Implement small changes into your life to reduce your meat intake, and you never know, you may love the vegan lifestyle!

Montana is a University student living in England. She loves it most when she visits a vegan restaurant where the vegetables were the star of the show, rather than being junk food, or with lots of fake meats. She loves cooking and baking and enjoys sharing her recipes to inspire your meatless diet goals. Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with her.

Tell us more about yourself please

Hi! My name is Montana, I’m 19, and I’m currently living in England. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, but I’m a mix of Asian and European ethnically. I decided to move to the UK when I was thirteen, as I wanted to pursue my passion for performing, and so, studied music at a performing arts school, until I started University last year, where I am studying creative writing. Other than writing and music, I also love painting, cooking, baking, fitness, and of course, animals!

🤍 For the animals 🐶

Vegana Montana

It might sound crazy, but the reason I went vegan, was Bambi (who is a Disney cartoon deer for those who don’t know). I was 11, on a family holiday in Northumberland. We decided to go to a little pub in the village we were staying in, I was scanning the menu, and I asked my parents; “what is venison?” And my stepdad replied; “Bambi.”

That exact moment was when I connected that what was on my plate was once alive. I had never thought about it that way before. I have always loved animals, and I realised my actions were disjunct with my feelings. How could I love something, but pay for it to be killed, just for five minutes of satisfaction? I don’t see a single meal of mine to be worth more than a whole lifetime of pain and suffering, for an innocent animal.

I have not eaten meat since then, but, at first, I was not aware of the cruelty in the dairy and egg industry. However, a few years after, when I was around 15, I saw a video of a dairy farm on Instagram, and that was when I went vegan. As soon as I knew what torture the animals went through, I could never pay for them to be exploited like that.

What are some challenges a vegan might face?

I’m sure many of my fellow vegans are asked on a daily basis, but how do you get enough protein without meat? 😬 let me give you some ideas 🥰

Vegana Montana

The main challenges I face as a vegan are honestly the comments that I receive from people that still eat meat. I have faced a lot of hate towards my lifestyle, people saying; “I’m going to eat ten extra steaks because you’re not,” and other rude comments. But all I can do, is continue living my life the way I want to, continue to spread my message, and hope that one day those people make the compassionate choice.

In England, I have little to no issues when eating out. Every restaurant I have been to has at least one vegan option, or can accommodate a special vegan order, and there are even lots of completely vegan restaurants now! But, just in case, if I’m going out with non-vegan friends and I’m unsure where we are eating, I always make sure to just bring a few snacks with me in case.

Being vegan has positively impacted my life in every way.

Vegana Montana

I used to struggle with my eating. I was restricting myself, always wanting to lose weight, and never having enough energy, then bingeing because I was so hungry, and never eating the right thing. After going vegan, I gained a much healthier relationship with food. I became so much more aware of nutrition, and suddenly, I started eating food I actually enjoyed, rather than just aiming for something with the lowest calories.

Being vegan has positively impacted my life in every way. I am maintaining my ideal health, whilst eating whatever I want. My skin is glowing, I have so much more energy, and I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I don’t feel guilty about eating food anymore, as I know that what I am eating isn’t causing harm to animals, and is so much better for my health, and the environment. It is scary, to think how rapidly climate change is worsening, and many say that they are just one person, and can’t make a difference by going vegan. But now, there are tens of millions of vegans all over the planet, each of which are lowering the demand for animal agriculture. They are all just one person, and every single one makes a difference.

How do you talk to someone about being vegan?

I think many people are put off by the idea that they instantly have to be ‘perfect’ vegans or vegetarians. Whilst I stopped eating meat instantly, my main message to people is always to do what works for you. It’s better to make small, incremental changes that last, rather than stopping instantly and then reverting back to eating meat.

Start off by finding meat free meals that you like, and incorporate those into your diet. Make small switches; like using plant milk, instead of regular milk, or using a plant-based mince, rather than beef in a bolognese for example. Once you are comfortable with a few changes, keep trying new things to find cruelty free switches to everything in your current diet, you will be surprised how easily it will happen when you aren’t under the stress of being perfect!

Another piece of advice is definitely go and visit some 100% vegan restaurants. Whilst it’s great that normal restaurants offer vegan options, if you get the chance to visit a 100% vegan restaurant, they will serve you inventive and delicious food, which you can then mirror in your own cooking. The other thing that is great about fully vegan restaurants is that there will just be so much more for you to choose from, so you will be able to try many different things!

Must Try Meatless, Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Even since a few years ago when I first became vegan, I’m so happy to see how many different cuisines now offer vegan options compared to then 🤩 no missing out 🥰🥳

Vurger Co. (London and Brighton)

Vurger Co. is a completely vegan burger bar! They do all sorts of burgers, salads, mac and cheeze, fries and milkshakes. When I first went, I had their BBQ Brisket Vurger, which was the best burger I’ve ever had. When I went a second time, I had their vegan Caesar salad, and it was one of the best salads I’ve ever had.

