Why Jennifer chooses to live without animal goods

11:00am Tuesday 8th November 2011

By Lauren Oldershaw

WHEN Jennifer Dunn made the life-changing decision to go vegan there was one issue at the forefront of her mind.

Turning her back on all foods and products made from animals or their bi-products meant a potential drought for sweet-toothed Jennifer.

Already a vegetarian since she was a teenager, the decision meant as well as continuing to cut out meat and fish, as a vegan she would also turn her back on eggs and dairy products.

But while she could easily get round the issues of what to have on her cereal and toast, the issue of perhaps having to go without cake had to be addressed quickly.

So Jennifer, 26, tracked down a recipe and got to work creating her own tasty cakes. She has since created a popular sideline in them.

With November designated Vegan Month by the charity AnimalAid, Jennifer is speaking out about her experiences as a vegan.

She says: “I turned vegetarian when I was about 17 and still living at home. I didn’t agree with eating animals as I thought it was a bit hypocritical, because I loved them.

“But then I found out about the cruelty within the egg and dairy industries and decided to become vegan.

Instead of cow’s milk Jennifer switched to soya, rice or almond milk and she cut out eggs altogether.

But this was not the only change she made. As part of being vegan, and also like lots of vegetarians, Jennifer avoids wearing any materials made from animals including leather coats, bags, belts or shoes.

She also ditched cosmetics and grooming products that had been tested on animals, or where the ingredients include animal bi-product.

“It sounds like it must be quite difficult to stick to, but it is just a way of life for me now.

“A lot of products make it clear if they have been tested on animals. Some of the bigger brands do make it clear, but some, like Superdrug, have their own range which is specifically not tested that way.”

And she says she hopes putting a spotlight on veganism will help shed the image of hippies eating lentils.

“I think people assume I am going to be some kind of hippie who is constantly trying to preach to them about this way of life.

Jennifer says: “He is very supportive and will always back me up when we are out and about.

“He understands why I live like this, but he is not vegetarian himself. I am trying to persuade him, but at the moment he still eats meat.

“Not at home though. I couldn’t cook it for him and he wouldn’t expect me to.”

The couple have been together since they were 15, so Rob has always been aware of Jennifer’s feelings on the subject and backed her when she became vegan about eight years ago.

He eats a lot of vegetarian products made from meat-free substances like Quorn. These are a no-go for Jennifer as they have milk and eggs in them.

Jennifer says: “I have quite a sweet tooth, so as soon as I decided to turn vegan my first priority was to find a recipe for a nice cake I could have.

“Quite soon, I was getting lots of requests to make the cake, so I started selling them and adding different flavours like chocolate or carrot.”

Jennifer has even run a cafe in Colchester, combining that with her part-time job as a sales assistant in Millets, also in Colchester.

She says she doesn’t often eat at friends’ houses, and adds it can be tricky finding options she can eat at restaurants. So, as part of Vegan Month she is heading out to eateries in Colchester with a questionnaire.

Jennifer says: “If anything, I hope it will make them think about what they have on offer for vegans.

“The cakes I made and sold in the cafe were so popular there are obviously quite a few of us in Colchester.

“I take a vitamin supplement just in case, but I don’t think it has an effect on my health.

Jennifer says: “I hope by seeing how I have adapted so easily other people might give it a go too.”