Introduce yourself…

My name is Jamie and I’m a history teacher, working in Surrey. My hobbies include playing
drums in my band and hanging out with my friends. I went vegan half way through my
undergraduate degree (which was about four years ago now). Initially, I had found it hard to
imagine what a vegan diet would look like in practice, but I was inspired to change by the
examples of some of the musicians that I love and of the activists in my university’s animal
rights group. Given that animals suffer intensely for their entire lives in order to produce the
majority of animal products that we eat in the developed world, why should we support
these practices, when we can just eat delicious plant-based foods instead?

 

What do you eat for Breakfast?

I have cereal with almond or oat milk, but I’m a bit chocolate obsessed, so I
often have toast with (dairy free) chocolate spread, or oats with Alpro chocolate milk.

What do you have for lunch?

I take leftovers from last night’s dinner into work in a tupperware box and heat
it up in the microwave there. Sometimes I buy a jacket potato and beans, or soup and bread
from the college’s canteen. Other times, I bring in Huel, which is a really convenient meal
replacement powder and drink, that my (non-vegan) university friend introduced me to.

 

What is your go-to dinner dish?

If I’m cooking for myself, I’ll usually make curries, stir fries or pasta with some sort of plant-
based meat in it. I’m a big fan of both cheap own brand soy products (e.g. mince, or Holland
and Barrett’s unflavoured soy protein) and other branded products (especially Fry’s and
Linda McCartney’s), so I’ll usually have one of these in the meal. If I’m cooking with others,
I’ll sometimes try something a bit fancier and healthier.

Do you have a favourite snack for energy during the day?

I am lucky that my place of work sells loads of different flavours of vegan flapjacks. My favourite is the chocolate one!

 

How do you plan your week? Do you create a meal plan or go with the flow?

I always go with the flow.

 

How do you find eating out?

Very easy, especially when I go into London. Otherwise, there are lots of great Asian restaurants near me that have excellent vegan options.

 

Favourite recipe?

What’s a recipe? I tend to just throw vegetables, spices and plant-based meats or
pulses into a pot and fry them, then add either rice, pasta or noodles, plus a sauce. Most
combinations seem to work…

 

Advice for someone in your position transitioning to a plant-based diet?

Don’t beat yourself up too much if you slip up. No one gets it 100% right straight away.

Keep going with it – it’s worth it.

 

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