Millie is a food enthusiast whose culinary journey is nothing short of inspiring. Hailing from the heart of Yorkshire, UK, Millie’s upbringing was steeped in the rich tradition of hearty meat dishes, potatoes smothered in gravy, and the comforting embrace of home-cooked meals.
However, over the last four years, she has embarked on a mission to demonstrate just how effortlessly one can transition into veganism, all while refusing to compromise on the vibrant and delicious flavors she holds dear. Millie’s passion shines through her Instagram account, which she has masterfully curated into a comprehensive guide for all things vegan.
From invaluable tips to mouthwatering homemade recipes and recommendations for delightful destinations across the UK, Millie’s feed, @vegan_millielovesanimals, is a haven for anyone seeking a delectable and compassionate journey into the world of plant-based living.
Tell us more about yourself, please
My name is Millie, and I am a self confessed foodie! With being brought up within Yorkshire, UK, my diet revolved around warm hearty meat dishes and potatoes with lashings of gravy and home cooked comforts. My aim over the past 4 years is to show how easy transitioning into veganism can actually be, no compromising on flavours and showing how any meat based dish can be easily veganised! I share so much through my Instagram account which is laid out as a go to guide of tips, homemade recipes to explore and places to visit around the UK @vegan_millielovesanimals
Tell us what made you decide to turn vegan
As an animal lover I am vegan for them. I have basically had to unlearn everything I was taught as a child as many others have, that certain animals are bred for food and we need to eat them for our protein consumption to survive and thrive. I can only describe what I felt as a light bulb going off, a switch made of realisation that these animals bred for consumption have feelings, emotions and nervous systems. They feel pain and sadness, as does a dog, a cat, and a human being.
So since that day around 7 years ago I started gradually cutting down on my meat intake to live a vegetarian lifestyle for around 3 years, then transitioning into veganism after whitnessing what horrors happen within the dairy industry. A friend introduced me to Oatly barista milk 4 years ago to add to my morning coffees and cups of strong yorkshire tea, being the last step I took to fully transition into veganism – and I have never looked back!
To someone just beginning to go meatless, what is your advice?
A little advice I would probably give is to discover new flavour combinations and learning to cook with different herbs and spices to elevate dishes. Discover the wonders of what seitan is and how to properly prepare and marinate firm tofus for an explosion of flavour. Food should be enjoyed and savoured so experimenting with your home cooking and purchasing a couple of vegan cook books is key.
What is a veganised meal or recipe you’re especially proud of?
I love to cook, bake and feed loved ones so I am especially proud to say I have prepared and cooked a couple of plant based Christmas dinners that were an absolute triumph! Proving that any dish can be veganised, not one part of the banquet was missed out! Serving a ‘beef’ Wellington, a ‘turkey’ seitan crown, homemade stuffing alongside agave nectar glazed Chantenay carrots with parsnips and insanely crispy yet light roasted potatoes. Loved ones discovered how incredibly tasty vegan food actually is and animal products are just not needed for flavour and texture.
My home cooked Christmas dinner with all the trimmings!
What are some of your favourite plant based brands?
My personal favourite go to plant based brands found in UK supermarkets are THIS, OUMPH! Juicy marbles and vegetarian butcher for meat replicas, and Mummy Meegz and Loveraw for dairy free popular creamy chocolate bar replicas. Mummy Meegz is home to the vegan creme egg and love raw to the kinder Buenos.
Where would you recommend to dine out at that you’ve visited recently?
Every city in the UK has incredible vegan businesses to support and here are some of mine and my partners favourite mouthwatering hot spot recommendations;
Within Sheffield, our go to contemporary cafe would be Tigs. Their in house baked buttery bagels are THE best bagels I have ever eaten. Their topped and filled bagel dishes are showstoppers in their own right. Whether it be savoury or sweet you fancy for your brunch or lunch, the Tigs gang have you covered. With a vegan full English offering black pudding and tofu scramble, to French toast with creamy marmite mushrooms, olive oil and pea shoots to an array of freshly baked cakes and puddings for you to eat in or take home. Their sensational creative menu and specials board update weekly to keep you on your toes, and of course not forgetting their innovative flavoured artisan coffees with beautiful decorations.
Wawin vegan Chinese which serves up every Chinese dish imaginable – but veganised! Recently Wawin have expanded their menu to serve Japanese freshly rolled vegan fish sushi to fool any salmon or tuna sashimi or nigiri loving individual!
Wawin have restaurants dotted around the UK in York, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham.
Then to Manchester located in the vibrant Northern Quarter is Purezza. Such a beautiful restaurant home to Manchesters finest vegan sourdough pizzas. With an authentic full Italian menu leaving you relaxed and satisfied. They also have restaurants nestled in Brighton and Camden, London.
Don’t forget many chain restaurants have so many delicious options to enjoy also;
Such as Frankie and Benny’s, Yo sushi and Wagamama with a mouth watering 50% of their menu being plant based.
What helps guide you or keep you on track in the early stages entering veganism?
You could visit a nearby sanctuary to see the good that rescuing can do and hear some of the stories told and meet like minded people, or simply take a walk in nature as I often do, feed the birds and appreciate all the wildlife and sense of calm you feel. Spring lambs frolicking with their mothers and cows grazing together as they should be, not bred for a short lift to become a meal, but appreciating life together – witnessing the meat products as a living gentle being.
Is it ever too late to change your lifestyle?
Entering a vegan life can feel daunting to begin with but remember every one starts somewhere with any new path they choose to head down. No one is perfect, and every little helps. Every single person making a lifestyle change to end cruelty to animals is significant and keep in your thoughts why you are deciding to make these small changes that will make a big difference.
If it be for health reasons or compassionate ones, ethical or to help the fight against climate change. Anyone can cut down or gradually cut out meat and dairy as long as your meals are fulfilling and satisfying, so you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything.
What tips would you advise for someone entering veganism?
A multivitamin and B12 is advised to begin with until you discover which meat substitutes, fruits and vegetables you can get your full days worth of vitamins from. So many people are low on certain key vitamins for a healthy body and immune system without knowing so I feel everyone should have their bloods checked and consume a multivitamin each morning regardless so you are covered.
What are some misconceptions about a vegan?
Currently we are living in an age with an abundance of meat and dairy like for like alternatives. Every meat based dish can be veganised – therefore I feel there are no excuses to not try something new and explore all what veganism has to offer!
No vegan lives a bland lifestyle of just salads or vegetables. Any person at any age can become vegan leading any kind of lifestyle. Gone are the days of a stereotyped vegan, compassionate people from all walks of life want to make a difference and you will not be deficient in any vitamin either if you research what health benefits are in the plant based dishes that you wish to explore. You can quickly lower your cholesterol, increase your fibre intake and potentially live a healthier life.
If you want to see some easy changes you could make from today – follow my Instagram account
@vegan_millielovesanimals
Millie 🌱
For The Animals
📍Sheffield
🌱writer for @vlanduk
🍴Restaurant & cafe recommendations
💚Easy alternatives
👩🍳Recipes
🌱5 yrs
💌DM for collabs
all images courtesy of Millie 🌱