How would you describe your diet? Meat lover? Or perhaps a pescatarian or vegetarian? A vegan? What about a flexitarian, who some days eats meat and fish, some days eats dairy and eggs and some days sticks to a completely plant based diet? Or maybe you don’t even identify your diet, or you don’t give it a label?

Whichever way you choose to eat, we don’t mind. Any diet, whether made entirely from plants or a mix of animal products and plants, can be healthy, as long as we make the right choices and avoid too much of the bad stuff – saturated fats, salts, sugars and heavily processed foods. 

But if you’re interested in following a vegan diet based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and pulses, then what better time to start getting involved than on World Vegan Day, which this year is on Monday 1st November? 

Here’s how you can celebrate the day, so make sure you’ve got your food shopping sorted beforehand! 

• A vegan, or plant based, diet is wholesome and healthy, but if you’re used to eating meat and eggs, it can be tricky getting your protein intake right. Vegan friendly protein sources include beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and grains such as quinoa (although technically, quinoa is a seed). With so much choice, your protein intake really doesn’t need to struggle!
• For a protein rich, filling, warming and nourishing breakfast that’ll keep you full throughout the morning, this Scrambled Tofu is perfect. It can be prepared the night before and whipped up in a pan in the time it takes you to make some wholemeal toast and a coffee. Tofu is protein rich and the wholemeal bread is a great low fat carb option. 
• Making plant based food can feel overwhelming if you’re not used to it, but it doesn’t need to be complicated, we promise. Aim for around half of each meal to consist of fruits or vegetables, around a quarter protein and the rest made up of wholemeal grains and healthy fats. Healthy plant based fats include nuts, seeds, olive oil and avocado. 
• Here’s a couple of delicious lunch ideas, that’ll be the envy of the office fridge – check out the rainbow of colours! Our Carrot and Hummus Wraps are perfect on the go or eaten with minimal mess al desko. The falafels in our Falafel in Pitta recipe are super easy to make in advance, but if you’re really short on time, choose some fresh shop bought ones instead. 
• Many, many of your favourite recipes can be ‘veganised’, including via the use of fake meats. Often made from soya, mushrooms or peas (yes, peas!) the supermarkets are now full of plant based ‘meat’ products such as mince that you can swap your regular products for when making dishes such as bolognaise or chilli. 
• For family favourites using vegetables rather than mock meats, why not try this Stuffed Butternut Squash or these Marinated Rosemary and Thyme Mushroom Kebabs for dinner? Both go great with a pile of steamed veg and brown rice. 
• Looking for something sweet? Vegans certainly don’t miss out in the desert stakes with these amazing Vegan Brownies. 

So give a day of plants a try, you’ll be amazed how healthy and delicious a plate of plants can be, and there doesn’t have to be a lettuce leaf in sight!