Plant-based in Oulu: tips for living as a vegetarian or vegan in Finland
When people think of Finland, they often associate it with cold weather and assume agriculture is scarce. However, Finland not only produces its own agricultural goods but also imports a wide variety of fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices.
Affordable plant-based options: Unlike many countries, Finland doesn’t tax vegan foods. Supermarkets have dedicated sections for plant-based products, including dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. You’ll often find that vegan options are cheaper than their non-vegan counterparts (e.g., vegan cheese is usually less expensive than regular cheese).
Detective work: reading ingredient charts
Labels to look for: keep an eye out for the small “v” on price tags or labels like “vegaaninen” (vegan) or “100% kasviperäinen” (100% plant-based) to guide your choices.
If a product isn’t explicitly labeled as vegan or vegetarian, it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t. Some brands or supermarkets don’t highlight this, so you may need to scan ingredient charts using tools like Google Lens to translate and confirm what’s safe to eat.
Eating out: easy and affordable
Finland makes eating out as a vegan or vegetarian incredibly easy:
- Restaurants and fast food chains: Most places, including fast food chains, offer well-marked vegan and vegetarian options that are often cheaper than other menu items.
- University meals: Cafeterias in Finnish universities always provide affordable, nutritious plant-based or meatless meals, making it easy to stick to your diet on campus.
Challenges and opportunities
While dietary restrictions always require some effort, Finland is one of the most accessible European countries for plant-based eating. Of course, you might miss the farmers’ markets or specific produce from your home country, but this is part of the migration experience.
Challenges can also lead to creativity and new discoveries. Like in my case, you may end up experiment with weirdly shaped Finnish roots and turn them into tasty dishes, or learning to appreciate rye flour and use it for baking - even falling in love with oatmeal.
Wrap up
Finland is a fantastic place for vegans and vegetarians, offering affordable, accessible, and diverse plant-based options. While you might miss some foods from home, you’ll also discover new ingredients and recipes that make your culinary journey exciting and rewarding.
About the author
Elena from Milan, Italy is a first-year master’s student in Education for Global Futures. Her hobbies include experimenting with plant-based recipes (to complement her wardrobe, made mostly of green items), swimming and now also ice dipping!