I hope it is not too late to talk about Veganuary! From the 1st to the 31st of January there is a Veganuary challenge where people try to go vegan for 1 month. In 2021, more than half a million people signed up to try Veganuary. It is expected that this year the number will be even higher.
What does it mean to go vegan? A vegan diet is a plant-based diet. Vegans don’t eat any animal products including honey, dairy, and eggs. A vegan diet can support healthy living at every age and life stage. However, it is very important that a healthy vegan diet is planned in advance, to ensure that an individual’s nutrition needs are met.
If you decide to go vegan, here are my 3 top tips:
- planning is essential (follow the Vegan Eatwell Guide when planning vegan meals)
- be aware of some nutrient gaps (vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine, iron, calcium, zinc, omega3-fatty acids and selenium)
- read food labels (check for fortification and choose foods lower in fat, sugar and salt).
If you want to give the vegan diet a try or you are looking for recipe inspiration, try my Quorn and Chickpea Stew recipe for a healthy, balanced vegan diet:
Here are some cooking examples for meeting nutrient needs: vegan Quorn is a great source of zinc and rapeseed oil used in cooking is a great source of omega 3.
Going vegan and putting things into practice can be a challenging task. If you think you could benefit from some nutrition support, send me an email.
Nutritionist in Cambridge and Online 