10 Questions: An Interview with Richa Hingle of Vegan Richa
This post is part of an interview series in which I’ll be asking fellow bloggers and plant-based business owners ten questions, with the goal being to share both a little about each of them and also their top advice when it comes to veganism, blogging, and overall happiness.
Today, I’m so honored to be sharing an interview with one of the bloggers I respect and admire most: Richa Hingle of Vegan Richa. With every post Richa shares, I am blown away by the creativity in her Indian-inspired flavors, her consistently stunning photography, and the love she infuses into her writing. The story of why she started food blogging is so inspiring—it tugs at my heart every time I re-read it. Her interview is honest and warm and funny, and if you don’t already know and love Richa, you will after this.
1. What is your food philosophy?
Good food. I am biased towards complex flavors, spices and herbs in my food with the least effort possible. I cannot eat bland food. I think that explains my general dislike for tofu. Food should taste good. I also really like my food hot and hence cooked food. You would think that in a tropical country, people would eat more cold meals, salads, and fruits. But back home in India, all our meals have always been served hot.
2. If you could give one piece of advice to new vegans, what would it be?
Make a list of 5-10 simple go-to recipes and always have the ingredients. Stack your pantry. Be gentle on yourself, take your time to find out substitutes and options that you like. Join vegan forums or groups, take a 30/21 day vegan challenge like PCRM’s or Veganuary. Vegan challenge groups usually have lots of ideas, well-made menu plans, answers and support. Connect with vegan food bloggers like us! Do not be discouraged by people, slips and judgement.
3. Why do you blog?
I was bored sitting at home after my surgery, not able to work on the computer, not able to read books, or work in the kitchen for longer than 10 minutes. So I tried to find things that I could do without needing to stand for hours or spend time on a computer and started baking breads. I started a recipe blog as a place for my recipes. I was already blogging on my personal blog before and after surgery, so I was familiar with the what blogging meant. The food blog started later.
Now, I blog to show that there is so much to plant-based food. The transition to a vegan diet was not too drastic for me because of already eating loads of legumes and whole grains as part of the Indian diet. Indian food and applications of the techniques I know from Indian cuisine to vegan-ize other foods and cuisines is what I love to showcase on the blog.
4. If you could give one piece of advice to new bloggers, what would it be?
Start the blog before thinking too much about it. See how it goes, what kind of food/recipes/other areas that interest you the most and interest the readers as well. Network with the blogging community, find resources on the popular blogs that have details on how to improve (photography, recipes, website, travel or other interests), and keep incorporating them on the blog as you grow.
5. If you had to choose a favorite and a least favorite word, what would they be?
Favorite: this-recipe-was-a-big-hit
Least: the c word
6. If you weren’t you, who would you be?
There are a lot of people who inspire me, people successful in their fields, people working in rescue, sanctuary, vegan community, food bloggers, friends and family around. I probably would want to be someone like my husband (sappy alert). The way he handles life and problems is something I have always wanted to learn from him. On the other hand, not being able to navigate the roads as well as myself might be a deal breaker!
If I were more able, I would be into animal rescue or sanctuary or something similar. I have always wanted to be able to care for animals and be surrounded by them.
7. What is your idea of happiness?
The blog, all the love from the readers, being able to add more plant-based options to someone’s table, influencing a change. Visits to sanctuaries. Meeting friendly and happy dogs who you can cuddle all day long.
Some Simple things: being able to walk from one end of Whole Foods to the next and also being able to browse and shop, to sit comfortably and enjoy a meal at a restaurant, to be a decent company for hubbs in any of the activities he wants to do, being able to meet and connect with people and spend time talking away.
8. What makes you unhappy?
There are always several ways to make a point and putting out a thought by judging the other person, using negative perspective is something that makes me sad.
Not being entirely independent, the helplessness and loneliness that comes as a limited ability person is something that makes me unhappy.
9. What is your best-kept beauty secret?
Ha. Makeup and hair styling gives me a headache, so it’s just the food. Hubbs says that I look better when I am a bit plump, so bring on the carbs.
10. If money did not matter, how would you spend your days?
As I do right now; blogging, supporting causes that are close to my heart.
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Richa is the recipe developer, blogger and photographer behind Vegan Richa. She was born and brought up in India and is now settled in Seattle. Richa likes the time in her kitchen when she can vegan-ize something or figure out a gluten-free alternative. She loves to create easy options for meals, snacks, desserts and everything else. Her recipes are allergy friendly, and big on flavor and wholesome ingredients. Her eBook on Indian Vegan Diwali Sweets was wildly successful where she was able to create vegan versions of Indian desserts that were previously deemed impossible. She lives in Seattle with her husband and a very talkative pomeranian, Chewie.
