VEGAN IN THE CITY

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MUCH EXACTLY MORALS COST

While most of us have been writing adventurous bucket lists, dieting or trying to kick an addiction, some of you made the brave decision to take part in Veganuary; a campaign that was set up at the end of last year to encouraging people to go vegan for the month.

The nationwide movement set out to raise awareness of livestock emissions which currently account for 14.5% of global greenhouse gases (accounting for more pollution than worldwide transport production) as well as to save animals and improve health.

What’s more, UN figures revealed that meat production is responsible for about 18 per cent of global carbon emissions.

These disturbing statistics make it easy to understand why thousands of you decided to take part; we want to reward your crusade by helping you remain vegan – if you’re a carnivore, keep reading, you might just be inspired.

Oh and in case you didn’t hear, PETA (the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) just voted London the most vegetarian-friendly city in the world. With over 150 vegetarian restaurants, London is home to a thriving vegan community.

On the third Thursday of every month London Vegan Drinks meets at Whole Foods Market in Kensington. Selling an all-embracing range of vegan alcohol this is apparently one of the most popular vegan social gatherings anywhere in the world. So make sure to get all pressed up in black and white, but if you prefer the stereotype, hemp jeans will be fine.

If you’re struggling to find an outfit, you need to check out The Third Estate in Camden. They sell ethically traded, eco-friendly and organic clothing. All of which is manufactured in the UK. Decorated with rescued timber, the store also sells an extensive range of animal friendly footwear.

We got in touch with the organiser of London Vegan Meetup, Robb Masters, to see what else is going on, he said: “London Vegan Meetup has events every week – from walks to talks, book clubs to night clubs. In the next few weeks we’ve got a Valentine’s Dinner at Chutney’s Indian Veg Restaurant and a games night with vegan food at Black Cat Café in Hackney. They’ll be lots of eating. And maybe a little drinking…”

But if you’d prefer to write your own recipes then the Vegan Potluck is the event for you. On the first Wednesday of each month budding vegans (and friends of course) meet up at Faraday House on Gloucester Street to celebrate home cooked vegan food, and entry only costs £1! There are no rules about what you can cook, but they do ask you to provide an ingredients list.

Given that dairy and meat alternatives in local shops tend to be more expensive, you may find that you’re struggling to pay for your morals.

Don’t worry; Sean, who won the veg fest blogger of the year awards for Fat Gay Vegan, gave us his expert advice about where to shop. He said, “The best tip for vegan grocery shopping is to keep an eye out for the Holland & Barrett penny sales that come around surprisingly often. Bargain hunters can pick up vegan brands such as Fry’s Vegetarian and VBites for rock bottom prices, making cruelty-free cooking affordable for everyone.”

But if you like to eat out, you should check out InSpiral in Camden – you pay what you like for a ‘gratuity bowl.’ Or head to Itadki Zen in Kings Cross, which is the first vegan Japanese restaurant in London. They do a lunch menu for £6 which includes a main, a side dish (the Tofu Steak looks delicious) and a drink. Also, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer’s sell labelled vegan alcohol, so don’t worry about not being able to let loose at the weekend.

Regardless if you’ve been a vegan for years or you’re what some call a part-timer, your ‘activism’ is encouraging. Veganuary will hopefully inspire others to make a difference. However, we should note, it’s not the first operation to help.

Last year, the London Vegan Pledge saw 80 meat-eaters going’ vegan for a month; the programme focused on longevity by offering practical and moral support to its participants. As a result, 70% of partakers said they will stay vegan.

If you want to get involved or know a friend who wants to make a change, you can take an online pledge. The majority of the programmes are free – Good luck.