Go vegan for a year.

“The first thing you realise when you go vegan is how little you actually know about the ingredients that are in your food. Think plain potato crisps are vegan? Wrong! Instead, it’s M&S prawn cocktail crisps that are branded with the vegan logo. Don’t try to understand; processed food makes no sense and is really quite annoying. I made a lot of initial mistakes, led by the trust I had in food (and the brands that made it). I thought potatoes were just potatoes, but I soon learned to read labels and ask the waiter exactly what is in my food if I had any doubts. It’s a headache at first but you slowly learn how to juggle your new food habits, and realise you will not starve.”

“As the seasons changed, I definitely learned different things. After a year of no travelling – except for trips to Italy to see my family – the summer months taught me that London is a little vegan oasis, full of choices that we take for granted. Being a vegan who travels frequently is not easy. Vegan sandwiches might be standard fare at Stansted, but try being stuck in a tiny airport like Ciampino (Rome) for nine hours straight with not a vegan option in sight. It takes a lot of perseverance and organisation and I am in awe of those who manage to always be prepared, even when they are on the go.”