Famous Australians who are vegan that may surprise you

You might be surprised to find these famous Australians are vegan. Read on to find out who they are.

“I was not raised vegan. I did not become vegan because I don’t like the taste of meat, dairy, or eggs. I became vegan because, one day I had the courage to take responsibility for my choices. I no longer believe that animals are here for us for food, clothing, entertainment, testing or any other purpose” – Author Unknown.

Veganism isn’t just about the food we eat. It is a lifestyle choice which impacts every area of our lives, from the clothes and makeup products we wear, through to the cleaning and other household products we use. Fortunately there is an ever-growing range of options, from vegan collagen to vegan leather!

For me, it’s always been about the animals. I love them and won’t even kill a spider!  I have a little clear plastic container I keep just to catch and release them if we find them in the house. 

I’m not the only one that is actively avoiding any form of animal cruelty; there are plenty of famous Aussies who feel the same, and identify as vegan.

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios for example, cites his love of animals as the reason why he is vegan, while actor Liam Hemsworth advocates against any form of animal abuse.

In an article with “O” magazine, Portia de Rossi explained that she wanted to contribute to making the world a less violent place through following a vegan lifestyle.

Aussie singer songwriter Missy Higgins is also an avid animal lover. She credits a primary school teacher’s lesson about being kind to animals, as the reason she chose a plant-based lifestyle.

Kindness Towards Animals

Kindness towards animals means that we often have emotional attachments to them.

Sia’s love for her pets made her want to do more to support them. She said that “knowing that cows and chickens could feel and care and empathise, just like my dogs”, was the catalyst for her decision.

She is in good company with The Veronicas, aka Lisa and Jess Origliasso. The sisters have long campaigned for animal rights and choose to eat a plant-based diet for the good of animals, their health, and the future of the planet.

Environmental Concerns

Concern about the environment often compels individuals to follow a plant-based lifestyle. 

Today Show presenter David Campbell spoke about this in an Instagram post where he declared that he feels 100% better for being vegan: “I am ethically doing the right things for animals, the planet and our children””.

However what many people are unaware of, is that becoming vegan is about a lot more than avoiding meat.

And even if you aren’t prepared to go totally vegan, you can still make a positive impact in this world by consciously choosing to be “partly vegan” – by choosing products that are created without causing animals to suffer.

From makeup brushes and artist paints, to vegan mascara and skincare, these days we are spoiled by an array of great animal and cruelty-free options.

Being a vegan doesn’t have to be all about sacrifice; there are some fantastic vegan products which have been scientifically formulated to be just as effective, while still being kind to animals.

So while you may not be 100% vegan, it’s definitely worth thinking about the different ways you could live a cleaner, greener, and kinder life!

Fresh Asparagus with {Vegan} Hollandaise

Although not a vegetarian, I love vegetarian food and use vegetables, grains and pulses a lot in my cooking for flavour, nutrition and, mostly, cost. (I did this recipe for a guest post a little while ago but thought I’d share it here as I made this vegan hollandaise sauce just recently and it reminded me how really easy and tasty it was.)

I only buy seasonal produce and use what I have on hand. The asparagus looked beautiful when I did my fruit and vegetable shopping the other day and what goes perfect with asparagus? Hollandaise sauce. I did a bit of a browse online for vegan versions (not that I’m a vegan) and I found this one which uses soy milk and vegan margarine. This suited me perfectly as my sister had a huge cleanout of her pantry and gave me a couple cans of evaporated soy milk. I wondered what I could use them for.

The recipe is super easy and all done in a saucepan. (I was a little heavy handed with the turmeric so it’s a little too ‘yellow’.) It would be perfect served over any vegetables or a poached egg on spinach for breakfast. I think I might use this version all the time as I’m not a big fan of eggs anyway.

Fresh Asparagus with {Vegan} Hollandaise
(based on recipe at Vegan Tasmania)

• ¾ soy milk or other non-dairy milk
• pinch of paprika (or cayenne pepper for a kick)
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tbsp corn flour
• 2 tbsp vegan margarine (or olive oil, which I used)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice (to taste)
• salt and pepper (to taste)

1. Heat ½ cup of the soy milk in a saucepan until hot but not bubbling. Add paprika or cayenne.
2. With the remaining milk, in the measuring jug or a bowl, whisk in corn flour until combined. (If it all clumps together, don’t worry. It will right itself once mixed). Add in the margarine or olive oil and whisk again.
3. Pour the corn flour/milk mixture into the saucepan and over a medium heat, whisk until the sauce thickens and becomes the texture of hollandaise.
4. Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper, to taste, keep adding until it’s to your liking. Mix well.