Cityscape caught up with Flip Grater, one half of the highly successful vegan butchery and deli, Grater Goods.

You’ve been vegan for two decades, have you noticed any significant changes, say in people’s attitude towards veganism? When I turned vegan I had to take my own soy milk to cafés and mushrooms to BBQs. My family took the mickey for years – an uncle even gave me an ox heart as a prank gift for Christmas one year. Now half my family have either a plant-based diet or are at least plant curious. I used to get a lot of "Where do you get your protein from?" and "But what do you eat?!" and I never get that any more. People's understanding of and interest in veganism has expanded hugely and a lot of myths have been dispelled.

Advice for anyone considering veganism? Do a little reading about nutrition. This is not just for vegans – everyone should understand what the human needs and how to get it. And get used to reading ingredients labels! There is a lot of localised advice online. And don't 'vegan police' yourself. There's no right way to live – just educate yourself and make decisions every day that fit with your personal ethics and goals.

You run a successful business, have a stellar music career, write a fantastic blog and are also a mum – would you attribute your lifestyle to helping maintain the balance? Thanks! And no – veganism isn't a magic solution to the unending work/family/creativity/relaxation balance struggle. My only tips for that are 1. Use the village, whatever form that comes in. 2. Find the thing that relaxes you and do it every day. 3. Wine.

What is your go-to dish to whip up? Noodles. Always noodles. Most often a type of rice noodle soup but I'm also partial to fried noodles, ramen, dan dan noodles, somen, soba salads... My Instagram speaks for itself.

gratergoods.co.nz