World Vegan Month: Why Plant-Based Eating Helps Your Health and the Planet

There is something hugely impactful that we can all do to help the climate movement — just by being mindful.
Easy right?
It really is. You just need to add more plant-based foods into your diet.
As it happens, November = World Vegan Month, which kick-started with World Vegan Day on 1 November. 🗓️
🌱 Let’s have a look at veganism

• Coined in November 1944 — hence why November is vegan month!
• Donald Watson, one of the founding members, grew up in the UK on a farm. He turned vegetarian at eight years old.
• He later stopped eating all animal products as he felt strongly that animals should not solely serve humans.
• This remains the philosophy of veganism today. It goes beyond food.
  Its aim is to “exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose…”
  (Source: The Vegan Society)
• A varied vegan lifestyle is a healthy option — though vitamin B12 should likely be taken as a supplement.

Within veganism, food remains the cornerstone. More recently, plant-based eating has gained popularity.

🍆 What is a plant-based diet?

• Plant-based doesn’t mean vegan or vegetarian. It means eating more plant-based foods than animal-derived ones.
• The Mediterranean diet has been widely studied for its benefits. This diet focuses on plant-based foods, with limited animal products a few times a week.
• The results are clear — reduced heart disease and lower rates of certain cancers.
• Plus, meat often contains hormones and pesticides, which can affect long-term health.

🌍 From an ecological perspective, plant-based eating is hugely encouraged

Just a few stats:

• Beef is by far the most carbon-intensive food. Just 100g = 15.5kg CO₂e = almost 80km of driving!
• • 2.6× more intensive than lamb
  • 5.5× more intensive than the first dairy product (cheese)
  • Over 16× more intensive than the first vegan product (dark chocolate)
    (Source: CO₂ Everything)
  • And imagine this: you can easily eat 100g of beef in one serving — but not 100g of dark chocolate in one go!

👏 What can you do?

• Think about how much animal-derived food you eat each week — you can probably reduce it.
• The aim isn’t to become vegan, but to be mindful of what you eat.
• If you can’t reduce much, at least reduce red meat.
  Check what’s in season and buy locally or nationally grown foods.
• When your budget allows, add more organic foods to your lifestyle.
• Use leftovers creatively for new meals.
• Compost waste foods — contact your local authority, or start your own!
• What I do: I follow a vegetarian diet, and as a family, we have one vegan day a week.

✨Also: check out my Eco-Christmas Guide — full of festive vegan and vegetarian recipe ideas!

Sources: Vegan Society, CO₂ Everything, 10 Hours Eco Comms, Harvard Health Publishing, ScienceDirect, Graig Farm, Veganuary