We’re nearly all vegan now. But let’s still honour the original radicals

From theguardian.com
By Barbara Ellen

For people such as sacked charity worker Jordi Casamitjana, veganism is a real belief, not a diet fad

Is it high time we gave a bit of credit to the truly old-school vegan?
An employment tribunal has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief to be protected by law against discrimination. Jordi Casamitjana claims he was unfairly sacked by animal charity the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) for complaining that its pension fund invested in companies involved in animal testing. The ruling is the first stage of the case, which will now determine the lawfulness of the dismissal. (LACS argues that Casamitjana was sacked for misconduct.)

But what, exactly, is “ethical veganism”? I thought this mindset (rejecting all animal products and animal exploitation, in all aspects of life) was just veganism 101. Is “unethical veganism” a thing now? Or, like myself (a dairy-dabbling vegetarian), are some vegans just not ethical enough?

                           No longer is a vegan steak bake perceived as dull and worthy.                                                                              Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

These days, ethical veganism could prove useful as a cultural clarifier, especially at this time of year when temporary vegans are out in force. Veganuary (people going vegan for January) is great, as is the movement’s growing popularity. However, increasingly, there appears to be a huge philosophical gulf between lifestyle vegans and what I’d term True Vegans. Lifelong vegetarians like myself may even feel that we have more in common with True Vegans, in that, for us, it was never about looks, health, dietary fashions or even laudable environmental concerns, however interlinked – it was always just about the animals.

For its part, veganism could be getting a bit too slack and undiscerning about who it lets into the fold. I mean, who isn’t vegan in some way these days? There are people who are vegan for a month. People who go vegan to lose weight or to improve fitness. Last week, there were probably people feeling “extremely vegan” in the time it took them to eat the new Greggs' vegan steak bake. That’s the essence of mainstream vegan success – it took “dull and worthy” out of the ethical equation for people who weren’t terribly interested, which is fantastic. Mostly. Just sometimes, it feels gratingly lightweight.

Maybe that’s why I got a kick out of seeing someone take their veganism all the way to court. Go, ethical vegan! Mock these people all you like, roll your eyes at them for being cranks and bores. But there’s no denying that they’re the real vegan deal – a breed apart in terms of commitment, application and integrity.

True Vegans are where it all started. It was their ethical purity (if you like) that made the vegan revolution happen – their persistence that eventually led to jackfruit dals in supermarkets. And they’ll still be there, grimly soaking their lentils, when all the faddists and part-timers have gone and the steak bakes are left going cold on Greggs’ counter. If vegans are finally getting legal recognition and protection, then they’ve earned it. Sometimes, it should be about the ethics.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/04/were-nearly-all-vegan-now-but-lets-still-honour-the-original-radicals

Aldi launches new vegan pizza for Veganuary - and it's only £1.75

From mirror.co.uk

Getting into the swing of Veganuary is made simple, thanks to Aldi's new vegan pizza and other plant-based offerings that are available in stores now

                                            Aldi's Plant Menu Vegan Pizza, £1.75 (Image: Aldi)

With Veganuary in full swing, Aldi is helping shoppers kick start their plant-based diet with its new meat-free pizza. The budget supermarket chain recently launched a tempting range of vegan-friendly offerings - including the Plant Menu Vegan Pizza.
It's priced at just £1.75 and is available in Aldi stores nationwide until March, so there's plenty of time to try a plant-based twist on the Italian classic.

Perfect for a night in with a movie, the pizza might be meat-free but doesn't skimp on flavour.
Hungry shoppers can choose from three different toppings: BBQ Jackfruit, Spicy Cauliflower or ‘Bacon’ & Mushroom.

Also on the supermarket's plant-based menu are Vegan Sausage Rolls (99p each), Loma Linda Fishless Tuno (£1.09) and Vegan Choc Sticks (£1.49 for a pack of 3).

The new vegan range isn't available to order online, but Aldi has more than 830 stores in the UK where you can check for it.

Meanwhile,  KFC is bringing back its famous vegan burger as a permanent menu item - and it's available now.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/shopping-deals/aldi-launches-new-vegan-pizza-21205968

'They do taste nice': consumers spoilt for choice for vegan fast-food options

From theguardian.com

KFC and Greggs among chains selling meat-free options to quarter of a million Britons set to embrace Veganuary

Forget food storage boxes with leftover nut roast and bean curries, the quarter of a million Britons set to ditch animal products for Veganuary this month are unlikely to be stuck for on-the-go options.

