Teen Hub

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Welcome to the Teen Hub

Your guide to make vegan living as easy, fun and delicious as possible. Whether you’re interested in animal rights, protecting the planet or improving your health and wellbeing, here you can find everything you need to thrive as a vegan. You can read the stories of some inspiring young vegans, find delicious recipes and have all your questions answered, as well as sharing your own tips and advice.

Why vegan

Veganism is one of the fastest growing lifestyle movements, and young people are helping to drive it forwards .

Whether you’re an animal lover, a passionate environmentalist or you’re interested in plant-based nutrition – there are so many reasons to explore vegan living. Be part of the generation to question our use of other animals, and to do things differently. We’re here to help!

Nutrition sorted

Did you know that you can get all the nutrients you need from a vegan diet, no matter your age or level of physical activity? That’s the view of the British Dietetic Association, who are the registered experts.

Paying attention to our nutrition is something that everyone can benefit from, whether they are vegan or not. Take a look at our information for vegans aged 11-18 and our wider nutritional resources.


Plant-based teens share their stories

The process of going vegan is different for everyone. For some it’s an overnight switch, and for others it’s a much longer journey. The most important thing is to give yourself the best shot at making it a change for life – so if that means taking it slow, you do you. Read some inspirational stories from some vegan teens below – and if you would like to share your own story then please email us. We would love to include you!


Featured recipes

Here are just a selection of delicious plant-based recipes. You’ll soon find that you don’t need to miss out on any of your old favourites after ditching animal products! For more inspiration, try our recipes page.

Lifestyle tips

Support and advice on vegan life, from living in a non-vegan home to finding your plant-based tribe.

Here are some handy hints and tips from plant-based teens to help your vegan journey go as smoothly as possible

"I know it can seem daunting to completely change your eating habits, but don’t underestimate the power of small changes. Start small and keep going, and before you know it, you’ll be there.

Something that worked for me was buying vegan cook books so I could really get an idea of what it was I was eating, then starting to cook for other people, especially the devoted meat eaters of my family. Having them love my cooking is so satisfying!"

- Theo

"Don’t worry about not being able to eat your favourite foods, as if you look hard enough you’ll often find vegan alternatives. It is by no means a restrictive way of life!"

- Sarah

"I went vegan in February of 2018 at the age of 16. I funnily enough have grown up in a farming family. I have always loved animals, I named all of the animals on my farm and I would get to know all of their personalities! When they would suddenly disappear and there was a full chest freezer of bagged pork and lamb in my garage, I realised something was awry.

At the age of 13, I went vegetarian and taught myself to cook because otherwise I was getting a plate full of meat. My Mum wasn’t keen on the idea of being vegan but since I cook for her, she doesn’t mind. To help motivate others to embrace veganism, I started a vegan food account on Instagram called @vegan.sylvie Going vegan is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I would recommend it to everyone especially teenagers looking to lead a compassionate and independent lifestyle!"

- Sylvie

"I suggest going to visit a local sanctuary which looks after rescued farmed animals. This will really inspire you on your vegan journey. You can also find inspiration online by following social media accounts about veganism and animal rights, such as The Vegan Society and Earthling Ed."

- Luara

"If you can, find someone else in your life who wants to go vegan too. Whether it’s a family member or a friend, invite them along on your adventure. And then find vegan foods that you love, and enjoy being vegan!"

- Devika

"Keep reminding yourself why you don’t want to eat animals. This will help to keep you motivated. Set a date in the future of when you want to have stopped eating a particular animal product. And try lots of alternative products for, for example, milk. You might not like every kind of plant milk, but I guarantee you will find one you like."

- Dylan

"I recommend watching lots of documentaries about all aspects of veganism – the animals, the environment and health. This will help to get you started. If you are still struggling to find your drive, you could cut one type of animal product out of your life every week until you are fully vegan."

- Liam

"I don’t really remember not being vegan. I love watching documentaries about animals and the environment, and I think the best way to look after the planet is for everyone to go vegan. My favourite subject is Art and when I grow up I want to become a writer and illustrator. "

- Maximilian

If you live in a non-vegan home, you might wonder how your vegan lifestyle can fit in with family life. Here are some tips to ensure that your vegan journey is all plain sailing.

Talk it out

First things first – everyone needs to know what veganism is, and why it is important to you. Your family will be much more likely to accommodate your decision if they understand it.

Whatever your reasons for going vegan, show that this is a decision you’ve thought about deeply, and explain your views in a calm and clear way.


Do your research

Having some facts up your sleeve is a great way of demonstrating that you know what you’re doing. For example, if those around you are concerned about your nutrition, you can explain that you can be healthy and thrive on a vegan diet. The BDA’s statement is a good starting point – after all, they’re the experts!


Set boundaries

This change is something that your household will need to adjust to, and this may take a little time. Here are some considerations which may help to avoid tricky situations.

