy moly there were a ton of people!  It was wonderful to see such a diverse community coming together for a day.  The food options were insane.  Of course they are not all super healthy (there were decadent vegan cinnamon buns as big as my face), it is still a great event to get to try out all of the different options across the city in one place.  It was definitely proof that vegan food is anything but boring and bland!

Though we do not go out to eat very often, I do have a favorite restaurant in Atlanta that is my top pick whenever we indulge for a meal that was not made in my own kitchen.  Cafe Sunflower has two locations in the Atlanta area.  The Sandy Springs location is completely vegan, and the Buckhead restaurant has almost all vegan dishes with the option to do real cheese if you want.  Besides just going to a restaurant and being so excited to be able to order anything off the menu, every single dish I have tried has been delicious!  Any person I have taken there has loved it and left with a full stomach, even all of my omnivore friends and family.  It is not one of those fru-fru restaurants that has skimpy plates.  They give you your money's worth on any choice!  My favorite dish is probably on the Sunday brunch menu.  I get the same thing every time I get a chance to go--the vegan Tofu Benedict with an avocado hollandaise that I would eat every day if I could!

Perhaps that was not a traditional approach to food in Georgia, but I gotta stick to what I know. ;)  We're definitely not going hungry down here!  And don't worry, plants have plenty of protein.