It’s still not everywhere but there is a constant evolution and that’s all that matters

Pauline is from Switzerland. She actively tries and share new recipes from different regions on her IG account. When she started she didn’t know where this journey would take her. What she knew is that she cared about the animals, that her vegan lifestyle made her feel good and that she felt the need to share it.

Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her.

Pauline told Meatless Movement that we all looove delicious food and that it is time to prove to the world that you don’t have to compromise. You can eat healthy, nutritious, balanced food that tastes good without hurting any animal or the environment.

She loves sharing her love for this vegan lifestyle & it feels good to see that so many people are into it! It’s a beautiful community and she couldn’t be more grateful to be part of it.

Tell us more about yourself, please.

My name is Pauline, I am a 24 years old girl from Italy and Switzerland. I grew up in Switzerland and that’s where I’m currently living.

Life-changing decision and I’m sooo glad I made it so young. Mind, heart and actions are aligned and it shows
Pauline

I went vegan in high school. I was 18 at that time so it’s been 6 years already. I have always loved animals, not only pets but every kind ever since being a child. I grew up eating a regular diet but I’ve always felt like there was something wrong with eating meat. I would always think about the dead animal instead of the actual piece of meat on my plate. I remember telling my mom that I did not want to eat that steak, she thought it was just a phase and that I would be okay with eating meat again very soon.
If only she knew !

Apart from the ethical reasons, I was also interested in healthy foods and trying to control my weight. When starting to eat fully vegan, I noticed that it was much easier for me to eat without frustration or second thought and still maintain a healthy weight. I lost 4 kilos, healed my relationship with food and felt more confident and happy in my body.

A funny story is that my best friend actually went vegan at the exact same time without us even talking about it ! We are connected and go through similar phases in life and we just had that sudden awakening at the same time. She’s the only vegan friend I have so it’s nice to talk with her about my thoughts and challenges as a vegan.

What’s the toughest part of being a vegan?

To be honest the only thing I don’t like about veganism is having to justify myself every time I meet a new person. I also have to explain why I went vegan, respond to their repetitive questions and arguments. After 6 years of being vegan I can tell you I’m over it !

Eating at restaurants can also be challenging here in Switzerland because if you go to a typical place they would only have a green salad and fries for you. What I can say though is that they are usually open to make a special dish that’s not on the menu if you explain clearly what you can and cannot eat.

Still in love with all that food & lifestyle ✨🌱
Pauline

Honestly? That’s one of the best life decisions I’ve made, I would never think about going back to my old diet. It’s just so nice to eat everything you want without any guilt because you know that no animal suffered or died for it. We live in an amazing time because new vegan products are created every day. I can clearly see the difference compared to when I first went vegan. The supermarket aisles get bigger and
bigger. It makes it so much more exciting because there’s always something new for you to try out there. And everything just tastes so good !

How to persuade people to seriously consider changing their diets

So blessed to live in a time with sooo many alternatives, it has never been easier to be vegan 👏🏼 thanks to our ancestors too who have paved the way eating rice and beans
Pauline

The best way to go about it is to show them. That’s why I first started to post my meals on Instagram. I wanted people to see that there’s a great variety of dishes to eat as a vegan – no, we don’t only eat veggies and salads. Leading by example is great but we also need activists who will show the reality of slaughterhouses for example, and how animals are treated for the production of milk or eggs. These shocking images make you question immediately your choices.

I mostly cook my meals at home because I find it healthier, cheaper and even better. A must for me is pasta. It’s so versatile and I know I will never get tired of it. Carbonara, bolognese, mac and cheese… I can veganize it all !

My Italian roots are probably speaking here but I can’t go a week without pizza. I like it with lots of veggies on top. Artichoke hearts and black olives are mandatory !

Since I love making flavorful meals with lots of spices, curry is one of my favorites dishes to cook. The spicier, the better !

And when I’m travelling I love trying all the vegan restaurants. I recently went to this 100% vegan burger place in Paris, Naked Burger.

Paul in Dubai also had a great variety of vegan options. I got the Vegan Feta Barley Salad.

Vegan feta barley salad from Paul in Dubai

Myths about veganism that just aren’t true!

That it’s a restrictive diet.

The thing people don’t understand is that nowadays we can veganize any non-vegan meal. There are just so many alternatives out there ! Being vegan is so much easier than it seems.

What advice would you give to someone considering veganism?

Have a strong « why ». When you know the reason you’re doing it it gets so much easier. Put things into perspective : what’s more important ? An animal’s entire life or 5 minutes of pleasure in your plate ?
Veganize all your favorite dishes. Find what you like. That’s the only way to make your diet sustainable.

Don’t be afraid of eating bigger quantities. Since vegan food is generally lower in calories, you have to make sure you’re eating enough.

Learn how to make balanced meals. I always try to include one serving of protein, one of starch and one of veggies. Healthy fats are also important. Get your blood checked regularly and take b12 supplements.

If you feel like one person won’t make a difference, you’re wrong ! Leading by example is so much more powerful than you think. I can’t count the number of times my non-vegan friends told me things like « I tried this vegan dish today, I loved it » or « I’m not going fully vegan for now but I’m reducing my consumption of meat ».