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Why you should be eating plant-based food if you care about the planet

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By Rachel Stone, Viva!
27 Jun 2024

If you’re concerned about climate chaos and want to reduce your environmental footprint, a good place to form positive habits is in the kitchen. Adopting a plant-based diet is scientifically proven to be one of the most impactful choices you can make for the planet. By reducing reliance on animal farming, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and water scarcity, you directly contribute to a healthier globe.

Plant-based foods require fewer natural resources to produce, minimizing ecological damage and promoting biodiversity. In fact, an Oxford University researcher even described a vegan diet as “the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use”. That sounds like a good idea to us! 

If you’re making the transition to a vegan lifestyle, it can be tricky to know what to cook – what store cupboard ingredients you need to hand or what plant-based alternatives you can switch to when creating classics like spag bol. We have a solution though. Our friends at the UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity Viva! have launched a plant-based cookbook, packed full of everyday recipes you will actually make. No more traipsing round multiple supermarkets to source rare ingredients or spending hours slaving over a hot stove to create the perfect vegan feast!

The most important meal of the day... 

Breakfast as a vegan doesn’t have to consist of bland porridge or dry toast. Everyone Can Cook Vegan boasts a variety of breakfast and brunch options, from ‘French Toast’ to ‘Four Ingredient Crepes’ (as featured in The Independent). There’s even Vegan Fried Eggs and Eggs Benedict – yes, really! Eggs are often difficult to give up for people going vegan, so this selection of recipes is essential for any newbie vegans.

Easy lunch ideals 

Whether you’re eating in the office, having a picnic outside or rustling something up when working from home, the Viva! cookbook has an abundance of lunch ideas that are healthy and high in protein (something vegans are often accused of lacking). Whip up warming soups, leafy salads (including a vegan Caesar Salad!) and other lunch treats that are simple and filling. 

chickless caesar salad
Dinnertime delights 

Showstopping meals and everyday dinners grace the pages of Everyone Can Cook Vegan, with a handy difficulty label to help you decide whether to make an easy meal or try something more elaborate for a special occasion. And what’s more, every recipe is accompanied by a stunning photograph. But don’t worry if your creation doesn’t quite look the same, it’ll still taste great!

Our personal favourites include the ‘Aubergine Dhal with Coriander Dip’, ‘Vegan Carbonara’ (great with garlic bread) and the ‘Vegan Steak and Ale Pie’. The cookbook draws inspiration from world cuisine as well as homegrown favourites, so you can ensure that a range of tastes will be catered to, all while reducing your carbon footprint. Win win! 

Vegan desserts for the whole family 

Missing chocolate, cream and desserts is a common concern for new vegans, but this selection proves you can still indulge in sweet treats! From plant-based twists on classics to inventive new delights, there’s a recipe to satisfy even the sweetest of sweet tooths.

white chocolate & raspberry cheesecake

To find out more about the cookbook, or purchase it for just £12, head to vivashop.org.uk/cookbook

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