To some people, the word “Veganism” is an instant swipe left, something to disagree with, or just to make fun of, and that’s okay! But to me, veganism is a lifestyle, a way to show compassion and a moral guideline.
I first went vegan 5 years ago when I was only 14 years old and I won’t lie, it was really scary. I didn’t know anybody else that was vegan, and at that time there were hardly any vegan options in supermarkets and at restaurants. Yet somehow, I never struggled, and I never felt lonely, because I knew I was doing the right thing, or at least, what was right for me.
Some people do it for the health (can’t relate as I’m in no way ashamed to eat a whole packet of Oreos in one sitting), or for the environment (big up David Attenborough), but for me, it is, and always has been for the animals. I won’t get into the tear-jerking stuff, but if you are interested, try Cowspiracy, What the Health or The Game Changers on Netflix.
Now we’ve got a bit of context, here’s what I like to eat in a day…
Breakfast:
I would probably consider myself Shreddies’ biggest fan, as I think I’ve had a bowl of these malted goodies for breakfast every single day since I’ve been able to feed myself, albeit now that I’m a student I get the supermarket own-brand alternative. Most cereal is usually vegan, but occasionally a bit of honey or milk powder is snuck in there. I enjoy my cereal with soy milk, because it tastes the best, it’s cheaper, and it ain’t half bad for the planet.
Lunch:
On this particular day, I had an Aldi wholewheat pitta bread with hummus, falafel and lettuce. Quick, easy, and cheap.
Dinner:
Stir fry! Not the most exciting, but everything I look for in a meal. I just chucked some noodles, Chinese stir fry sauce, stir fry veg (thank you again Aldi) and meat-free chicken from Tesco altogether in a pan and it was all done five minutes later. Aldi have also started doing loads of new vegan frozen food, so I chucked in some vegetable gyozas too.
Snack:
Nothing comes between me and a late night snack, and on this night I munched my way through a pack of Bournville buttons. Being vegan doesn’t mean I have to be healthy all the time, and it definitely doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a bit of chocolate.
To conclude…
Everyone has a different relationship with food, and being known as a pushy vegan is probably one of my biggest fears, but here’s a little insight into my life. Even just eating vegan one day a week does wonders for the planet, and there’s so much food out there to try, so grab a vegan snack and try watching one of the documentaries I mentioned if you want to know more.
Written by: Hannah Meek