Long term vegans say you can ‘get everything you need from vegetables’

Amy Pearson, aged 53 from Dunsville is a local vegan who has many years experience with the lifestyle.

Her and her partner John Swallow, aged 63 have been vegetarian for decades and are ‘never going back.’

Amy said: “I’m a compassionate vegan, I think it’s dreadful the way that animals are treated.

“It’s inhumane and horrific.”

Amy has been a vegetarian since she was just 16 years old.

“I was always uncomfortable eating meat.

“I always found it totally bizarre that humans ate them.

“As soon as I had my own choice I decided I was never going back,” she said.

She recently switched to a vegan diet three years ago.

John has been a vegetarian for 40 years and also converted to veganism alongside Amy.

He said: “We eat really well.

“You can get everything you need from vegetables.

“Some of the worlds largest animals are vegan and they are doing just fine.

“Gorillas and elephants are on a plant based diet.”

Both Amy and John have seen an increase in the vegan diet in the last few years.

With more food becoming available in supermarkets and more options in restaurants when dining out.

Amy said: “There used to be very few options.

“In a restaurant the vegetarian option used to just be lettuce and tomato salad.

“I’m so glad that it’s trendy at the moment.”

Amy and John are keen for other people to try the vegan diet not only for their own sake but for the environmental impacts.

John said: “It takes 1,000 litres of water to make just one litre of milk.

“And 2,500 litres to make one beef burger.

“If we stopped animal agriculture the world would be in a much better position.”

John and Amy are experts in this lifestyle with many years under their belts.

But they understand not everyone is as far down the path as they are.

Amy said: “Start with doing small changes.

“You can make a difference.

“Millions of animals spend their life time in torture and you can change that.

“It’s so simple to change but people are set in their ways.

“Please try it, it’s not difficult.

“A few small changes can save sentient beings lives.”