Interview With Patrick Aramouni, A Vegan Athlete, Coach, Self-Taught Cook, and Blogger
Patrick Aramouni, a 35-year-old athlete and health coach from Lebanon, has dedicated himself to promoting a healthy and sustainable vegan lifestyle since 2017. Utilizing his diverse skills as a self-taught cook, blogger, YouTuber, recipe maker, and advisor, Patrick shares his transformative journey across social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, offering insights into his daily meals, delicious plant-based recipes, and effective workout routines. His influence extends beyond social media, as he recently delivered a lecture at the Lebanese Vegans NGO's pioneering support centre, addressing common misconceptions about plant-based diets and contributing to the ongoing dialogue on embracing compassionate and healthful dietary choices.
What sparked your journey into veganism and athleticism?
The ethical implications of a vegan lifestyle became the driving force behind my decision to embrace it.
Recognizing that I could attain optimal health without relying on animal products compelled me to align my actions with my deeply held values.
There is no ethical way of exploiting animals for food. Period.
What are some common misconceptions about veganism that you have encountered, and how do you address them?
Some of the most common misconceptions about veganism goes as follows:
A Plant-based diet involves deprivation.
A plant-based diet opens us up to a new world of delicious and nutritious foods that many of us haven’t properly experienced beforehand. We are introduced to a wide array of flavors, textures, and tastes, allowing us to enjoy some of our favorite traditional dishes in a completely new and exciting way.
A plant-based diet is expensive.
When it comes to affordability, the opposite is actually true. When you consume a diet centered around whole, unprocessed foods, staples like beans, lentils, rice, oats, and seasonal fruits and vegetables are often more budget-friendly than their animal-based counterparts.
Vegans can’t get enough protein.
Getting enough protein on a plant-based diet is much easier than what people think. There are plenty of plant-based sources that provide the essential amino acids our bodies need. Foods like beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are excellent protein sources. Eating enough calories from a wide range of plant-based sources almost always guarantees that one will get all of the protein they need.
Patrick Aramouni @patrickaramouni
How do you keep your social media content engaging and informative?
I sometimes use humor to debunk common myths around a vegan diet. I sometimes take my shirt off in the kitchen so that people will be more interested in what I have to say about a plant-based diet. I also sometimes work out without a shirt on so that people can understand that a vegan diet doesn’t make you weak and frail. All of these things sometimes work.
What are your thoughts on challenging the stereotype of masculinity being tied to meat consumption?
The only way we can challenge those stereotypes is by having more Men lead by example. There are not enough male figures out there promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet, while simultaneously debunking all of the myths and lies we’ve been fed by cultural norms for decades upon decades. We need more education. We need more scientific literacy. We need more intellectual honesty.
What are some of the benefits of whole foods over supplements for protein and other nutrients?
Whole foods offer numerous advantages over supplements for obtaining essential nutrients. The mix of nutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals in whole foods provides a synergistic effect that enhances absorption and utilization. The presence of dietary fiber, micronutrients, and phytochemicals supports digestive health, satiety, and long-term well-being.
Whole foods are generally more easily digested and absorbed by the body, and their bioavailability often surpasses that of isolated nutrients in supplements.
Moreover, the cost-effectiveness, variety of nutrients, and positive impact on overall health make whole foods a preferable choice.
While supplements may be beneficial in specific situations (consuming b12 or vegan protein powder after a workout), emphasizing a diet rich in whole foods aligns with my approach to nutrition.
What future projects do you have in mind to promote veganism and fitness?
I’m hoping to release a cook book and a meal-plan guide in the upcoming months, as well as launching my workout plans which will be available on my website. I also want to keep focusing on finding new ways to create content, aimed at helping advance the conversation around veganism.
Patrick Aramouni's story serves as a testament to the power of aligning one's actions with their values. Through his engaging social media presence and upcoming projects, he continues to inspire others to embrace a healthy, compassionate, and sustainable future. The future of veganism and fitness seems bright, and Patrick Aramouni is undoubtedly a leading light on the path forward.