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Why Veganism Is A Feminist Issue

If you see veganism and feminism as two separate issues, it’s time to challenge your thinking. Intersectionality is the idea that different systems of discrimination and disadvantage overlap, so you can’t fight one without fighting the other. Intersectionality is often spoken about in terms of race and feminism, where white feminists historically ignored the problems facing black and brown women.

Intersectionality is the belief that all forms of discrimination are interlinked, and we must fight on both fronts. If we are fighting oppression against humans, we should also look at animal suffering. Why? Because we can. It is an easy change to make as an individual to prevent suffering in your name.

Key Takeaways

The meat and dairy industries rely on the exploitation of female bodies to keep producing more animals for slaughter.
Climate change is the pressing feminist issue of our time. Switching to a plant-based diet can reduce your impact on the planet.
Being a feminist doesn’t mean you only care about women and girls; you can also show compassion to animals. It’s easier than ever to go vegan now, so why not add another string to your ethical bow by changing your diet to reduce suffering in the world?

The Meat & Dairy Industries Exploit Mothers

The meat and dairy industries rely on mothers to keep producing babies. While all animals suffer in these industries, these mothers suffer the longest. While a pig bred for bacon will live six miserable months before being slaughtered, its mother will be forced to endure a life of breeding until she is no longer able to. A male dairy calf might be killed within days of being born, but his mother will endure a lifetime of being impregnated and having her babies ripped away from her until she can no longer produce milk.

Female animals are suffering for longer because of their ability to produce young. These animals suffer the way they do because of their reproductive systems, which is wrong. If you dismiss the suffering of farmed animals, ask yourself why.

If you believe cats and dogs love their young and have feelings, then you should know the only difference between farmed animals is how we treat them. Pigs are intelligent animals who can learn to play computer games (read the study here). Cows cry out for and try to chase after their stolen young, only to be forced to endure the cycle over and over again.

All Animals Deserve Freedom

It’s easy to argue that animals should come last on the list of feminist issues. We still have girls unable to attend school, sexual violence used as weapons in war, and alarming levels of violence against women and girls. So, why should we care about animals? Simply because we can.

There are many issues facing women and girls, and we should absolutely fight against them all. Some require government change, and we must tirelessly campaign for these things. Some require societal change; we must speak up for these issues wherever possible. And some we can personally change today.

Veganism is one of the easy changes you can make today to create a better world. Animals are being kept in cruel and inhumane conditions so that you can eat meat and dairy. Mothers are being impregnated and then having their babies taken away from them so you can have milk in your coffee. If you could see and hear the mothers as their babies are taken away, you wouldn’t want any part in it. Make the switch to a more compassionate lifestyle today.

Climate Change Disproportionately Affects Women

Switching to a plant-based diet is an easy step you can take to protect the planet. A vegan diet uses less energy and water and causes much less environmental destruction than a typical Western diet. Eighty percent of the world’s soya is used to feed animals for meat and dairy production. Much of this soya is grown in the Amazon rainforest, causing deforestation and habitat loss.

Climate experts have repeatedly stated that a plant-based diet is best for the planet and that avoiding meat and dairy is crucial in the fight against the climate crisis. We know that the climate crisis will disproportionately affect women around the world. Climate change is the biggest issue facing the world’s women now and in the future, and one way you can fight it is by switching to a plant-based diet today.

Climate change disproportionately affects women

Feminists Can See Past ‘Normal’

As a feminist, you already have the skills to question the way things are and see past what other people accept as normal. You know it’s wrong when fathers tell their sons not to cry. You challenge the objectification and sexualization of female bodies. You don’t want incompetent men promoted above more competent women in the workplace. You believe a better world is possible.

Eating animals is so normalized that many people have never stopped to consider where their food comes from. People buy neatly packaged meat products from supermarkets and probably don’t even recognize that these products were once living, breathing animals. Veganism is about pulling back that veil and exposing the truth behind our food. And, like with feminism, once you start to see the hypocrisy, you can’t unsee it.

As a feminist, you refuse to accept something because it is ‘normal’ or has ‘always been like that.’ You actively strive for a better world. Now, apply that same logic to the food you eat and join the vegan revolution.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This subject is likely to be controversial, especially for feminists who don’t want to change the way they eat. I’m not saying you’re not a feminist if you consume animal products; I’m simply inviting you to challenge your beliefs on the meat and dairy industries.

Unfortunately, the world has so many problems that if we exist in a single-issue bubble, we’ll never make real change. We must look for oppression, discrimination, and suffering and challenge every bit we find. If you are against animal suffering, then it’s time to make a stand against the meat and dairy industries. If you want to protect women worldwide from the threat of climate change, switch to a greener diet today.

Sustainability, Activism, Guides

How Plant-Based Foods Will Save The World

Climate change is real and happening now, and we need to act. Plant-based foods are predicted to play a major role in the future, with many expected to switch to meat-free proteins to reduce their environmental impact over the coming years.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, livestock farming generates as many carbon emissions as all the world’s transport combined. We know animal farming uses way more land, water, and energy than vegan alternatives.

A 2022 scientific study published in Nutrients stated, “It is time for developed nations to commit to red meat reduction targets and shift to plant-based dietary patterns.”

Key Takeaways

Veganism has the potential to massively reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
Switching to a vegan diet will reduce land and water use while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the world’s agricultural land is used for animal farming, and moving away from this would allow us to rewild the land and protect the planet.
Companies are investing time and money in creating sustainable cruelty-free proteins to tempt even the biggest meat fans over to the right side of history.

Change is necessary, and now. Plant-based foods have an essential role to play in changing minds, changing diets, and hopefully preventing catastrophic climate chaos. Here’s how plant based foods are going to swoop in and save the world:

1. By Making A Big Difference

The animal farming industry has spent years convincing everybody that they’re not the problem. They’ve tried to throw blame in other directions (including, hilariously, at vegans who consume the most planet-friendly diet out there) and distract people from the obvious. Animal farming is terrible for the planet (say it louder for the people at the back). Climate scientists have been saying this for years; now it’s time for everybody to listen.

According to the United Nations, switching to a vegan diet can reduce your carbon footprint by 2.1 tons. This is huge, and it should motivate people to make changes in their lives today.

2. By Offering A Simple Solution

Buying an electric car is expensive, and many people won’t have the funds to make that switch today. Avoiding flights might seem impossible for those far from friends and family. Climate science can be complicated and confusing, but a vegan diet offers an easy solution.

Change your food to reduce your impact on the planet; it’s that simple. Take it one meal at a time. Next time you head to the grocery store, stock up on plant-based alternatives and find vegan products you love.

3. By Letting Individuals Take Charge

One particularly frustrating aspect of climate change is that big businesses and governments have all the power. As a single person, it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of climate change. However, adopting a vegan diet will allow you to take back control. Instead of waiting for the bad suits in power to come to their senses, you can take charge of your diet today. Keep campaigning and calling for change, but in the meantime, eat a more sustainable diet.

