Charcoal – What Is Meant By ‘Activated’ And ‘Natural’

A Guide To Egg Replacements In Vegan Cooking And Baking

A Guide To Egg Replacements In Vegan Cooking And Baking

Eggs are a pretty staple ingredient in a lot of non-vegan cooking and baking – in fact it’s hard to think of cake recipes from your pre-vegan days that don’t call for a few eggs. They always seem to be part of a cooked breakfast, whether scrambled, poached, boiled or fried. They go into pancake and waffle batter, into quiches, sandwiches, and soufflés, and we get through an awful lot of them.  According to industry data, in the UK alone last year we ate 11.7 billion eggs. For those transitioning to a vegan diet, replacing eggs can often be challenging. This can especially be the case for long-term vegetarians, who tend to rely heavily on eggs for protein (eggs contain roughly 13 grams of protein per 100 grams). Foregoing that fried egg in your cooked breakfast can be…

Vegan Myth: “Vegans Don’t Get Enough Protein, So They’re Weak”

Vegan Myth: “Vegans Don’t Get Enough Protein, So They’re Weak”

The protein myth is one that has long annoyed vegans. Many meat eaters suddenly become nutritional experts when faced with a plant-based eater, and the number one question often asked is: where do you get your protein?   The idea that protein only comes from animal-sources is wrong, yet the notion that vegans are pale weaklings is one many omnivores don’t seem able to shake off. A growing number of plant-powered athletes (see box) are smashing that myth – so, how do they get their protein, and why is this such a big deal?   Protein is often referred to as ‘the building block of life’. This macronutrient breaks down into amino acids, promoting cell repair and growth. Proteins take longer to digest than carbohydrates, which mean they can fill you up for longer. While many animal sources…

Vegan Pregnancy: Eating For Two – Issue 5

Vegan Pregnancy: Eating For Two – Issue 5

When I found out I was pregnant again, I felt a mix of anxiousness and excitement, and I was a little scared. Before going vegan I’d been vegetarian for over twenty years, and I’d been through a very complicated pregnancy during that time. The thought of embarking on my second pregnancy, and my first since going vegan stirred up mixed emotions. I’m sure most people get the “well, what do you eat!?” question when you reveal that you’re a vegan, but when someone finds out you’re vegan and pregnant – well, it turns out people greet that news with a much longer list of questions…   “Is it safe for your baby?” “Isn’t that selfish to put that on your unborn child!?” “Well, will you bring the baby up to be vegan?”   The list went on and on. With friends, family, and doctors questioning your dietary choices,…

The Rise Of Vegan Athletes

‘Why I Started A Completely Vegan Tattoo Studio’

‘Why I Started A Completely Vegan Tattoo Studio’

Art is about expression. When we opened our vegan tattoo and piercing studio, Fifth Dimension (www.fifthdimensiontattoo.co.uk), we created new opportunities for vegans to express themselves in a not-yet vegan world. Tattooists facilitate aesthetic and meaningful artistic dreams on the skin of the wearer, for life. As vegans, we also strive to create a liberated space to share with other non-human beings as a commitment for life. The combination of veganism and body art can cross any boundaries imposed by the expectations of Western societies.   We don’t demand that all our tattooists should be committed vegans, but we see it as our responsibility to ensure that our clients get a 100% vegan service, and we have our own vegan ‘code of conduct’. That means we use only vegan inks, stencil creams, and aftercare products – we never use…

A Few Tips To Navigating Veganism

A Few Tips To Navigating Veganism

Things You Wanted To Know – But Were Afraid To Ask Almost five years ago, armed with a single vegan book, some information from the internet, and little knowledge (but a steely determination to succeed) I decided to go vegan overnight. It’s genuinely been a life-changing choice, and the best decision I’ve ever made, but it hasn’t been without its bumps in the road. Everyone’s experience is different, but I thought I’d round up a few of the things I’ve learnt along the way, in the hopes they may be useful.   But I Don’t Know Any Other Vegans… This was the case for the first couple of years. In fact, I didn’t even know that many people who knew what veganism was, including an editor at a previous job (it’s safe to say he knows now…) This…

Vegan Celebrities – Fighting The Good Fight

Vegan Celebrities – Fighting The Good Fight

Last week we spoke about the rise in vegan and plant based athletes. This week, we are taking a look at vegan celebrities and how they use their fame and celebrity status in motivational ways. The thing about celebrities is it’s that they are listened to. They inspire people of all ages to achieve dreams and many people look up to them as role models. There have been a number of celebrities in the news recently talking about the vegan movement in a positive way and whether you like them or not, there is no denying that these celebrities promoting the cause and use their fame as a platform to boost the movement, can only assist the rise of veganism. It would be a little rude not to mention, in an article about vegan celebrities, the Baywatch star Pamela…