The number of people following either a vegetarian or vegan diet in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2019. And there were 770 vegan products launched in just January this year. I was therefore so excited to speak to Nikita about her love for food and how she turned that passion into starting an Instagram page focused on veggie and plant-based cuisine that now has over 10,000 followers.
You are what you eat. We’ve all heard this phrase but now more than ever, many people across the UK are reflecting on and changing their eating habits. In fact, according to the BBC over the last ten years, 17% of us are actively reducing our meat intake. We are heading to Sainsbury’s, Tescos, Waitrose, Morrisons and the like to buy our vegan food options (63.5%) not to mention how almost half of Brits are choosing plant-based milks! I’m one of them, are you?
Food is of course more than what’s on our plate. It’s the discovery, the connection with others and energy it gives us that enables us to feel good. Nikita knows first hand about the challenges being a vegetarian was in the UK over 15 years ago. That’s why, she started Veggietrotter.mama and now has a loyal following on Instagram who enjoy her content on places to eat and destinations to visit.
As always, please grab a cuppa and read on to see how Nikita grew a following from 0 to 10,000 and is championing the plant-based scene by opening our eyes to the many delicious spots to try while she also raises a busy toddler. It’s no mean feat but she’s doing it with true flair and grace!
1. What inspired you to start your foodie Instagram page?
I have a passion for food and love to try new cuisines. When I moved to the UK in 2006, I found the vegetarian options available in restaurants were very limited. And it was even harder when I travelled to Europe and the United States.
I used to get excited when a restaurant has a tasteful, well-designed vegetarian menu to offer. I started to take pictures with my phone when I went out to eat. By 2018, I had travelled to many countries where my priority would be to find vegetarian-friendly restaurants. As a tourist, I would do a lot of research prior to a trip and make my “to-do” list of places to eat. It was a part of the pleasure of travelling. I continued taking food pictures to capture my experiences.
My husband motivated me to create an Instagram page and share my food experiences and passion with the world. Through my page, I want to inspire others to explore the vegetarian and vegan food scene in different parts of the world and showcase the delicious and creative plant-based dishes that are available.
2. What challenges did you face when starting it?
The first challenge was deciding on a name for my Instagram handle. I remember, my husband and I were sat on a beach on the last day of our holiday in Bali, sharing ideas of my Instagram page. We wanted the name to reflect my food journey in and around London and through my travels hence the name ‘Theveggietrotter’.
Once the account was created, I had to learn the tricks of Instagram and be committed to keep posting. Social media is a highly competitive space. When starting, I felt overwhelmed and kept doubting if anyone out there would be interested in my page. But consistency is key so I aimed to post regularly and keep my content authentic. I used to constantly remind myself that everyone has to start somewhere, and building a following takes time, effort and patience.
3. Can you think back to the moment when you felt it truly took off?
My first post went live in January 2018. I was posting regularly and was very committed to get the page going. I had enough content to showcase and get noticed. Soon, I started to receive food product collaborations which initially I did take up. But realised that wasn’t something I wanted to focus on. To keep the page relevant, I started to explore new places and post new content. It was all self-funded at this stage.
As I continued to build my Instagram presence, my following was increasing. I was getting noticed by brands and PR companies and other Instagram bloggers with similar interests.
On July 2018, I officially received my first restaurant collaboration invite to a vegan friendly pizza restaurant called ‘Pi, Battersea, London’. They have pretty interiors and genuinely serve delicious pizzas. It was exciting. That year was phenomenal, I was exploring new places and was able to turn my passion into something I can share with others.
4. Tell me more about your Instagram page. Who is aimed at and what’s the purpose?
My Instagram account is for anyone wants to:
- Learn more about vegetarian food and places to eat.
- Make a shift to plant-based eating.
- Get a preview of what vegetarian food is offered around the world.
It’s by sharing my experiences that I am able to not only showcase the delicious food I’ve tried but also encourage others to try new things and explore different cuisines.
5. What has been your ALL time popular post?
It is hard to pick from the 460 posts I have till date! However, some of my personal favourite posts are about places which have left a lasting impression. They would be:
- Plates, London – 100% plant-based restaurant
- Bodhi, Sydney – award-winning vegan yum cha and pan-Asian restaurant
- Maharaja Bhog, Mumbai – a restaurant serving rich and diverse Indian vegetarian food
- Habesha Village, London – authentic Ethiopian restaurant
- Curry On Naanstop, London – Mumbai Street food eatery at Sevendials market
6. What do you think makes an incredible food experience?
Firstly, I think about the quality of food and how well it is prepared. This is the most important factor. A good foodie experience is all about savouring new flavours and textures, so the quality of the food is key.
Second, there’s the atmosphere of the restaurant or eatery which is very important.
Thirdly, the service as good service makes a huge difference in the foodie experience. A beautifully presented dish can add to the overall experience and make the food even more appealing.