4. By Tackling More Than Greenhouse Gases

Climate change isn’t just about greenhouse gas emissions. We also need to consider land use to feed a growing population (birth rates may be dropping but people are living longer than ever). We must find ways to cut our water use, reduce our impact on the land, and avoid harsh chemicals. Switching to a plant-based diet can help with all of these things.

Joseph Poore, a climate scientist from Oxford University, said: “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use. It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.”

5. By Offering A Quick Change

It’s hard to write about climate change without sounding melodramatic. When the average person ignores the impending climate crisis, you seem mad if you talk about it with any sense of urgency. However, this is a crisis that is already impacting people across the world. You have likely noticed increasing news reports of wildfires, floods, and extreme weather conditions. Climate change will lead to more frequent weather catastrophes, deaths, and tragedies.

We can’t ignore climate change any longer. We must tackle this issue head-on and do our best to minimize climate chaos. You can start right now by switching to a plant-based diet.

6. By Tasting Great

As an old-school vegan, I’m happiest when cowing down on legumes and beans (ok, and vegan chocolate), but these foods might not convince die-hard meat fans to switch to a planet-friendly diet. Luckily, the vegan meat revolution of recent years has made great strides towards healthy, tasty, animal-free protein that even meat-eaters love.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Climate change is scary, and it can be challenging to get your head around. We know it’s real; it’s already in motion, so what can we do to stop it? How can we mobilize to prevent catastrophic climate change? The answer is three-fold. We need to demand governments implement real change to prevent climate change. We must stop supporting big businesses that don’t take climate change seriously. And we need to take individual action to reduce our impact on the planet. Switching to a vegan diet is an easy way to do that, so ditch the meat and start eating for a more sustainable future.

“Transformation to healthy diets by 2050 will require substantial dietary shifts. Global consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes will have to double, and consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar will have to be reduced by more than 50%. A diet rich in plant-based foods and with fewer animal source foods confers both improved health and environmental benefits.”

— Walter Willett, Harvard Professor, EAT-Lancet report

Community, Wellbeing

7 Best Things About Having Vegan Friends

When I first went vegan, I had plenty of vegan friends. I lived in a vegan house share, worked for a vegan charity, and generally hung out with vegans. Then, I moved across the country and ended up in a vegan dead zone. All of a sudden, I didn’t have local vegan friends, I didn’t work with vegans, and I missed the ease that comes from hanging out with like-minded people.

Luckily, as the years have passed, I’ve found other local vegans. I have a couple of lovely vegan friends who I meet up with regularly and who share my worldview on the important stuff. They’re lovely, and I’m so grateful I met them. You can’t beat having vegan friends.

Key Takeaways

Vegan friends will appreciate your cooking and share their tasty vegan baking. They will buy you chocolate when you’re having a tough time, and you can do the same for them.
Likeminded friends can help you feel less alone in the world. They get it without you having to explain it.
With a solid group of vegan friends, you won’t ever be the only vegan at the dinner party.

1. You Can Share Food

It’s not fun being the only vegan and having everybody eye your food with disdain. Or sharing a bake you’re proud of only for people to say it’s not as good as “normal” cake. With vegan friends, you can share your tasty bakes with an appreciative audience. Your vegan friends will be more than happy to sample your latest food, and they might share some of their bakes with you.

2. You Can Visit That New Vegan Joint Together

When a new vegan place opens up in town, you’re probably desperate to try it out. While some non-vegan friends may happily accompany you for a vegan meal, you can’t beat the joy of going with another vegan. You and your vegan buddies can tour the local vegan eateries, sampling all the delicious vegan dishes. It is truly the stuff that dreams are made of.

3. They Get It

Having vegan friends doesn’t mean you have to talk about veganism all the time. In fact, it kind of means you don’t need to because they already understand where you’re coming from. Sometimes, it’s nice not to have to explain to someone why you boycott zoos or wouldn’t buy a dog from a breeder.

4. You Can Barbecue Together

Barbecues are amazing when they’re vegan and not so great when they’re not. The smell of burning flesh is genuinely not the one. Instead of wasting your summer at meaty barbecues, trying not to look at the dead animals, you can have a hot vegan summer! Invite your vegan friends over for a cruelty-free barbecue, and fire up the barbie for a meat-free feast.

If summer is over, head indoors for a classy dinner party. The essential ingredients are vegan friends and vegan foods; you’re bound to create something beautiful.

5. They're Good People

Ok, it’s not an exact science; there are some douchebag vegans out there. But, generally, most vegans are awesome. They care about animals and people and want to live good lives. You can assume vegans will be interested in subjects including anti-racism, equality, environmentalism, social justice, and so on. They might not know as much as you, but they’re likely to be interested and want to be the best they can be about all these critical issues.

They’re like-minded people, and you’ll likely have lots in common. You might be in different places on your journey or have different passions, but hopefully, you’ll agree on the important stuff.

6. They Won't Roll Their Eyes At Your Veganism

Is there anything worse than the inevitable eye roll when you mention being vegan? Apparently, you’re not supposed to mention being vegan. Luckily, this doesn’t apply when hanging with your vegan friends. You can drop the V word all day long, and they won’t roll their eyes at you. You won’t ever have to feel weird or isolated for being vegan—quite the opposite. Let your vegan friends normalize veganism for you!

7. You Can Be Activists Together

Vegan activism takes many forms, so there’s bound to be something you fancy. You could organize a bakesale to raise funds for your local animal shelter, or organize a screen of an animal rights documentary at your local cinema (this is a great way to pick up more vegan pals, by the way). You could deliver animal rights flyers in your area or convince more local eateries to provide vegan options. Normalizing veganism is a crucial part of vegan activism, so be sure to create a visible presence for vegans in your neighborhood.

How To Find Vegan Friends

Firstly, you need to go into the control room and turn on your vegan radar. Ok, it’s not that easy. Sadly, if you want to friend some vegan homies, you’ll have to go out into the world and find them. The good news, however, is that we’re not hard to find. And we’re always keen to make new vegan friends.

Post on your local vegan social media pages to see if anyone in the area fancies meeting up for a coffee or a (vegan) bite to eat. Why not organize a vegan social event for local vegans? Ask your nearest vegan eatery if they’d be happy to host the event. Alternatively, suggest a picnic at your local green space. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there; it’ll be worth it once you’ve got a vegan gang.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Vegan besties are the way forward. You need a couple of good vegan friends in your back pocket with whom you can spend life-affirming time. Sometimes, it matters that you surround yourself with people who care about the same things as you. Sometimes, it’s just nice to have somebody to share your birthday cake with. Find your local vegans and make them your tribe.

How did you find your vegan tribe? Please share tips in the comment section.

Activism, Guides

7 Way to Unlock Your Inner Vegan Activist

According to the Vegan Calculator, each vegan saves the lives of 365 animals per year. This is huge, but if it doesn't feel enough, you can increase your reach by taking up vegan activism.

