World News – GB – World Vegan Day: Everything you need for a plant-based lifestyle

From skincare to recipe boxes, these simple exchanges prove that going vegan is easier than ever

It’s no longer a niche community, veganism has seen an upsurge in recent years as consumers seek to make more thoughtful purchases to help our health, environment and animal welfare

According to The Vegan Society, the number of vegans quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, and in 2019 there were 600,000 across the UK

November 1 marks World Vegan Day, an annual event founded by the former president of The Vegan Society, Louise Wallis, in 1994. It encourages people to adopt a plant-based lifestyle, to educate others on the importance of veganism and sharing ideas on how to make simple exchanges to give up meat and dairy products

But opting for a meat-free and dairy-free lifestyle goes beyond just food, and while supermarkets and restaurants have expanded their vegan offerings, this may also apply to your fashion choices. and beauty

Materials such as vegan leather, hemp and cork are commonly used to create shoes, bags and clothing, while many beauty brands have rallied to eliminate animal by-products in skincare. skin, makeup and hair

To help you discover new brands, dishes, and wardrobe pieces, we’ve compiled our favorite purchases for vegans, from cookbooks to mascaras, to help you on your vegan journey

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First, there’s the food, the most common place people start their vegan journey Rather than focusing on what you can’t eat, see it as an exciting challenge – becoming vegan opens up a world of opportunities for getting creative in the kitchen, and involves more than just stuffed peppers

Pick up a cookbook such as Vegan Eats by Rachel Ama by Rachel Ama (Waterstones, £ 20) which we loved in our guide to the best vegan cookbooks for its tasty dishes inspired by Caribbean and Western roots- African Ama

Many meals consist of a single pot with a recommended accompaniment song if you love to dance around your kitchen, ranging from crispy barbecued tacos to jerk or ackee “salt fish” with stewed meatballs. ‘peanuts

Ama has also created plant-based alternatives to classic dishes, including a vegetarian lasagna without pasta and a Thai green curry, so there is something for everyone

« With most of the easy to get ingredients and quick meals to prepare, this is modern, millennial cuisine that eschews meat, » said our reviewer

If you’re in a hurry at home or just need inspiration for your vegan trip and don’t know where to start, consider a recipe box with everything you need to create delicious meals. , they can help you build confidence in the kitchen with new recipes and styles, and make planning midweek dinners easier. Many have pre-measured and chopped ingredients, so there’s also less waste

In our guide to the best, we loved Allplants (Allplants, £ 68 04 for six meals), a newcomer to the recipe box scene that offers six pre-made vegan frozen meals, with 22 to choose from, too often as you want

“Each dish is as vibrant as the last: choose from three mushroom risotto, a teriyaki udon, a bowl of jackfruit burrito and more, with new recipes being added all the time,” explained our tester. also liked the recyclable packaging for the oven and microwave

You can place a single order, then freeze the rest for a week-long menu of tasty dishes if you’re too busy or feeling too tired to cook

For a late night snack or an afternoon treat, there’s nothing a little chocolate can’t fix, and for many vegans, ditching the sugary solution can be difficult

One of our favorites is Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt (Ocado, £ 3 49) as the flavors complement each other perfectly

It has impressive credentials in addition to being tasty, as our reviewers explained: “The brand is committed to offering and campaigning for 100% slave-free chocolate; which means not only that it works directly with the farmers, but it also pays additional premiums on top of Fairtrade (around 9 percent of the price of the product goes back to the farmer’s pocket) « 

As explained in our guide to the best books to educate readers about fast fashion, according to a recent McKinsey report, people around the world consume over 100 billion clothes a year

The textile industry is said to be the second biggest polluter, because it is responsible for 92 million tonnes of waste per year

However, as consumers become more aware of the need for ethically sourced clothing and accessories – not only to reduce our carbon footprint but also to reduce our use of animal by-products such as leather and suede – brands began to listen and create dedicated products eco-responsible ranges or entirely new labels

While making more eco-friendly decisions when shopping may seem easy in theory, sustainable fashion is often expensive and inaccessible for many

However, in our guide to the best ethical fashion pieces for women at £ 50 and under, our reviews have found that there are a growing number of ethical fashion brands that are making stylish, functional and coveted clothes at great prices. much more affordable

Our favorite piece is this Omnes blue plaid sweetheart top (Omnes, £ 28) 50), a brand our reviewer described as « the closest thing to an ethical Topshop »

This soft style is the perfect addition to the wardrobe which is easy to dress up and down depending on the occasion

« The brand’s credential list is serious, from the Forest Stewardship Council and Oeko-tex certified viscose to labels made from recycled plastic bottles, but the designs are pure, floral joy, » said they declared

The wide sweetheart neckline is a trendy shape we found super flattering, while the check pattern is printed with dyes certified The Global Organic Standard (GOTS)

