1. Get Inspired

There are many different reasons why you might be interested in trying Veganism - perhaps to protect animals, do your bit for the environment, or even just to try something new!

To get inspired, you may find it helpful to do some of your own research into why choosing plant-based options is a good idea. There are plenty of great resources available online and informative documentaries on Netflix, such as Game Changers, Cowspiracy & What The Health. 

You can read our previous blog post about some of the benefits of going vegan here.

2. Find foods that are accidentally vegan

Adopting a vegan diet doesn’t have to be as intimidating or overwhelming as you might first think. You may actually be surprised at how many vegan foods you have already have sitting in your cupboards!

We found two really helpful lists of ‘accidentally vegan foods’ created by  Veganuary & The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which you can view here. 

3. Try new things

It can be daunting trying new things at first, but experimenting with food can be really enjoyable. 

This doesn’t mean you have to suddenly change your whole weekly shop, but even choosing a handful of plant-based alternatives to things you buy already is a great place to start. Now more than ever, there are so many different vegan options to choose from - you may even find a new favourite meal!

4. Veganise your favourite dishes

 Choosing plant-based options doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favourite foods. You may be surprised to learn just how easy it can be to adjust the meals you already love to make them Vegan friendly. Enjoy a curry? Replace meat with chunks of potato. Friday night pizza? - Opt for plant-based cheese and double up on veggies. Burgers? - Choose a patty made from soya or vegetables and breadcrumbs. There are so many options available in both supermarkets and restaurants now making it far easier to choose Vegan. 

5. Explore the vegan community

There are so many great Vegan food magazines, youtube channels and social media accounts to help inspire you and give ideas of what plant-based meals and treats you can make. Some of our favourites include: 

Deliciously Ella - Ella Woodward has both a YouTube channel and Instagram page where she shares a huge selection of her delicious plant-based recipes. She also has a selection of tasty treats available to buy online and in supermarkets around the UK.

Accidentally Vegan - This instagram page features all the best Vegan products you can find in all the UK supermarkets varying from sandwiches and pizzas to cheesecake and chocolate - everything you could possibly need. 

Mina Rome - A Youtube Channel run by Amina who shares her delicious, fun and creative recipes - the best place to look if you’re in need of some inspiration.

6. Perseverance is key - don't give up! 

Like any other food, when it comes to plant-based options, you might love the first one you try, or you may have to give a few a go before you find the one for you. Persistence is key. If you try a brand of Vegan cheese, for example, and it’s not for you, don’t give up on Vegan cheese altogether - there will certainly be another one to try! A positive thing to remember is that there are so many more vegan options out there than ever before, so you have the option to try and try again until you find what works for you. 

7. Look for vegan brands 

Here at ARK Skincare, we are proud to offer a whole range of skincare that is 100% vegan. To learn more about our products, click here head over to the ARK Skincare website.

8. Enjoy yourself! 

Some people may choose to adopt a fully vegan lifestyle straight away which is great - if it works for them. Others may decide to take a slower approach or simply just introduce more plant-based options into their diet.

When learning about something new, it’s important to remember that you’re allowed to take time to figure out what works best for you and it’s okay to slip up now and again. Even by making small changes or opting for 3-4 plant-based meals every week you can make a huge contribution. 

Take a look at ARK Skincare's Vegan Friendly collection here.

Our first blog post of 2021! Happy New Year from everybody at ARK Skincare. We are not sad to be leaving 2020 behind! 

Each time the new year rolls around, there is often lots of conversation around setting new year resolutions or thinking about goals we might like to achieve. These goals usually include things like drinking more water, focusing on fitness targets or making more time to see friends and family but have you ever heard of Veganuary?

In this three part blog-post series, we focus on what being a vegan means, what benefits there are and suggest ways that you might like to get involved in the annual Veganuary challenge.

What is Veganuary?

Veganuary, founded in 2014, is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try veganism for January and beyond. Throughout the year, Veganuary continues to encourage and support businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering and improving the health of millions of people. 

What does the term veganism mean?

'Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and a philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or lifestyle is known as a vegan.'

What are the benefits of being a vegan?

There are many different benefits of following a plant-based, vegan friendly diet:

For the animals

Roughly 60 million land animals are killed and used as commodities every year just to satisfy human taste preferences. Many people believe that the killing of animals is unjustified and so choose a vegan life-style to help prevent the exploitation of and cruelty towards them. 

The Vegan Society encourages the use of words like ‘other animals’ or ‘non-human animals’ in their language to acknowledge that humans are animals too and we share a lot more with other animals than some of us might realise or like to admit.

Just like us, cows, sheep and chickens are living beings who have a desire to live and enjoy their freedom like we do. These animals don’t give consent to being slaughtered and in over 95% of cases, are killed prematurely once they are no longer considered profitable. Vegans do not financially support animal agriculture industries by choosing to buy or grow plant-based alternatives instead. 

For your health 

Confirmed by the British Dietetic Association, despite many myths, it is possible to follow a well planned, plant-based, vegan friendly diet which supports healthy living. Lots of the nutrients your body needs are naturally found in vegan foods such as fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, nuts, and seeds.

Some research has also linked vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.

For the environment

Animal agriculture is responsible for a significant amount of global commissions. To put it into perspective, the transport sector accounts for 13% of greenhouse gases, while animal agriculture, is responsible for almost 4 times as much at 51% - a significant amount more than you might first think!

Researchers at the University of Oxford suggest that eating a vegan diet could be the ‘single biggest way’ to reduce environmental impact on the earth. They found that cutting out meat and dairy from your diet could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by up to 73%.

Switching to a vegan diet can also help to reduce water consumption. The Vegan Society explains that it takes at least three times the amount of water to feed a meat eater compared with that used to feed a vegan. For example, it takes  15,000 litres of water to produce 1 kg of beef, compared to180 litres for 1 kg tomatoes and 250 litres for 1 kg potatoes.

One person who goes vegan can save approximately 219,000 gallons of water a year.

For people

Just like veganism is the sustainable option when it comes to looking after our planet, plant-based living is also a more sustainable way of feeding the human population. A vegan diet only requires ⅓ of the land needed to support a diet of meat and dairy. 

With the global food and water insecurity increasing due to many different environmental issues, choosing plant-based options is a great way to adopt a more sustainable way of eating. You can read more about how vegan diets can help people here. 

While some people may choose to adopt a fully vegan friendly, plant based diet straight away, others might find it easier to ease themselves in slowly. You can still make a huge contribution by switching out meat and dairy options for vegan ones where you can - even if it is just a few times a week! Keep your eyes peeled for next week's blog post where we share our top tips on how to get started. 

ARK Skincare are proud to be an entirely vegan brand who never have and never will test on animals. If you would like to learn more about our vegan skincare products, head over to the ARK Skincare website!

Resources: 

Veganuary 

What We Do 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

- 7 Fantastic Health Benefits of Eating Vegan

- 16 Facts That Show How Going Vegan Helps Stop Climate Change

- Go Vegan - Save The Planet

British Dietetic Association (BTA)

- British Dietetic Association confirms well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages

The Vegan Society 

- Why Go Vegan?

- The Vegan Diet Supports Excellent Health 

- Compassion For Animals 

The Independant

Veganism is the 'single biggest way' to reduce our environmental impact