  • Are you comfortable picking up animal products from the shop for members of your family?
  • How do you feel about cooking non-vegan food for others in your household, or cleaning dishes which have had animal products on them?
  • How are vegan and non-vegan foods stored at home, and are you happy with this?

Taking the time to think things through will help you to come up with solutions. For example, a designated vegan shelf in the fridge is pretty easy to arrange. And if there are jobs around the house you no longer feel comfortable doing, you can explain this to your family and suggest alternative chores.


Make it easy

Your parents may be concerned about the extra time and effort needed to prepare vegan meals. Getting involved with meal planning and cooking is a great way to help out. You could suggest family favourite meals which can easily be veganised and help with the preparation. Or come up with ideas for meals in which you can easily swap in a vegan option, such as swapping plant-based sausages for meat in a Sunday roast.

You can also show your family that vegans don’t have to go without treats. Making a vegan cake for everyone to share can go a long way to bringing people on-side!


Wait it out

If your family are skeptical about you going vegan, or believe that this is a fad you will grow out of, then this can be frustrating. But hang in there – in time they will see that this is something you care about and are committed to. Remember that you’re doing a great thing. Even if your family aren’t immediately supportive of your vegan lifestyle, you are probably having a very positive impact on them without even realising.


Apply for financial help

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian living in the UK, the Vegetarian Charity offers small grants to help with educational courses and the relief of poverty. They help many students, and those wishing to become students. They also give grants to help towards the purchase of items such as equipment for courses, equipment for applicants with special needs, computers, art materials, bedding, furniture, white goods etc. Parents can apply on behalf of their children. Find out more here.

As a vegan you have rights! It’s worth brushing up on what this means and how to get your voice heard.

Check your rights

Did you know that being vegan is a protected characteristic? That means that by law you have the right to have your vegan beliefs respected and wherever possible accommodated, and that you should not experience any kind of unfair treatment as a result of being vegan. This applies at school, university, in the workplace or anywhere else.

Part of The Vegan Society’s work is about protecting and furthering the rights of vegans. You can read more about this here.


Catering

If you are at school and eligible for free lunches, your school should do everything it can to provide you with suitable vegan meals. If you are not eligible for free lunches, you can still request that your school provides a plant-based option. Our Catering for Everyone campaign is all about getting vegan food on every menu in places like schools, universities and hospitals.


Clothing

As we know, being vegan includes more than changing your diet. If your school or work uniform includes animal products such as wool or leather, then everything possible must be done to provide you with alternative vegan-friendly clothing.


Lessons

Your school cannot enforce participation in activities which are not in line with your vegan beliefs. This might include handling or cooking animal products in Food Technology classes, or dissecting animal parts in Biology. You have a right to not take part in activities such as these, and to be given an alternative method of learning.


Being heard

If you are encountering any of these problems, it is best to identify a sympathetic person who has the power to change things for you, and to explain your position calmly and clearly. If necessary, you can get support from your parents or guardians. If the situation is not resolved, The Vegan Society has a rights service which you can contact for information and guidance.

It’s important to have people around who share your values. If you don’t know any vegans, remember that you’re not alone – it may just take a little while to find your tribe. Here are some tips to speed this along.

Talk to friends

Are any of your friends animal lovers? Or passionate environmentalists? If so, there’s a good chance that they will be interested in veganism! Chat to your friends about your reasons for exploring this lifestyle. Focusing on your own reasons for going vegan is likely to make others less defensive about their own actions.

Don’t focus on converting those who aren’t interested – you’ll have a more positive impact by doing your own thing and being an example of someone enjoying a vegan lifestyle. Your friends don’t need to all follow suit, they just need to respect your decision.


Give a talk at school

There are often opportunities at school to give a talk about a topic you find interesting. This can be a fantastic way to introduce your classmates to the idea of veganism, and to share why it is such an important movement. You may find that you’re then approached by members of your class who were interested in what you had to say.

If this doesn’t appeal, then you could also speak to your teachers and suggest veganism as a topic for discussion in any class you have about ethics or the environment. You can also invite a school speaker from Animal Aid to present to your class.


Find events

Check out our events page, and see if there are any local to you. Finding out more about your local vegan scene is a great way to make connections and feel like you’re part of a group. Taking along your friends or family members can also be a good way of showing them all that veganism has to offer.


Connect online

There are so many online groups and pages where you can find people who care about similar issues, and veganism is no different. Following vegan influencers can help you to feel plugged into the social community, as well as providing a place for you to ask questions and get advice. Remember to always be safe – don’t share personal details or travel alone to meet anyone you have met online.


Volunteer

Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people. You could get in touch with your local animal sanctuary to see if they have any opportunities to help out. There may also be animal rights groups in your area which you can get involved with.

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