Going vegan can be intimidating for a whole host of reasons. Maybe you love pre-prepared foods, or you’re terrified of having to find a new foundation. Or perhaps you’re worried it’s going to be more expensive than a non-plant-based lifestyle.
We’re not going to lie – it can be a challenge to make the switch. But it’s also a lot of fun. Finding ways to make more ethical choices that minimise your carbon footprint is incredibly rewarding, and with a little bit of initial work, you should find your concerns start to melt away. It’s also great to know that you’re doing your bit for the planet.
One of the most common reasons for people giving up on veganism is that they’re hard on themselves: it’s easy to think that for your efforts to be successful, you have to have a perfect record. But in reality, there are lots of ways to be vegan.
Some people ease into it with vegetarianism, then gradually filter out animal products as they get more confident at cooking for themselves. Many people are happy to wear clothes containing animal products, so long as they are bought second hand. Others see no problem with identifying as vegan while still finishing up beauty products they bought before making the switch. And some are super strict for 364 days of the year… but have fish and chips on their birthday.
That’s the beauty of a plant-based diet for environmental reasons: a 2019 study found that your diet is where you can make the biggest difference to the environment, and this means that any level of effort is worthwhile.
So with that in mind, we’ve brought together a guide to some of our favourite vegan-friendly products that will help you start your new lifestyle with ease. Written by a mixture of vegans and non-vegans with an interest in ethical shopping, you’re sure to find something that fits your brand of going plant-based.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
‘East: 120 Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing’ by Meera Sodha, published by Fig Tree
There is a fabulous range of vegan cookbooks on the market, but our favourite is actually a vegetarian one: Meera Sodha’s East. We’ve recommended this tome to a bunch of our vegan-curious friends, as it perfectly shows just how many Asian dishes are inherently plant-based, and how many just need a little tweak to become so. There is also a fabulous eggs section with plenty of pastries, should you need a dairy cushion on your journey to plant-based paradise. From firm favourites (this is the only vegan pad thai recipe worth trying) to some more experimental treats (clay pot noodles with smoked tofu, anyone?), everything is simple, easy to follow and absolutely delicious. Honestly – Sodha’s hit rate is astonishing. We’ve just never had a recipe written by her go wrong. Also, dispense with your preconceptions of bean curd – Sodha will teach you to adore tofu. We promise.
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Microplane premium zester
Look, you’re going to need some garlic. And lemons. Your taste buds do change after you’ve been vegan for a while (we love olives now, whodathunkit), but until things have settled down you’re going to want to go hard on these delicious staples of home cooking. We’d recommend a microplane to help things along. If you’ve ever wondered how the hell Nigella seems to be grating a garlic clove on TV, it’s with one of these super-sharp wonders. Zesting is also about to become a breeze. You’re welcome.
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