On the first working day of 2020 several food retailers started selling new meat-free options, including KFC, which launched its first vegan burger nationwide. Greggs, the UK’s largest bakery chain, also launched a meat-free version of its popular steakbake following the exceptional success of its meatless sausage roll last year.

McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Subway and Costa similarly unveiled new meat-substitute items on their menus, while supermarkets including Aldi and M&S ramped up their takeaway vegan efforts with everything from fishless “Tuno” sandwiches to fake smoked chicken wraps.

   Laura Cobham, a vegan for four years, is delighted with the new vegan steakbake from Greggs.                                                Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Among the consumers eager to sample some of the latest meat-free fast offerings on Thursday lunchtime were Liadhan O’Ryan, 28, and James Chambers, 29, who had headed to the Deansgate branch of KFC in Manchester specifically to grab a couple of its new quorn-fillet burgers.

                                             KFC’s new vegan burger. Photograph: KFC/PA

Chambers, a musician and lecturer who has been vegetarian for five years, admitted the £3.99 burger, with an original-recipe KFC coating and vegan mayo, was unlikely to fool diehard meat-eaters. “You can tell it’s vegetarian, but it is nice,” he said.

O’Ryan, a postgraduate student who was raised vegetarian, was more conflicted. “You’re still supporting [a retail chain] that’s making money from killing animals,” she said. But she added that cheap meat-free options at fast-food outlets made veganism more accessible.

“Sustainability, veganism and that sort of thing is often seen as quite a middle-class problem, and that’s something I’m aware of,” said O’Ryan.

Charlotte Luff, 26, who was picking up her first Veganuary lunch after popping out from the travel agents where she works around the corner, agreed with O’Ryan. “A lot of people are under the impression that vegan options are expensive in general, so that’s why stuff like KFC and Greggs options are so popular,” she said.

Other diners were unsure about the burger’s taste. “It’s reasonably harmless, but the flavouring’s not as prominent as the chicken would be,” said Alex White, 49, as he tucked in.
After his 15-year-old son decided to become vegetarian as a new year resolution because of the climate crisis, White’s family had decided to reduce their overall meat intake.

Although the manager at the store said the new addition was “flying”, White doubted he’d be back for more – “I’d prefer a bean burger like the one at McDonald’s,” he said.

A few doors down on Deansgate, customers at Greggs seemed to be more sold on the new £1.55 vegan steakbake – with the store’s batch of 48 all snapped up shortly after 1pm.
Laura Cobham, a 20-year-old fashion student at the University of Salford, was delighted with the latest offering, having turned vegan four years ago for both ethical and dietary reasons.
“I went to three Greggs stores when the vegan sausage roll came out just to get one – they were so good, this is good too,” she said between mouthfuls of the bake, made from quorn, onions and meat-free gravy. “Two years ago, it was difficult to find places to eat, but now there’s so many cheap options.”

Her boyfriend, Joe Swain, 21, a graphic design student also studying at Salford, eats meat but gave the steakbake the thumbs up. “I’d definitely buy that one over the meat one,” he said.
Seated nearby, Sarah Taylor and Peter Milne, both 63, were eating tried-and-tested beef steakbakes, having ordered out of habit. “I’ve just been looking at the vegan ones though, and they do look lovely,” said Taylor.

According to a recent study from the supermarket chain Waitrose, one in eight Britons are now vegetarian or vegan, with food choices assuming an increasingly important role in countering the climate crisis. But not everyone snapping up the pastry snacks was making a concerted effort to switch to a completely meat-free diet.

Anthony Dent, 51, eating at the nearby store on King Street, is one of the UK’s estimated 22 million “flexitarians”, who enjoy meat but want to reduce their intake.
His first taste of the vegan steakbake had in fact been influenced by his daughters Olivia, 13, and Heather, 10, who is vegetarian. “They do taste nice, but I eat meat. I’m just being influenced by the younger generation to eat less,” he said.

         Rachel said she had to cut down on Greggs’ previous vegan offering, the sausage roll                                                              Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Tearing into a bake on her way to the office, fellow flexitarian and civil servant Rachel, 31, said she would be trying to exercise more self-control when it came to vegan fast food this year.
“When the vegan sausage rolls came out I had one for breakfast every day for about two months and had to stop because I was getting a bit fat. I could definitely have this for breakfast though,” she said.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jan/02/fast-food-outlets-launch-new-vegan-options-for-veganuary

What is vegan? The foods vegans do and don’t eat

From metro.co.uk

Whether you’ve gone the whole hog (or the opposite, in this case) and have gone vegan on a permanent basis, or you’re thinking of attempting veganuary, there’s no denying that veganism became one of the biggest food trends of the last decade. It went from being considered somewhat extreme to being embraced by the likes of Greggs, McDonalds and KFC But even with major food chains getting on board, there’s still some confusion surrounding what vegans can and can’t eat.

