I would love the whole world to be vegan

To Susanna, being a vegan is not just about the food we eat (or don’t eat) but about eliminating and avoiding using anything derived from animals or animal products in all areas of life.. Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with her.

She told Meatless Movement that promoting and preaching about veganism is a balance being passionate about something but not coming across as pushing our views on people.

Tell us more about yourself, please

My name is Susanna I was born in England but parents are from Italy and Germany. Growing up with the influences from these countries ensured food was an important part of our day, important to bring us together, and important to know we were eating well.

THE LOCAL VEGAN

Everything I already know and the discovery of more

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

When I was younger I ate meat and animal products – but always had a love of animals and a passion about looking after the environment,  but as a child I didn’t make the negative connection between the two sides.

I have always lived in London but I have always enjoyed travelling and enjoying cuisine from across the world. Being a vegan I now have to consider where I travel and food available because some countries are already more committed to growing the vegan market than others. In the last ten years I have been working towards growing more of my own food and increasing our packaging free shopping. I am keen to reduce my impact on the earth – being vegan is one part of this but I feel strongly to reduce our waste, live plastic free, low impact and conscious of our planet. 

However it happens it’s a change that will benefit you, your health, the animals and the planet – that’s quite an impact.

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

I gave up meat in my late 20s but was still pescatarian for awhile. Slowly I understood more, grew my knowledge and knew I had to take the next step to be vegan. I gave up dairy due to medical issues so the transition to become vegan became much easier. I have now been vegan for over five years. It seems very obvious for me now the importance of being vegan and the impact of humans using and abusing animals in the meat and produce industry together with the environmental issues and consequences of the meat production industry.

Not only is the meat industry abhorrent and inhumane, but also if we reduced or removed the meat industry from the world, the environmental problems and the severe climate problems would be dramatically reduced. 

The eternal question – how do you tell someone they are part of the problem?

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

I think one of the key things that you experience being vegan is peoples lack of knowledge and understanding of what it truly is. So many times people offer you food or products and don’t understand the connection with animals. This ignorance is frustrating but understandable when we have all been brought up in a world where the information we were given told us eating or using animals was acceptable. I know of times when meat has accidentally been given to a vegan. I often see product that have neglected to say that they use animal products in their production. It can be hard to navigate labelling and ingredients on many products. 

I love eating out and I try to make it easy for other friends in that as long as there is one thing on the menu I can have then I won’t be fussy – but I love that many of my friends think ahead and look into knowing that there will be some options for me when picking a restaurant. I think living in london does help and the vegan lifestyle is stronger here than other places. Travelling abroad, I plan ahead and work out where I can eat out and shop. 

TO VEGAN, OR NOT TO VEGAN

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

For me being a vegan seems the most obvious way to live my life and I am proud that I now have the knowledge to have come to this decision. It feels like having a clearer knowledge of the world. It has become much easier in the last couple of years to be vegan as the food market has grown so much and there is so many incredible products available to make eating, cooking and enjoying food so much better. I feel I am lucky living in a country which there are so many incredible vegan brands and vegan products. We are definitely moving in the right direction to grow more compassion for animals and have more legalisation that stops cruelty. 

At the root of the problem is mankind’s relationship with animals

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

I think the important thing is to allow people to realise that there are so many meat alternatives, that you can still have the same flavours and cook the same recipes – just using an alternative to an animal product. There are such incredible alternatives – people just have to be willing to be open to trying them! I think if people slowly reduce their meat consumption and gradually try and find alternatives to meat and dairy that they enjoy, then they can work towards using less animal products. It doesn’t have to be overnight – it can be one or two days at a time that make a big difference. I think people genuinely don’t realise how many delicious vegan products there are! 

Good vegan food can be ordered to the home and more and more is available from independent as well as chain restaurants on our high streets

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

Living in London I am lucky to have a lot of great vegan food accessible and also the larger supermarkets now stock many, many products that make vegan diet varied and healthy. I actually started my blog and website to be able to help with this further, to be able to collate information about eating out and cooking at home and other elements of vegan life. 

It’s a change that will benefit you, your health, the animals and the planet – that’s quite an impact.

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

I wanted to be able to support and help people with making that transition. My husband, now a vegetarian (almost vegan), previously a big meat eater, is passionate about researching and finding great meat and dairy alternatives to show how even as a meat lover it is possible to make the change. 

Connecting with the vegan community is a big help and sharing ideas of new products and recipes. There are Michelin star restaurants producing incredible vegan food in London and now with the pandemic that we have been living with for two years, many have created chef-made meal kits that you can order and enjoy at home which is fantastic! Without a doubt my favourite vegan restaurant is Gauthier Soho – Beautiful food with a chef that understands the importance of the story of behind a product and discovering new meat and dairy alternatives. 

I think from the heart we want people to see through our eyes and realise their impact on the lives of animals and the effect on our planet and it’s future.

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

So many people still believe that vegan products are substandard or tasteless and even make a mockery of people trying to replicate meat or cheese but it is about being open-minded and trying these things before you make a judgement. I believe with top-level chefs and people in the public eye being so passionate about being vegan, that there is a new strong effective influence and representation of veganism – to hopefully push more to try it. 

It is about informing, educating and giving people the tools to want to make the changes.

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

Take it slowly and try try try. You won’t necessarily like all the products that are available and it might take a while to find your favourites but that’s the same with any food so just take it slowly and research – use social media because it is a great way to discover the good and the bad products as there’s so many people reviewing them. 

I always find it funny (but sad) when I ask in a cafe if they have vegan sandwiches or salads – and they say that they have tuna!! Also that things ‘only have a tiny bit of dairy and is that ok?’ – this goes back to the lack of knowledge and ignorance surrounding the vegan world. 

BUT the last thing ‘us vegans’ want to be is preachy. 

The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

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I would love the whole world to be vegan, but I know it’s unrealistic, however I hope through the growing market of vegan food and supporters, that slowly we can just decrease the meat production industry – and by doing this ensure a better life for animals, as well as work towards helping the climate change crisis.

I never want to come across as a preachy vegan but sometimes it’s hard when you’re passionate about something you feel so strongly about. 

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The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]

A useful directory alongside my regular #vegan chatter.
🌱 EAT SHOP DINE COOK GROW

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all images courtesy of The Local Vegan [ Susanna ]