Fionnuala Moran is one of Ireland’s leading eco-influencers as she tries to make the world a greener place.
From binning fast fashion to changing up her diet to plant-based, she has plenty of tips on how to make your life just that little bit more eco-friendly.
If you’re trying out Veganuary then you may have no idea where to start. Thankfully our favourite “binfluencer” is on hand to give us some tips on how to incorporate vegan products into every aspect of our lives.
Fionnuala tells us: “Doing Veganuary was my 2018 New Year’s resolution and I’ve never looked back. I had watched Earthlings and was horrified by it but also wanted a health kick after silly season. A lot of people view plant-based diets as depriving ourselves of certain foods but for me, it started a really fun journey of discovering lots of gorgeous new foods.
“In no time I was eating extremely colourful and delicious plates of food bursting with flavour, saw my skin clear up, enjoyed increased energy, better digestion and a whole heap of other benefits that have me still sticking with it five years later!
“The scientific consensus shows the cataclysmic damage western meat-rich diets are having on our climate so let’s up our efforts to make our plates more planet-friendly this year. While I try to eat a largely wholefoods plant-based diet most of the time, the vegan treats and takeaways have come along so much in recent years that there’s always a wonderful new indulgence to try when the mood strikes.
“So, whether you’re going all in or simply want to experiment a bit more this year, here are some of my favourite vegan treats after half a decade of experimenting.“
Eating out
Glas
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Matteo from First Dates runs the show here when he’s not playing cupid on TV and I’m always impressed by the ambience, customer service, and of course, the seriously creative dishes.
The menu changes regularly and is made up of about 50:50 veggie and vegan options. I can’t recommend it highly enough as a fun culinary experience that will get your brain buzzing with ideas for how to reimagine plant-based cooking. You can find out the details here.
Saucy Cow
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The best of Dublin City’s vegan burgers! Depending on what side of the Liffey you find yourself
on, you’re going to be spoilt for vegan burgers. Should you be on the southside, The
Saucy Cow in Temple Bar is a must. Check out the details here.
V-Face
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Worry not as there are plenty of options on the northside as well, V-Face is the champs of the northside, situated in Smithfield. Find out the details here.
Eating in
Camile Thai
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Camile Thai’s vegan options are delicious. My go-to takeaway order is the green Thai curry with
chunks (a vegan chicken-style add-on) and potato cubes. They also have a delicious vegan
spice bag! Order here.
Fiid
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Fiid is fabulous if you want a healthy lunch on the go. This Irish company’s sustainability
credentials go far beyond their delectable pouches being vegan. You can find out more here.
Treats
Nobó Chocolate & Ice cream
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This Irish brand has been spoiling the plant-based population for a decade with its delicious treats. Why not visit the Nobó Treathouse in Rathmines, which opened this time last year, for a Veganuary adventure? You can check them all out here.
Ben & Jerry’s
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I love a brand with ethics and Ben & Jerry’s has been serving up purpose-backed, plant-based ice cream that delights for some time. Dare I say, I think their vegan options are nicer than the dairy ones as they don’t get caught in the back of your throat the way dairy ones do. These are usually on offer in the supermarkets too which makes it taste all the sweeter! Check out the non-diary options here.
To drink
Guinness
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Yes, the black stuff is vegan, praise be! The filtration process used to use isinglass which came from fishes swim bladders. How random.
Oatly chocolate milk or normal Oatly for my coffee
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I started my vegan journey from an animal rights motivation but lessening my impact on our climate became increasingly important to me. As such, oat milk is my go-to plant-based milk as it is way less water-intensive to make than nut milks. Some oat milks can be a bit watery but Oatly has a lovely smooth and creamy texture to it. Find out more here.
Skincare
Seabody
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This Irish brand is using the superpowers of seaweed to bring a luxurious skincare line to us from the west of Ireland. I recommend the Glycan Enrich Moisturiser for a stunning self-care treat. They also do supplements. Treat yourself here.
Kinvara
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These gorgeous-smelling products are cruelty-free and vegan. Try Kinvara’s serums for hydration that smells so delicious you’ll want to gobble yourself up. Take a look here.
Makeup
Sculpted by Aimee
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Supporting Irish and being ethical to our animal pals, it’s a win-win for me! The product range from this queen of the Irish beauty scene is Leaping Bunny certified.
Charlotte Tilbury
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Another cult-favourite, Charlotte Tilbury’s range recently secured Leaping Bunny certification meaning we can get glam and give a damn about our cute animal pals.
Essence
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If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, Essence is vegan and cruelty-free. I’ve been using their eyeliner for over a decade for my signature flick and it costs less than €4!