Using Umii To Make Connections – A Vegetarian & Vegan Christmas

Sometimes it can be hard to make connections as a student, and perhaps socialising with course mates, flatmates, or feeling confident enough to join a society just doesn’t work for you. If you feel like you’re feeling isolated or set apart, then the app Umii could be perfect for you. Umii is an app dedicated to supporting students so nobody feels isolated or lonely, and if you use the app you can be matched with other students based off both your course and personal interests. It provides a truly safe way for you to socialise which doesn’t rely on extroverted means, and provides a great range of resources for mental health wellbeing. So if you’re looking for an easy way to find other students who fit your personality and who share your preferences, go to their website here. You can read more about them, and from there you can find links for Android and Apple for how to download the app.

Umii can be a great resource for you, especially if you feel that your preferences differentiate from those around you – for example, if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, the upcoming festive season can be hard. Food is very much the main topic of tradition and conversation, with much emphasis on meat-eating and other foods which don’t cater to the vegetarian/vegan crowd. If you find that among family and friends you’re feeling left out or awkward, worried about making your preferences known to people who don’t relate to them, then Umii is the perfect app to help you find your vegetarian/vegan student community. Not only can you make those all-important social connections, but it can also help in the practical sense of pooling resources and information, like where to find veggie or vegan food options in Lincoln if you connect with others of the uni – however if you make connections with people further afield at other institutions you could discover even more, such as new recipes or food sources!

Vegetarian/Vegan Options – Lincoln

Major supermarkets have visibly made greater efforts to be inclusive with their festive food ranges, plenty of which are available to browse in the Lincoln area. We have the main Morrison’s store just off Tritton Road which is very close to campus, and if you go to their website here you can peruse their selection of festive goodies, and use dietary filters including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and halal so you can browse according to your requirements. ALDI, if you’re able to drive or take public transport to Wragby Road, offer their own range on their website here with similar vegetarian and vegan filters. This inclusivity, being able to filter your food browsing, is applicable to many UK supermarkets including Sainsburys and ASDA – it’s also worthwhile checking out the food emporium of Home Sense (also off Tritton Road), as they always have a great eclectic range of foods!

Recipes

If you’re looking to discover recipes to potentially share with others, or even just try for yourself, then on many of the aforementioned supermarket sites they will have lists of great recipes you can try out with their inclusive food products – however if you want to explore, then BBC Foods is a must! You can browse their recipes from their website here according to your dietary requirements, and try out some great options like the Mushroom Wellington by Roxy Pope and Ben Cook, or the Vegan Mince Pies by Emily Angle. There are dishes for every stage of Christmas including main, sides, snacks, soups and puddings, some even from greats like Mary Berry and The Hairy Bikers! This is the place to get whatever recipe you fancy, but if you’re more inclined to try and create something yourself, or collaborate on something, then this is where having Umii is perfect! By using the app to find your community you can discuss recipe ideas, share tips, ideas, experiences with trying new dishes, and before you know it you’ll have an abundance of support, foody resources, and hopefully a lot of new friends this Christmas!

The festive period can be one of the best times of the year, but if you’re someone who doesn’t relate to the “norm” of those around them then it can be easy to feel left out and excluded. But you don’t have to feel that way, and Umii is the perfect tool for any student who might be feeling excluded or lonely for any reason. Whether you’re a vegetarian or vegan in a house of meat-eaters, if you don’t celebrate Christmas at all, or if you simply don’t have people to be with at this time of year, Umii can help you bridge connections all across the University of Lincoln and the country as a whole. So no matter what you eat or how you choose to commemorate the season of winter, know that you absolutely do not have to be alone.