Vegan activism raises awareness of the benefits of being vegan and encourages people to try veganism. This can look different to different people. It might be a vegan cake stall giving out free vegan cakes to encourage people to open their minds to veganism. It might be a peaceful protest against animal suffering to raise awareness of how animals suffer for our food. It might be going into schools educating children about your vegan lifestyle and why you feel veganism is the diet of the future.

Key Takeaways

Vegan activism is crucial for increasing the number of vegans. With the climate crisis underway, we need as many people as possible to adopt a vegan diet.
Your brand of vegan activism will be unique to you. Look for ways to use your unique talents and skills to raise awareness of veganism and encourage others to adopt a plant-based diet.
Vegan activism can increase the difference you make as a vegan. Every person you educate into veganism will save more animals, allowing you to make an even bigger impact.

1. Get Informed

You can’t be a successful vegan activist until you know what you’re talking about. To effectively debate veganism, you need to know your facts. You need to be able to talk about farming methods, environmental impact, and the scientifically-backed health benefits of a vegan diet.

When you start debating veganism with people, you’ll quickly realize that most people talk rubbish. They lie, spout nonsense, and generally make no sense. Having the facts to tear them down will put you in a strong position. Knowing the facts allows you to call out mistruths when you hear them.

That's not to say you have to be an expert to become an activist. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. It's just as valid to say you don't eat meat because you don't want an animal to die unnecessarily as it is to quote farming practices.

2. Assume The Best In People

I remember, as a new vegan, finding the horrors of the world completely overwhelming. As a new vegan in a non-vegan world, I felt like I was one of the minority able to see clearly (I still think this). I found it hard not to feel frustrated with people who refused to accept their part in animal suffering. It’s easy to form a ‘them and us’ battle in your head.

As somebody who was once not vegan, you should be able to remember what it’s like on the other side of the veil. Back when you were eating meat and dairy, you weren't doing it because you enjoyed animal suffering; you just didn’t know the price paid for your food. Most people are entirely ignorant of the reality of the meat and dairy industries, and it’s up to vegan activists to expose the hard truths and encourage change.

Vegan activism is a slow burner. You might hand somebody a leaflet today, and it might be twelve more months before the final puzzle piece falls into place and they go vegan. Don’t assume you’ve failed just because nobody ran up to you on day one to say you changed their life. All you can do is provide the information; it’s up to the individuals to make changes in their lives. See yourself as a librarian; you can’t force people to read but can ensure free, convenient, and non-judgemental access to information.

3. Team Up With Experienced Vegan Activists

You don’t have to go it alone. Learning the ropes from experienced vegan activists is the perfect way to dip your toe into the world of activism. Go to a vegan day of action in a nearby city, and tell the organizers you’re a keen newbie looking to learn activism skills. Watching how experienced vegan activists handle themselves will influence your activism style. Maybe you’ll be impressed with their friendly demeanor, or perhaps you’ll see behaviors to avoid. Either way, you’ll see what vegan activism looks like in practice and how you can fit into the scene.

4. Motivate Yourself

As a vegan, you’re already doing your bit to prevent animal cruelty. You’re taking yourself out of the equation by abstaining from meat and dairy products. However, you could do more. Vegan activism can change minds, create new vegans, and save even more animals. The planet needs people to swing towards a plant-based diet, and you can be a driving force behind that change.

Vegan activism is about creating change outside of yourself. Every person you educate has the potential to save more animals than you can alone.

5. Sign Up To Mailing Lists

Many organizations, charities, and local campaigning groups are fighting for a vegan future. Join the mailing lists, follow their socials, and look out for campaigns you want to get involved in. There might be local protests or days of action near you that you can join, or you might be able to organize something in your local town (this might feel daunting, but all you need is a couple of vegan friends to make this work). Be on the lookout for activism opportunities near you.

6. Put Your Own Spin On Vegan Activism

Vegan activism can mean standing in a city center holding up photos of animal suffering. It can mean creating a business that promotes plant-based eating to a new audience. It can mean writing to big companies and asking them to stop testing on animals, to sell more vegan products, and to consider their impact on animals. It can mean creating and sharing animations that promote veganism.

Your unique set of talents can determine your activism. You might be a documentary maker, a writer, or an artist. You might be an outgoing people person, a talented events organizer, or a computer whizz—or all those things at once. Whatever your unique skills and talents are, look for ways to use them for the greater good.

7. Get Online

If the idea of face-to-face vegan activism is daunting, get online. Set up social media accounts to promote veganism, support local vegan businesses, and expose animal cruelty.

Vegan activism looks different to everybody, so don’t worry about trying to fit in; instead, focus on authenticity. What does your vegan activism look like? You might spend your weekends at slaughterhouse vigils, post vegan leaflets through neighborhood doors, or bake tasty vegan cakes for everyone in your office. Whatever your brand of vegan activism looks like, share it online to reach a wider audience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In some ways, all vegans are activists. Even the quiet, unassuming vegan who simply bakes plant-based cakes for her local school fair is helping to increase the presence of veganism in the mainstream. We need to be seen to be believed. You probably have people in your life who don’t know you’re vegan and mistakenly think they don’t know any vegans. Break down barriers by taking up space in the world.

Vegan activism is crucial for encouraging more people to adopt a vegan lifestyle. For the sake of the planet and the animals, we need as many vegans as possible. Figure out what kind of vegan activism you’d be comfortable with, whether it’s giving talks, handing out flyers, or organizing a local vegan bakesale, and get stuck in. Find some other local vegans who want to get involved and work together to create a local vegan campaigning group.

Activism, Guides

Thinking About Going Vegan? 10 Tips For A Hassle-Free Transition

There are many reasons to switch to a healthy vegan diet, from health benefits to lower carbon emissions. Whether you’re doing it for yourself, the planet, or the animals, we’re here to help you make a successful switch.

Luckily for you, you've picked a great time to go vegan. When I went vegan 17 years ago, there were no vegan aisles or plant foods in supermarkets and local grocery stores. There was very little in the way of vegan treats, and the vegan cheeses on offer left a lot to be desired. There were also a lot of highly processed foods on display. Nowadays, new vegan products are released every week, it's easy to find vegan food on the go, and companies are investing in their plant-based offerings.

Key Takeaways

Completely changing your diet can be daunting, but don’t worry; there’s a whole community of supportive vegans ready to help you veganize your favorite meals.
The vegan aisles at grocery stores are bursting with new products, so you’ll be kept busy finding your new favorite vegan foods.
Pay attention to your body so you can enjoy the health benefits of your new diet.

10 Tips For Transitioning to a Vegan Diet

Whatever your motivation for switching to a vegan lifestyle, these tips will help you get off to a flying start:

1. Take It One Day At A Time

Don't overwhelm yourself by jumping ahead. Take your vegan journey one day at a time. Challenge yourself to get through today without eating any animal products or dairy foods, and then do the same tomorrow.

