Laura is a 29-year-old food enthusiast based in Worthing, England. Laura is a full-time Mum to her two little boys but in her spare time, she loves creating food content for her Instagram account, @whatsfordinner_worthing. Her love for food stems from her passion for cooking and discovering new recipes, as well as eating out and trying new places.
Laura turned vegetarian when she was only 8 years old, after a visit to a farm where she fell in love with the animals and decided to exclude them from her diet. Despite her mother’s initial skepticism, Laura has remained a vegetarian for the past 21 years and is grateful for the increasing variety of vegetarian options available. She recalls a time when her options were limited, such as being served a cheese sandwich at a carvery, but is now delighted to see that many restaurants offer an array of vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her.
Tell us more about yourself, please
I’m Laura. I’m 29 and I live in Worthing, England with my husband and 2 little boys. I have a huge passion for food and love documenting my dinners. I’m a full time Mum and spend my spare time creating food content for my Instagram @whatsfordinner_worthing. I really enjoy eating out and trying new places. I enjoy cooking and discovering new recipes.
I turned vegetarian when I was 8. I went to a farm and loved looking at all the animals. I decided it wasn’t right for me to include them in my diet, so I decided to be a vegetarian. I remember my Mum saying to everyone that it would only be a phase as I was so young and she didn’t think I would stick to it. 21 years later.. it’s been quite a phase! I would never change back. Vegetarian options have improved sooo much since I was 8 and I feel so fortunate that so many people choose this lifestyle now and there’s so much variety for us.
When I first became a vegetarian at age 8 I was limited to what I could eat, especially when I ate out. I remember being at a carvery and my Mum ordering me a cheese sandwich as there was no vegetarian option. Now the same carvery has about 6 vegetarian and vegan options to pick from and you can go up to the carvery and help yourself to all the vegetables and potatoes. I do remember a time when my Mum took vegetarian gravy in a flask to the carvery for me as they only did meat gravy. Thankfully they started doing vegetarian gravy soon after.
I can find it hard when I’m in a different country. Not all countries label if something is vegetarian or not. Luckily English is such a well known language and most of the time I can ask the restaurant staff if a dish is vegetarian. I recently went to Venice and found it very accommodating for vegetarians. I enjoyed a delicious mushroom ravioli in cheese sauce.
Bbqs can be a tricky one too. When I’m invited to one I always feel like the ‘fussy one’. I don’t like having to break the news that I’m a veggie as I feel it makes it harder for the people hosting. Luckily I’ve never been made to feel a nuisance and people will always make space for a separate vegetarian section on the bbq and they’ll cook me a yummy meat alternative.
I feel great about being a vegetarian. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re making a difference to animals and the planet. I feel it makes me try new and exciting things. Vegetarian diets can be so varied and full of flavour. I think it’s boring to be run of the mill. I love showcasing my dishes on Instagram and showing fellow veggies/vegans great recipes and places to eat out.
I would definitely encourage people to try being a vegetarian/vegan. The food has come such a long way and the texture and taste of vegetarian alternatives are brilliant. Vegetarian food use to be very vegetable based and the texture was quite mushy. Now there’s brilliant ways to get the texture of meat and it’s even full of protein. It’s a healthier lifestyle and kinder to the planet. It definitely must be tried.
I think Asian food is great for vegetarians. I love tempura vegetables, vegetables noodle dishes and all the delicious sauces. I recently went to a restaurant called Vudu in Worthing. They specialise in Asian small plates and it’s all absolutely delicious. I enjoyed cabbage & mushroom gyozas, jackfruit wonton tacos, szechuan aubergine and garlic flatbread. Vegetarian Asian food is full of flavour and so varied.
A misconception about vegetarians is that we only eat vegetables!! This is soooo wrong. There is so much out there we can eat. We’re actually spoilt for choice!! The amount of meat alternatives now is amazing. I thoroughly enjoy seitan and vegetarian alternatives that are made from pea protein, the textures are fantastic
My advice to someone who’s just beginning to go meatless is to experiment! Try all the different things. You might not like everything but there’s different brands which have a different take on products. Keep going till it works for you.
What’s for Dinner Worthing
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all images courtesy of What's for Dinner Worthing
Pictured
Asian small plates at Vudu, Worthing
Mushroom ravioli in cheese sauce, Venice
Vegetarian roast dinner
Roasted vegetable and pesto topped brioche
Spicy tofu with garlic tenderstem and pickled carrot ribbons