For an everyday item you’ll use the most, a handbag is the perfect place to start when shopping for items without animal by-products

This Matt and Nat Kiara backpack (Trouva, £ 130) is a practical and stylish option that we loved in our guide to the best vegan bags

« As is the case with all of the Canadian brand’s products, the Kiara round backpack is PETA approved and features a liner made from recycled plastic bottles, » explained our reviewer

Its sturdy exterior, adjustable shoulder straps and gold protective caps on the base also impressed our tester, and it’s a style that will go with anything

While you may think that going vegan in your shoes just means ditching leather, as explained in our guide to the best vegan shoes for women, there are many shoes that are made with wool, silk, and leather. glue of animal origin, which complicates matters

But just like with accessories, there is a growing range of ethical and eco-friendly shoes to buy

The Flamingos Life Roland V3 sneakers (Flamingos Life, £ 83) were some of our favorites as they are made for corn scraps and recycled plastic bottles

Available in six different colors, for every pair sold, Flamingos makes a monthly donation to the Waste Free Oceans Foundation

Our review tested them on a rainy day in London and found they kept feet dry and easy to clean, a key feature to withstand the temperamental British climate

For men, Grenson is our benchmark Although known for its leather offerings, the brand has a range of equally stylish vegan shoes and boots

These vegan Fred boots (Grenson, £ 295) will be a stylish addition to your wardrobe, with oversized brogue details, chunky eyelets and a lightweight wedge sole

Its upper is made from microfiber that mimics natural cowhide leather, while the insoles are made from an absorbent paper-based panel that can be recycled

To clean the mark suggests using a damp cloth and lukewarm water in order to keep them in perfect condition

The skin care and makeup sphere has made a concerted effort to meet consumer demand for vegan products, using ingredients free from animal by-products such as beeswax and lanolin

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With so many choices to choose from to shop, it can be hard to know where to start, but making simple changes to your beauty routine is one way to make a positive impact

For a vegan mascara, try the Attention Hourglass Extreme Lash (Cult Beauty, £ 29) All of the brand’s products are both vegan and animal-cruelty-free, and their mascara won # 1 in our review of the best

Thanks to its tapered bristle brush, we found it easy to apply and coat hairs even in the corners of the eyes which are usually finer and difficult to reach without smearing

« Mascara doesn’t clump: you can apply one coat over one coat depending on the level of drama required, and your lashes will still look soft and beautiful, » our tester said.

Make sure you’ve blended your makeup perfectly with this Glossier wowder brush (Glossier, £ 16) that scored brownie spots with our review in our guide to the best vegan brushes

« The brush is big and fluffy enough to create good coverage, but it’s also tapered so you can get into the tough spots – right under your eyes, for example, » they said, also praising its super soft feel. and pretty pink and purple handle

Another category full of vegan options, doing mindful swapping into your skincare routine doesn’t have to be a chore – treat it as a way to find new favorite cult products that are gentler on. animals and the planet

Try this dream dream dream face oil from Neighborhood Botanicals (Neighborhood botanicals, £ 28) which we rated highly in our guide to the best vegan, cruelty-free brands

Made in small batches to reduce waste with recyclable glass jars decorated with illustrated labels, the formula is suitable for all skin types Fatty acids and vitamin C work to plump the skin while improving its elasticity and by combating damage caused by stress and pollutants

Our reviewer found the natural spicy floral scent soothing, but in a non-intoxicating way, and it lasted for centuries too

For an ethical manicure at home, get some vegan nail polish to get your beauty fix without leaving the couch

We recommend you try a Peacći nail polish (Peacći, £ 10) The brand only launched in 2019, but has a huge range of over 130 shades, from neon shades to glitter

While in our guide to the best vegan nail polishes we loved the coral shade of ‘sun’, for this time of year we would choose ‘pumpkin’, the perfect fall hue

“We liked the wide brush that sweeps the polish off the nail in one pass,” said our reviewer, adding “The formula is on the thick side so you can get away with just one coat if you are not the most well-groomed manicure at home « 

A subscription box is a great way to discover new brands, support small businesses, and stay on track with a plant-based lifestyle that makes your life easier

The bi-weekly Natural Wellness Box (Natural Wellness Box, from £ 35) subscription wowed our reviews in our guide to the best vegan boxes

Offering a selection of wellness-themed beauty products, each box contains five to seven items per delivery, ranging from chamomile tea bags to pink detox bath and lavender candles, all wrapped up in a pretty pink packaging

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust On some occasions we earn income if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to change our coverage Reviews are compiled from a mix of expert opinions and real-world testing

This soft style is the perfect addition to the wardrobe which is easy to dress up and down depending on the occasion

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Veganism, World Vegan Day, Plant Based Diet