my vegan journey 

My name is Anna Illyashyk and I was born and raised in Poltava, Ukraine.

It wasn't until the lockdowns in 2020 that I went fully vegan. My friends predicted it before I did. I guess for them it was obvious that after spending months cooped up together with my vegan partner, I would make the change as well. 

Looking back, it just makes sense. I keep thinking that if only vegan alternatives were available back when I was a kid, I would have been much less of a picky eater. 

My relationship with food has taken years to form and get to where it is now. I think my passion for cooking has developed precisely because I was often dissatisfied with the quality and taste of food as a child, whether it was of animal origin or not. 

Taking the leap towards veganism was something that was on my mind for a long time and that seemed scary, but now, on the other side of the fence, I am so happy I made this decision. 

I titled this blog Ukrainian Herbivore as there are 2 things I hope to accomplish:

• continue creating vegan recipes and discovering flavors, and textures that bring joy to me and those I cook for;
• re-discover the recipes from my past and especially from my Ukrainian childhood. 

In a nutshell, on this blog you will be able to find recipes for any level of cooking experience and from various cuisines. 

Some dishes will be familiar to you and some may be completely new. 

I invite you on a journey of taste that will bring a new perspective into your life!