HER | Local food trailer goes mostly vegan: Here's why

Dixie Hernandez, owner of Lot 1621, made the shift toward plant-based cuisine after watching "The Game Changers," a documentary that follows James Wilks, a Special Forces trainer and The Ultimate Fighter winner, traveling around the world to find the best diet for human performance.
Dixie Hernandez, owner of Lot 1621, made the shift toward plant-based cuisine after watching "The Game Changers," a documentary that follows James Wilks, a Special Forces trainer and The Ultimate Fighter winner, traveling around the world to find the best diet for human performance.

Dixie Hernandez has made a lot of changes to her Lot 1621 menu, making it about 90% vegan since opening in May 2020.

"I have more vegan customers A customer said today, 'thank you so much for doing this,'" she said about the notice customers have taken in the menu makeover, which occurred late last year.

"Almost 90% of my menu is vegan. All the side items are vegan and all the desserts are vegan. I do a Beef Brisket Quesadilla that is not vegan but most everything else is," she said.

She described vegan as totally plant based with no eggs, no cheese and no milk.

The shift toward plant-based cuisine at the bright yellow food trailer located near the intersection of Texas Boulevard and New Boston Road began in earnest after she watched a documentary in December.

"The Game Changers," which follows James Wilks, a Special Forces trainer and The Ultimate Fighter winner, traveling around the world to find the best diet for human performance.

It also features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic and Chris Paul. Dixie discovered one of her friends, a nurse practitioner and her friend's husband, a doctor, had been vegans for three years.

They believe in it and the science that backs it.

Her friends urged her to try the diet for two weeks to see how she felt eating no meat, dairy, eggs or cheese. If she didn't like it, she could stop.

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Tom Whitlow and team Flying W from Plainview compete in the classic division at last year’s National Championship Chuckwagon Races in Clinton. The Labor Day weekend event includes multiple races, clinics and other equine activities.

After two weeks "I noticed when setting up the trailer and jogging back and forth to the car I was less sluggish," she said.

She is also curious to see what her cholesterol level will be at her next doctor's visit.

She continued to eat vegan and research the movement.

"I was surprised at how many people around the country eat vegan," she said.

Dixie decided to adapt many items on Lot 1621's menu. This includes using almond and oat milk, liquid eggs and Impossible meat.

"When I started eating vegan, I realized it was so hard to find anything to eat vegan. It was hard," she said.

The Granary (on New Boston Road) has a good selection and several local supermarkets carry certain items. However, she makes trips to Shreveport and Dallas to keep her stock up.

Dixie says the blood chemistry favors the vegan lifestyle.

She says there are people who do it for animal rights, which also means no honey in the diet.

"If there is a downside, it's that the food (costs) at a minimum double to three times as much as regular food items," she said.

Her menu has seen quite a transformation since she opened in May. At that time, offerings included roast beef po boys, hot dogs and gumbo, shrimp etoufee and chicken and dumplings, Dixie said.

Lot 1621 is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

And if you are vegan 'ish' - or just curious - and trying to satisfy a sweet tooth, wait until it gets a little warmer outside. Dixie is toying with the idea of making vegan ice cream this summer. 

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