Heather lives in Australia. She recently became a vegan and actively shares her recipes on her iG account. To her, love is about being kind to others & the planet.
Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her. She told Meatless Movement she is such an ocean baby and she swims most days; she is so blessed to live in a part of the world with so many incredible beaches.
Please tell us more about yourself
I am capable of achieving goals and living a happy life
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
My name is Heather and I am 28 years old. I live in Sydney, Australia – living on Guringai Land in Dee Why on the Northern Beaches! I love reading, travelling, drinking wine, swimming in the ocean, working out, making jewellery and cooking vegan meals of course. I love recycling and am constantly looking for new ways to reduce my carbon footprint and ensure what I am using is reused in the right way. My pronouns are she/her.
I was always interested in vegetarian and vegan meals, and so I became vegetarian in January 2018 as part of a month-long challenge. I enjoyed it so much I decided to stick with it, and I haven’t looked back. I started learning about the environmental impacts of consuming meat, as well as the treatment of animals in meat production which further encouraged me to explore more plant-based options and how to live life more sustainably. I became 100% vegan in June 2021.
I think I am due another trip to this restaurant, they had a whole veggie menu 😍🌱 so many delicious options ✨
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
Sometimes eating out can be challenging depending on the restaurant, however most places have a couple of vegan options, or vegetarian options that you can ask for without the cheese! Sometimes it’s all about just asking questions. I was at a restaurant once and there wasn’t anything plant based on the menu – turns out they had an entire vegan menu, you just had to ask for it! Often chefs will also be able to make something vegan too, so best just to ask the staff.
Making the effort to spend time with the people you love and putting a smile on someone’s face
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
I feel fantastic as a vegan! I have lots of energy and feel lighter. I used to suffer with bloating and digestive issues, which aren’t really a concern for me anymore. I also feel great emotionally, as I have connected with a wonderful online community of like-minded vegan people via Instagram, which is a really lovely feeling.
I love cooking and so when I have someone over for a dinner party, I will cook vegan food for them. Some people are pleasantly surprised at how delicious a vegan option is, even commenting that they wouldn’t have thought this dish was vegan unless I told them it was! Cooking is one of my passions, it relaxes me and I love other people enjoying my food as well, so I’m more than happy to have someone over for dinner to show them just how delicious vegan food can be!
I have veganized my traditional recipe, and the people who tried them approved
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
Simple easy vegan meals: – my mushroom risotto, berry smoothie bowl, noodle soup with shiitake and porcini mushrooms, vegan tofu & avocado sushi, lentil burger with vegan feta.
One of my favourite parts of vegan cooking is how creative it is. There is always a replacement or a plant-based option that can be made using nuts, legumes or beans for example. I never feel like I’m missing out!
With everything going on in the world at the moment, it’s extra important to show each other love and kindness
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
Some of the challenges associated with being vegan is the stigma. Sometimes, I will tell someone that I am vegan and they will assume I will start jumping down their throat with my beliefs, but that definitely is not the case. I like to encourage people to do their own research if they are interested in a plant based diet. My life as a vegan is all about living healthily, sustainably and protecting animals, and there is no aggression or anger towards people who don’t follow a vegan diet at all. There is also a misconception that vegans only eat salad, which in my case is definitely not true!
How to help someone ease into meatless eating
What we can control is how we treat each other and how we can make the most of every day
There are so many great mock meats available now, fresh or frozen, and many of them do mimic the taste of meat. I’ve cooked a couple of dishes with the plant-based meats and had to double check I had bought the right thing, as it really did taste like actual meat. I also recommend just doing a couple of days per week, like Meat-Free Mondays for example, so it isn’t too overwhelming initially. Then you can start building up a range of easy vegan meals to make!
Life is too short to speak to yourself negatively. You are worthy, you are meant to be here, you have a purpose on this earth and you matter
Heather – @groovy.chickpea
Going vegan has opened so many more doors than I thought it would, and I’m thrilled I made the switch. I have managed to connect with some amazing people via Instagram all over the world, support local plant-based businesses, attend events, try out new vegan meals and cruelty-free products and live my best healthiest life. Being vegan has truly changed my life for the better and I’d love to be able to help others get there too.
Heather 🍕 she/her
Personal blog
📍Sydney, Australia
🌱 My plant-based cooking featuring my ceramics & vintage glassware collection
☀️ DM to collab
💛 Be kind to others & the planet
all images courtesy of Heather