                                          Is it all just leafy greens for vegans? (Picture: Getty)

Vegans cannot eat any product or ingredient made from an animal product.
This is where it differs from vegetarianism – instead of just avoiding the actual meat, vegans won’t eat anything made from or produced by an animal.

So the most obvious exclusions are: Meat (beef, lamb, pork etc.) Poultry Fish and seafood Cheese Eggs Yoghurt Butter Cream Milk However, being vegan can sometimes mean having to be extra cautious, as there are some less-obvious exclusions to the diet.

These include:
Some beer and wine – check to see if egg white, gelatin or casein has been used in the brewing process.
Honey – this is a contentious one. Some vegans will eat honey, but others don’t because when humans give the bees a sugar substance to replace the honey taken, it lacks essential nutrients they need and can affect their lifespan.
Sweets – non-vegan ingredients in sweets can include gelatin, shellac or a food dye called carmine which is made from cochineal insects.
Chips – some are fried in animal fat.
Pesto – many store-bought pestos contain Parmesan cheese.
Roasted peanuts – can often include gelatin to help the spices stick together.
Fresh pasta – often made with eggs.
Natural flavourings – check the ingredients for additives such as E120, E322, E422, E471, E542, E631, E901 and E904 as these are animal-based.

And if you see castoreum on an ingredients list, vegans will want to avoid it as that’s made from the secretions of a beavers anal scent gland. Yum. Of course, there are often vegan alternatives to a lot of these foods, but it’s always best to check the packaging.

What can vegans eat?
Vegans can eat anything plant-based. A healthy vegan, as instructed by the NHS, should:
eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible);
have some dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts (choose lower fat and lower sugar options);
eat some beans, pulses and other proteins;
choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat in small amounts;
drink plenty of fluids (the government recommends 6 to 8 cups or glasses a day)

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/01/vegan-foods-vegans-dont-eat-11985353/

Which vegan chicken alternatives should I switch to for Veganuary?

From which.co.uk/news

Our tasters compared two widely available brands to see which came out on top

Want to know what’s the better-tasting of two popular vegan chicken alternatives you can try this Veganuary? We asked 100 people who are cutting down on meat and considering meat substitutes to blind-taste and rate the two most widely available chilled plain chicken alternatives.

The majority preferred The Vegetarian Butcher’s What The Cluck vegan chicken over Vivera Plant Chicken Pieces. Two in five said they’d buy it. Neither is exactly like real chicken, so didn’t score well on that basis, but if you’re already vegetarian or vegan this shouldn’t bother you.

For people who currently eat meat but looking to reduce their consumption, our testers reckoned that these chicken alternatives are worth trying in a flavoursome curry or stir-fry. See more of the best food and drink – we’ve taste-tested red and white wines, olive oils, gin, and more.

The Vegetarian Butcher What The Cluck

£2.29 for 160g (£14.31/kg)

Preferred by 61%, 40% would buy, taste test score 53%

This product is made of soya protein, plus spice extracts and natural flavourings. It also has added sunflower oil, which our tasters said gave it a slightly more greasy texture.

There’s more fat per 100g than Vivera (4.4g vs 0.5g per 100g). It’s also quite high in salt, at 1.9g per 100g (adults should eat no more than 6g of salt per day), so avoid over-seasoning it.

It was rated better overall than the Vivera product. But it didn’t win over everyone who tasted it – while some said it had an authentic chicken flavour, others thought it was bland and had no overall flavour.

Our tasters thought it looked the part, as it beat the Vivera Plant Chicken Pieces for appearance but not for texture. It pulls apart like chicken, but some thought it was a little greasy. Overall, more said they preferred and would buy it, with two in five open to the idea. Most of them suggested using it in a dish, such as curry, rather than on its own.

Vivera Plant Chicken Pieces

£3 for 175g (£17.10/kg)

Preferred by 39%, 25% would buy, taste test score 49%

This is made of soya protein, with onion extract and natural flavourings, but it also has pea fibres for binding. It has slightly less fibre (5.6g vs 7.6g per 100g) than What The Cluck, but is almost as high in salt, at 1.7g per 100g.

It didn’t score as highly as What The Cluck – many of our tasters commented that it was bland and had no flavours coming through. One even said it tasted subtly like bran. They felt it would be perfectly acceptable in a curry or stir-fry, where the taste would be bolstered by other ingredients.

