Student blogger Hannah shares her insights

My name is Hannah Schlottke, and I’m an incoming second-year International Relations student and I lived in Urbanest Westminster Bridge halls last year. I wrote a blog on why I eat plant-based for the planet, and this follow-up is all about my top tips if you’re thinking about trying to eat more vegetarian/vegan food!

1. Make it easy!

If you want to try veganism, you should make it as easy as possible.

You don’t have to switch up your whole diet, sometimes it’s as easy as subsidising eggs for bananas in your pancakes or getting your coffee with plant-based milk (my personal favourite is oat milk).

Oftentimes, buying vegetables or meatless alternatives is also cheaper and saves you money to spend on more important things.

2. Make it exciting!

Eating plant-based, does not mean just eating salads. There are lots of different and exotic options. For instance, you can try the vegan sausage roll in Beaver’s Brew Café or try vegan duck and egg at Wagamama’s.

Everyone knows that bland tofu doesn’t taste good, but if you put some seasoning and sauce on it, it tastes much better and can make cooking with new ingredients very exciting. I would recommend trying this jackfruit taco recipe, its delicious!

I would also personally recommend getting food from the Too Good to Go App, which is not only cheaper, but it also offers a way to save food that would otherwise have gone to waste. You’ll need to check they do a vegetarian option, but if they do – you’ll be eating sustainably and avoiding food waste!

3. Make it sustainable!

Being a student can get very busy and sometimes we don’t have time to cook an exciting meal. That’s why it’s important to make eating vegan/vegetarian fit into your schedule. Creating small habits, like plant-based milk in your coffee, or getting a vegan/vegetarian sandwich for lunch can help.

My personal favourite dinner during exam season is pasta with mushrooms, vegan cream, tofu and a squeeze of lemon, it’s not only quick to make, but also delicious and good for the planet.

Some of my other personal favourites are smoothie bowls and bread with hummus. Even just having one day a week without meat can save the earth and reduce emissions!