VEGAN, BY CHOICE: Al-Sulaiti says about 70 per cent of his diet is raw and that he likes to eat it the way it comes from Earth. Right: MOVING PLACES: Ghanim in Bali, Indonesia, from one of his travel pics on Instagram.
By Anand Holla
Among his generational peers who profess love and loyalty for greasy burgers at fast food chains, Qatari vegan Ghanim al-Sulaiti is a phenomenon of sorts. Running full steam ahead on pure plant power and an insatiable zest for life, the 23-year-old is heralding healthy eating like no other youth in the city.
Through this Ramadan, al-Sulaiti has not just been breaking his fasts with the most scrumptious plant-based delicacies but has also been fuelling conversations in the community via his Instagram account @ghanim92, where he posts his tastefully arranged pictures and descriptions of the food he makes and its many nutritional rewards.
Al-Sulaiti is as much of a livewire on the job as a tunnel engineer working on the Doha Metro project as he is in his kitchen, whipping up cool veggie dishes such as vegan bean burger and stuffed eggplant with quinoa and peppers, which have now won his family’s admiration as well.
In a rollicking chat with Community, al-Sulaiti talks about studying abroad, the privileges of being a Qatari, the delights of travelling — he has visited 17 countries in the past year — and of course, veganism and how he has gotten closer to it through this Ramadan:
You say you first embraced change when you went to the US. How did that happen?
After completing my high school in Doha, I applied to a lot of foreign universities here. I got accepted in all of them. One day, my father told me that I must study abroad and gain experience. I protested because I was so used to this life and being with my friends here. I was 17 and not ready for that responsibility. But once there, I never looked back. I studied at Drexel University in Philadelphia for four years and graduated with a Major in Civil Engineering. It was the best experience ever. When I returned home, I thanked dad for pushing me to go.
When you returned to Doha, two years back, what had you learnt?
Being a Qatari is easy here because you easily get a job and get all sorts of benefits, which sometimes you might take for granted. Being in the US and being treated fairly like everyone else, taught me that life is difficult and life is different than what we are living here in Doha. That’s what made me really appreciate what I really have. We Qataris are big spenders. However, the big lesson is to know that you need to work hard for that money. And even if you didn’t have to work for it, you must make good use of it.
Do you see Qatar having changed a lot, ever since you have returned?
Qatar is growing tremendously. To be in Qatar now is amazing because this is the time to grab opportunities. It’s easy to be seen in Doha now, and to be different. When you are different, you will be special.
You seem to be an ardent traveller. Why is it important to you?
Studying and working in the US enriched my personality. Within the US, I travelled a lot which exposed me to different cultures, religions, backgrounds, and perspectives. I feel those four years changed me so much that now I think I am more valuable as a person. Some say I spend too much money on travelling. But I see it like I am investing in myself. Travelling opens you up like nothing else can. With every vacation, I grow more.
How did you get interested in veganism?
Being healthy has always been important to me. Earlier, not drinking colas or eating chips was healthy for me; today, it is eating a plant-based diet. In the US, I would always be looking for diets and workouts I could try. I read this book Beauty Detox, which talks about the many benefits we can derive by eating fruits and vegetables and how diary is bad for us. When I first read it, I was taken aback. I drank milk and ate eggs, meat and chicken every single day. There was no way I was going to quit any of that.
It must have been really tough then to make the switch?
Not really. First off, I began substituting milk with almond milk or soya milk, which tastes as good and has more benefits. I felt amazing. I cut out dairy, and then red meat and chicken, too. I then kept eating fish and goat cheese, before I left them all.
Did you experience a moment of clarity one fine day?
I was constantly trying to empower myself with knowledge on the endless benefits of a plant-based diet by reading voraciously and meeting interesting people. One morning, I woke up and decided that I am going vegan for a year. Two years on, I have stuck to it. I have felt so much better and I accomplish a lot more work in a day. I am healthier than I have ever been and I also feel like I am helping the environment in my own little way.
When you look back at the transition of your food choices, do you feel you have come a long way?
We live in a society based on junk food. I, too, grew up eating chicken nuggets and fries every other day. I was raised with the idea that meat and fish are the only sources of protein, which isn’t true. When you see the queues outside junk food chains and pastry shops, you know we are raising our children on a terrible food culture. You won’t believe the variety of food I have been eating ever since I turned to veganism. I was raised on not eating vegetables and not knowing the taste of carrots. That diet didn’t take me anywhere. I was always low on energy. Eating a plant-based diet changed the way my body reacts to food or how my skin looks. Earlier, eating vegetables would make me sick. Now eating junk food makes me sick.
How have your parents and family reacted to you turning vegan?
It was hard — even with my friends. My father dissuaded me from quitting meat because we have these traditional gatherings with huge biryani plates and you have to eat together. My parents have been very supportive though. But people still ask me why am I a vegan or where do I get my protein from. The answer is legumes, grains, soya, chickpeas, green leaves like kale and spinach. Kale, in fact, has more protein than a pound of meat.
How has staying vegan been for you, during this Ramadan?
Every evening, we indulge in the same conversations about why I am still eating this food. But now, my family is interested because the food I am eating is also very delicious (smiles). Last Ramadan, I didn’t have enough experience and stuck to fruits and smoothies. This year, I took it to another level. My mom and my brother turned vegan for Ramadan and joined me. So I am serving three people every day at Iftar, two of who are picky eaters who want their juicy, oily food. So I have to work hard on my substitutes (laughs). I make a lot of green smoothies. About 70 per cent of my diet is raw — I like to eat it the way it comes from Earth.
Putting up pictures of your daily culinary creations on Instagram and eliciting a discussion is part of the plan?
I put stuff on Instagram because I feel passionate about what I do. I am now doing a new cooking show on Dimensions Net that features seven Qataris who love food, and I am invited as a vegan foodie. I have studied a lot on this subject. I am finally ready to face the community because I have the answers.
Have you met with some resistance from fellow Instagrammers?
Someone commented on my post by quoting from the Qur’an that animals are meant to be eaten. I replied saying that I never called meat a taboo. My vision is to present an alternative. To show people that we don’t have to eat meat or fish and that plant-based food can be extremely delicious and filling. In fact, it changes your taste buds because you start tasting real food. When you switch to a plant-based diet, your craving for meat disappears. If you put beef or cake in front of me, I won’t feel like eating it. What I am craving now is my vegan burger, sweet potatoes and kale smoothie.
Do you take great efforts to stay vegan when you travel?
Travelling has taught me to ask me the right questions. Before I travel, I send the hotel a long memo of exactly what I want. That’s how I don’t lose track of what I eat.
Has there been a bigger purpose behind your travels then?
Yes. Through my travels, I have been researching on making one of my dreams come true — to open a healthy, sustainable, vegan restaurant in Doha. Every country I visit, I check out its vegan restaurants, talk to its people and discover the challenges. I don’t want to be someone who does things for himself and stays in his comfort zone. I want to make a change. That’s why I post on Instagram. I tried plant-based diet on myself for two years and I am much happier. My Qatari friends, who have experimented, are seeing the point too. I think this is what we are meant to be eating. This is the real food.
