It is 2019 and people are still getting angry in the Facebook comments when the article is about anything vegan related. As if it is such a weird idea that people have different lives and standards.

How is it to be a vegan in today's society? What issues do vegans face? Do people understand why people turn vegan?

I talked to someone who is now vegan for almost a year and before that was a vegetarian for several years.

What decision made you turn vegetarian in the beginning?

“Well I was younger when I changed my lifestyle so the main reason back then to become a vegetarian was because I found it sad for the animals and felt like they deserved better.”

You were a vegetarian for a few years first, what was the reason for this change to veganism?

“I read a lot of articles about veganism and the benefits of it. I struggled with bad skin for quite some time and one of the benefits of veganism is improved skin since you are not eating any diary. So I decided to give it a try and never changed back.”

There is a lot of talk that vegans don’t get the nutrients and protein they need, which is false according to a lot of academic research. How did it go for you with the health part of your journey?

“I knew a lot about veganism by reading about it before I turned vegan, so I knew which foods had which nutrients and protein. I also take supplements like vitamin B and C and I don’t experience any health issues, actually I see improvement in my health since I became a vegan.”

Is it hard for you to be a vegan?

“No definitely not, but maybe that is because I started out as a vegetarian so I already ditched the meat so now it was only the diary and other animal related foods.”

What would you tell people who want to become vegan or just became vegan?

“Look for groups on Facebook, there are so many helpful tips on there and you can ask so many question. So when you’re struggling you can just reach out to them.”

What is the first reaction people give you when they find out that you are vegan?

“Well it obviously depends on the person but mostly normal reactions, to each his own. On the internet I do get different reactions than in real life, for example when I share something on Facebook there are some weird comments underneath it.”

There is the assumption that vegans spend more money on groceries than non-vegans, how do you experience this?

“I don’t think that I spend more money than my non-vegan friends on groceries but it also depends on how fancy you do your groceries, if you go to an high-end grocery store you will also spend more because the Aldi and Albert Heijn also have a lot of Vegan food options for a good price.”

Do you think there will be a time in the future where the majority of the people are vegan or vegetarian?

“Yes, I already see a growth in how many people are vegetarian or vegan. In today’s society it is becoming more normal to be a vegetarian or vegan in comparison to a couple years ago.”

What is your go-to vegan meal? A meal that you think would convince a non-vegan that you don’t only eat grass.

“My go-to vegan meal is curry, it is very simple and easy to make and you can change it up every time. You start with the basics, a good green or red curry, coconut milk and rice. You can add any kinds of vegetables or supplement meats. My favourite is the green curry with broccoli, green beans and peas, I can eat it anytime.”