Eco Vegan Living Made Simple: How Sara Maude Oberson is Inspiring a Sustainable Lifestyle for Families
Adopting an eco-friendly and vegan lifestyle may seem like a challenge, but for Sara, the founder of Eco Vegan Mama, it has been a journey of awareness and sharing.
For nearly twenty-five years, she has followed a vegan diet, combining her love for cooking with a minimalist and sustainable approach.
As a mother of three living in Fuerteventura, she has transformed her lifestyle into a source of inspiration for other families, proving that ethical choices and practicality can go hand in hand.
In this interview, Sara shares her journey, tips for zero-waste cooking, and how she teaches her children to respect the environment and animals.
Let’s dive into the world of Eco Vegan Mama, exploring creative recipes, mindful minimalism, and a lifestyle that aims for a more sustainable future for everyone.
Interview with Sara Maude Oberson – Eco Vegan Mama
Hi Sara, welcome! Could you introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a bit about your journey towards an eco-friendly and vegan lifestyle and how the Eco Vegan Mama project was born.
Hi, and thank you for this opportunity! My name is Sara, I’m a mother of three, and for the past 10 years, I’ve been living on an Atlantic island—Fuerteventura—with my family, two dogs, and two cats.
My journey towards an eco-friendly and vegan lifestyle began years ago when I felt the need to align my daily choices with my values of respecting the environment and animals.
I first became a vegetarian and then fully transitioned to a vegan lifestyle in 2000. Motherhood strengthened this awareness—I wanted to leave my children a better world and show them that we can live well while making more ethical choices.
The Eco Vegan Mama project was born as a space for sharing, meant to inspire and support other moms (and beyond) who want to embrace a more sustainable, minimalist, and vegan lifestyle.
Today, it’s an active community where I talk about vegan cooking, eco-minimalism, and much more, always with a practical and accessible approach.
On your blog, you talk about eco-minimalism, natural motherhood, and vegan cooking. How do you integrate these aspects into your daily life and family management?
For me, vegan cooking is simply my way of life. It has been my normal for nearly 25 years, and naturally, it’s how I feed my family.
Over the years, I’ve expanded my knowledge and become more aware of nutrition, especially as a mother. I make a strong effort to ensure our diet is as balanced and nutritious as possible.
Sustainability is a key aspect of my life, not just in theory but in practice. Eco-minimalism allows me to merge my interest in sustainability with a simple, practical approach to family life.
Not being overwhelmed by too many material things makes our days lighter and allows me to focus on more sustainable daily actions.
Vegan cooking plays a fundamental role in your project. What are your sources of inspiration for creating recipes that are both delicious and sustainable?
I’ve been passionate about cooking since I was a teenager. I love experimenting, and I’m fascinated by international cuisine—Italian, Asian, Indian, North African, Mexican… I set no limits for myself!
I also draw a lot of inspiration from social media, exploring new trends, but my approach remains the same: start from the traditional recipe and create my own vegan version.
My second source of inspiration is my family. Since I cook for young children, my meals need to be simple, quick, appealing to them, and nutritionally satisfying.
Raising healthy and strong kids is my top priority, and that goal influences every decision I make in the kitchen.
Do you have a favorite recipe you love preparing for your family? If so, we’d love for you to share it with us, maybe with a photo!
Absolutely! One of my favorite dishes is Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna with Crunchy Walnuts. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients (for a small baking dish):
- 250g fresh mushrooms
- 300g spinach (fresh or frozen)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 50g chopped walnuts
- 500ml unsweetened soy milk
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for the roux)
- Nutmeg and dried mushroom powder (optional)
- 300g dry lasagna sheets
- Plenty of nutritional yeast
Instructions:
- Clean and slice the mushrooms, then sauté them in a pan with olive oil and garlic. Add the spinach and deglaze with soy sauce. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.
- In a small saucepan, prepare a roux by heating the oil and flour with a pinch of nutmeg. Gradually pour in the soy milk, stirring constantly, until you get a thick béchamel sauce.
- Spread a layer of béchamel on the bottom of a baking dish, then alternate layers of lasagna sheets, mushroom and spinach filling, chopped walnuts, and nutritional yeast.
- Finish with a layer of béchamel, walnuts, nutritional yeast, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 30–40 minutes until golden and crispy on top.
As a mother of three, what strategies do you use to teach your children to respect the environment and animals?
Children learn through example, so growing up in a family like ours does most of the work.
I also involve them with children’s books that reinforce these values and through practical experiences—when we go to the beach, we always pick up trash, we spend our Sundays in nature, and whenever possible, we help out at the local animal shelter.
On your journey toward eco-minimalism, what have been your biggest challenges, and how have you overcome them?
I didn’t grow up in a minimalist environment—on the contrary, consumerism was the norm. I also went through a phase of excessive consumption, buying clothes, shoes, and kitchen gadgets I didn’t really need.
Over time, I learned to filter my choices by asking myself: Do I really need this? Will it add value to my life? I see every object as a future waste item, and this mindset helps me avoid unnecessary purchases.
You offer practical advice for sustainable, zero-waste cooking. Could you share some of your favorite tips for reducing food waste at home?
Planning is essential—having a weekly menu helps optimize pantry supplies and grocery shopping. It’s also important to buy mindfully, resisting marketing tricks that push us to overconsume.
Finally, having “go-to” recipes to use up leftovers or ingredients sitting in the fridge is a great strategy.
You participated in VEGANOK CHANGE, promoting a vegan and sustainable lifestyle. What motivated you to join this initiative, and what goals do you hope to achieve with your contribution?
Just like in my social media content, I want to show how a vegan and eco-minimalist lifestyle can be practical and simple in everyday life. It’s not just a polished trend but something real, accessible, and achievable for everyone.
You also manage a successful YouTube channel. How do you balance creating video content, running your blog, and managing family life?
It’s a real juggling act! In the early years, I worked late at night after my kids went to bed. Now that they’re in school, I manage to work in the mornings, but time is never enough—I often still find myself editing videos at night.
That said, this work allows me to dedicate time to my children, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Finally, what advice would you give to those who want to transition to a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle, both in the kitchen and in daily life?
First of all, strengthen your motivation—having clear goals helps maintain determination. Then, surround yourself with like-minded people, even online, by following inspiring creators and content.
Lastly, appreciate every small step forward and don’t get discouraged—big changes come from many small progressions put together.
Thank you, Sara!
Sara’s experience shows that living a more sustainable and mindful life is not a sacrifice but an opportunity to improve our relationship with the planet, animals, and ourselves.
Through Eco Vegan Mama, she has built a welcoming community full of resources, where she passionately shares practical advice, delicious recipes, and strategies to simplify everyday life without compromising values.
We sincerely thank Sara Maude Oberson for her time and for sharing her journey and vision with us. If you’re looking for inspiration to embrace a vegan and eco-conscious lifestyle, follow her on her channels:
🌱 Website: Eco Vegan Mama
📹 YouTube: Eco Vegan Mama
📸 Instagram: @eco_vegan_mama
🎵 TikTok: @eco_vegan_mama
Every small step counts—why not start today?
