Why vegan diets are on the up
You might wonder what is the exact difference between being a vegan and a vegetarian, and it’s a very good question.
What is a vegan diet?
The term ’vegan’ dates back to 1944 when a small group of people broke away from the Leicester Vegetarian Society, because they decided not to consume dairy products, eggs or other products of animal origin. A vegetarian by contrast will certainly eat yogurt, eggs, butter and cheese. The original definition of veganism is “the principle of emancipation of animals from exploitation by man,” and these days it is considered a way of life that excludes all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether it is for food, clothing or any other purpose.
Why do people choose to be vegan?
There are several ethical reasons including animal welfare and that killing animals promotes violence. Vegans also place emphasis on environmental concerns, arguing that meat consumption is a cause of global warming and deforestation, as well as increasing our energy footprint amongst other things. And then there is the health issue. A well-balanced vegan diet contains all the protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals you need. Furthermore, it is low in saturated fat and free from animal protein, cholesterol and hormones; all of which have been linked to disease. And if that doesn’t persuade you, compared with carnivores, vegans have fewer weight problems, have lower cholesterol, blood pressure and rates of type 2 diabetes. They also have a 30 per cent lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
Who follows a vegan diet?
Younger people, especially the millennial generation are leaders in the plant-based food movement. A growing number of celebrities have also gone vegan. Ellie Goulding, Paul McCartney and boxer, David Haye, whose advocacy for veganism is due to its shift from a kind of hippy subculture into the mainstream. Having said that, veganism still has some way to go before it is fully adopted, but it could have major impacts in the future that will help the planet.
Vegan products at Leo Foods
Getting to grips with a vegan diet can be challenging, and at Leo Foods we understand it isn’t always easy to source ingredients, as our own family members have shown us. That’s why we have expanded our range of vegan foods and drinks. Most of our vegan foods can be found within our Organic range, however we also have products that offer a more varied and exciting diet.
Staple vegan foods such as beans, lentils, tofu, seitan, tempeh, nuts, and seeds can be found in abundance at our store in Nueva Campana, plus we also have new Indian ready meals that have great flavour and are suitable for vegans.
Try this fantastic vegan Shepherd’s Pie recipe
It’s the time of year when we want some comfort food and what could be better than a vegan Shepherd’s Pie. All you have to do is replace meat with lentils and give the mashed potatoes some extra zing with garlic and coconut milk!
Come to Leo Foods – we have all the ingredients for this recipe!
So if you’re already a vegan, or looking to go vegan, pop into our warehouse shop in Nueva Campana, and find our hidden treasures and healthy food.
