Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years, it won’t come as a surprise to know that our planet is seriously in trouble. Temperatures are rising worldwide; pollution is constantly increasing and it feels as though the news gets bleaker every day. In times like these, it can be overwhelming- yes, billion-dollar manufacturing companies are the guilty party here and should be held the most accountable, but there are small steps that can be taken for ordinary people that can significantly reduce your impact on the planet. Ditching single-use plastic, choosing public transport over driving, and- probably the simplest of all- making slight changes to your diet.
A study by the journal Science last year found that cutting down your meat and dairy intake is the “single biggest way to reduce environmental impact”. A massive 60% of global emissions are caused by animal agriculture, and 83% of farmland worldwide is used to produce it. Obviously, not everybody in the world is going to go vegan at the drop of a hat, no matter how many scary statistics you throw at them. I’ll admit that when I decided to go vegan around two years ago, I was worried that there wouldn’t be that much choice when I went out to eat- I wanted to make this decision and do my small bit for the planet, but I really loved all types of food. Needless to say, I shouldn’t have worried. Glasgow is packed with amazing plant-based restaurants and cafes, and I most recently discovered Serenity Now, and the best pancakes I’ve had in my life.
Situated on Great Western Road, Serenity Now is a 100% vegan café, serving up brunch, cakes and sandwiches, as well as selling their own merch. I went for brunch, which is the most important meal of the day and anyone who disagrees is wrong. Serenity Now’s brunch menu boasts every type of breakfast food you could ever crave, such as vegan fried chicken (made of seitan) and waffles, a breakfast burrito and a classic fry up. I went for a stack of pancakes covered in maple syrup, banana, chocolate chips, walnuts and whipped cream. These were genuinely the fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever tasted, even pre-vegan, and since they’re made with wholegrains, they were filling but without being too heavy. No brunch is complete without a coffee, and this one was no exception. The café has a range of plant milks to choose from, such as soya, almond and- my personal favourite- oat milk. For me, this is probably the one that tastes most like dairy milk, and it goes so well in hot drinks- especially mochas, which is what I decided to have. The food here is very reasonably priced considering how fresh and healthy it is, and there’s a two-for-one deal for students on Tuesdays. Pop along, and you can enjoy a wholesome meal and a CBD-infused gummy bear or two if the dissertation stress is getting too much.
It’s been a long time coming, but I feel like people are finally realizing that vegan food isn’t just tofu and falafel and it can actually be delicious. Shameless self-promotion incoming, but my vegan food Instagram @quorn.to.die is a place where I share simple recipes and post honest reviews of places such as this, as well as sharing tips on how to generally be more environmentally friendly. Although it doesn’t seem like it, tiny changes can make a big difference and you’ll feel such a sense of accomplishment for trying.
Picture Credit- Nicola Roy
