Mattias Kristiansson is a true inspiration when it comes to green food! He runs the magazine VEGO and has done so for 10 years. Sweden's largest vegetarian food magazine! He has also published 14 cookbooks. OLIKA has interviewed him about his vegan journey and how to make the joy of food sparkle in the kitchen.

How did your path lead to veganism?

– It was a bit of a coincidence. I was neither an environmentalist nor an animal rights activist, I cared about very few people other than myself, I would say. In 2012, my climate anxiety came, and that's what made me try Meatless Monday. It did something to me! My inner foodie thought it was fun to discover a whole new cuisine. It made me realize that the food was really good, and then I was hooked. Gradually, all the alarms about the animal industry, the environment, the climate... It also made things clearer.

Mattias explains that the plan was never to become vegan.

– It became a step-by-step thing. At first I was “vegan” but ate what was offered at parties, and what was available when I was traveling. But in the end I felt that it no longer tasted good. I realized that it was not only the taste, but also that the best spice is a good conscience. That led to my boyfriend and I making the decision to become vegan. Since then we haven’t really thought about it anymore.

You seem to be saved by veganism, what's so good about it?

– It was the food and then… that I ate food with a clear conscience. There is a lot that is nice about veganism. When I discovered it, I became, just like all the other “new vegans”, someone who wants to spread it to everyone else! You want to get out there with it! I suddenly had a mission: to inspire more and more people.

We want to feel the joy of food that you show and feel too! What are your best tricks for making the joy of food sprout at home?

– For me, it helps if I plan. It's not necessarily that I open the pantry when I'm hungry and think "oh my god, what am I going to make today" but I like to have a plan. Then I know what kind of food I have to look forward to. That way I can make sure I have what I need at home. I think it's much easier!

Something I've come to understand is that people often want to reinvent the wheel in the kitchen. You don't have to! The best thing I know is when I'm free is to take out my million cookbooks, browse, take a recipe and cook it. Then I don't have to think. You just have to follow the recipe for it to be delicious. Then I've also been able to take part in new influences and new inspiration. Maybe I've learned something new about food from the other side of the world? Then I feel the joy of food!

Sometimes I think people make it unnecessarily difficult for themselves. Like having to do everything from scratch, for example.

– Should we put it more on our level?

Yes! And don't have such high standards either. I've also gotten the impression that people don't seem to eat as families anymore, people don't eat together in the same way. It feels like we in the Nordic countries are pretty bad at this socializing around food that the rest of the world does. We kind of go with the approach of "throw out the food, eat, then disappear and play video games or something". And then I can feel that it's that other thing I want! It's the other thing that brings joy to food. Many people are so afraid of inviting people over. You shouldn't be! I invite people over all the time! If the anxiety about what I'm going to cook is what's stopping you, I think you should just order pizza home. We need to be able to socialize around food, it's so much fun! Many people are so afraid in that context of making a mess. You shouldn't think like that. I've made really bad food and it just ends up being a funny story to retell later. If it were to become a complete disaster, just order pizza or buy a bunch of hamburgers. What you eat isn't that important, it's the social aspect, it's the joy of eating.

List three vegan dishes that you think will be a hit with families with children who are either already vegan or those who are curious?

Chickpea stew with saffron

Taco cake

Beluga Bolognese

You can find them all at vegomagasinet.se 🥦

Thank you so much for letting us talk to you!