Texture is the Chicken Plant Pieces’ strong point, though. It’s the only aspect that it beat What The Cluck on, with some tasters being impressed and only a few commenting that it was too dry.

How we tested

Our research was carried out by consumer research specialists Wirral Sensory Services, who asked 100 people cutting down on meat and considering meat substitutes to blind-taste and rate two chicken alternatives from the supermarket chiller cabinet. Each was pan fried and scored for taste, texture, appearance and aroma. We asked each tester which they preferred and whether they would buy it.

Prices correct as of December 2019

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/01/which-vegan-chicken-alternatives-should-i-switch-to-for-veganuary/

A record number of people are predicted to be taking part in Veganuary this year.

From heart.co.uk

Vegan diets are on the rise, and it's now easier than ever eat plant-based food at restaurants across the UK.

Whereas in previous years meat-free options were limited to a small garden salad or sad stuffed pepper, British chains are finally getting the message that the vegan diet is rapidly on the rise.
Here are the vegan options in a number of popular high street chains.

                                  It's now easier than ever to eat vegan at chain restaurants.                                                                                Picture: Getty/Bella Italia/Wagamama/Patty & Bun

McDonalds vegan options

McDonald's hasn't quite caught up with the vegan hype, but it was just announced that the first ever vegan meal would soon be offered at the fast-food joint.
The veggie dippers meal - vegan nuggets served with chips and your choice of soft drink - is set for launch on 2 January 2020.
Animal rights charity PETA said that the new addition to the menu was "the very definition of a happy meal".

The dippers are made from rice, red peppers, vegan tomato pesto and split peas, and they're fried in breadcrumbs.

Nando's vegan options

While Nando's stresses that it's 'not a vegan restaurant', it does have options that can be made so on its menu. The most popular is the sweet potato and butternut pitta - but you'll have to ask for it without mayonnaise.
Nando's claims that it takes great care to separate the cooking of meat and veggie products, so you can be assured that there won't be cross-contamination.

Pizza Express vegan options

The popular chain is something of an industry leader when it comes to vegan options, and it offers a number of tasty plant-based pizzas on its ever-growing menu.
These include Vegan Giardiniera and Vegan Zucca - which come with vegan mozzarella.
Pizza Express also offer vegan desserts - a rarity for chains - including carrot cake and coconut sorbet.

Pizza Hut vegan options

Like the above, Pizza hut also stock vegan cheese in their restaurants - and the chain has been catering for plant-based diets since 2017.
Options include All About Mushrooms, Hot 'N' Spicy Veg, and they even have vegan nuggets. You can also buy a vegan cheesecake to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Zizzi vegan options

Zizzi has a number of plant-based options - including vegan margherita with a choice of toppings and a delicious vegan lentil ragu.
For dessert, we'd recommend the sweet vegan calzone - folded dough filled with chocolate, banana, caramelised pecans and blueberries.

Subway vegan options

No longer are Subway fans just limited to the salad-filled veggie delight sub - they are now offering a vegan patty to offer a bit more bite in your sandwich. Make sure you opt for the Italian or Hearty Italian bread, as these are both vegan.

Wagamama vegan options

Wagamama have been offering vegan options for years now, and the recently-added 'Vegatsu' (a vegan version of their famous chicken katsu) is a fan favourite.

JD Wetherspoons

The popular pub chain is a surprising haven for vegans - and even have their own vegan menu, featuring the likes of Sweet Potato, Chickpea & Spinach Curry and Teriyaki Noodles, as well as a vegan burger.

Greggs vegan options

Greggs vegan sausage rolls were surely one of the biggest stories of the year - and the bakery chain kept selling out of the pastries in the weeks after their release. They will be expanding their vegan menu for Veganuary, so watch this space.

The Real Greek vegan options

Fast-growing Greek chain The Real Greek boasts its own vegan menu featuring hot and cold mezze, souvlaki wraps, and a number of delicious sides and desserts.

Patty & Bun vegan options

All vegans know there's not much better than a good plant-based burger, and Patty & Bun's 'Pamela' comes complete with vegan bacon, mayo, patty *and* cheese.

Bella Italia vegan options

Bella Italia is another Italian chain that now serves vegan cheese - and there are a number of tasty options available. They even have a vegan dessert - the Cookie Dough Al Forno - which is cookie dough with a melting middle, that's topped with a delicious vanilla gelato and caramel sauce.

Yo! Sushi vegan options

The popular sushi chain has expanded its vegan range to include Shitake Mushroom Ramen, Pumpkin Katsu Curry and Inari Tofu Taco, as well as all their delicious veggie sushi options.

