Veganism is currently defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, be it from food, clothing, or any other purpose.
According to a report published by Google Trends, the popularity of veganism in 2020 is at an all-time high, surpassing the prior all-time high registered in 2019. The report states that veganism is now twice as popular as it was just five years ago, and it does not show any sign of slowing down.
There are various reasons aside from the obvious ethical ones that more and more people are going vegan. One of the most prominent reasons is that a plant-based diet has desirable health benefits for those looking to make lifestyle improvements.
Get involved
South Africans are a meat loving nation so it would definitely be a tall order to ask us to completely give up meat. However, for those wanting to show support to our local produce farmers in during this period, the vegan association suggests that you incorporate plant-based Mondays into your weekly menu. Every week in November, set aside a meat-free day. Be sure to head to your local produce market to purchase fresh produce from local farmers for these meals. You can replace dairy products with plant milks, scrambled eggs with scrambled tofu, honey with plant-based sweeteners like molasses or maple syrup, and raw eggs with flax or chia seeds.