Hi! My name is Caitlin!
In April 2010, I was a young newlywed who only knew how to prepare three meals for myself(breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to sustain my gluten-free vegan diet. I had always wanted to learn how to cook and bake, and began doing so shortly after getting married.
In September 2010, my husband, Dayv, went on a gluten-free vegan diet to see if it would eliminate a number of symptoms he had been battling most of his life. All of his health issues immediately disappeared and he has stayed on this diet ever since.
Dayv's transition was not a smooth one, however, as he is an incredibly picky eater. The first few months of his new diet consisted of potato wedges and cheezy tortillas for dinner, as I tried almost always unsuccessfully to make him try and enjoy new foods each night. If it wasn't for all of the cookie-making I was doing at the time, I'm almost positive Dayv would have gone back to his dairy and gluten-filled past. Luckily, we were able to start with a very small list of foods he liked and slowly(read:sloooooooooowly) add to it. Does he still miss gluten-filled pizza and bread with real melty cheese? Yes, he does. But he makes the decision to stay vegan and gluten-free because he loves animals, and also enjoys not feeling like he's going to die. And me? I don't miss any of those things at all.
I started The Vegan Chickpea in January 2011 to keep track of the many recipes I was making each week. This blog has changed quite a bit from its inception, but its essence is still intact. In this space, I share with you the food I make for myself, Dayv, friends, and family. Every post is filled with love, which I hope is palpable.
contact: caitlin(at)theveganchickpea(dot)com
