Each vegan meal I make feels like it’s created from a place of love rather than torture, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.

Emily is a 29-year-old from the UK who radiates passion for living a compassionate and conscious life. As someone who has journeyed from lifelong vegetarianism to becoming a devoted vegan, Emily’s commitment to her values shines brightly.

For over a decade, Emily has embraced the vegan lifestyle, and her dedication doesn’t stop at her own choices. As a mother to a vibrant 3-year-old, she’s raising her child with the same vegan principles she holds dear. In her moments of leisure, Emily thrives on staying active – whether it’s lacing up her running shoes or diving into the pool. Animal sanctuaries hold a special place in her heart, offering moments of connection and cuddles that warm her soul.

An integral part of Emily’s journey is her involvement with Challenge 22, where she volunteers her time to guide and support new vegans and those curious about the lifestyle. This fulfilling role allows her to inspire and encourage others on their own compassionate paths.

Meatless Movement had the opportunity to chat with her recently

Emily discovered that being vegan aligned not only with her ethical values but also with practical benefits. She found that her student budget appreciated the lower shopping bills, and she reveled in the diverse array of flavors and cuisines that veganism introduced her to. With time, she unearthed the personal health advantages and broader environmental impacts of her choices, solidifying her dedication to the cause.

Today, Emily stands as a proud vegan, armed with over 10 years of experience and a heart full of passion. Her journey is a testament to the power of unwavering commitment, genuine care for animals, and the transformative potential of living in harmony with our beliefs.

Please tell us more about yourself

Hi, I’m Emily. I am 29 years old and I am from the UK.

A decade of the best food I’ve ever had in my life 🌈,
A decade of hugely reducing my impact on the planet 🌍,
And most importantly…A decade of sparing countless precious lives 🐮🐣
Emily 🍋

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I am a lifelong vegetarian-turned vegan, and I have been fully vegan for over a decade now. I am a mum to a 3 year old who I am also raising vegan. In my spare time, I love to stay active; I am a keen runner and love to swim.

I also love visiting animals sanctuaries for all of the cuddles! I have been a volunteer for Challenge 22 for many years now which is incredibly rewarding, helping new vegans or the vegan-curious on their journeys.

From a lovely sanctuary called Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary (FARS)

I have been meat-free since birth as my parents raised my brothers and I as vegetarians. I have always seen myself as a huge animal lover and wanted to avoid causing harm to all animals, as well as advocate for them.

I remember sticking pictures from animal charities on my childhood bedroom walls, and creating posters about how to save the animals.

When I was about 10 years old, I was handed some Viva! leaflets outside of a pet shop, detailing some of the atrocities of the dairy industry, as well as other issues, including, exotic leather. I was heartbroken to learn that by being vegetarian, I was still consuming products of animal cruelty and suffering.

I was young and didn’t know that being vegan was even an option at that time, especially since there was – and still is – a lot of misinformation out there about requiring animal products in our diets. However, the atrocities of the dairy industry always stayed with me.

When I left home to study at university, I began looking into the products that I was now purchasing for myself. I decided to try being vegan for one month, and never looked back since! I found that my shopping bills were far cheaper which was a big bonus for me, being on a tight student budget.

Being vegan is an act of love ❤️‍🔥
Emily 🍋

With time, I was also exploring more variety and flavours in food than I ever had before. I later learned about the personal health benefits of being vegan, as well as the enormous wider benefits to the planet, which is really important to me as an environmentalist. I have been a proud vegan for over 10 years now.

Veganism has risen in popularity exponentially in recent times. Over the last decade, I have personally seen the vegan movement transform from being relatively unheard of, to the mainstream.

When I first went vegan, in the vast majority of restaurants, I would need to check the menu in advance and carefully plan to make adjustments, for example, asking if they could create a dish for me, or asking for a pizza without the cheese, etc.

Now, in the UK, almost every restaurant here has either a vegan menu, or clearly labelled vegan options. Similarly, 10 years ago, I was buying many ‘accidentally vegan’ products when shopping because veganism wasn’t recognised enough to be a standard in labelling. Now, there are entire plant-based sections within supermarkets full of vegan-labelled products.

I feel thrilled to know how many people have driven that demand for vegan products through their combined individual compassionate choices, and I am proud to be a part of that.

There’s never been an easier time to go vegan
Emily 🍋

I love being vegan! I am happy and healthy, and I eat a much wider variety of food than ever before! I used to pour the cows’ milk out of my cereal growing up because it would disturb me so much that it came from the udders of a different species who had been exploited, but now, the way I eat aligns with my beliefs on how we should be treating fellow animals on the planet.

Each vegan meal I make feels like it’s created from a place of love rather than torture, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.

Our favourite breakfast 😋🌱🌈 They’re so much fun to switch up the flavours and toppings each time!
Emily 🍋

My favourite breakfast to make (that my little boy equally loves) is smoothie bowls! I love the colourful wholefoods involved, and the combination of different textures. They are so easy and quick to make but really fill me up, and satisfy my sweet tooth!

My top tip is to buy frozen fruit, or freeze your own. I like to buy fruit that is from the reduced section of the supermarket and chop and freeze it for convenience, and to save money! I also love making banana pancakes, and ‘nice cream’ from frozen bananas for other sweet treats!

For more vegan-friendly restaurant options near you, check out the @happycow app! 💜🐮🌍
Emily 🍋

For eating out, I find the HappyCow app a real lifesaver. I use it regularly to discover vegan and veg-friendly restaurants both in my local area, and when travelling to new places. I love supporting vegan businesses whilst travelling. Some of my favourite restaurant discoveries include:

The Barn: an all-vegan pub in Warwickshire, UK, which offers incredible vegan carveries every Sunday,
Unity Diner: a non-profit restaurant in London that offers some interesting vegan options that may appeal to those coming from a meat-based background, including 3D printed steaks, vegan lobster, and other vegan seafood. I really love that their profits fund animal rights work, as well as an animal sanctuary,
Purezza: an all-vegan pizza restaurant with several locations across the UK. The food is so delicious here, and who doesn’t love pizza!?

from the Vegan Carvery at The Barn, Warwickshire

My advice to anyone just beginning their journey would be to look at the meals that you already enjoy as a starting point. There is likely to already be vegan or ‘accidentally vegan’ foods in your diet without you realising! For the rest, look into where you can make small swaps, such as:

Swapping dairy milk for plant-based milk (there are so many vegan milk choices out there. If you don’t like one, there are plenty of others you can try until you find the one that’s right for you!),
Swapping meat for vegan meat, seitan, or legumes, such as beans, lentils or tofu. I like to use beans in place of meat in Mexican food, such as, burritos and chillis, and I like to use lentils in lasagnas. I love vegan sausage sandwiches also!
Swapping eggs for vegan egg alternatives, or tofu. I love tofu scramble, tofu ‘egg mayonnaise’, and tofu ‘fried egg’. The key to achieving the eggy flavour is by adding kala namak (black salt)!
Breaking it down into smaller swaps such as these can make the transition feel much more manageable until one day it becomes second nature.

I also recommend signing up to Challenge 22 which is a completely free resource to use. We have experienced mentors and dietitians on-hand to answer any of your questions and guide you through your journey through 22 days of fun daily challenges! It can also be useful for finding a community of likeminded individuals who are also at the beginning of their journeys. Having people who are on the same page as you can be really helpful.

Please leave animals off your plate 💚
Emily 🍋

We all have the power to do so much good with something as easy as swapping some of the foods we eat for more compassionate and sustainable options. Let’s keep fighting for a kinder world for all!

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