HOW TO GO VEGAN

This is a post for all of the lovely people thinking about going vegan, but aren't quite sure how. It can be quite daunting at first if you're not used to checking labels or restricting what you eat, but trust me, once you know what you're doing, it's the easiest thing in the world.

Which Non-dairy Milk is Best?

If you're new to the vegan lifestyle, you might be confused as to why we have loads of different milks and what they're all for and which one is best for you? Here's a handy guide to help you understand the top six* non-dairy milks.

Keep in mind this list was created by someone who has never liked cows milk. Grossness. You won't find any comparisons here.

*If I made a list about ALL the milks, we'd be here forever. Trust me, there's so many options for vegans, guys. Too many options.

Tips on Staying Vegan Whilst Travelling

Being a vegan is easy when you're at home, surrounded by all of your favourite food brands and you know exactly where to go and what to order if you eat out. When you're travelling, it's not so easy, especially if you're in a country with a different language. Although it's difficult, it's not impossible to stay vegan when you're travelling. Below I've composed a list of tips and tricks to help you stay vegan when you're abroad.

Redefining Vegan

I’ve been a vegan for two years now and one thing that has become more increasingly annoying is other people giving me excuses to why they cannot go vegan.

I’ve heard them all. ‘It’s too expensive’, ‘I live with my family and they won’t let me eat vegetables’ and ‘I have blah-de-blah disease and I need to eat 50kg of steak a day to survive’. And of course sometimes these excuses are valid but rarely are they good enough. Often I hear ‘veganism is too expensive’ whilst the party gobbles down foie gras, caviar and a £100 cheese wheel. Or ‘I have an iron deficiency and I need meat’ when purchasing leather shoes and L’oreal shampoo. You can understand my frustration.

This is why I believe ‘vegan’ needs redefining. People are under the impression that if you can’t be a good vegan, what is the point of trying at all? Of course nobody is 100% vegan by society’s definition. Nobody can say they have never stepped on an ant or never hoovered up a dust mite.

The current definition of vegan is ‘a person who does not eat or use animal products’ needs to change to ‘a person who attempts not to harm another life to the best of their ability, whether that life is human or none human.’ Therefore, if you’re stuck on a desert island with nothing to eat but cows (it happens to us all at some point), nobody will take away your vegan card for doing what you have to do to survive.

If you live at home with your parents who don't approve of you going vegan, don't order chicken nuggets when you're out in a restaurant, ask for a veggie burger without the cheese. Don't ask for MAC makeup for your birthday, ask for a brand that doesn't test on animals. One day you'll move out and be able to make your own decisions. Just remember, everything you have control over, try to make the most ethical decisions to the best of your ability and by the new definition, you're a vegan.

If you can't afford luxury raw vegan cupcakes or lush shampoo, nobody is going to take away your vegan card if you have to spend your money on a cheaper brand of deodorant and toothpaste, even if they test on animals. But don't spend your money on bacon or cheese when the vegan version is cheaper (it is cheaper! Try looking in Holland and Barrett, you'll be surprised!) or if they aren't necessary at all. Beans, rice, frozen fruits and vegetables are amongst the cheapest foods and they're all vegan. Once again, if you're trying to abstain from animal products to the best of your ability, you can call yourself a vegan.