Like a Vegan

With Christmas behind me, I have sailed into the New Year on a wave of prosecco, champagne, wine and gin. Hm maybe it's time for dry January. Not only that, but a slight change in diet. I would like to announce that I'm doing Veganuary but, in truth, the fridge is full of left-over cheese and I feel unable to fully commit. I was gifted a vegan cookbook and have had a trip to the supermarket to stock up on some of the essentials for a vegan diet so I'm about to make some small changes without going the whole hog (sorry, tofu)

So, going vegan is, arguably, better for me, the animals and the environment. When I first became vegetarian in 1990 it was difficult to eat out and even more so abroad. But gradually things have changed and improved, making life as a vegetarian easier. I do still feel that I am seen as being awkward or different and I think a switch to Veganism would be seen in the same light but we are on the crest of change. Social media has shone a light on a healthier diet with environmental credentials, all beautifully presented and photographed.

Visiting a local restaurant on New Year's Day I was pleased to see they had a vegan menu and enjoyed a delicious spiced coconut curry with Ras el hanout squash and sweet potato, sticky jasmine rice and a scorched red chilli. Since then the vegan pizza was very tasty and today I made the butternut squash and sweet potato soup from Feed me Vegan. 

Today would be a good day to have an epiphany and go completely vegan but I think small changes will suffice for now.

Venturesome Vegan

November is World Vegan Month. Vegans around the world celebrate and promote their lifestyle, health and environmental benefits and hope to get more people to join them on the vegan vehicle.

Whilst not a vegan myself, I am interested in finding out more, swapping some meals to vegan and learning about more sustainable substitutes. I gave up meat and fish 28 years ago, basically because I did not enjoy eating them. Since then, it has become more about the wider issues. I do eat dairy. I do wear leather shoes. I don't always check that products I use are vegan. 

I think my way forward is to make subtle changes so here is my Veg Pledge:-

- to try substituting dairy for animal-free products

- to look into animal-free and sustainable clothing

- to check labels on beauty and cleaning products

- to question ingredients on medicines and foods

- to stop eating jelly sweets (my very guilty secret) which contain gelatin

I'll let you know how I get on. In the meantime I am ordering a copy of Lucy Watson's Feed Me Vegan. Oh, and some Veja trainers; made from organic cotton, rubber from the Amazon, vegetable-tanned leather and recycled plastic bottles. Stylish, on-trend and Eco-friendly. 

 

Baby steps!