Lastly, it should offer something new and innovative. Creativity can make the experience memorable and exciting.
Overall, a good foodie experience is about enjoying delicious food in a pleasant and
welcoming atmosphere with great service and attention to detail.
7. If one of your followers was to sum up your page in 3 words, what do you think they’d say?
I hope they would say: Culinary adventures of a veggie mama showcasing authentic, informative, plant-based content.
8. How does food help us with our wellbeing and what role does it play in your life?
Food plays a critical role in our overall wellbeing as it provides the nutrients our bodies need to function properly. It helps with our physical, mental and social health.
I enjoy trying new foods and experimenting with different ingredients in the kitchen. I also recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and try to eat a well-balanced diet. In addition to its physical benefits, food plays a significant role in my mental wellbeing. Sharing meals with loved ones foster connections and a sense of comfort. When you try new foods and cuisines, it’s a source of excitement and discovery while helping to stimulate and broaden your horizons.
Regardless of how it fits into our individuals lives, I believe that food is a fundamental part of our wellbeing and should be approached with mindfulness and care.
9. What’s been your TOP foodie experience ever?
I have been lucky to have many memorable food experiences via my Instagram.These have helped me to broaden my reach and try new places. One of most incredible experiences I remember is from my trip to Australia where I was invited to join a vegan food tour in Melbourne.
I joined a guided tour with a small group of people walking to multiple vegan food venues and sampling their finest. The group was so diverse with people from different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. We all ate together, shared stories of our food journey and dietary preference.
I finished the tour well-fed, satisfied and inspired.
10. What have been the biggest challenges of motherhood for you?
While there is glory and beauty of motherhood, there are many unspoken challenges of motherhood. Motherhood is a 24/7 responsibility. Lack of sleep, balancing responsibilities, adjusting to a new role, guilt and self-doubt all of it can be daunting.
To cope with mommy stress, I remind myself to be kind, seek support when needed, practise self-compassion and take care of myself.
11. What do you do for self-care?
Self-care is incredibly important as it can be easy to focus solely on the needs of your child and neglect your own well-being. Here are some of my tips for self-care as a mother:
- Eat well
- Exercise
- Take breaks
- Connect with others
- Practise self-compassion
- Pursue hobbies
- Ask for help when you need it
12. How do you balance being a mum with running a Food Instagram page?
It has been incredibly hard to run the Instagram page with a full-time job and motherhood duties. Plus, going out has significantly reduced. I used to be out on a review almost 3-4 times a week pre-baby. Now I cannot do that. While on maternity leave, I had some time and started to take baby H along with me for reviews and shifted my content to include my experience of eating out with a child.
After returning to full-time work, I have had a few long pauses where I was unable to post any relevant food content. I am getting back to it gradually.
I have realised that with proper planning I can block and divide my time. Setting a routine and prioritising tasks is very important. I have also realised that my time is valuable and that’s why I should spend it doing things that matter the most. To achieve this, I have learnt how to say no.
I am picky when it comes to my social calendar. When I am with my child, I am 100%
present and focus on spending quality time with him. This helps both of us fill our cup and be content. The mom guilt is then reduced if I must leave him and go to work on a collaboration.
Lastly, setting expectation with your partner is very important. Communicate what is
important to you and how you’d like them to help.
I am still learning to balance motherhood, a full-time career and my passion of travel and food. It is not easy, but totally worth it.
13. What’s next for theveggietrotter?
Well, my Instagram page was started as theveggietrotter. After becoming a mother, I renamed it to theveggietrotter.mama to include places and experiences with a child. My focus now is creating reels as I continue to explore restaurants, baby/toddler friendly places combined with travel.
14. What advice would you give to any mums out there wanting to set up an Instagram page like yours?
I have so many tips to give but the top ones based on my experience are::
- Your bio is the first thing people see so think carefully and design your page to reflect your content.
- People want to know the YOU behind your account.
- Set rules and expectations on what stays private and what will you share publicly.
- Stay organised and plan your content in advance to make it more manageable.
- Keep posting consistently and keep engaging in new and fresh content at the right time for your followers.
- Finally, happy blogging/posting!
15. Where can we find you?
You can find me on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theveggietrotter.mama/ I look forward to sharing my content with you.
A bite of inspiration: A Globetrotter’s Food Journey
This interview with fellow mama Nikita was incredible. Her love for food and her desire to share that with others to experience it is enough to get you following her page to try places out. Theveggietrotter.mama is now Nikita’s space to not only share her own food and culinary experiences but those shared with her little one too. I hope you come away from reading this feeling hungry and will head over to Instagram to support Nikita and find your next place to eat too. If you have a vegan or veggie person in your life, this is your go-to-social account and why not share it with them too. Sharing is caring as they say!