Why Has Veganism Gotten So Popular?

It wasn’t that long ago that “vegan” barely showed up in conversation, let alone the headlines. But now, it seems to be in the news to some degree every week, whether it’s a brand-new product or someone getting unusually offended by the ‘audacity’ of edible plant options being offered anywhere, despite having presumably eaten a salad before. But generally, the idea of veganism has had a positive response of late, with a record number of Brits estimated for this year’s Veganuary.

The UK is particular is embracing the vegan trend. One study from The Vegan Society revealed that:

56% of adults in the UK practice vegan buying behavioursl;
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.

There are also a rising number of people sprinkling a few vegan options into their meal choices each week through the ‘flexitarian’ approach. In fact, 34% of meat eaters in the UK had reduced their meat intake as of July 2018, where only 28% had done in 2017. Maybe because of this, the mindset towards vegans has drastically improved, with 43% of people saying they respected vegans for their lifestyle.

So, what changed to make veganism more approachable for so many? Looking at the results of last year’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. There could be a slight note of vanity to veganism too, as Google searches for the word “vegan” have grown in line with the word “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.

Naturally, it has helped that vegan food choices have broadened so much in recent years. For example, Live Kindly outlined some amazing vegan food trends for 2019 that sounds truly delicious:

Vegan cheese will expand its repertoire in 2019, with more variety of offerings such as parmesan-style and Blue-type cheese. Vegans and lactose-intolerant people, rejoice!
Vegan ice-cream and deserts are also on the rise, with the likes of Ben & Jerry’s releasing vegan ice-cream options in 2018 and leading the way for other ice-cream companies to follow suit.
Vegan jerky is pinned to be the vegan snack of 2019, offering up a meaty, chewy treat without any animal product!
Vegan seafood is set to take centre stage, as arguably the final frontier for plant-based substitutes to offer up.

There is absolutely an opportunity here for businesses too. A recent survey found that 91% of vegans are having a tough time finding to-go meal options. The market is certainly there, just look at Greggs — their headline-grabbing vegan sausage roll launch in early 2019 saw the meat-free version of their customer favourite appear in 900 stores. But after becoming the fastest selling launch for the company in more than six years, it is now set to head to 1,800 stores.

Vegan diets, or even just a reduction of meat and increase in vegetables, can be wholly beneficial on a personal level too. 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.

You can easily develop a flexitarian approach if you’re not ready for full-on veganism. With a compost bag and vegetable seeds, you can start cultivating your own supply of veg for a home-made pasta sauce, or for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste! Don’t forget your proteins — 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.

Can you see a place for vegan options in your diet? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how far vegan cooking has come, and if nothing else, you’ll reap the many environmental and health benefits.

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/01/vegans-are-coming-millennials-health-climate-change-animal-welfare
https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/news/vegan-lifestyle-winning-hearts-and-minds-across-britain-survey-shows
https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/5-surprising-studies-that-prove-veganism-is-growing-around-the-world
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veganism-rise-uk-why-instagram-mainstream-plant-based-diet-vegans-popularity-a8296426.html
http://www.veganfoodandliving.com/top-10-vegan-food-trends-in-2018/
https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/news/new-survey-shows-9-10-vegans-want-more-%E2%80%98grab-and-go%E2%80%99-food-options
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/23/five-day-10-portions-fruit-veg-cut-early-death
http://www.theflamingvegan.com/view-post/Tips-for-Growing-Your-Own-Vegan-Food
https://www.verdict.co.uk/vegan-facts-results-veganuary-show-dietary-trend-popular/
https://www.veganlifemag.com/record-breaking-numbers-sign-up-for-veganuary-2019/