Since 2019, Emily has embraced veganism, driven by her belief that plant-based food can be just as delightful and fulfilling as its meat-based counterparts. Her journey towards this lifestyle began early, abstaining from meat since the tender age of 8.
Armed with a degree in Drama and English Literature, Emily infuses creativity into her culinary experiments, constantly seeking new flavors and textures in the kitchen. When she’s not concocting delicious vegan meals, Emily can be found doting on her two canine companions—a boxer-staffie cross and a spirited golden retriever.
Lockdown boredom birthed Emily’s online platform, which has evolved into a thriving community of fellow food enthusiasts. While she calls Surrey home, Emily’s frequent jaunts to London for both work and social escapades keep her on her toes.
Beyond her culinary pursuits, Emily channels her passion for animal welfare into action, volunteering for The Humane League. As a performer, she captivates audiences with her talent, but her heart lies in advocating for animal rights, harboring aspirations of pursuing a career in animal activism and welfare. Join Emily as she navigates through her flavorful journey, uncovering the best vegan fare along the way.
Please tell us more about yourself
Vegan living in London 🌱
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
My name is Emily, or Embo, as some people call me! I’m 24 years old and live in Leatherhead, Surrey but work in London. I am a performer as well as a writer and content creator. I am currently building up my communications experience as I would love to work for an animal welfare company doing content creation.
Currently I work Front of House at a London Theatre, which is super fun but I hope to do something more impactful for the animals in the future.
I feel great! Switching over to a cruelty free diet definitely lifts a weight off your shoulders and improves overall well-being
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
I haven’t eaten meat in 16 years! So when I was 8 years old I was watching David Attenborough on Countryfile. They were talking about animal farming and I decided that I couldn’t bare to eat these cute and innocent animals any longer!
I went pescatarian at 8 years old, vegetarian at 16 and vegan at 19. I am mainly vegan for moral reasons. Why should we sacrifice another sentient being for the short-lived pleasure of our tastebuds? Plus the added bonus of veganism being more sustainable for the environment, and the health benefits are great too! The only negative, is that I wish I opened my eyes and went vegan sooner.
When someone asks if I miss meat/dairy.. NO! Why would I when there’s so many incredible cruelty free options out there now 💚
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
I am super lucky to live in London and have so many vegan options but I always have to pre-check the menus of new restaurants to make sure there’s options for me.
However if I’m in an area I’m unfamiliar with I always use the HappyCow website to find the best vegan options. I also look to Facebook groups such as ‘London Vegans’ for local suggestions and ‘Vegan Travel’ for recommendations when I’m going abroad. I recently visited Paris and this group gave me lots of great options!
There’s so much delicious vegan food nowadays that I don’t understand why people STILL prioritise their taste buds over the lives of another being
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
Some of my favourite vegan restaurants in London are:
- Tofu Vegan– Asian Cuisine that combines both vegetable and plant-based meat dishes to satisfy everyone’s tastes!
- Pastan: the best vegan pasta in London!
- Farmacy: sustainably sourced produce and super delicious! Plus the restaurant is super pretty and aesthetic: full of plants.
- Mildred’s: the OG vegan restaurant in London, which has now grown into a franchise. Has a variety of dishes and they’re all amazing!
Start slowly, incorporating one vegan meal a day or designating vegan days
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
Don’t try to go from being a full on meat eater to a plant-based diet overnight, unless you’re super confident, because it just won’t work!
Whenever I speak to people who say they gave up being vegan, they always tell me they went vegan overnight. Whilst this can work for some, the majority of people will find it super hard as your body and taste buds won’t have adjusted.
It took me months to switch from just a vegetarian to a vegan diet, by gradually making swaps and educating myself more. So my advice is that every little helps and to gradually make cuts so it isn’t a drastic diet switch.
Connect with vegan communities for advice, support, and shared experiences
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
I’m proud to say my dad was in the Hunt Saboteurs when he was younger. Whilst I am not that physically involved in the disruption of animal cruelty, I hope my efforts as a peaceful animal activist and vegan content creator will do some good for the animals!
Thank you so much Meatless Movement for allowing me the opportunity to speak out about my experience as a vegan and to hopefully encourage others to make the switch to a plant based diet.
Don’t be scared to reach out to me on my socials for any recommendations or advice! I would love to connect with you all!
Emily Styrka 🌱 | vegan recipes & food
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