2. Find Your New Favorite Plant Based Foods

It’s the things you love the most that are hardest to live without. If you’re a chocolate fiend, you’ll need to find a favorite vegan chocolate bar pronto. Luckily, there are loads to try. If you are more of a savory fan, you might want to seek out the perfect vegan hot dog. Whatever it is, there will be a vegan product out there to suit your tastes; you just need to find it.

If you simply take away the meat and dairy from all your favorite meals, you might miss them on your plate. Instead, switch up the foods you eat for a while. Try out new cuisines and different dishes. Be adventurous and seek out new recipes to try. Of course, you’ll also want to veganize your favorite comfort foods for the days you need a food hug.

3. Remember Why You’re Going on a Plant Based Diet

Whether you’re doing it for eco, animal welfare, or health reasons, hold onto your vegan motivation. Every time you feel yourself struggling, remind yourself why you make this choice. You can make a big difference as an individual, so don’t be fooled into giving up. Eventually, it will be second nature, but for now, focus on your motivations to get you through the early days.

4. Spend Time With Your Supportive Friends

Most of your friends won’t really care when you go vegan, and that’s fine. Some will be super supportive and make sure to buy you vegan treats and bake for you when you visit (these people are the best). Some people will be douchebags. They’ll make fun of you for being vegan, try to argue with you about it, and generally get defensive about the very idea of having a vegan friend. These people will be tiring to be around in the early days.

While you’re finding your vegan feet, it’s ok to choose to spend more time with your supportive friends and less time with those who don’t get it. It doesn’t mean those friendships are over; it’s just a way of protecting your energy when you’re a new vegan. If you do see those people, perhaps see them away from food so it’s not a talking point at every meetup.

5. Plan Your Eating Habits Before You Shop for Vegan Foods

The grocery store can be daunting when you’re new to veganism. Instead of wandering up and down the meat and dairy aisles feeling like you can’t buy anything you used to eat, you should plan ahead to take the stress out of shopping.

Write a meal plan for the next few days and plan what you’ll need for each meal. Include a detailed list to make your shopping trip easier. Remember to stick to your budget; it’s easy to get carried away buying new vegan treats to find your favorites.

6. Pay Attention To Your Body

Changing your diet is huge, and you'll likely see some changes right away. If you're eating more fiber, you might notice your bowel habits become more regular. You might notice some healthy weight loss if you're eating a healthier diet now. New vegans often report increased energy levels, feeling less sluggish after eating, and positive skin changes after switching to a healthy plant-based diet.

7. Connect With Other Vegans

The vegan community is a perfect mix of brand-new vegans and gnarly old vegans with years of experience (me). Connect with other vegans for recommendations, advice, and support. If you want to know where to go for the best vegan options, ask your local vegan Facebook group. If you want to know how to veganize your favorite recipe or visit vegan friendly restaurants, ask vegans online. We're here to support you and make you feel welcome, so please reach out to us.

8. Focus On What You’re Eating

While those around you are obsessing over what you're not eating, you should pay attention to the healthy foods you are eating. Most people eat a much bigger mix of fruits and vegetables when switching to a vegan diet. If you're switching to veganism for health reasons, you'll want to ensure you eat plenty of plant-based proteins, healthy fats, whole grains such as brown rice, fortified foods, fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds like pumpkin seeds.

9. Don’t Worry If You Mess Up

Veganism isn’t about being perfect; it’s about doing your best. You’re going to slip up sometimes, it’s to be expected. One day, you’ll eat a previously vegan product without realizing the recipe has changed and now contains milk. One day someone will cook you a ‘vegan’ meal only for you to later realize they’ve put non-vegan stock in it without thinking. One day, you’ll eat something at a restaurant that is not vegan even though you checked with the staff before ordering.

These things happen, unfortunately. Until we live in a vegan world, mistakes will happen, but by being vegan, you’re taking us one step closer to that vegan world, so don’t give up!

10. Track Your Nutrients

While there's no need to obsess over your nutritional intake, tracking your diet for a short period can help give you an idea of the foods you should consume. Find a tracker app that monitors your intake of all the nutrients and vitamins so you can see if you are failing to consume enough.

Using a tracker app allows you to play around with your balanced diet to ensure you are eating a good variety of essential nutrients and getting enough protein. If you notice you are lower in any nutrients, you should consider a supplement. For example, many people in the Western world are low in vitamin D and vitamin b12 and take supplements accordingly.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Welcome to the vegan community; we’re so glad you’ve joined us! We hope the tips above will help you to have a smooth start to your vegan journey. Good luck on your vegan journey, and don’t be afraid to reach out to us for advice and support along the way.

To any vegans reading this, please share your tips in the comments. What made your transition to veganism easier and more enjoyable?

Community, DIY, Guides, Sustainability, Wellbeing

How To Create A Bee-Friendly Garden In 7 Easy Steps

Bees are in crisis. They are at risk from manmade chemicals, habitat destruction, and climate change. Numbers are dwindling, and bees must travel longer to find flowers and plants. Planting a bee-friendly garden in your outdoor space can make a big difference for your local bee population.

A bee-friendly garden doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. It can be as simple as planting some wildflower seeds in a sunny spot. If you want to do more, you can speak to local community spaces and see if they will turn their outdoor spaces into bee-friendly wildflower patches.

Key Takeaways

Size doesn’t matter when creating a bee-friendly garden; even a windowsill garden or balcony can be home to an array of bee-attracting blooms.
Choose a sunny spot for your bee garden. Bees love the heat from the sun, so choose plants that do well in sunny gardens.
Remember that bees get thirsty, too. Include a water feature so your local bees can stop to sip the Kool-Aid in your garden.

7 Tips To Help You Plant The Perfect Bee Garden

Your local bees need your help! All you need is some outdoor space, seeds, and some know-how. You don’t need to be a gardening whizz to plant a bee garden; wildflowers are popular with bees and easy to grow. Here are some tips to help you plant a beautiful bee garden for your neighborhood pollinators:

1. Start Today

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a whole Pinterest board of eco projects you hope to find time for one day. While you might love the idea of setting aside time and budget to create a perfect bee garden, time is of the essence. Bees need safe spaces now, so get out in your garden and see what you can throw together. It doesn’t have to look perfect or be the best thing ever; it just has to help the local bees.

No matter how much space you have, you can do something to make a difference for bees. While you may wish you had acres of land to unwild for the enjoyment of your local bee population, you have to make do with what you have. You may think you can’t offer the bees much if you have a high-rise balcony, but you’d be wrong. Bees need a safe space to eat, drink, and shelter as they go about their day. They need regular pit stops, so create a pit-stop paradise on your high-rise balcony.

