Lauren Roberts works in PR and took the Vegan 30 Day Pledge in January. She has never looked back- so we caught up with her to ask her what made her sign on the dotted line.
Lauren Roberts- credit Instagram (iamlaurenroberts)
Please tell us why you decided to become a vegan.
I turned vegetarian at 14 and while I cared about the animals, it was definitely a decision I made based on wanting to feel cool and individual. While veggie, I would occasionally try to eat a plant-based diet for a day or week at a time. This had to be done in secret as my parents wouldn't approve. In the end, I gave up with veganism and remained veggie until I went to university and started eating meat to fit in.
Towards the end of 2015, I really started to think about what I was eating and found myself crying into chicken twice (yes, really). I went back to vegetarianism at the end of 2015 and started to think about veganism and spent a lot of time watching vegan YouTubers and Gary Yourofsky's speech, reading books and watching documentaries like Earthlings and Cowspiracy. On 11th January, I was on my way to work and decided enough was enough. I signed up to The Vegan Society's 30 day pledge and haven't turned back. I'm quite impulsive and find that the decisions I make impulsively are the ones that stick and that I'm most passionate about.
Why do you think there is still so much misunderstanding around veganism?
Until recently, veganism has been widely viewed as a "hippie thing". The majority of us are brought up by meat-eating families and that's just the "norm"... Most people have to go out of our way to educate themselves and sadly, most people don't want to. I used to see memes all the time about vegans being asked if fish counts as a vegetable. I thought this was hilarious and impossible at first, but I have been asked it twice in five months!
Think about how many times you see advertisements for fresh raspberries, bananas, broccoli, spinach etc. Now think about how many times you see adverts for meat... McDonald's, KFC, M&S turkey at Christmas - it's a saturated market and we can't escape it. Fruit and veg are romanticised as much as meat, eggs and dairy.
Why do you think a lot of people who go vegan feel the need to spread the message, even if it was a personal choice at the beginning?
Initially, I told all my friends and family that this was a personal choice. I had no intention of preaching or spreading the message but eventually, it becomes such a big part of your life and a passion that of course you want to talk about it. The more you watch documentaries, read books and research, the more horrific animal products become. If animals being tortured, raped, enslaved, kidnapped and slaughtered isn't enough, then all you have to do is look into the health benefits and environmental impact, as well as the fact that a huge proportion of our grain is fed to animals to meet our growing demand for meat while there are starving people around the world. We could solve world hunger, but people care too much about their steak on a Saturday. Knowing this, how can I not talk about it?
What are your go to vegan and cruelty free products?
Tough question! Fruit and vegetables are staples - I would be nowhere without sweet potatoes, dates and bananas! In terms of brands, I'm a big fan of Daiya cheese and for a chocolate treat, Ombar and Vego.
In terms of non-food products, I couldn't live without Hurraw! Unfortunately, Carmex contains lanolin and my lips were chapped for weeks after giving it up and before discovering Hurraw. I really love the Julia Lawless rose water - it's so hydrating. And of course, Batiste to save my greasy hair at Glastonbury!
Will you share one of your favourite dishes with us?
I'm a bit of an experimental cook in that I just throw whatever I have together and hope for the best! Recently, I made a stir fry which contained zucchini noodles, carrots, peppers, sweetcorn, mushrooms, onion and coconut meat mixed into a sweet chilli sauce. Sounds kind of gross, but it was so delicious and crunchy!
Have you found there is a lot of support online from fellow vegans?
Absolutely! The online vegan community is great. The only issues arise amongst the big influencers and YouTubers who occasionally attack one another's approach. Recently, Fully Raw Kristina attacked YouTubers like Freelee The Banana Girl for having a more in-your-face approach to veganism and of course, Freelee and other vegan YouTubers responded. Sorsha faces a lot of criticism from other vegan YouTubers who say she wants to be freelee or that her views are wrong. It's not nice to see. We should all be standing together and supporting each other and the cause, no matter our approach.
You are active on social media and regularly post about veganism and animal cruelty- do you feel all vegans have a responsibility to pass on their knowledge?
I suppose it's each to their own but it's certainly the best way to get people to think about veganism and the suffering of animals and acknowledge the lifestyle. The main thing is that you ARE vegan though.
Of all the vegans in the public eye who do you respect the most?
If you've taken the time to educate yourself and make the connection, you deserve respect so in that sense I respect all vegans - from the influential YouTubers to your average Joe on the street.
In terms of content that I enjoy, I'm a big fan of Moby's Instagram. Controversially, I also enjoy Freelee and Durian Rider. They are the kind of people that you initially dislike and think are mean, but the more you watch the more you realise they are either a. Having a laugh/joke or b. Are conveying an important message and trying to help people.
Why do you think the cravings for non-vegan food fade once you omit them from your diet?
You know about the suffering behind it. All of a sudden, that isn't just a slice of cake. It's hen's periods which means a life of suffering in a cage, beaks chopped off, male chick ground up or gassed etc. That glass of milk is consistent rape, enslavement and kidnapping. Once you truly see the cruelty behind it, it's impossible to close your eyes and forget.
Where are your favourite places to shop for clothes?
What's great is that vegans can still shop in most high street stores and find items without wool, leather, silk etc. I'm a big fan of Matt & Nat - it's all so sleek! I also love Macbeth footwear - their trainers are so comfortable.
Tagged in Vegetarian Vegan