Photo by Rita
As we bid farewell to January, those of us who decided to participate may or may not say goodbye to Veganuary — some of us decide to continue our plant-based diet, whereas the rest of us return to our normal diet. Veganuary is certainly becoming more popular, in 2018, there were around 600,000 vegans in the UK, with figures set to steadily increase. Shoppers are spending more money on plant-based foods, both meat eaters, vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians. Applewood’s vegan cheese sold out in around 40 per cent of retailers in October 2019!
There’s a forecasted veganism influx of 327% by the end of this year in the UK, could it be time to change up your lifestyle? Before you return back to your carnivorous habits, take a look at this comprehensive guide to all things flower-powered!
What is a vegan lifestyle?
If your diet is plant-based, your diet excludes all animal products — from meat, to dairy and anything derived from animals, such as gelatin. This also includes any foods that are processed using animal products (meaning that some wines will be off the menu!). People commit to vegan diets for a range of reasons, from animal welfare, to raising awareness of the carbon footprint of a carnivorous diet, or even as a health-related measure. As a result, the benefits of veganism will largely depend on the reason behind making the change; from a health perspective, it’s a nutrient rich diet, aiding in weight loss, and there are studies which have suggested that it can lessen the risk of certain health conditions. However, as the climate change narrative continues to grow, there’s a growing emphasis on the role that veganism could play in lessening individual carbon output, which collectively, has the potential to help restore the world’s atmospheric levels. Many activist groups are turning their focus onto the environmental damage of human activity and the step towards making our everyday lives more sustainable.
Is there anything new in store for vegans this year?
2020 is potentially a decade of a vegan revolution, with many popular food retailers finally recognising the supply and demand for vegan alternatives. Back in 2019, the popular bakery chain Greggs unleased hysteria with their vegan sausage roll, sitting alongside the traditional meat alternative. They followed this up in January 2020 with a remarkable marketing campaign leading up to the unveil of their vegan steak bake, which involved blacking out store windows, creating an air of exclusivity for the new product. The product has been a sold-out phenomenon, with many left empty-handed on their quest to sample the new product.
Vegan options are taking off, sending reverberations across the market as other retailers revealed their own plant-based treats. KFC, Frankie & Benny’s, Costa, and Subway have all branched out to revel in the meat-free craze. There’s even a growing range of plant based sweet treats available, from organic chocolate to doughnuts and more!
The vegan food market is growing — it is now a multi-billion-pound industry showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the influx of plant-based products into the market was recorded at an impressive 9,590 new vegan options, as established by the Vegan Society.
Cheaper alternatives?
In regard to affordability, leading a vegan diet has often been considered as a costly pursuit… So, is it actually expensive to be a vegan, or could it be realistic even for those on a budget? The answer to this varies, but for the most part, being vegan can certainly be purse friendly. Many of the core ingredients of a vegan diet are some of the cheapest components of the standard meal — vegetables, beans, pasta, rice, and fruit. While there’s undoubtedly been a far wider variety of processed vegan options available in supermarket fridges, these are not necessarily healthy and can often be more costly additions on your weekly shop.
One vegan shopping trolley will differ from the next depending upon preference, but by filling your meals with affordable, staple ingredients such as lentils, pulses and tofu, you can be realistic when it comes to eating a purse friendly plant-based diet.
Leading vegan cities
Research by Nisbets revealed the top UK ‘vegan cities’, with some interesting entries on the rundown. The cities which made the list have the most either vegan or vegetarian eateries, and Norwich came top of the bunch, closely followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle.
Up North in Glasgow, there are 3,000 listed veggie or vegan eateries, from the vibrant The 78 kitchen, The Flying Duck late night plant-based junk food, and the appropriately named ‘Glasvegan’ brunch spot. Back over the border, the North East has seen a lot of plant powered innovation in the past few years, from glazed vegan doughnut retailers, to the quirky Little Greens Cafe which prides itself on serving high protein, vegan options for brunch, lunch, and dinner. In fact, the annual vegan food fest ‘flower power’ is held at Tyne Bank Brewery, a bustling spot to sample a lot of vegan goodness. Many people are following the buzz of the vegan scene that a city has, but surprisingly the UK’s capital city doesn’t even feature on the list — suggesting that it’s got a bit of catching up to do!
The dietary requirements of the UK are making a positive shift, with more and more of us switching to plant-based foods. Will you?
Sources:
Live Kindly
Stylist UK
Vegan Food and Living
BBC
Plant Based News
Health Line
New Statesman
Vegan Kit
