I was so anxious before this graduation trip. I worried that I’d subconsciously restrict my food and only opt for salads, skip desserts, and tasty drinks

In our first interview with Sasha, she shared how switching to plant-based milk and opting for meatless dishes has positively impacted her body and lifestyle. As a vegan college student in Hong Kong, Sasha gave us a virtual tour of her favorite meatless restaurants in this bustling city. If you missed it, you can check out that interview below.

Switching to plant-based milk and opting for a meatless dish will make such a big impact for YOU and YOUR body

In this follow-up conversation, we reconnect with Sasha to dive deeper into her journey as a vegan, explore her diverse culinary adventures, and discuss her role as an advocate for plant-based living. She also shares her vision for a more compassionate future, balancing her passion for food with her commitment to educating others.

1. Reflecting on Your Continued Journey:

Sasha | Hong Kong | UGC creator & Traveller

I’ve had the chance to travel to different places since our last conversation, where I explored different vegan/ cuisines!

Cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China, as well as Pattaya, Thailand, have amazing plant-based food.

Perhaps one milestone I could mention would be bringing my brother to a vegan restaurant and having him try the food! He’s a big meat eater, so seeing him enjoy a plant-based meal was rewarding.

Recently, I started working with green brands, such as GreenPrice and JUSTGREEN Mall. It’s very rewarding to be recognized by others who are also striving to make an impact!

2. Diverse Culinary Adventures:

I recently started incorporating vegan cheese into my meals, which definitely adds a unique kick to my otherwise standard meals!

Additionally, with my latest visit to my hometown, Marbella, Spain, I had the chance to discover new veganised foods that our local retailers started to carry, such as chorizo, tuna, truffle, and smoked cheese! Everything was so great that I brought some items back to Hong Kong for my partner and his family to try.

My mom and I cooked a vegan pie with tuna, which was a dish I used to have a lot of growing up. It’s amazing to finally see veganised versions of dishes and food I long said goodbye to.

3. Advocacy and Education:

I don’t aim to educate anyone, that isn’t my goal. My goal is to show a bright and exciting lifestyle, that happens to be vegan!

I notice that it is more impactful to spread my message causally and simply integrate it into my content and daily life.
Some people get taken aback to find out that I’m vegan because of how effortlessly I portray my diet, which in turn piques their interest.

My only tip for effective education is to be open-minded and understand that people are used to their way of living. I love to eat at vegan restaurants with my friends and partner, but I don’t focus on the vegan aspect when pitching the location, just how delicious the food is; this takes away from the “fear” and unfamiliarity of eating at a plant-based restaurant and highlights something we can all bond over – a great culinary adventure.

4. Balancing Passion and Compassion:

I never really struggled with this. In 2024, most restaurants have at least some options available for me! My friends and family are supportive, so they always pick a location with at least one veggie option available for me.

Of course, I do love my high-vegan protein meals, which are not always available at non-vegan restaurants and I might have to stick to a basic salad from time to time. However, for me, it’s about spending time with my loved ones, so I don’t mind 🙂

5. A Vision for the Future:

With the rise of plant-based alternatives in the West, I’m excited to see what else they will have in store soon!
As for Hong Kong – I do hope the demand grows and supply consequently increases because the city is missing out on a lot of amazing alternatives or offers them at inaccessible prices.

I’d love to integrate veganism into my content further! Perhaps showing more vegan skincare or other items. However, I want to do this very casually, simply showing that some items can be effortlessly cruelty-free; many people believe that veganism is a high-maintenance lifestyle but I want to demonstrate that this isn’t the case 🙂