My name is Emily Russell, and I'm here to help you eat and cook delicious, healthy and satisfying vegetarian food.

Quick Facts:

Year I Became Vegetarian: 2007

Sweet or Savory: savory all the way

Five Favorite Ingredients: Onions, Garlic, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce, Quinoa and Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Weaknesses: my husband’s quesadillas, pizza, a super savory umami-laden broth

Drink of Choice: Gin & Tonic (but also Old Fashioneds and Sprite Zero + Vodka, if we’re being honest)

Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw

Thanks for checking out OKCVeggie.com! I’m an Oklahoma City native and am a huge reader, a lover of animals (especially my three rescue dogs) and a devotee to dramatic British television.

I became a vegetarian in 2007 at age 16 and have been an advocate for the lifestyle ever since. I gradually stopped eating meat — first red meat, then chicken, pork and turkey (I didn’t grow up eating seafood) — because of my love for animals and the major flaws in the factory farming industry. Eating meat just ceased to be appealing, and for me, the switch was easy. Though I continue to eat eggs and cheese, I do my best to purchase humane options when possible.

Cooking at home means I know what’s going in my food. We create meals that are wholesome, incorporate plant-based protein, and are, bottom line, delicious! You also won’t find Impossible Burgers or Beyond Meat in our house — we do our best to steer away from overly processed food, and I feel like these products appeal more to self-conscious meat eaters than to actual vegetarians.

As I love to tell people, eating vegetarian is much easier and more satisfying than many might think (my non-vegetarian husband will be the first to tell you). I hope this blog inspires you to explore new recipes, flavors and facets of yourself. Feel free to leave a comment or follow me on Instagram at @okcveggie, and if you’re ever in the OKC area, I’d love to show you around!