Has The Number of Vegans Increased In The UK?

When someone says “vegan” there is often a negative response. Being a vegan was once thought of as a passing fad or an extreme way of dieting or missing out on tasty food. It is now considered a mainstream trend. Veganism is no longer considered to be a mocked idea.

Instead it is linked with a considerable amount of health benefits, assists with those who are concerned with the environment and overall contributes towards a greener way of life.

This would be naïve for businesses to ignore, if we look at only the increase between 2016 and 2017, there was an increase of 1,500% plant-based food.

The Vegan Society released research regarding veganism in the UK, revealing that:

  • 56% of adults in the UK practice vegan buying behaviours
  • 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

What Is A Flexitarian?

A “flexitarian” is someone who doesn’t adopt the complete vegan life style but rather becomes more mindful with their eating habits because they are aware of the many benefits and are open to the idea od trying new vegan options.

It is possible that it is this mindset that has caused the vast improvement on opinions towards vegans, with 43% of people saying they respected vegans for their lifestyle.

The Rise In Vegan Popularity

It’s worth wondering if the rise in vegan popularity has been caused just by the eco-awareness and health benefits.

In 2018’s Veganuary, a movement which encourages people to go a whole month following the strict vegan diet, 39% of people signed up due to health reasons, only 10% signed up because of environmental factors.

The top reason for signing up was concern for animal right, which came in at 43%.

It is thought that maybe one of the main causes people adopt the Vegan life style is for a vainer reason.

The independent reported the increase of Google searches of the word ‘vegan’ has grown in line with searches for ‘Instagram’.

We live in society where we love taking photos of the food we eat and sharing them with the world through social media.

Veganism and Social Media Influence

It would be easy to say that the growth in Veganism has been advertised through Instagram by people sharing there beautifully presented and bright-coloured new vegan recipes.

Indeed, Vegan Food & Living offered up an array of vegan food trends for 2018, and none of them could be considered ‘rabbit food’:

  • Veggie chips, such as sweet potato and beetroot chips, make for a colourful alternative to normal potato.
  • Edible flowers, to make your meal more appealing for Instagram!
  • Vegan desserts, bringing back ice-cream and cakes in vegan-friendly ways. Ben and Jerry’s have released three delicious vegan-friendly ice creams: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, and Peanut Butter and Cookies are all sure to be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike!
  • Fermented foods, while they might not conjure the most delicious image to mind, are coming into food trends in a big way. Think colourful kimchi and nutty-flavoured tempeh.

The next step to increase popularity is for restaurants to increase the number of Vegan options on their menu.

A recent survey found that 91% of vegans are having a tough time finding to-go meal options. The market is certainly there, and restaurants and supermarkets are slowly picking up on the potential gains to be made by catering to veganism.

Becoming A Vegan Can Have Positive Effects On Your Overall Health

For you personally, becoming a vegan can be extremely beneficial.

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.

If you’re thinking about taking up the vegan lifestyle yourself, or even if you want to try out being a “flexitarian”, you might want to consider having a go at growing your own fruit and veg.

Even a small garden can house a few home-grown herbs and fruits! You can grab some growbags and start cultivating your own supply of tomatoes for a home-made tomato sauce, or cucumbers for the freshest salad you’ll ever taste!

It is important to remember to keep an eye on your protein intake. 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.

Are you ready to embrace the vegan rising, or are you going to test the water first with a few meat-free, dairy-free choices?

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.

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post.