Nandita is a creator, writer and photographer of 𝑽𝑬𝑮𝑨𝑵𝑯𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑵. She moved to Finland from India back in 2015 for studies and graduated with a Master’s degree in Science. Veganhaven is free of experiences that involve exploitation of animals and everyone can read the content with peace of mind. Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with her.
She told Meatless Movement that travel keeps her going, it’s the excitement of planning, exploring and experiencing new things. All this with a conscious mind, respecting nature and the earth.
Please tell us more about yourself
Hey! I’m Nandita and I live in Helsinki, Finland. I’m originally from India and I moved to Finland for studies over 6 years ago. I hold a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Science. I love travel, taking photos, writing about travels, and so I have my own blog & website called Veganhaven Travel!
I’m no saint but I don’t want to be the devil to animals. That’s why I choose vegan
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I’ve been plant-based for about 5 years and vegan for over 3 years. I say plant-based because, while I was vegetarian, I still didn’t grasp the concept of veganism back then. I didn’t like or have a lot of dairy or eggs and was already using plant-based products, eating vegan etc.
They are individuals who value their lives, just like us. If only we realised this, we would leave them off our plates
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The story began soon after moving to Finland (a place where diets are heavy on meat & dairy products) – I found myself thinking about my own food choices. I used to eat chicken and fish occasionally before (but no other meat – I couldn’t imagine it).
Someone once asked me why I didn’t eat turkey as it’s basically the same. This made me think and of course, a bit uncomfortable about my own habits. I was an animal lover since I was a kid – always the one running around with stray dogs, feeding and taking care of them. I hated animal cruelty and one day realised my own hypocrisy as I was consuming products of animal cruelty. I turned vegetarian.
Cruelty towards animals always upset me – because I feel animals are especially innocent and it’s plain evil to harm them
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Then a couple of years later, I learnt about how the dairy and egg industries work (macerating day old male chicks, separating calves etc.), it was far from cruelty-free. I watched Dairy is Scary on YouTube. The decision to go vegan was immediate. Since I cared about animals and wanted to avoid suffering, it was the only logical decision.
We love travel, animals and food!
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I think the main challenge while eating out is that some restaurants still don’t offer a proper vegan meal. The options are limited compared to the non-vegan ones. I would always give priority to a vegan restaurant but we know this is not always possible.
While eating out with friends, we agree to go somewhere with vegan options, if not a vegan restaurant – so far I’ve had no issues with that, haha. While travelling, it takes a bit of extra research about the place and checking some vegan apps or blogs for good restaurant options.
If only everyone would feel the satisfaction I feel after eating a whole plate of colourful delicious variety of plant food. It’s food that nourishes the body and soul, too. Knowing that I’m not supporting animal cruelty feels good. Being vegan is frustrating when it comes to living in a society that is so blind to animal suffering. When you see the truth behind the products, it’s hard to turn away.
A girl’s gotta eat
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At home I like to make simple meals but also love trying out different recipes (so many great vegan food blogs!). I make Indian food – Lentil dal and rice etc. Lately we’ve been having a lot of (vegan) Mac n’ cheeze. Chickpea omelettes and Buddha bowls are also had often at home. Easy to prepare healthy meals!
Vegan Helsinki
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In Helsinki, there are some great vegan restaurants. My favourites are Thai Vegan Kitchen, Loving Hut – both serve amazing flavourful Asian vegan food. REDI shopping centre’s food court is also good – they have different restaurants with vegan options in one place, including Bun2Bun. the Nordic’s first vegan fast food chain!
When we start seeing other animals as individuals, our perspective changes to see the reality
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The easiest thing would be to start with veganizing your favourite recipes! Stick to dishes you’re familiar with. This is makes the switch to vegan way of eating easy. Just google your dish with the word ‘vegan’ and you’re likely to find a vegan recipe for it. The only thing you need to do is find plant-based alternative ingredients. Also focus on eating a variety of whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits and veg for the best health benefits.
There are many interesting (and even shocking) stories during this period, but I can’t tell about them all, haha! Something positive though has definitely been my own growth and change. I’ve been an activist and tried different approaches but right now I’m sticking with writing and blogging to spread the vegan message <3
Veganism is a moral philosophy and we extend our ethical values to (all) animals
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Thanks for having this interview with me. I hope to inspire people to at least open their mind and think about trying out a vegan lifestyle – it’s very much possible and easy in these days. We only have to unlearn some ideas that we’ve been thought since day 1 about nutrition and needing animal products in our diet.
Sometimes unlearning habits is the hardest part but when we think about the impact we are making, change is possible.
If you like travel and vegan food, find me on the blog Veganhaven Travel and our Instagram page @veganhaventravel!
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📷 All original content by a travel blogger based in Helsinki. Visit Veganhaven👇