No living being is suffering for me to eat which once again makes eating enjoyable.

Lauren Karl is an actress, a model and a very successful voice-over artist. Lauren currently manages Just Veganin, a youtube channel that looks at different aspects of Vegan life. Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her.

Please tell us more about yourself

Passionate about veganism & animals
Lauren Karl🌱Vegan Youtuber

I am originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania but I moved out to Berkeley California for University when I was 18 and after that moved down to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. I currently reside in sunny London. While living in London and getting my master’s in Theatre here I also decided to go vegan. Prior to me becoming a vegan I was a pescatarian for a year then changed to being a vegetarian for a year then after watching Earthlings the documentary I immediately switched to being a vegan. This was 12 years ago in 2010 and I have never looked back since.

It was a process for me to become a vegan because the hardest thing for me to give up was cheese but after crying my way through watching Earthlings and really understanding all the animal cruelty going on, especially in the dairy industry, the change came over night. I have always been an animal lover and used to want to be a veterinarian until I got into performing but my love for animals never diminished.

It is an exciting time to be a vegan
Lauren Karl🌱Vegan Youtuber

I used to suffer from IBS and it turns out I was severely lactose intolerant so though I became a vegan for animal rights making the change has allowed me to live a healthier and more comfortable life because with my IBS I would suffer up to 5 hours with stomach pains after I would eat certain foods. Happily since I became a vegan I don’t have the stomach pain anymore which has made eating fun for me again since I can do it pain free.

So being a vegan has really changed my life on that level. From a mental aspect eating a plant based diet is nice because I am able to eat food without the guilt that I harmed an animal to get that food on my plate. I guess for me it is important to know that no living being is suffering for me to eat which once again makes eating enjoyable.

I have been very lucky living in London because the vegan food scene here is quite good which is why I started my vegan YouTube channel Just Veganin and my instagram page @justveganin, to make people aware of all the vegan food and restaurants around and bringing awareness to people as to how available plant based food is. It is an exciting time to be a vegan because the world is becoming more aware of the positive impact that living a vegan lifestyle has on animal welfare, the environment, and people’s health.

The challenges of maintaining a vegan lifestyle

As I have mentioned I have been a vegan for 12 years so years back the challenges I faced with being a vegan were the lack of variety when eating out. I mean there are only so many chips and risottos one can eat. I do think though that the more people who would go out to eat asking for vegan options the more restaurants have tried to accommodate. Thus getting more vegan options on their menus. There is still a way to go but it is exciting seeing more plant based restaurants popping up as well as bigger chains adding more vegan options to their menus making it more accessible to people.

A lot of people come to me for advice on becoming a vegan or on eating less meat since I have my YouTube channel and instagram and I always start by saying first off be kind to yourself and realise that it is a process so if you slip up it is fine because eating less meat or diary than you have before is still making a huge difference. Also think of foods you enjoy eating and see if they are vegan or how you can veganism them. Depending where you live there are more and more vegan restaurants popping up or more restaurants with vegan options so try them and they might even give you inspiration of foods you can make at home. Another tip is to do your research and figure out why you want to become a vegan because having a reason makes it easier to stay on track with it. Finally never be scared to reach out and ask.

If everyone starts with doing a little it can really go a long way
Lauren Karl🌱Vegan Youtuber

Luckily, there is so much available on the internet and there are YouTube channels, instagram links, facebook groups that can allow you to connect with people for recipes, restaurants, lifestyle questions, and inspiration. Most importantly have fun with it and look at it as an adventure of what new foods, brands, skincare products, etc you could be trying.

I think a lot of people associate vegans with being too preachy or judgy. So I think it is important to break down this stereotype because the only way to get people to at least start trying vegan food and a vegan lifestyle is to be inviting rather than confrontational. Everyone is on their own journey and should be helped along the way as opposed to be looked down on. If everyone starts with doing a little it can really go a long way and it will get brands and corporations looking to supply that demand.

Is London a good place for vegans?

All and all a delicious and stylish day out!
Lauren Karl🌱Vegan Youtuber

As I mentioned I have a vegan YouTube channel and I go to a lot of vegan restaurants around London so I would like to recommend a few (though I could go on for days talking about the plant based restaurant scene here.)

Tofu Vegan in Islington has the best authentic Chinese food. The manager told me that though they are a fully vegan restaurant about 50% of their clientele are non vegans. They have the flavours and spices down. I would recommend their triple cooked fish and their wontons but everything on the menu is great so you can’t go wrong here.

Tofu Vegan wontons and triple cooked fish

If you have a sweet tooth you have to try Cake Cult at Hackney Bridge because she bakes some of the best vegan baked goods I have had. Their cookies and brownies are to die for and not overly sugary just simply done to perfection. They also do a wonderful vegan afternoon tea which is presented nicely and will leave you feeling full and satisfied.

If your looking for some vegan comfort food than you must check out Five Buns. Their food is very colourful and instagrammable and so tasty the toppings that they put on the burgers really enhance the eating experience, their arancini balls are some of the best I have had and their tiramisu is honestly the BEST I have ever had vegan or non vegan.

I could go on for ages since London really does have so many great plant based restaurants but my last one I will mention is 123V and this is Alexis Gauthier’s second vegan restaurant. He is a French chief who after researching and understanding the negative effects of eating meat turned his fine dining restaurant Gauthier fully vegan. He is a huge advocate for veganism. 123V serves California style vegan food and they make some of the most realistic vegan sushi I have tried. I also love their quesadillas and burgers. If you are in central London on Bond Street then this is a spot to check out.

“Hey we need to speak up for the rights of others who can’t… Let’s speak up for the rights of animals because they deserve it!”
Lauren Karl🌱Vegan Youtuber

In closing do your research, try new foods, and most importantly have fun with it embracing living a more vegan lifestyle. Look at it as a new adventure where you can try plant based options, find cruelty free and environmentally friendly clothing brands and beauty products, and check out ways to reduce our negative impact on the environment because realise that you are doing this for a greater cause than yourself since this positive change is for you but also for animals and the environment. Enjoy the process 🙂