Why the world is going vegan?

- 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 

People may not always be adopting a totally vegan diet, but are changing their eating habits to include more non-animal product foods (being a ‘flexitarian’, as it is known). Perhaps because of this, the mindset towards vegans has drastically improved, with 43% of people saying they respected vegans for their lifestyle.

However, is there more to the trend than health and eco-awareness concerns? Looking at the results of 2018’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. 

The Independent has suggested a slightly vainer reason. The newspaper noted that Google searches of the word ‘vegan’ has grown in line with searches for ‘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. 

As Vegan Food & Living proves with 2018’s vegan food trends, there’s been a massive leap in the appeal of vegan dishes:

Now, businesses need to take note of the surge and offer more in the ways of vegan options. A recent survey found that 91% of vegans are having a tough time finding to-go meal options. The market is certainly there, and restaurants and supermarkets are slowly picking up on the potential gains to be made by catering to veganism. 

A vegan diet 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. 

Whether you’re thinking of going vegan or just swaying a little more ‘flexitarian’, you can help boost your healthy choice with self-grown veggies! Even a small garden can house a few home-grown herbs and fruits. You can grab some growbags and start cultivating your own supply of tomatoes for a home-made tomato sauce, or cucumbers for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste. While you’re out there, maybe take the chance to tidy up the garden a bit, give it some TLC, maybe dress it up with some garden bark chippings and new plants beyond just veggies. Plus, a vegan diet has loads of proteins you can grow too. Think beans and seeds, like sunflower seeds or soybeans.