Lucy Watson - Feed Me Vegan with comforting, easy-to-make and delicious recipes

Welcome to my cookbook!

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or just a serious lover of food then I cant wait for you to dive in and indulge yourself with some of these delicious recipes. This is a book that will suit everyone and it was all started when I went vegan nearly two years ago.

Theres a common misconception that vegans eat just salad or vegetables, something I struggled with when I first made the transition. Ive always loved food but I was willing to sacrifice the pleasures of eating delicious meals in order to stop contributing to animal cruelty. Until I realised that I didnt need to! I spent months trying out new recipes and looking for alternatives to all my favourite meals when I made the switch. People repeatedly ask me but if youre vegan, what do you eat? and that was why I decided I had to create this book.

My love of animals and dislike of eating meat started when I was just six years old. Growing up on a farm, I would feed the ducks every morning and when lambing time came around we even helped deliver the lambs. Occasionally the sheep would reject their lambs and then we were allowed to hand rear them ourselves until they were big enough to rejoin the herd, which was magical. I loved all the animals around me as much as the dogs that lived in our home. To me, there was no difference and I became unable to ignore the connection between what was on my plate and who was playing in my fields my mum can clearly recall mealtimes where I would clamp my mouth shut, shake my head and refuse to eat meat.

I completely rebelled against meat-eating after my favourite lamb, Maisie, was sent off to slaughter. The experience was so life changing for me that from that day forward I stopped eating meat. I couldnt bear the idea of eating the living beings I watched being carted off in large lorries every few months, memories that I still find traumatising to think of now and impossible to remove from my mind.

Having lived most of my life as a vegetarian, as I got older and became more educated about other industries inflicting cruelty on animals it became clear to me that veganism was the only way forward. For other vegans, the catalyst may be becoming aware of the massive contribution the meat and dairy industries make to carbon emissions around the world, and realising that a vegan diet has the smallest carbon footprint. Others turn to veganism for health reasons not only can you lower your cholesterol and increase your energy levels but you can also improve your health overall.

For all those reasons, whenever I get asked why are you vegan? (which is often) my response is always, why NOT? Its not only the lives of animals youll be saving by becoming vegan, but you will help to save the planet and maybe even yourself.

Feed Me Veganis here to smash any negative misconceptions about vegan diets and show people just how diverse and delicious vegan food can be: how to easily whip up a vegan burger a meat-eater would be happy to wolf down, make the perfect vegan mac and cheese to comfort eat on rainy winter nights, or even bake a decadent chocolate cake to satisfy any sweet tooth! There are quick and easy ways of making all your favourite meals guilt-free, without any of those sacrifices that people dread when contemplating becoming vegan.

All in all there really is no downside to veganism . . . I know that theres definitely no going back for me. Once you inform yourself about the cruelty inherent in these heavily marketed industries, it doesnt feel right to continue your life with them in it. Although it can sometimes be hard not to just fit in and eat whats there because its easier, I promise you its all worthwhile.

Now get stuck in and enjoy the recipes, with a completely clean conscience! Love,