Vegan

It’s a simple fact; going vegetarian or vegan is growing more popular by the day.

In a world where we’re constantly connected and information flows like water, it’s impossible to ignore the exploitation of animals and environmental impact animal-derived produce has on the world. At Wholefoody, we understand that better than most.

We know that going vegan is a lifestyle choice; one that limits our impact on the planet. And though the world at large remains carnist, we’ll keep doing our part to limit our environmental impact every day – and helping you do the same.

What is Veganism?

If you’re new to the philosophy, vegans avoid animal-derived produce as much as possible. Unlike vegetarianism and pescetarianism, vegans eliminate not only meat and fish from their diets, but eggs, dairy and honey products too.

This is why it’s so important for vegans to know how to get the full rainbow of vitamins, minerals and proper nutrition whilst removing those animal-derived products from their diet.

So far as is possible and practical, vegans seek to avoid animal-derived products not only in their food intake, but in their life in general. This includes clothing, cosmetics, and even sports like horse racing.

Veganism’s core principle is that animals are not there for the use of humans. They are not property; they deserve respect and should not be harmed as far as possible. It’s as simple as that.

This means the exclusion of foods such as meat and fish, but also products derived from the killing of animals, such as gelatine and fats. Vegan foods also exclude dairy products such as animal-derived milk, cheese yoghurt, eggs, and meat-free products containing eggs like Quorn. Many vegans also avoid honey and products that come from honey.

What can vegans eat?

Vegan food and diets are naturally high in fibre and full of healthy vitamins and nutrients, as many vegans eat large amounts of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Veganism is actually considered to be an extremely healthy lifestyle, and we have more than a few vegans here at Wholefoody.

However, there are some vitamins that can be missing from a vegan lifestyle, such as B12, which is present in many animal products but not most vegan foods. Luckily, this is fairly easy to supplement with nutritional yeast (or plenty of other fortified vegan products, too).

For an idea of what vegans eat on the regular, take a look at; fruits and vegetables (though not always avocados), beans, pulses, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds and their derivative nut butters, nutritional yeast, milk and cream alternatives, textured vegetable proteins, tofu, seaweed, fermented foods such as sauerkraut and even vegan chocolate!

Is there more to a vegan lifestyle?

The definition of veganism covers more than just vegan foods. Veganism is a lifestyle, rather than a dietary choice.

“A way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or for any other purpose.”

In practice, this includes choosing vegan food, wearing clothes that are not derived from animals or animal products in any way, and using cosmetics and products around the house that do not contain animal ingredients. This includes only using products that are not tested on animals.

Many vegans avoid leather, wool, fur and silk, and are careful to read the labels on cosmetics and household products. Just because a product says it isn’t tested on animals doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t contain animal-derived products, for example.

How do vegans maintain a healthy balance?

Easily, with the right information to hand.

It’s important for those following a vegan lifestyle to monitor their daily nutrition, to ensure that their vegan food comprises a healthy balance of nutrients. In short, vegans must be aware of their protein, fat, fibre and iron intake, just like every non-vegan should!

Why choose veganism?

For many, the appeal of veganism is that it’s a lifestyle of kindness, conscientiousness and upholding important personal values. But to be more specific, here are a few common reasons:

• The desire to be kind to and care for animals
  
• Believing that the suffering and killing of animals is wrong, especially when it’s to produce food
  
• Reducing our impact on the environment
  
• Understanding that we need to ensure there’s enough food to go around for humans and animals alike
  
• The desire for a healthy and nutritious diet and lifestyle

Dietary Benefits of Veganism

There are many benefits to choosing veganism; some of them are obvious, like increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, others are less so, like reducing your chance of developing heart disease.

Most vegan diets are well-balanced and include more whole grains and fibre than non-vegans, and considerably less saturated fat. However, vegans still have to make healthy choices every day. Choosing to eat cake, crisps and fizzy drinks could fully conform to vegan values, but it’s not a healthy way to live! You’re not automatically going to become healthy by choosing to go vegan.

Buying vegan foods online

At Wholefoody, our range of vegan foods are high quality, organic, and cater to various other dietary needs such as gluten-free products. By buying vegan food in bulk online, customers can order their favourite vegan products in the quantities most suited to their needs, and be assured of their quality.

Becoming Vegan

If you’re considering choosing a vegan lifestyle, but are put off by the daunting task of replacing your favourite foods with vegan food, try not to worry. Wholefoody’s range of vegan alternatives has been carefully selected to support healthy changes and to develop a vegan lifestyle. And if you’re worried about making big changes, remember you can go slowly if you need to.

Whether you choose to use up your existing ingredients, foods and products that aren’t vegan is up to you.

The most important choice is to not buy non-vegan products once you’ve made your decision to go vegan. The easiest way to do this is to identify non-vegan products or ingredients you currently use and find a vegan-friendly replacement for them. As one product runs out, you can replace it with one that conforms to a vegan lifestyle.

For ideas on vegan foods and vegan recipes, you can browse our vegan range at Wholefoody.