2. Choose A Sunny Spot

Bees and butterflies love the sun, so a sunny spot will likely be a hit with your local insects. Choosing a sunny spot will also give you a fabulous choice of plants for your bee garden. Don't worry if you don’t have outdoor space in direct sunlight; a shady garden is the next best thing. You’ll need to choose plants that do well in the shade to ensure a good mix of blooms throughout the season.

3. Plant With Bees In Mind

When planning your bee garden, you want to include a variety of flowers. Choose plants of different sizes, heights, shapes, and scents. Good bee-friendly blooms include allium, black-eyed Susan, lantana, lavender, and phlox. Carefully consider your bee garden all year long and ensure you will have plants in bloom from spring through to fall.

Your local pollinators are likely used to local cuisine, so ensure it is on offer in your garden eatery. Plant lots of native species that your local wildlife will enjoy. The wonderful thing about native plant species is that they are suited to your local climate and are, therefore, likely to do well in your garden.

4. Rewild Your Space

One of the major problems facing bees is the lack of wilderness. As more land is built on, more fields are turned into car parks, and more gardens are paved over, there is a shortage of the wildflowers and grasses bees love. To boost your local pollinator population, rewild some of your garden and let wild plants thrive. Pick an area of your garden to leave well alone, stop moving, throw some wildflower seeds in that direction, and see what takes hold.

5. Avoid Pesticides

Pesticides are one of the biggest threats facing pollinators, so there’s not much point in creating a haven for them only to cover it in pesticides! Look for bee-friendly ways to maintain and care for your garden. To reduce your reliance on pesticides, plant a garden that is easy to maintain and well-suited to your local environment. Use organic gardening tips to keep your plants and pollinators happy.

6. Make Some Bee Real Estate

What better way to encourage bees to enjoy your drinking station than creating some prime real estate nearby? While you may not want a hive of pollinators moving into your garden, creating a safe resting space for solitary bees could help your local bee population.

Choose a spot in full sun. The bee hotel needs to be at least 1 meter from the ground. Secure it to a wall or fence to keep it free from obstructions. Bamboo canes are a fantastic home for solitary bees; they like to burrow deep, so ensure each cane is at least 6 inches long. You’ll need to sand the edges of the canes before they’re ready to use; rough wood can damage bee wings. You can build a wooden frame for your bee house or simply place the bamboo canes in a large plastic soda bottle (with the ends cut off).

7. Add A Bee Water Cooler

Bees get thirsty and sometimes struggle to find water, especially during summer. Open a bee bar in your neighborhood by creating a drinking pool for all your fuzzy friends. All you need is a small garden tray, which you can place in your bee garden and put some rocks inside to give the bees somewhere safe to sit and sip. Fill the tray with rainwater (or let the weather take care of this), and the bees can quench their thirst. Wine bottle corks are an excellent floating standing station for a bee water cooler, plus they are fun little boats for your bees.

FINAL THOUGHTS

When the news is full of stories about climate change, habitat destruction, and the impact on native wildlife, it’s easy to feel helpless. It sometimes feels easier to switch off the news and bury your head in the sand. What difference can one person make, after all? But don’t be disheartened; one person can make a huge difference.

Creating a sanctuary for local bees and other insects will help make your local area more habitable to insects. Share your success with neighbors and encourage them to do the same. Soon enough, you’ll have a bee-friendly trail around your neighborhood for the local pollinators.

If you have a bee garden, please share any tips in the comment below. Have you noticed an increase in the number of pollinators visiting your garden? Which plants have worked best to attract bees and butterflies?

Guides, Nutrition, Supplements, Wellbeing

10 Tips For A Healthy Vegan Pregnancy

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

There is so much information out there about what you should and shouldn’t do during pregnancy that you can be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed. Most mainstream pregnancy advice isn’t tailored to vegans, so we thought we’d put together this helpful guide for pregnant vegans (and those who would like to go vegan while pregnant).

With a focus on exercise, rest, and proper nutrition, we hope this guide will contain all the hints and tips you need for a stress-free, healthy vegan pregnancy.

Key Takeaways

Experts agree that you can get all the nutrients you need during pregnancy on a vegetarian or vegan diet. You should pay close attention to your diet during pregnancy to ensure you get enough of the essential vitamins and minerals.
Choose a healthcare provider who supports veganism and will help you enjoy a healthy vegan pregnancy.
Reach out to other pregnant vegans and vegan mamas to find a support system that knows everything there is to know about vegan pregnancy and parenting.

Staying Vegan While Pregnant

While the next nine months may feature pregnancy sickness, aches and pains, and restless nights, it will all be worth it when you’re cuddling your gorgeous vegan baby for the first time.

Many women start to pay more attention to their lifestyle choices during pregnancy. You may increase how often you exercise, reduce your stress levels, and try to eat a better diet. Eating healthy food during pregnancy is suitable for both you and your baby.

If you’ve been vegan for a while, you probably already know that a vegan diet is good for your health. A plant-based diet reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

The health benefits of vegan or plant based diets continue during pregnancy, and you’ll be pleased to hear your vegan diet can provide all the nutrients your growing baby needs.

1. Make Sure You’re Eating The Right Nutrients

During pregnancy, you’ll likely pay closer attention to the foods you’re eating. Proper nutrition is vital to a healthy pregnancy, so make sure you eat a variety of fresh plant foods. Try to eat a mix of fruits and vegetables throughout the week, with plenty of healthy grains and protein sources.

Use a food-tracking app to calculate the nutrients in your diet. This will reassure you that you’re eating the right foods and highlight areas for improvement. Don’t get into the habit of doing this every day, as it’s not necessary, but do it every so often to give a brief overview of your diet.

A 2019 study published in Nutrients found that a well-planned, healthy vegan diet is safe during pregnancy. The key to ensuring your vegan diet is healthy is knowing the nutrients your body needs during pregnancy. Here are the plant based sources of nutrients you should pay close attention to during a vegan pregnancy:

Nutrient	where to find it	what it's good for
Iron	Pulses, dark green vegetables, nuts, dried fruit	Healthy red blood cells
b12	Fortified plant milks, nutritional yeast, fortified breakfast cereals, yeast extract	Healthy brain and spine development
vitamin d	fortified plant milks, daily supplement	healthy bones
calcium	leafy Vegetables, fortified plant milks, Fortified Foods, nuts and seeds (ground flaxseeds and Chia Seeds Are Rich in Calcium), pulses, calcium-set tofu	healthy bones and teeth
iodine	cereals and Whole grains, fortified plant milks, daily supplement	brain and nervous system development
omega-3 fatty acids	flaxseed, leafy green vegetables, walnuts	eye and brain development

2. Increase Your Protein Intake

Growing a baby is tiring work, and you need to eat an additional 6 g of dietary protein per day during pregnancy. Protein is crucial for the optimal development of your baby’s cells, including their teeny tiny fingernails.

Good vegan protein sources include tofu, beans, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. Protein sources are filling foods, so they're ideal for keeping that pregnancy hunger at bay.

Use a food tracker app to calculate your daily protein intake every so often to ensure you are getting enough protein.

