Spread the vegan love – they’re not all sanctimonious hippies

Tofu Red Curry, yum

It’s easy to hate on vegans. We’ve all seen them turning their nose up at menus or arguing on the internet about the ethics of chocolate milkshakes. But they don’t deserve the wealth of criticism aimed at them.

In fact, it’s high time everyone stopped hating on the vegans. They might be slimmer, more energetic, have better skin, nails and morals than you sadistic carnivores, but inside they’re crying out for approval.

I use the word ‘they’ since I consider myself a vegetarian/vegan-in-training, after vowing I could never go down either route, being too much of a flesh-lover myself. But I finally took the plunge this year, and haven’t eaten meat since 2nd September 2013.

My eyes have been opened, and despite Belfast being a place where veganism is certainly not considered normal or rational behaviour, I have been searching for places to provide for my new diet. It’s not easy. Belfast has a huge number of restaurants that cater to the carnivorous among us, but may leave you out in the cold if you’re a vegan.

Restaurants? Of course not; the only places that might cater to you as a vegan in Belfast are Indian restaurants, and that’s only if you give them a heads up.

Health food shops? Holland & Barrett of course, but just the other day I found one by Liberty Blue! I was a little too excited to find a store that sold tofu, flax, chia and hemp seeds, that I’d been searching for fruitlessly in Belfast for so long.

Tofu Lasagne Rolls – it’s not all grim and grey

Anyway, consider the old mantra ‘don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it’, and no longer assume that a meatless diet is out of your comfort zone and capability.

Vegetarianism is cheap, and if you know what you’re doing and have recipes on hand, you can survive the upgrade to veganism on a student budget. A vegan shopping trip automatically rules out all those terrible life-shortening ready meals and forces you to buy healthier options.

Tofu is just the best invention ever; made of soybean protein and calcium, it will absorb pretty much any flavour and can be eaten raw, so only needs a little heating up, so you don’t have to drag yourself to creating a three-hour gourmet dinner after a long day of lectures. Tofu can go in anything and gives you that substance and bulk you psychologically rely on meat for.

Penne Pasta in Vegan Pesto Sauce with Sundried Tomatoes, not just lettuce on a plate here

Vegetables are underrated, after spending my entire first two years at Queens with a continuous flu, I have escaped all of 2013 and 2014 so far without one, thanks to my daily intake of at least the staple 5-a-day. Plus 1000mg of vitamin C – trust me, it’s foolproof.

I’m not one of those annoying health freaks (yet, I’m trying) who works out like a tank and eats plates of spinach for dinner (that’s my housemate), but I am healthier and happier – so try it!

Or stop judging and die before me, leave us the oxygen: I’m happy either way.