Pastan London

Pastan is a completely vegan, Italian inspired restaurant, that has an array of pasta dishes, starters, and desserts (including their famous mini Biscoff donuts)! My favourite dishes are ‘Red Velvet’ (beetroot gnocchi covered with beetroot cheeze sauce, tenderstem broccoli, courgette spaghetti and vegan parmesan) and ‘Green Velvet’ (pea and shallot ravioli with homemade green pesto, and vegan parmesan). The dishes are all so fresh, with no refined ingredients, and as a pasta lover, this was some of the best I’ve had

Unity Diner (London)

UD is London’s biggest 100% vegan diner and cocktail bar! Their mission is to create a compassionate future for all animals, which is why profits go directly towards animal rights work, and they even opened their own animal sanctuary (Surge Sanctuary) in late 2020!
Not only that, but the food is incredible. There is so much to choose from, from their award winning ‘Tofish and Chips’, to hotdogs, burgers, salads, calamari, cakes, the list goes on and on.
My favourite dishes are their vegan ‘Lobster’ Roll, Mozzarella Sticks, Southern Fried Chikken Drumsticks, Salted Caramel Cake and Baked American Cheesecake!

Purezza (London, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol)

Purezza was the UK’s first vegan pizzeria. They have crafted their own unique vegan mozzarella, and their menu is also 95% gluten free! My favourite pizza of theirs is ‘The One with the Truffle’! It has a creamy black truffle mushroom base (rather than tomato), and is topped with mozzarella, pulled porketta, and mixed wild forest mushrooms…it is so delicious!

Wasabi (Various locations across the UK)

Wasabi is not completely vegan, but they do have lots of great vegan options! I love sushi, and they serve an incredible vegan ‘Xalmon’, which is insanely good!

Share with us your favourite homemade vegan recipes:

Tofu Chocolate Mousse

Vegan Rocky Road

Mushroom Risotto

Sheet Pan Roast

A sheet pan roast is an incredibly easy, and cheap way to batch cook! Simply pick an assortment of vegetables (I use aubergine, sweet potato, bell pepper, and onions), and some protein (I used Sainsburys Plant Pioneers “no chicken chunks” and chickpeas).

Cut up all your vegetables, and add to your sheet pan, along with your protein. Drizzle with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper and roast at 180c for 35 minutes, stirring halfway through.

It’s such a simple and cheap meal and goes a long way. You can eat it on its own, add it to soup, with pasta, rice, salad, the list is endless!

What are common misconceptions about vegans?

I think a common misconception about vegans is that what we are doing is radical, or extreme, but actually, it’s not. People don’t think twice about people not eating food they are allergic to, and you should treat veganism in the same way. Our diet, our choice.

That being said, of course a lot of vegans, like myself, try to share their message of going vegan, which often gets met with hate. However, I think if you go about sharing in a compassionate way, rather than posing meat eaters as the ‘other’ or inherently ‘bad’, you will receive far more positive reactions to your message. Instead of telling people that what they are doing is ‘wrong’, ask them why they are doing what they are doing, and if they actually know the dark truth behind what is on their plate.

Educate them about the reality of animal agriculture in a non-confrontational way, and then let them make their own informed decisions.

What advice would you give a person just starting the vegan lifestyle?

As I previously mentioned, just go at your own pace. Make small switches and do what works for you.

I’d also watch some documentaries, like ‘Dominion’, ‘Cowspiracy’, ‘Seaspiracy’, and ‘The Game Changers’, as they will highlight to you the horror of animal agriculture, and reinforce to you why you are trying to make the changes that you are.

I’d also suggest following vegans on social media. Many people, like me, share their meal ideas and recipes every day, and it will be useful to you to see new recipes, so that you can keep your food interesting whilst you are getting used to meat free living!

Just a girl who loves food 🌱🍜❤️

Vegana Montana

Since going vegan, I really became interested in food. I’d always liked cooking and baking, but after constantly hearing people say; “vegan food is boring”, I knew I wanted to make sure I proved that wrong. I would always take pictures of my food, and share them on Instagram, and a few months ago I created an account specifically dedicated to my vegan lifestyle, and it has grown so much since then.

It’s so nice having an online community of other vegans, and even people trying to reduce their meat intake. I get so many messages from people saying that they’ve used my recipes, or my posts have inspired them to try and reduce meat intake, and it’s so nice to be surrounded by supportive people.

Going vegan, for the most part, is not difficult. If you are hesitant, my only suggestion, is just give it a try! Implement small changes into your life to reduce your meat intake, and you never know, you may love the vegan lifestyle! Always feel free to reach out to vegans sharing their story on the internet, I’m sure any of them would be more than happy to help you!

By reducing meat intake, you will be saving so many animal lives, and also, will be helping to slow climate change as best you can!

Montana | 19 | vegan 💕 she/her

💙 Just a girl who loves food 🌱🍜❤️
📍 @lborouniversity | English Lit Student 📚
🤍 For the animals 🐶

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