WORLD VEGAN DAY
World Vegan Day kicks off World Vegan Month on November 1st with education and awareness about vegan diets. Vegans abstain from eating animal products of any kind. This includes meat, eggs, dairy products, and honey. There are different types of vegan diets. The most common ones include:
- Dietary vegans – they avoid eating animal products but still use them in clothing, shampoo, and other products
- Whole-food vegans – eat whole foods only, such as fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and grains
- Junk food vegans – eat large amounts of processed vegan food like cookies, non-dairy ice cream, and nonmeat frozen dinners
- Raw-food vegans – eats raw foods or food cooked below 118 degrees F.
- Low-fat, raw-food vegans – Limits high-fat foods. It relies mainly on fruit and small amounts of other plants.
There are many reasons people choose to become vegans. Some vegans believe that all animals have a right to live and are not meant for human consumption. These types of vegans fight for the rights of animals. They speak out against certain farming practices, such as keeping poultry in cages. Other vegans choose a plant-based lifestyle because they believe it’s healthier than eating meat and animal products. There is some research to back up this claim. Plant-based diets might reduce the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancers.
Besides ethics and health, one more reason some choose to go vegan is they believe farming practices are bad for the environment.
It’s hard to know exactly how many vegans there are in the world. What is known, is that this type of diet is gaining in popularity. Some restaurants promote vegan meals. The Los Angeles school district recently began serving vegan lunches. The vegan diet is especially popular among millennials. It’s also becoming the diet of choice for an increasing number of celebrities and athletes.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldVeganDay
The Vegan Society and other vegan organizations hold a variety of events to mark this day. Some of these include vegan yoga retreats, vegan winter festivals, and healthy food markets featuring vegan foods. It’s not uncommon for new vegan restaurants to hold their grand opening on this day.
If you want to participate, don’t eat meat or any animal products. Learn more about the different kinds of vegan diets. Learn about the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet. Feed your family a vegan meal or host a vegan lunch at work. Commit to eating a vegan meal at least once a week. Share your favorite vegan recipes on social media. When doing so, don’t forget to use #WorldVeganDay.
WORLD VEGAN DAY HISTORY
The Vegan Society began in 1944 when a group of vegetarians decided to distinguish the difference between the two types of diets. In 1994, the Vegan Society celebrated the first World Vegan Day on November 1st.
