With February being the month of love, you might be wondering what to get your significant other this Valentine's Day. Should it be chocolate? No. Flowers? Uh uh. Deja’s Delights? DING DING DING!

As an up and coming vegan, Deja Whitt likes to spend her free-time making delicious (maybe nutritious) vegan treats. Not vegan? That’s okay, too. Deja caters to any sweet tooth. As a lover of all things sweet, she has tried to come up with a way to indulge in the greatness of sugar without foregoing her healthy lifestyle choices.

And just like that, Deja’s Delights was created. Come along with me as I discover the vegan world with some delicious treats!

Jessica Xiques: What inspired “Deja’s Delights”?

Deja Whitt: Both of my parents are great cooks, but my mom is the baker of the family. When I was little she always used to invite my little sister and me into the kitchen with her so we could learn the recipes too. I took up the hobby during my freshman year though. After months of begging my mom to send me peanut butter cookies via snail mail (and her refusing), I decided to give baking a try here on campus.

JX: Recently, you have been transitioning into veganism. What sparked your interest?

DW: My favorite teacher in high school (shout-out to my girl, Kelly) was always bringing vegan/vegetarian goodies for our class to try, and they were the bomb! After doing my own research about the benefits of a plant-based diet versus the traditional carnivorous one, I decided to give it a try.

JX: How do you feel after trying the vegan life for a couple months? Have you noticed any differences since becoming vegan?

DW: Pretty damn good! It’s definitely been a struggle, but I’m enjoying the journey. I’ve felt more energized throughout the day and my acne and hyperpigmentation have been clearing up.

JX: Is it as hard as it sounds?

DW: Yes and no! My biggest obstacle was accepting that there weren’t always going to be “alternatives” to my favorite foods.

JX: Do the vegan desserts taste “healthy”?

DW: Haha! I get that question a lot. I think people assume that because vegan food is healthier, that it lacks flavor or that you won’t be satisfied after the meal – that’s definitely not the case with my desserts! With that being said, you can’t bite into a slice of vegan/GF banana bread and expect it to taste JUST LIKE my regular banana bread. They’re made with different ingredients after all! That doesn’t make it any less tasty though.

JX: Which dessert was your favorite to make? Why?

DW: The vegan/gluten free peanut butter truffles, for sure. Anyone who knows me knows that Reese Cups are my favorite dessert of all time, and (after LOTS of trial and error) my version taste just like the real thing. Plus, who doesn’t like playing around with melted chocolate?!

JX: What advice do you have for people who are interested in becoming vegan?

DW: Do your own research! The first time I tried transitioning, I hastily made the decision after watching a food documentary on Netflix. The documentary was great and peaked my interest, but it didn’t really leave me with enough information to convince me to stick to the vegan life long-term. After spending a few months digging up some information about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle, it’s been way easier for me to stick to my guns this go ‘round. It also helps to have a good support system! My friends and family have been super helpful – they’ve helped with everything from trying my kitchen concoctions to helping me find alternatives to my favorite foods.

To try Deja’s Delights and place an order, contact Deja Whitt.
Email: deja.samantha@gmail.com
Twitter DM: @dejasamantha
Instagram DM: @dejasamantha
Make sure to wait 24 hours for your orders to be processed!

Well, there you have it! Deja’s delights will be coming soon to you. All it takes is 3 dollars and an appetite or sweet tooth. I promise you won’t regret it. Save on the sugar and try something new! Everybody wins. (Please do it. These treats are so good that they will have you thinking about converting to veganism.)