3. Take A Prenatal Vitamin for Optimal Vegan Nutrition

It's crucial to take dietary supplements, especially prenatal supplements during pregnancy. Choose a vegan formula specially formulated for pregnant vegans.

A good prenatal vitamin should contain folic acid (or folate), vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and other essential nutrients.

Check the nutritional content to ensure it contains enough of each ingredient (shockingly, they don't always), and choose natural sources over manmade alternatives where possible.

4. Get Plenty Of Rest

It’s not always easy to get enough sleep, but pregnancy is the perfect time to try and hit that eight-hour goal. Rest, relax, and get plenty of sleep to ensure good health.

Rest is crucial for good mental health, too. It’s easy to feel the pressure to continue doing everything you did before, but there’s no shame in stepping back and slowing down during pregnancy.

Embrace the early nights and take care of yourself.

5. Go Easy On Yourself

If you’re suffering from pregnancy sickness, you won’t manage to eat a rainbow every day of the week.

You may not even manage to keep down your prenatal vitamins some mornings.

Try not to worry too much.

As long as you’re doing your best, that’s all you can do. When battling pregnancy sickness, you just have to get through the day. It’s not ideal, but it will pass eventually.

Soon, you’ll be back to eating everything and anything you fancy, but until then, cut yourself some slack.

6. Stay Active

With lower energy levels than normal, it can be tough to exercise during pregnancy, but staying active is vital for a healthy pregnancy.

Regular exercise can help improve your stamina before birth, make it easier to maintain a healthy weight and improve your mental health.

Low-impact exercises are ideal for pregnancy; brisk walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga will help you stay fit throughout your pregnancy.

7. Find A Supportive Healthcare Provider

Choose a healthcare provider who is supportive of your vegan lifestyle. Sadly, some healthcare providers are still misinformed when it comes to veganism.

Ensure your OBGYN or midwife has experience caring for vegan patients and understands a vegan diet is conducive to a healthy pregnancy. Don’t forget you have a say in who your provider is, so make sure you pick one that feels right.

It may help to ask what special considerations you should make as a vegan during pregnancy and see how they answer.

Eight years ago, my lovely midwife was completely supportive of my vegan diet during pregnancy and simply provided me with information about which nutrients I needed to pay attention to.

8. Get Your Partner's Support

Having a partner who is not supportive of your choices during pregnancy can be really tough. If you have a non-vegan partner, it’s crucial to educate them about vegan pregnancy and ensure they are on board.

It may help to make an appointment with a vegan dietician or take your partner to meet your supportive OBGYN to hear from an expert that plant rich diet patterns are safe during pregnancy.

9. Reach Out To Other Pregnant Vegans

Pregnancy can be daunting, and having friends who know what you’re going through can be a huge help.

Reach out to other pregnant vegans for support.

Those women know what you’re going through; they have exceptional vegan recipes to satisfy your cravings and can recommend the best vegan nipple creams for the postpartum period.

It takes a village to raise a new mama, so make sure you populate yours with like-minded people.

Search online for vegan pregnancy and parenting support groups, and reach out to your local vegan groups to see if you can befriend any other mamas-to-be.

Having a support group during pregnancy will do wonders for your stress levels and help you prepare for life with a new baby.

10. Respond With Love

When you're pregnant, suddenly, everyone has an opinion on what you should and shouldn't be doing.

Even friends who have previously been supportive of your veganism may start questioning whether a vegan diet is safe for your developing baby.

You're probably already aware that the diets of vegans are under much more scrutiny than what meat-eaters are eating. People will judge your plate while chomping down on processed beige food.

While it can be challenging to hear people questioning your parenting choices so early, try to pause for a second before you respond.

While their comments may sound critical, remember that they come from a place of love. The person is asking because they don't know that vegetarian and vegan diets are perfectly fine during pregnancy.

You do know, so tell them. Thank them for their concern, tell them it's great so many people care about your baby, and then firmly tell them that your diet is safe during pregnancy.

Plant Based Diets Are Safe for Pregnant Women

A vegan diet is safe during pregnancy, so you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy, knowing that your food provides all the nutrients your baby needs.

You’ll need to pay attention to your diet and eat a good mix of vegan foods throughout your pregnancy. Pregnancy is the perfect time to take stock of your health, to exercise more, eat better, and ensure you’re getting enough sleep.

Share your thoughts below; what other top tips should we share with vegan parents-to-be?

Community, Activism, Guides, Wellbeing

Why You Should Set Up A Local Vegan Community

With the emergence of the online world, it’s easier than ever to get a sense of community without leaving the comfort of your own home. You might have a whole bunch of like-minded people living in your phone and not see the point of meeting up with local vegans, but having vegan friends you see in person is life-affirming, trust me.

Before you consider starting a local vegan group, you should scout around to see if there is an existing one. Some neighborhoods are lucky enough to have a thriving vegan scene, whereas others may have less to offer. You may find an abandoned social media group that needs reinvigorating and bringing back to life.

Key Takeaways

Setting up a local vegan group will allow you to connect with like-minded people in your local area.
A friendly local vegan group provides a welcoming space for new vegans to seek support in the local community.
As a group, you can work together to support local vegan businesses and effect change in your local community.

Why You Should Consider Setting Up A Local Vegan Group

We all want to live in a vegan utopia, and setting up a local vegan group is the first step on your way to a thriving vegan community. Not only will setting up a social group for vegans connect you with existing vegans, it will also give new vegans a place to seek out local vegan wisdom. Here we're going to look at some of the benefits of setting up a new vegan group:

Having Local Vegan Friends Hits Different

It's nice having friends who get excited about the same things you do, whether it's about trying new vegan recipes, or just making positive changes in each other's lives. Friends who want to check out the new vegan cafe for mouth-watering vegan food, head to the local vegan festival, or see the new vegan documentary at the cinema. With compassionate vegan friends, you can chat about important things without judgment.

I am lucky to have a couple of local vegan friends, and it’s amazing. They share their baked goods, understand the frustrations of being vegan in a non-vegan world, and do the important work of showing my children that we’re not the only vegans in the world. You may not think you need vegan friends, but you’ll change your mind as soon as you make a few.

It Doesn’t Have To Be Hard Work

While you may not want to shoulder the responsibility of setting up a local vegan group, you’ll likely find other vegans willing to help run the group. Setting up a local group doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking; you can do as much or as little as you want. The most it will cost is time, and the benefits will come in the form of new friendships, supporting local vegan businesses, and, hopefully, more vegans in your local area.

You Can Help New Vegans

Think back to when you first went vegan and felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what you could and couldn't eat. In particular, remember the difficulty of suddenly uncovering the truth and being surrounded by people choosing to remain ignorant. It's a tough time. By setting up a local vegan meet-up, you can provide a welcoming space for new vegans.

