Our interest in a vegan lifestyle has reached a peak, according to data from a well-known search engine. More than ever, we are looking online for information and inspiration about plant-based foods. Not surprising, when you consider that a vegan diet has a lot of benefits and there are more and more plant-based products on the shelves.
Amsterdam received the first vegan supermarket in our country last year and the plant-based assortments at other chains are growing fast. Eating vegan has never been so easy and delicious. Although veganism is being (re)discovered en masse, a vegan lifestyle is anything but new:vegans have been around for centuries and the ancient Greeks already spoke of plant-based eating patterns. Yet the theme is now more relevant than ever.
Cow farmers
Did you know, for example, that food production is responsible for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world? Meat and dairy have a large share in this. Livestock, for example, is responsible for 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, the UN says, with a surprisingly large role for farmers who let cows (because cattle hiccup a lot of methane). So they can do a little less. Especially when you consider that there are plenty of tasty plant-based alternatives to dairy products, such as the culinary alternatives for cheese from the Nurishh brand. In fact, scientists say that if everyone were to eat vegan, we would have 70% less food-related emissions by 2050.
Energy up to standard
Giving the earth a helping hand can therefore start with your refrigerator. Your own health also starts here. Eating mostly plant-based foods counteracts inflammation in your body, says Harvard psychiatrist and nutrition expert Dr. Uma Naidoo in an investigation on behalf of a major home delivery company. That is important for almost all systems in your body, but especially to keep your gut and brain healthy so that your energy and mood remain up to date.
The basics
It is therefore not surprising that top athletes such as Venus and Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton and Novak Djokovic have also switched to a plant-based diet. But whether you're a seasoned vegan or vegan curious For everyone, an eating pattern only works in your favor if it is in balance. There are vitamins that you will not find in plant foods, such as vitamin B12. Vegans should also make sure that they get enough protein, iron and calcium. As a vegan, you get protein from legumes, nuts and tempeh. Calcium and B12 are sometimes also found in vegetable alternatives to cheese.
Nice switch
Choosing a vegetable more often in the kitchen and on your plate does not have to be complicated. You have a huge choice of vegan products in the supermarket:from burgers and sauces to everything for a drink. So you can easily switch your animal products in a recipe for something alternative, so that everyone at the table can enjoy culinary delights.
Drinks and cheese go hand in hand, so at the heart of every good snack board lies a creamy culinary seasoning. How about a tasty plant-based alternative from Nurishh? The Coeur Fleuri becomes extra tasty if you bake it for 15 minutes in the oven at 200 degrees, with honey and thyme.
Vary with hot and cold
In addition to cold bites, you can also add warm dishes to your serving board. Quesadillas, for example. Take vegan wraps for this and cover them with vegetable slices, avocado, corn, red onion and Mexican herbs to taste. Just in the oven or under the grill and you have a quick bite to drink to make you happy.
Alternate sweet and savory
A perfect serving board has a good balance between sweet and savory. In addition to your dips and bites, such as hummus, guacamole and plant-based alternatives to cheeses, you can opt for seasonal fruit as a fresh-sweet variety. Or give it a fresh twist with fig chutney.
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