Having been vegan since he was only seven years old, he often shares snippets of his plant-based journey on social media and this includes the sharing of vegan recipes too.

For the uninitiated, vegans do not consume foods that come from animals, which includes meat, eggs, milk and honey as they shun all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty. Vegetarians on the other hand, abstain from eating meat although they do consume other products derived from animals such as milk and honey.

“Like most people, it wasn’t easy for me when I first turned vegan four years ago. I’m not a fan of fast food and I never really liked meat, but I definitely missed scrambled eggs a lot while I was transitioning,” he admitted, adding that he eventually got used to it.

“My mum makes me scrambled tofu, which is not only tastier, but also looks and smells just like scrambled eggs!”

According to Tan, while he initially wanted to be vegan because of its health benefits, he eventually learnt about the positive impact veganism had on animal welfare and the environment.

Since it is difficult to get vegan food in school, he packs his own food. “My friends are often curious about the contents of my lunchbox.

“Sometimes they ask me where I get my protein from, and if my meals make me full. But I eventually got used to it and my friends have since understood.”

Although he is the only vegan in his class, his “BFF”, Bro Jazz, is vegan as well.

“He’s the same age as me. His seven-year-old sister and two-year-old baby brother are vegans too,” he exclaimed, adding that he feels that it is easier for children to become vegan compared to adults as the latter can be rather set in their way.

Tan also likes helping his mum make vegan food and beverages. “I want to learn more, but my mum says I’m not old enough,” he said, adding that some of his recipe videos can be found on his YouTube channel.

Tan says that besides oatmeal, he usually makes fruit smoothies, occasionally adding vegetables and nuts to the concoction for extra fibre and taste.

“I recommend using bananas, dragon fruit, mangoes and apples, but any fruit will do; if you have a favourite food, just add that in.”

For those who like mango lassi, Tan has a vegan version of it. “You just need to blend raw tempeh, mango and your choice of plant-based milk till it becomes creamy.

“If you want it sweet, add more mango, and if you want it savoury, add more tempeh,” he explained.

In addition, he also has tips on how one can make plant-based milk tastier.

“Just add some cacao powder to make it more chocolatey. I would say that I have a sweet tooth, so I also add some dates. Just remember to remove the pits or your blender will go Kling! Kling! Kling! Kling! Kling!” he said, laughing.

When asked about his favourite foods, Tan gives the thumbs up to tofu and broccoli as well as vegan sushi and nasi lemak.

“I often call my mom a ‘magician chef’ because she can ‘veganise’ any food that I miss!”

In his free time, Tan enjoys playing soccer and basketball, in addition to practising taekwondo.

“I also like watching vegan documentaries, such as ‘The Game Changers’, ‘Seaspiracy’ and ‘What the Health’.”

When asked about his ambition, he says he wants to be a doctor so he can better engage in vegan advocacy.

“But people say you need good grades to be a doctor, so I have tons of backups. If I can’t be a doctor, I’d like to be an athlete, a bodybuilder or a nutritionist.”

Despite feeling strong and healthy, Tan revealed that he often gets told that he’s too thin and that he looks weak.

“I tell them that I eat vegetables, which give me protein, which in turn makes me strong.”

For those who say that being vegan is tough, Tan suggested eating ‘veganised’ versions of their favourite dishes first before going full-on vegan.

“At the end of the day, being vegan can make you healthier and younger. Plus, you’ll be saving the planet and no animals will be harmed.”

Follow Karev’s vegan adventures on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.