Your social group could make the transition to practice veganism easier and provide a support system for those adopting a vegan diet. It can give new vegans a place to ask questions, seek advice, and build connections with other vegans. This support may help them on their journey and improve their chances of success. The more vegans there are, the better this is for the animals so that you can view your social group as a form of friendly vegan activism.

It Will Strengthen The Vegan Community

The vegan community includes people from all walks of life, and a local meet-up is a fantastic way to encourage a strong link and cohesion among members. We all benefit from stronger social relationships, especially those with people we may not usually encounter in everyday life. Like-minded people make fantastic friends, and having something fundamental in common is a great building block for a friendship.

How To Set Up A Local Vegan Group

If your searches for an existing group have proved fruitless, it’s time to set up your own local vegan group.

1. Choose a name for your group

The simpler, the better. You want a group name that instantly tells people what you're about and that is easy to search for online. Try ‘the name of your local town’ vegans, for example. You want something other lone vegans might type into a search bar when looking for a local meet.

2. Get online

The cheapest and easiest way to help people find your group is to create an online presence. Create groups on Reddit, Facebook, and other similar sites people may use to find local events. Create an introductory post introducing your new group to any existing local groups to reach any lurking vegans. Hopefully, any local vegans will see your group and join out of interest.

3. Plan your first meet

Planning a meet-up can be tricky because it's impossible to please everyone. People will have very different commitments, availabilities, and interests, so don't tie yourself in knots attempting to please every single member.

It's good to have a mix of meet-ups that will appeal to different sections of the community, but you don't have to organize them all. Members can use the online group to arrange a variety of meets, from nights at the bar to day hikes to playdates for vegan kids.

A local vegan eatery is an excellent location for a meet-up, and they might help promote your social event. You might need to pick somewhere else for your first meet if you don't have a local vegan establishment. Try to get an idea of numbers, so you know how much space you need. It's worth finding out availability before setting a date so you know people can make it.

4. Be consistent

Try to organize regular meetings so people can get to know each other. You should mix up the times, days, and locations of the meets to appeal to different members of the group. Reach out to other members to see if they’d be up for helping arrange future events. Some members may be keen to get involved with activism, whereas others might simply want to make some vegan friends. Your group doesn’t have to tick all the boxes; it simply has to provide a space for vegans to connect.

5. Ask for help

You don't have to do it all. Once your local vegan society is up and running, you can ask for other members to get involved in running the group. You might want social media volunteers to run the groups and promote new events and members to run their own meet-ups for the group. You don't have to do it all, so don't overwhelm yourself; keep it fun by creating a subcommittee of volunteers to help steer the group.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While the idea of setting up a local vegan community might seem daunting, it's absolutely worth the effort. Not only will you find out how many vegans live in your local area, but you'll also make new friends. A strong vegan community can provide support, knowledge and resources to new vegans, build friendships, and raise awareness about the value and positive impact of a vegan lifestyle.

Guides, Activism, Community, Wellbeing

How To Handle Being The Only Vegan At A Social Gathering

The vegan community has skyrocketed in recent years. Whereas veganism was relatively unheard of by the general public at the start of this century, it's now much better understood.

More people are choosing a plant-based diet than ever before, and many meat-eaters, flexitarians, and vegetarians eat vegan food from time to time.

However, you may still find yourself the only vegan at a social gathering every once in a while.

Key Takeaways

Call ahead of time to check whether there will be vegan options on the menu.
The best way to win people over is with food, so make sure you take some tasty vegan food with you.
Don’t get drawn into being the vegan stereotype.

Be Proactive When It Comes To Vegan Food

If you're eating at a restaurant, check the menu online to see if any dishes are vegan-friendly and don't contain animal derived ingredients (such as eggs, dairy, honey, etc.). If you aren't sure, give the restaurant a call in advance to see if they can cater to vegans. Most restaurants will be happy to provide a vegan meal if given enough notice.

If you’re attending a social gathering at someone’s house, contact the host in advance to discuss food options. Offer to bring a vegan dish to share. Be sure to think of dessert; there’s nothing worse than sitting in front of an empty plate while everyone around you tucks into a sweet treat.

Take Enough of Your Vegan Recipe To Share

Some people still mistakenly believe that vegan food is dull and unappealing.

Show them this isn’t the case by taking something to share.

Why not bake something for dessert (be sure to check with the host first) or take a small side to accompany the main meal?

If you're meeting someplace neutral, you could bake a cake or take some simple vegan dishes to share with the group. A picnic is an ideal setting to share vegan eats that tickle the taste buds.

Some people still think vegan living means missing out, which is absolute nonsense.

Make sure you have vegan substitutes for food people will be eating, even if it’s chips and salsa in front of the game.

Choosing accidentally vegan products from household brands will promote awareness of which products are vegan-friendly. Don't be surprised if a box of Oreos gets brought out next time you visit!

Protect Yourself

You get to decide your own boundaries and take steps to protect yourself. If you don’t want to eat nut roast next to the carcass of a turkey, ask your family to set the table differently this year.

While they may not understand, you might be surprised by how supportive people can be. If the idea of attending a barbecue that smells of burning flesh feels like too much, make plans to see your family some other time. You don’t have to do things that don’t feel comfortable.

It’s ok to say you can’t do something. You don’t have to tell people why.

You can simply make excuses and suggest another date for meeting up (and doing something different). Alternatively, you might feel fine around meat, and that’s great, too.

As long as you’re comfortable and happy, that’s all that matters. If your boundary is that you’ll attend the barbecue as long as your vegan food is cooked on a different barbeque, make it happen.

Give People The Benefit Of The Doubt

It's easy to assume the worst of human beings, but you'll be much happier if you assume the best. An example might be vegan burgers cooked next to meat burgers on the barbeque.

The thought of animal fat dripping on your burger might turn your stomach, but your host likely thinks they’ve done a great job by finding some vegan burgers for you.

Don’t assume these things are done with malicious intent, and don’t be afraid to explain your issues.

It’s helpful to think the event through in advance and identify any potential issues so you can figure out a workaround.

Find A Support System Within Your Vegan Community

Sometimes, you won’t even notice you’re the only vegan at a social gathering. If the host has made an effort to feed you, and the other guests are supportive of your veganism, you’ll likely not even give much thought to being the only vegan because you’ll be too busy having fun.

There may be times, however, when you don’t have much to eat, where being vegan makes you the butt of the jokes, and where people ask you questions about veganism only to get defensive at your answers.

On these days, you’ll want a support system in place. Your support system might be your best vegan friend who will reply to your messages of despair with uplifting comments or an online community where you can get a virtual hug from like-minded folk.

Resist The Vegan Society Stereotype

There are a lot of misconceptions about veganism and vegans. People assume we miss out, can’t eat anything, have no sense of humor, and are out to make other people feel bad about their food choices.

Some people will try and push you into those stereotypes with their (tedious, unfunny) ‘jokes’ at your expense. Some people will ask you questions about why you’re vegan and then react defensively as though you’re having a go at them (not just answering the question they just asked).

