Can you believe Made in Chelsea favourite Lucy Watson first hit our screens in 2012? She won over fans with her straight-talking attitude and cool confidence. Since leaving the show almost a decade ago, she’s stayed true to her long-standing plant-based lifestyle, becoming a vegan author, launching a stunning sustainable brand, and welcoming her first child, Willoughby, with husband James Dunmore.
Vegan since her early twenties and vegetarian for years before that, Lucy always knew she’d raise her child on a plant-based diet and stayed strictly vegan through her pregnancy. Now, as she navigates life as a new mum, she shares her honest experience with vegan weaning, launching Renue The Label, and motherhood's unexpected highs and lows in this exclusive chat.
Whether you're curious about plant-based baby diets, looking for the best vegan kids snacks, or love a refreshingly honest take on celebrity motherhood, Lucy’s story is full of heart and helpful advice for modern mums and dads.
Raising a vegan child
As we mentioned at the start, for Lucy, raising her son Willoughby on a vegan diet wasn’t a bold parenting decision; it was simply the natural next step. Having been vegetarian for most of her life and fully plant-based for over a decade, Lucy and her husband James (who is also vegan) never had to sit down and debate how they’d feed their baby. "We didn’t even really have to discuss it. It was a no-brainer for us," she says. "We’ve been plant-based for so long, it just felt natural."
And so far, it’s working. Willoughby, now one, is thriving, hitting all his developmental milestones and, according to Lucy, has a really healthy diet. “He’s never had sugar, white bread or white pasta. His meals are mostly whole foods: brown rice, quinoa, vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. He loves tofu and porridge with blueberries or homemade apple sauce.”
It’s not all about leafy greens and good intentions, though. Lucy has done her homework. As a vegan cookbook author, Lucy says she isn't going into this without knowledge of food and nutrition. Knowledge she now applies to Willoughby’s (and her own) meals. She focuses on whole foods, limits processed snacks, and keeps things simple but tasty. "I want him to grow up with a healthy relationship with food,” she says.
Weaning with confidence
When it came to weaning, Lucy took a calm and confident approach, thanks in large part to her extensive knowledge of food and instinct. “I did a lot of research on it,” she says. “We kind of wanted to do both (baby-led weaning and purees). I really value a child being able to hold, touch and pick up food. I think it’s really important for learning about texture and understanding food.”
Although she offered purées as a backup, Lucy leaned towards baby-led weaning from the beginning, especially since Willoughby had teeth early. “He was four months old when he first had teeth, so we didn’t see any harm in giving him soft foods that weren’t puréed.”
Each mealtime was an opportunity for exploration. “I always made him meals that had a baby-led option and then a purée option as well, just in case he couldn’t digest the whole food easily, so he could still get a taste of the flavour.”
Like many parents, Lucy quickly discovered the power of persistence. “I had a whole list of everything, fruits, veg, herbs, spices, and I just tried one thing at a time. I’d always try a food at least five times before giving up,” she explains. “Avocado," she beams, "He hated it the first four times. Now he eats it every day!”
She’s also quick to point out that you don’t need to be a gourmet cook to raise a plant-based child. “I love cooking, but you don’t have to. My husband doesn’t enjoy it and still makes great meals for Willoughby. It’s about flavour and variety, not perfection. Even something like scrambled tofu with garlic and turmeric. It's so easy, and he loves it.”
Her top tip for parents considering a plant-based approach, or any weaning style, is to be patient and persistent. “Kids don’t always like a food the first time; it can take five tries,” she says.
Motherhood and self-care - celebrity style
We all want to master the balance between motherhood and self-care, and Lucy is no exception. “Self-care is really tricky,” she admits. “I remember when I was pregnant, I used to do these self-care videos and people would comment saying, ‘You won’t be doing that when the baby’s here!’ And I’d think, ‘You don’t know me. I’ll still be doing it.’ But of course, your routine changes completely.”
These days, Lucy focuses on what she can manage. “I’ve definitely taken my self-care back down to the basics,” she says. “I’m not doing a full facial massage every evening before bed, but I do stick to the skincare I know works for me. I don’t skip those steps.”
As most toddler mums can appreciate, no matter who you are, it is a delicate balancing act, and sometimes that means dropping a couple of plates. For Lucy, exercise has taken more of a backseat, but she’s found ways to stay active that work around mum life. “I’ve been skipping my fitness a little bit because it’s lower down the priority list. But I’ll go for a walk if I can’t get to the gym, or I’ll walk to meetings instead of getting a taxi.”
Motherhood has also changed the way she looks after her health. “I’ve actually become probably healthier,” she says. “I want to be well for my child. They catch so many bugs, and I’m not getting much sleep, so I ask myself, ‘What can I control?’ I can’t control how many viruses he’s going to get, but I can control what I’m putting into my body.”
That means staying hydrated, eating nutrient-rich meals, and sharing what she cooks for Willoughby. “I cook really healthy food for him, so I end up eating it too, which is actually great.”
And while she’s still navigating the demands of being a hands-on mum to a toddler, she’s honest about the juggle. “I’m in the thick of it, Willoughby’s 14 months. I think it’s going to be hard to balance things for the next few years, but I do try to make time for myself. When you do, you feel better, making you a better mum and partner. It is important.”
Renue the Label and the maternity line we're utterly obsessed with
In addition to being a new mum, vegan advocate, animal rights activist and absolute powerhouse, Lucy Watson is also the co-founder of RENUE the label, a sustainable underwear brand designed for women at every stage of life, from classic everyday essentials to stunning nursing-friendly styles. The brand focuses on ethical production, stylish design, and serious comfort, all while being kind to the planet. Like Lucy, the brand is sleek, chic, and oozes understated high fashion (and we cannot get enough of it).
“I wanted to create something that ticks every box,” Lucy explains. “Something that feels good, looks good, and is made with sustainability in mind.”
Renue’s mission is clear: to provide women with flattering, well-fitting underwear that supports their body and values, whether they’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or simply looking for comfortable, beautiful basics that last.
While Renue the label isn't exclusively a maternity brand, Lucy’s experience of pregnancy helped shape part of the collection. “When I was expecting, I couldn’t find anything that was sustainable, supportive and stylish all in one,” she says.
Renue’s maternity and nursing range was designed to be discreet and wearable well beyond the fourth trimester. “I still wear our nursing bras now,” she adds. “They look just like the non-nursing versions, but with added clips. We didn’t want them to scream ‘maternity.’”
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. “We had a message from a mum who said she hadn’t felt like herself since giving birth, but wearing one of our sets made her feel like herself again. That was such a special moment for us.”
About the author
Hannah Carroll is our Senior Digital Writer. In her capacity, she curates top-notch listicles, crafts insightful how-to guides, and delivers expert product reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah draws upon her comprehensive understanding of all facets of family life to bring true insight into all the products that make running a home easier.