Nowadays, it’s probably safe to say that more and more people are committing to vegan diets or lifestyles. Vast varieties of vegan products have become available to mainstream consumers – food or non-food – in the last years. Today, a vegan menu option in a restaurant is more normal than exceptional. Need vegan shampoo? No problem. Even our convinced omnivore friends might tell us that they’re trying out a new vegan diet – to fulfill a New Year’s Eve resolution to live a healthier lifestyle. But what exactly does vegan mean?
The decision to live a vegan life might be motivated by environmental or health reasons. The biggest reason to switch is making a stand against animal cruelty. In a strict sense, this choice includes avoiding any animal or animal derived products. No leather seats in the car, no woolen jumpers, definitely no duvet filled with duck feathers! Even medicine, sweets or the strings of a tennis racket may contain animal derived parts. And it goes without saying: steak and cheese stay off the menu. A vegan diet gives up on all animal products such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey and instead is based on nuts, vegetables, grains, and fruits.
When you think about it, the best way to begin a vegan lifestyle might be to start with a vegan diet. You might find yourself wondering if there is anything left to eat. Being on a diet which at first might not seem the most versatile – after a couple of days you start to see ingredients in a different light. To get an easier start, it definitely helps to check out vegan blogs. We recommend you to have a look at the Minimalist Baker and One Ingredient Chef.
Being vegan means make do without meat and milk. But it most certainly does not mean to live without Pasta Bolognese or French Toast. Consider buying new products such as agave syrup, Chia seeds, rice noodles and so on. And there’s no need to worry about where you’ll be getting protein from – green vegetables, nuts and soy, for instance, are very high in protein. For those who are concerned about eating their beloved breakfast muesli in a dry state should not worry either. There are so many non-dairy options on the market – almond milk, rice milk, oat milk and soy milk are the most common alternatives.
If you are hungry for something new, come and find our vegan recipe collection in the app! As always, step by step photo instructions and videos will guide you through the recipes. Happy cooking!