Avoid being pushed into the vegan stereotype. Be yourself. Have fun. Don’t let your small-minded uncle ruin the social event for you.

Hang out with the guests who support your choices and limit your contact with those who can't see you as anything other than ‘the vegan'. Be polite, have compassion, and avoid getting into a confrontation.

People sometimes get offended by veganism because it holds a mirror up to their own misdoings. It’s easier to stay ignorant, stick to the status quo, and ‘other’ any vegans they meet along the way.

If you used to eat meat, you may remember feeling the same way about veganism in the past.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to being the only one who practices veganism at a social gathering. At some social gatherings, you may not even feel like the only vegan; you're too busy having fun and being included.

At other events, however, you might stick out like a sore thumb. It's never fun feeling othered, and you can be forgiven for dreading these social events.

Remember this, though: You're doing the right thing. Veganism is the best path to sustainable and compassionate living. Your lifestyle is helping prevent animal exploitation, preserve the environment, improve your health, and give hope to the entire world.

Veganism is crucial to the fight against animal abuse and climate change, so more and more people will need to adopt a vegan diet in the near future. You are on the right side of history.

Sure, you may have to put up with the odd excruciating family meal or a yawn-worthy Christmas party with unsupportive co-workers, but you’re doing something important.

Over the next decade, more and more people will join the vegan movement, and the days of being the lone vegan anywhere may be behind us.

Have we missed any helpful pointers off this list? Please share your top tips in the comments.

Activism, Guides

The Vegan Dollar & Why It Matters for Vegan Businesses

when i first came to veganism, i thought about the health benefits of going vegan

Not that long ago, mainstream supermarkets and restaurants largely ignored vegans. With the recent surge in veganism, many mainstream companies are falling over themselves with vegan business ideas to cater to vegan customers.

With so many vegan consumers out there, it would be bad business to turn us all away. Money is power; as vegan consumers, we should use our power for good.

Key Takeaways

The vegan food industry is worth over 16 billion dollars, and the money you spend is part of that.
As companies compete for your money, you can choose the types of companies you want to support.
With mainstream eaters offering vegan alternatives and healthy food now, sadly, more and more vegan eateries & food truck will likely go out of business unless we keep supporting them.

Now that veganism or a plant based lifestyle is good for business, many companies are battling for your hard-earned money. The global vegan food market was thought to be worth over 16 billion dollars in 2022 and is expected to grow by 10% each year to 2030, according to Grand View Research.

The vegan food industry includes the vegan aisle at your local health food store, your favorite vegan diner in the city, and the fast food place on the corner that offers some vegan options now.

Every time you purchase plant based food and vegan friendly products, you're voting with your money and reminding companies that vegans are worth catering for.

Why You Should Support Vegan Businesses

Long before veganism was a multi-billion dollar industry, there were small vegan food businesses run by vegans.

They might have sold vegan cheese at local markets, produced vegan skincare and cosmetics, or run the only vegan grocery store or vegan eatery in town.

These companies made and sold vegan food products because they were part of the community and wanted to fill the gap in the market, not because they saw vegan customers as walking dollar signs.

Small Vegan Companies Can’t Compete with Big Industry

These companies now need help competing against the huge multinationals flooding the vegan market. You may have noticed in recent years that many vegan companies are struggling.

Vegan cafes are shutting down, and vegan confectionary companies are going out of business, but the number of vegans is growing, so these companies should benefit from the boom. Instead, big companies are profiting.

Before, vegans had to seek out vegan treats and support the vegan company that sold them, but now, we can grab a candy bar from any shop we visit.

Whereas we previously had to hit up a vegan restaurant to eat out, we can now find plant based options in most mainstream eateries. The upshot of this is that vegan businesses are suffering.

Vegan Business Owners Care More About Their Vegan Customers

You'll know firsthand how dismal some vegan food options can be. While most mainstream eateries offer plant based foods and meat substitutes these days, they don't necessarily taste good.

One of the best things about eating at a vegan restaurant is knowing the menu has been compiled by someone with a passion for vegan food who wants to showcase the very best of what vegan food has to offer.

Whereas giant corporations are trying to convince vegans to spend money with them, they likely don’t have as great an understanding of vegan wants and needs.

Your Support Will Keep Vegan Companies in Business

Sadly, many of these plant based businesses are now struggling to survive in the competitive vegan market.

Large conglomerates can afford to charge lower prices on new vegan products for just long enough to drive small vegan businesses under.

It’s worth considering how you spend your money and trying to support as many vegan-owned businesses as possible.

Think about how much money you spend eating out each year and try to ensure you spend a chunk of it at vegan places.

Your support will keep vegan companies in business

Keeping Money in the Vegan Community

One of the benefits of supporting a vegan-owned business is knowing that the profits will likely be spent more ethically.

If a large conglomerate makes a profit selling vegan materials and products, that profit is likely going to wealthy shareholders who are most likely not vegan.

Supporting vegan-owned businesses is one way of keeping money within the vegan community, which can only be a good thing.

It's Ok to Mix and Match

Supporting vegan businesses doesn’t mean you have to boycott any company that is not entirely vegan. You are, of course, welcome to spend your money wherever you choose.

There is certainly an argument to be made for showing large companies that there is a growing demand for vegan products. The easier it is to find vegan products, the easier life is for new vegans, and the more likely they will stick with it.

You don’t need to avoid vegan products from mainstream stores; if you’re excited about a new vegan burger at a fast food outlet, try it. It’s not about being perfect; it’s just about doing your bit to support small vegan businesses that rely on our custom.

This is only possible for those who can afford it, but if you can, try to support vegan companies where possible.

Call in at your local vegan eatery for lunch, or order some Christmas chocolates from a vegan online shop rather than grabbing them from your local mainstream grocery store. Plan ahead so you can support vegan businesses rather than opting for the convenience of a large company.

What If You Can’t Afford to Support Vegan Businesses?

Nobody should be spending money they don’t have to support vegan businesses. If you don’t have any disposable income to spend on vegan goodies, don’t feel bad about it.

Being vegan is fantastic; you’re already doing your bit by that alone. If budget is the most important factor when you shop, focus on that and don’t waste any energy on guilt. We all do what we can.

This post is not intended to make anybody feel guilty or put pressure on anyone; it’s simply a suggestion of another way to boost the vegan community for those who can afford to.

You can support businesses by writing online reviews, interacting with their social media posts, and recommending them to friends, too; it doesn’t always have to mean spending money.

Key Takeaways and Reflections

It’s your money, and you can spend it how you want, but it would be great if more vegans made a conscious effort to support the vegan community.

It doesn’t mean every purchase you make has to come from an entirely vegan store, but try to spend some of your money with vegan-owned businesses.

If you don’t want to lose your local vegan cafe, ensure you’re a regular customer supporting their business. Now is the time to preserve our vegan businesses and protect the places that paved the way for today's vegans.

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