Then and Now

It’s not surprising that over the last few years, veganism has picked up in popularity across world. In fact, there are more vegans now than ever before and the numbers are constantly rising. A big reason for this has to be that vegan foods and products are easily accessible. In the UK for instance, there’s an endless array of vegan restaurants, convenience foods, mock foods and cruelty free products. Companies have definitely taken an initiative to cater to a market that is growing year by year.

6 years ago when I first became vegan, I would barely come across alternatives like I do today. Don’t get me wrong, there were meat replacements, cheeses, and plant milks, but the options ended there. Nowadays, I can find multiple vegan items of one thing – say a burger, and all of them would come at a different price point, quality and taste. It’s astounding that product competition has become this fierce, making it actually difficult sometimes to pick and choose. This is a complete 180 from before.

I am very happy with the current progress. It’s not just new vegan companies popping up, but rather, large corporations are producing vegan items and working with vegan companies to provide more vegan goodness. McDonald’s for instance uses Beyond Meat in their vegan Big Mac, and Burger King has launched vegan only restaurants as well. British brands, like Cathedral City, launched its vegan cheese in 2022 and Richmond also has very taste vegan mince and sausages. It’s crazy to think that these brands are delivering accessible, cheap, vegan foods.

Vegan for the …?

Alongside this growth comes more public awareness about animal rights, the planet and health. Veganism encompasses many of our daily life choices that we sometimes forget include suffering beyond the slaughter of animals for food. This means the use of fur, leather and wool in clothing, and the testing of products on animals. However, I think that a growing population of vegans and people who are looking for cruelty free alternatives, has pushed companies to be more specific with how they manufacture their products.

Such has been achieved through certified cruelty free and vegan logos. This has made it easier for many people to verify the product they’re purchasing without having to go through an ingredient list or consult a 3rd party source.

Sometimes however, you will land on a product that doesn’t have one of the logos above. As such, it would be wise looking up the product online or through an app (Soosee or Vegan Pocket and Cruelty Cutter). If you’re still unsure, you can email the company directly and ask. You might be surprised how honest some companies are about this.

Where to Start?

The first step towards anything is always the hardest. This is no different here. People that wish to be vegan, or even try it, find it difficult and confusing at first, and that’s completely fine.

I understand that for many, becoming vegan seems like a complete deviation from what they’ve been doing their whole life. In essence, what we’ve been taught since childhood, the culture(s) we belong to, and the experiences we’ve had, seem to go against veganism. And the focal point of it all is : food.

Food unites people. It’s a way of sharing memories, stories and experiences together. It’s a form of bond-building, and a means to embrace one another. Most importantly however, food is also an individual experience. We have our likes and dislikes. Sometimes we love an ingredient, other times we detest it. And for some unlucky ones, they are allergic to them!

Whichever category you fit in, in the end, food is a vital component of our lives. Growing up, I was surrounded by animal-based foods like the majority of the world. It was normal to have meat and dairy, heralded as necessary even. 6 years of veganism however, has shown me that on an individual level, I don’t need to eat animals to be part of a society, let alone be happy. I myself didn’t become vegan because I didn’t like the way meat or cheese tasted – far from it. I became vegan because I understood that there’s a disparity between how we treat some animals, and how we treat others.

In the end, the reasoning for becoming vegan has to stem from something that you want to be reflected outwardly. This, in my opinion, is the best way to ensure that you’re in it for the long haul.

Final Thoughts

I’ve decided to post this blog at the end of Veganuary for a specific reason. I love that Veganuary is a thing, and that hundreds of thousands of people pledge to do it every year. It’s a step towards embracing veganism, and I’m aware that there are many people who decide to continue being vegan well beyond January. However, I believe that it’s never too late, or that there’s a “perfect moment”, to becoming vegan. Missing out on Veganuary or completely forgetting about it shouldn’t diminish ones ambitions from trying something new if they have the wish to do so.

Ultimately, being vegan is a daily choice one consciously makes. Understanding that our actions have consequences, even if we don’t come across them in our normal lives, speaks truly to what veganism is. If you ever thought of giving veganism a shot, my only advice would be : go for it. You can become a “better” vegan as you go, and the more you learn, the easier and more rewarding it gets.

Anis