The growth of veganism | Patient Talk

‘Vegan’ became something of a dirty word. Disregarded as a fad, this diet is trickling down into the mainstream. Being vegan is now taken as a serious lifestyle which has a number of health and environment benefits as well as being a progressive movement to a sustainable way of life. The surging interest in veganism is making it impossible for businesses to ignore — plant-based food sales in the UK increased by 1500% between 2016–2017.

Research reported by the Vegan Society revealed that:

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

Although not all of us are transitioning to veganism, many of us are becoming flexitarian as well as becoming more mindful of the benefits and are willing to try vegan options. Perhaps because of this, the mindset towards vegans has drastically improved, with 43% of people saying they respected vegans for their lifestyle.

However, is it just being conscious of the environment and what we’re putting into our bodies that’s causing the surge in popularity? 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 suggests that going vegan can be attributed to other reasons. The increase of 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.

Vegan Food & Living put together many vegan food trends for 2018:

Edible flowers, to make your meal Instagram-worthy!
Veggie chips, such as parsnip chips and sweet potato chips, make for a healthier option than normal potato.
Fermented foods, while they might not conjure the most delicious image to mind, are coming into food trends in a big way. Think colourful kimchi and nutty-flavoured tempeh.
Vegan desserts, bringing back ice-cream and cakes in vegan-friendly ways. Ben and Jerry’s have released three delicious vegan-friendly ice creams: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, and Peanut Butter and Cookies are all sure to be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike!

It would appear that the next step for businesses and eateries is to provide more food-on-the-go 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, and restaurants and supermarkets are slowly picking up on the potential gains to be made by catering to veganism.

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’ve developed an interest in a healthy vegan or flexitarian lifestyle, growing your own vegetables is a fun and rewarding way or eating your own food. Even a small garden can house a few home-grown herbs and fruits! You can grab some growbags and manure and start cultivating your own supply of tomatoes for a home-made tomato sauce, or cucumbers for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste!

Proteins are still important though — 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.

Why not mix things up and challenge yourself with a new diet? You might absolutely love it! Who wouldn’t want environmental and health benefits?