Dirk Verbeuren is the Belgian-born drummer for the heavy metal band Megadeth, while Hannah Verbeuren is a professional photographer whose work has appeared across the metal scene. The couple, who have been together for nearly 20 years, share a deep love for animals and a commitment to compassionate living.
1. What motivates you to eat meat free?
Hannah: I stopped eating meat when I was 14 years old. I made the decision after educating myself on animal mistreatment in testing and factory farming, among other abuses. Although I was actively protesting events that were harmful to animals, it didn’t feel like enough. I decide to make a very public and permanent lifestyle change and cut meat out of my diet completely.
Dirk: My love for animals. More specifically, my refusal to be a part of the meat industry, where sentient beings are treated as mere objects and routinely subjected to unimaginable abuse and torture. I grew up as a meat eater, and never gave it much thought until Hannah showed me – through her actions – a more peaceful and humane path, much more in line with who I try to be as a person. I wholeheartedly believe that if slaughterhouses and large-scale animal farms were open to the public, most people would be so shocked and disgusted, they would reconsider their choices.
2. What items are always in your fridge?
Hannah: Tofu, potatoes, cucumbers, mustard, pickles, strawberries, grapes, San Pellegrino, vegan protein drinks, olives.
Dirk: A variety of fruits and veggies, vegan yogurt, vegan butter, vegan cheese, vegan sour cream, oat or almond milk, muesli, tofu, and brown rice and black beans which I prepare every other week or so. I love the occasional meat alternative, but I try to not eat those every day, as they tend to be highly processed.
3. It’s Meat Free Monday and you’ve got a friend coming round – what are you going to cook for them?
Hannah: My homemade vegan and tofu potpie. It tastes just like the ones I remember as a kid, creamy with all the best veggies and a slightly sweet pie crust.
Dirk: My late mom made these amazing classic Belgian meals such as sausage, mashed potatoes and cauliflower in bechamel sauce, or red cabbage. These are super easy to turn meat free, and always a success. I made a pretty delicious vegan bechamel not too long ago. Hannah loves my salads, too! There’s nothing quite as refreshing as raw Belgian endives.
4. What was the last thing you ate?
Hannah: Hummus and cucumber salad.
Dirk: Mixed nuts, a vegan protein bar and an apple.
5. If you had to choose only one country’s cuisine to eat forever, which would you choose?
Hannah: Mexican food is by far my favourite. Thankfully, Los Angeles has an abundance of good Mexican food. Growing up in Cleveland, decent Mexican food was hard to come by.
Dirk: Mexican food rules indeed, but I’d have to go with Thai food, or at least the US interpretation of it. In LA, we’re really spoiled with vegan Thai options. I also love Indian and Asian cuisine. Truth be told, I’m happy to try any vegan restaurant.
6. Sweet or savoury?
Hannah: Savoury for sure. Mustard, pickles, olives, I can overeat them all day.
Dirk: Impossible to choose! Chips are my biggest weakness, but I can crave sugar just as badly.
7. Pizza or pasta?
Hannah: I like a good Aglio e Olio, but Italian food isn’t my favourite.
Dirk: Despite that, Hannah’s Aglio et Olio is delicious, and she makes an equally fingerlickin’ orzo. I love pizza too, but pasta wins!
8. Tofu or beans?
Hannah: Tofu all day every day. I can eat tofu with everything to nothing.
Dirk: I love both, but rice and beans with some olive oil, vegan sour cream and tomatoes make for one of my favourite meals ever. So, beans it is!
9. Mild or spicy?
Hannah: Spicy is more fun.
Dirk: My taste buds love spicy. My stomach, not so much. So I usually play it safe and keep it mild.
10. What advice would you give to people wanting to give meat free a try?
Hannah: Most often, people have reservations about cutting out meat because of something they hold dear to them, like family tradition or cultural background. But the harsh truth is that meat is the direct result of deeply disturbing terror and suffering of millions of unwilling, innocent creatures. Our dinners and celebrations are meant to create peace, love, and sustenance with our friends and family. Removing pain and suffering from the tables we gather around should start with the very food we use to nourish and build our bodies, and the bodies of those we love.
Dirk: Talk to a friend or family member who’s meat free. I was vegetarian for many years and worried about making the jump to veganism. Ultimately, I found all the answers I was looking for through conversations with meat free friends. It’s much less difficult than I imagined, and I’ve never felt better!
Follow Dirk and Hannah on social media to keep up with their work and find out more about what they’re up to.