Keely is the spirited protagonist of “Keely vs the Kitchen”! Hailing from Ireland, Keely is a vibrant individual with a passion for various pursuits that bring her joy. With a love for devouring scrumptious meals, indulging in writing, capturing moments through the lens of a camera, and sharing laughter with others, Keely’s zest for life is truly contagious.
Prior to 2022, Keely found herself immersed in the corporate world, working for a prominent Tech company. However, her desire for something more exhilarating led her to make a courageous decision. Opting to trade in the stability of a salary and a secure job, she embarked on a new adventure, armed with nothing but a backpacking budget and a willingness to embrace the uncertainties of the unknown.
Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with Keely.
Keely firmly believes that a plant-based lifestyle does not entail sacrificing enjoyment or missing out on the wonders of food.
Tell us more about yourself, please
I guess you’re here because you want to know a bit about me, Keely.
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
Hi, I am Keely from Ireland. My day job is in tech, but I also love to cook, eat, travel, write, take photos, paint and craft… there are not enough hours in the day! I combine most of these on my website keelyvsthekitchen.com where I document my recent travels and share restaurant recommendations and recipes.
What motivated you to become vegan?
In 2019 I changed to a plant-based diet and discovered a love of cooking.
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
I have been vegan for 4 years but before that, I had an on-again/off-again relationship with vegetarianism.
It all changed for me when I was in Thailand in 2019, I was eating fish at the time and one day, looking at prawns on my plate, I realised I could not do it anymore. On the plane back to Ireland I decided to go fully vegan and it has honestly changed my life for the better.
I am lucky to live in a city like Dublin that has so many vegan restaurants and vegan options, there’s never an issue eating out here. But it is not so easy everywhere, I spent the last year backpacking around Southeast Asia where sometimes it was a struggle.
Countries, like Vietnam, have tons of vegan places to eat and incredible fresh vegetables and herbs but other countries can be more difficult. I ate a lot of fresh fruit in the Philippines and sought out ways to cook for myself as the country’s diet is quite meat-heavy. There were times when I had to make compromises, like when visiting Kuala Tahan in Malaysia, everything.
I ordered seemed to have an egg on it, even when I was sure I was getting it right. I had to be
ok with it, suck it up and try to get it right next time.
How do you feel about being a vegan?
I firmly believe that there is no “missing out” when eating plant-based, in fact, I think it’s the opposite!
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
I never really liked the taste of meat. I ate it because it is what was on my plate growing up but I didn’t get any enjoyment out of it. I hated pork unless it was super processed, my mum kindly made me a separate dinner when she was serving it. Perhaps it was because my Grandfather had a pig farm when I was a child, I think from a young age I made the connection between the pork on my plate and the pigs on the farm. It wasn’t for me.
Now as an adult with a full understanding of what’s on my plate and what’s in the field, it’s not a difficult choice. I’ve always loved animals and can’t bring myself to see them as food anymore. My health is also very important to me and there is nothing that can convince me that eating animal flesh is going to keep me healthy and strong.
How can one encourage someone who isn’t vegetarian or vegan to try meatless food?
There is far more variety of flavour and texture in my plant-based cooking than there ever was before
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
Most of the time I won’t tell people to try vegan food, instead, I will show them how tasty it can be. Desserts work best. Often they will say “ I can’t believe this is not ‘normal’ food”. I once had a work colleague tell me proudly that he ordered a vegan dessert in a café because I had shown him that vegan desserts can be just as good as non-vegan ones.
But if I was to try to talk someone around I would say just give it a go, start small, introduce some meatless dishes into your weekly meal plans and see how you like it. You do not have to go “fully vegan”, experiment, open up your options and you never know, you may enjoy it. Remember, a bag of chips (French fries) is usually vegan and nobody hates chips so you won’t “hate” vegan food.
I have found plant-based substitutes for so many things and managed to veganize all of my favourite meals
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
I love to cook and I love to eat. I often challenge myself to turn some of my (old) favourite dishes vegan and most of the time it’s a success. Most dishes made with minced beef can be made with lentils instead, lasagne being a prime example. I adore lasagne!
But bread is my weakness, I love the smell of it, I love the taste of it, and I love to bake it. There are great vegan butters on the market now, so many substitutions for eggs, and buttermilk can be made by adding acid to plant-based milk, e.g. lemon juice and oat milk.
Slather hummus on a slice of bread and you have my heart. Going vegan helped me realise that cauliflower is king, man it is the most versatile vegetable. I eat a lot of cauliflower. One of my favourite ways to have it is baked and covered in a sticky orange sauce. Yum!
Oyster mushrooms are a key ingredient for me, such a good substitute for chicken. I regularly make Southern fried oyster mushrooms, so good!
My favourite spot to eat out in Dublin is Cornucopia, it’s a family-run, wholefoods vegan restaurant that has been open for over 35 years. The food is homely and portion sizes are generous.
When I want something a little less healthy I head to Saucy Cow for a mushroom burger and
fries. It’s a cool spot with great tunes and delicious food.
Debunking Misconceptions Surrounding Vegans and Vegetarians
When you stop eating meat everyone becomes concerned about your health. They become experts on protein and iron which is ironic as they are usually completely wrong. If you eat predominantly whole foods and a wide variety of them, you will be fine!
I take a B12 supplement all year and vitamin D in Winter when sunshine is scarce in Ireland. This is advice I would give to everyone in Ireland. I know more carnivores with a B12 deficiency than vegans because vegans tend to be more conscious of not getting enough.
The world is moving more towards plant-based food and I’ve been exploring and munching on as much as possible during my travels
KEELY VS THE KITCHEN
When I became vegan I was told that I could not be healthy this way but honestly, I am the healthiest I have ever been. I did my homework, I continue to do my homework. I read books about nutrition, veganism and health, pairing foods together to encourage better absorption (tomatoes and spinach for the win!), and I researched which foods and drinks to avoid (no cup of tea at meal times anymore).
If you are starting out on a vegetarian/vegan journey, I want you to know that you can do it! You are improving your health and the health of the planet. Join a community for moral support, there are thousands of us on Instagram waiting to cheer you on! We share recipes and inspiration to help you along the way. Start with easy recipes at home and expand your repertoire as your confidence grows.
And don’t be afraid to ask for a vegan option in a restaurant, most of the time something
can be adapted and the restaurant is happy to oblige.
Becoming vegan is the best decision I have made. I have developed a better understanding of food, where it comes from and how it fuels my body. I enjoy the process of cooking and eating and adore seeing non-vegans love the dishes I make.
You can find me on Instagram @keelyvsthekitchen or my website
www.keelyvsthekitchen.com
Keely
Plant based travel and eating, lots and lots of eating.
4 years 🚫🐄
🌱
all images courtesy of Keely