It wasn’t that long ago
that the word ‘vegan’ would be met with looks of confusion, or indeed, a
chuckle or two. It used to be deemed an overly-extreme lifestyle choice, almost
akin self-deprivation. But now, it’s linked to all kinds of health benefits;
perhaps it is predicted that a record number of Brits are taking part in
Veganuary in 2019, with over 2.66 million people estimated to sign up in one
survey.
One study from The
Vegan Society revealed that within the UK:
56% of adults in the UK
practice vegan buying behaviours
19% have cut down on
buying meat and are checking cosmetics and toiletries for animal-testing
13% actively choose
meat-free or dairy-free meals when eating out
51% are happy to see
vegan food in shops and restaurants
Plus, for those who
aren’t willing to forgo meat and dairy entirely, there’s a growing trend for
‘flexitarians’ — where people opt for vegan or vegetarian meals every so often
and actively reduce their meat intake. In fact, 34%
of meat eaters in the UK had reduced their meat intake as of July 2018,
where only 28% had done in 2017. Maybe because of this, the mindset towards
vegans has drastically improved, with 43% of people saying they respected
vegans for their lifestyle.
But what is it that’s
really bringing veganism into the spotlight? Looking at the results of last year’s
Veganuary, a movement that challenges people to sign up for a month of vegan
eating, the top reason for people signing up was animal rights concerns (43%).
This was followed by 39% of people who signed up for health reasons, and 10%
who said it was for environmental reasons.
There could be a slight
note of vanity to veganism too, as Google
searches for the word ‘vegan’ have grown in line with the word ‘Instagram’.
In a world where we love to take photos of our meals and share them on social
media, it’s not difficult to believe that Instagram has helped circulate
numerous brightly-coloured vegan dishes to help improve its previously ill-held
reputation of being nothing but leaves.
Vegan food choices have
definitely expanded in recent years, which is sure to have helped tempt more
and more people into ditching animal products. For example, Live
Kindly outlined some amazing vegan food trends for 2019 that sounds truly
delicious:
Vegan seafood is set to
take centre stage, as arguably the final frontier for plant-based substitutes
to offer up.
Vegan ice-cream and
deserts are also on the rise, with the likes of Ben & Jerry’s releasing
vegan ice-cream options in 2018 and leading the way for other ice-cream
companies to follow suit.
Vegan jerky is pinned to be
the vegan snack of 2019, offering up a meaty, chewy treat without any animal
product!
Vegan cheese will expand
its repertoire in 2019, with more variety of offerings such as parmesan-style
and Blue-type cheese. Vegans and lactose-intolerant people, rejoice!
Naturally, businesses can
help themselves out in 2019 by offering more go-to options for vegans. A recent
survey found that 91% of vegans are having a tough time finding to-go meal
options. The market is certainly there, just look at Greggs their headline-grabbing
vegan sausage roll launch in early 2019 saw the meat-free version of their
customer favourite appear in 900 stores. But after becoming the
fastest selling launch for the company in more than six years, it is now
set to head to 1,800 stores.
Making the vegan switch
can be beneficial on a personal level too. A new study was brought to the
public eye by The Guardian, outlining that the “five-a-day” notion for fruit
and vegetable consumption is, sadly, not entirely accurate. In fact, the study
from the Imperial College London advises 10-a-day! The now-recommended 800g of
fruit and veg daily would help reduce heart disease, strokes and premature
deaths. Picking up a few vegan meals throughout the week, or switching to a
vegan diet entirely, would certainly help hit this healthy target.
If you’re not ready to
take the full vegan-plunge, why not try going a little flexitarian or grow your
own vegetables and fruits? Even a small garden can house a few home-grown herbs
and fruits! You can grab a grow bag and
start cultivating your own supply of tomatoes for a home-made tomato sauce, or
cucumbers for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste! Don’t forget your proteins
— a vegan diet has loads to choose from, and you can grow some in your garden
alongside the veggies. Think beans and seeds, like sunflower seeds or soybeans.
Will vegan choices be
making an appearance in your diet? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how far
vegan cooking has come, and if nothing else, you’ll reap the many environmental
and health benefits.
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