Hannah's Veggie Lifestyle

Sometimes I get sad that my brother, Adam, doesn't live at home anymore. But then I remember that if he lives somewhere different, it gives me a whole new range of independent restaurants and cafes to explore, and then it doesn't seem so bad after all. He's currently living in Cambridge which is only a 45 minute drive away, so we get to visit fairly often. And every time, he shows us a new place to eat he's discovered. Strawberries and cream (left), dark chocolate and sea salt (right), passion fruit and basil (front) The last two visits, we've stopped for an afternoon treat at Jack's Gelato , which is a small gelato and sorbetti business with two shops in Cambridge. The menu changes everyday, and the flavours on offer are no short of incredible. There are classic flavours with a twist such as malted vanilla and chocolate truffle cake, and more out there flavours too like pine nut, candied orange and olive oil, and toasted white chocolate.  Passion fruit and basi...

Everything's been feeling a bit upside down It's crazy to think about how different the world looked at the beginning of 2020. Now, phrases such as 'social distancing', 'the new normal' and 'key workers' are part of our vocabulary like they've always been there. Tiger King, 'Run 5 Tag 5 Donate 5', and staring in disbelief at the empty supermarket shelves, wondering how you're supposed to make banana bread now everyone else has had the same idea...  As scientists discovered more about the virus every day, and cases and deaths seem to be doing nothing but rise, these qualms allowed us to feel united from afar. Not being able to find toilet paper began to feel quite comforting. Nobody's going to forget these times, especially those who have lost loved ones or been seriously ill from the virus. My heart goes out to everyone that has, and if that's you, I am so sorry. Another way lots of people have been affected by covid-19 is through...

The more we find out about the damaging effects of fast fashion , one question has been stuck in the back of my mind: If we all boycott these brands, what happens to the millions of workers when they are no longer needed to be employed? It's pretty clear that those at the top of the industry about those making the clothes. So chances are, if fast fashion brands were to go out of business, those at the bottom are not going to be given a big redundancy fee- even though the billionaire owners could probably  definitely afford it. So, what would happen if we did all give up fast fashion tomorrow? Mainly, the planet would thank us big time. From lower carbon emissions to saving water, it would dramatically reduce the amount of harm done to the environment from clothing. In reality however, people aren't all going to give up fast fashion at the same time. It starts with individuals committing to making change, so not everybody is going to wake up and think 'today is the day I...

Completely vegan chocolate cake - who would know? We are all aware that reducing our meat and dairy intake is a great way to reduce our individual impact on the environment, as well as holding large companies accountable for the damage they do too, of course. So, I've decided to share some of my favourite meat/ dairy replacements for when you want a taste of the original, with a much smaller environmental impact! I'd love to say I'm a vegan, but if I can't find a good enough alternative for some dairy items, I do still eat the original (although in much smaller quantities than I used to). As veganism continues to grow, so does the incredible alternatives available, which means it's getting easier and easier to swap out meat and dairy products in our diets. It's still important to incorporate lots of unprocessed foods like fruit and veggies into your diet, so I do try and only eat these when I truly want an alternative. But, if it's helping us eat less dairy ...

In my last blog post on fast fashion I promised I'd share some tips for reducing the amount of fast fashion we buy, so here it is! Below you'll find lots of options for keeping your wardrobe fresh without giving into the temptation of fast fashion as a quick fix. If you've got good intentions to stop buying fast fashion but it's feeling like an overwhelming challenge, why not take part in Oxfam's Second Hand September ? Or if you want to start right now, you could do your own version in August instead! Once you've completed a month, hopefully quitting forever won't seem as hard.  And if you do end up buying fast fashion, don't give up completely. Just like with any lifestyle change, slipping up is often inevitable, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Admit that you made a mistake, return the item if you can (or if not, make sure you get good wear out of it), and carry on with your commitment to buying less fast fashion. Lowering the amount...

If I could, I would happily spend all day every day eating pizza and chocolate cake. But  as heavenly as that sounds, I'm well aware that if this actually was my reality, my body would not thank me very much in the long run.  So, if there's any ways I can eat my favourite foods as much as I like without feeling like I've eaten far too much every time, I am so there for it. Sometimes there's nothing quite eating the original, and of course, sometimes I will. Also, there are a lot of claims out there for 'healthier' versions of food that are either: a) actually not that much healthier, or b) so different that there's simply no point- you might as well just enjoy the original (and maybe go on a walk afterwards). But this isn't always the case. When I'm craving any of these five foods but I fancy a lighter version, these are my go to swaps that are still satisfying for both my cravings and hunger. 1. Tortilla pizza I've seen this been made hundreds o...

If I had to tell you what the biggest thing people notice about me when they first meet me, it would 100% have to be my hair. Over the years, my hairs gone from being so long I could sit on it, to up above my shoulders- and pretty much every length in between. It's also gone from barely even wavy, to the ringlet curls I have today.  Rapunzel who? The rise of the curly girl  means so many people are embracing their curly hair at the moment, which is amazing! Straight hair is beautiful, but if your hair naturally wants to curl then why cover that up? I've heard people say that straight hair means you're more likely to be taken seriously and it helps you look grown up, which I have to admit is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. Just like the way you dress isn't for other people to judge, neither should the way you wear your hair.   Lockdown has given me a lot of time to experiment with different products for curly hair, and I think I have finally  ...