Brendan lives in Manchester. He regularly posts vegan food posts, reviews, recipes and recommendations on his IG. Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with him.

Tell us about your yourself, please

I am Brendan Cox and I’m from Nottingham, UK. I began eating a vegetarian diet last January because I was concerned with the environmental issues surrounding meat consumption after I had watched “Cowspiracy” on Netflix. Shortly after, I decided that I would also forgo all other animal products, which included two staples of my diet: eggs and cheese.

At this point, my personal ethics had begun to catch up to my environmental morals and I had started to see that not eating meat was much more than just a question of saving the environment: it was about saving the countless lives of any animals, as well as preventing their exploitation. I no longer replied with “because I want to help stop climate change” when people asked me why I had gone vegan, rather, I replied with, “because billions of animals should not have to die so that we can eat, when we would survive without them.”

Following this lifestyle can be challenging, though. British cuisine focuses very heavily on animal products and this makes it difficult to find vegan alternatives or vegan meals when you leave urban areas. On holiday in the Lake District, I often found that pubs’ only options for vegans were fries or crisps. Rarely, but sometimes, there would be one vegan option available and it was usually a very dry falafel dish, which was often prepared and cooked without any love or meaningful attention, unlike most other meals at pubs. Being vegan in rural areas can be difficult in this way: restaurateurs and pub chefs seem to think that adding one very basic (and badly cooked) vegan option is the only solution – I’d like to remind them that it is not, and that times are changing.

Living ‘meatless’ doesn’t mean living ‘flavourless’
@veganbrendan

I love being vegan and I am happy to allow it to become a significant part of my identity. I like having something to fight for, especially something that I truly believe in. I don’t make it my business to convert every carnist, but I don’t mind talking about it with friends and family in a (usually) civil manner.

If I had any advice for people on how best to transition to a vegan diet, it would probably consist of three parts:

Firstly, I’d remind them of the kinds of delicious dishes that they probably already love but which do not contain meat. That will help them to remember that living ‘meatless’ doesn’t mean living ‘flavourless’. Examples include mushroom risotto, hummus, avocado toast, fruit smoothies, five-bean chilli, tomato pasta, curries – the list is endless.

Secondly, I’d recommend trying vegan sausages and vegan burgers. There has been so much innovation and research in the vegan BBQ meats industry that these meat replacements are virtually identical in flavour and taste to a beef burger, with no guilt involved. Also, these are some of the most pervasive kinds of vegan dishes that you can find at non-vegan restaurants, so there’s always a new kind to try and there’s a high chance that you’ll find a favourite among them. They’re also very easy to make at home.

Thirdly, I’d remind them that going vegan is often a process of many steps and rarely involves one giant leap. It is better to start somewhere and make mistakes than to continue blindly and naively along the status quo. At the end of the day, you owe nothing to anyone, and if you can’t do it, it is your choice to go back. Equally, if you can cut out most animal products but retain a few, this is still better than before. With time, you’ll discover just how easy, accessible and creative it can be.

Where are your favourite go-to places?

Wholesome Junkies – Vegan Junk Food at the Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester, UK. JJ’s Vish and Chips in Manchester, UK. Purezza pizza in Manchester, UK. The Athenian – Greek Street food – various locations across the UK. Mackie Mayor – world food court in Manchester, UK, with many vegan options available,

Any last remarks?

If you are taking a leap of faith and going vegan instantaneously, it can be a bit of a baptism of fire. You begin to realise just how many kinds of foods contain some small amount of milk or egg protein, or even sweets made with gelatine. The easiest step you can take at this stage is to follow vegan food accounts on social media, and ideally these accounts should come from your area. This way, you will discover the kinds of vegan eateries that already exist nearby, and those that you can add to a wishlist if they’re a bit further afield. You will also gain lots of new inspiration for quick and easy recipes on these accounts – remember, most people have very little time to cook and will be in the same position as you when it comes to not wanting to spend hours at the cooker – vegan social media accounts such as @madebyblitz show you just how easy it can be to whip up quick, guilt-free meals.

All images courtesy of @veganbrendan