Byron Burger vegan options

Byron is another burger chain who are doing a great job of embracing the vegan culture. They have a whopping three plantbased burgers - including The Truffker, Cali Cheese, and Beetnik.
The Truffler comes complete with a ridiculously delicious (and very unusual) truffle 'cheese' fondue.

https://www.heart.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/vegan-chain-restaurants-uk/

How to go vegan

From realhomes.com

There’s growing interest in going vegan. The number of people following a vegan diet in Great Britain quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, according to Ipsos Mori surveys commissioned by The Vegan Society, and The Food & You surveys by the Food Standards Agency and the National Centre for Social Science Research.

Going vegan is an accelerating trend, too. Nearly half of UK vegans (42%) had made the change in the past 12 months, a 2018 study by GlobalData revealed.

But whether your motivation is animal welfare, environmental, health driven, dietary, or a combination of these and other factors, what do you need to know to become vegan, and what’s the easiest way to go about it? We have the answers.

What is a vegan diet?

A vegan diet is plant based. So, that’s yes to eating beans, pulses, nuts, grains, seeds, vegetables and fruit. Out are meat, fish, shellfish, insects (no, us neither, but they have been proposed as a way to satisfy the needs of a growing world population).
Other foodstuffs on the list to avoid for vegans are dairy products like milk and cheese, eggs, and also honey.

Should I go vegan straightaway?

You can swap to a vegan diet between one day and another if you get your kitchen organised. However, it can be easier to make the change more gradually, giving you time to try out ingredients and recipes and find new favourites.

What can I use in place of animal products?

Many of the foods we eat every day aren’t plant based, and unless you are going to radically alter your diet so you don’t add anything to tea, put a spread on your bread and so on, you’ll need to plan in swaps for these.

There are vegan alternatives for milk, butter, and cheese with plant ‘milks’, non-dairy spreads and vegan cheese now widely available. It may take a bit of experimentation to find out which soya or nut milks are your preference. Likewise, finding cheese substitutes that please your palate, and work for sandwiches, as a garnish, and for cooking could involve some trial and error.

Eggs might seem challenging to replace. For recipes, aquafaba – the water in which legumes like chickpeas have been cooked – can replace egg whites so you can whip up a meringue or mousse. For baking, some supermarkets plus Amazon offer Orgran No Egg or Free & Easy Egg Replacer.

Meanwhile, if the idea of giving up scrambled eggs and omelettes is getting you down, you can check out Follow Your Heart VeganEgg from Amazon and other stores. It can be used in baking, too.
If you still like the idea of the flavour and texture of meat, there are plenty of substitutes in high street supermarkets that seek to taste like the real thing. Want an authentic appearance? The Beyond Burger at Tesco even ‘bleeds’ – although it’s actually beetroot juice that creates the effect.

What about protein, and calcium?

One of the biggest concerns for many people contemplating going vegan is whether their new diet will contain enough protein. Sources of plant-based protein include beans, chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, tofu, and nuts and seeds. A serving of protein in most meals is suggested.

A non-dairy diet doesn’t include calcium from this source, although you can still obtain it from dark, leafy greens, of course. Look out, though, for calcium-fortified vegan products such as soya milk, orange juice, and tofu to meet daily requirements.

You can find detailed nutritional advice from dieticians plus books via The Vegan Society.

Is shopping at the supermarket easy for vegans

Being vegan used to mean scrutinising food labels for animal-based ingredients even when a product appeared to be free of them, but times have changed. Prompted by the growth of interest in veganism as well as the demand for plant-based meals from non-vegans who want to reduce meat consumption, the supermarkets have launched plentiful plant-based ranges including both individual products like vegan pies, sausages, burgers, mince and so on, as well as ready meals.

The ranges offer an amazing choice and make life easy when you’re busy, but do be aware that prepared vegan food could still result in the consumption of more salt, sugar and fat than is healthy. The lesson? You do need to check the labels to be health aware.

Where can I find vegan recipes?

If you want to cook from scratch some or all of the time, there are plenty of great resources online – including our recipe pages and there are over 50 pages of vegan recipe books from the UK alone on Amazon.
If you don’t already have a slow cooker, think about investing in one of these as an easy way to produce tasty vegan meals.

Is being vegan just about food?

Although diet is a major part of veganism, embracing it fully also means avoiding materials derived from animals – leather, for example – products tested on animals, and also places that use animals for entertainment, think horse racing, or zoos, for example.

https://www.realhomes.com/news/how-to-go-vegan