According to many vegans and health professionals, veganism is beneficial for the health and physical well-being of humans, including people with allergies or those seeking meat-alternatives, not to forget its primary role in assisting with environmental protection, and of course, preserving the lives of animals.
Some people think veganism is a new trend, but the word ‘vegan’ was actually coined by the founding members of The Vegan Society 76 years ago!
The celebration of World Vegan Day began in 1994 and was initiated by Louise Wallis, who was actually raised in one of our Unilife cities, Southampton. At the time, she was the chair of The Vegan Society, as they celebrated their 50th birthday. Since then, the occasion has extended to include the whole month of November. Today, the vegan community encourages the vegan-curious to adopt veganism for the month and seeks to inspire new vegans by sharing advice, recipes and ideas.
One thing all vegans have in common is a diet that avoids all animal foods and their by-products, such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey. But, did you know there are many different types of vegan diets?
Most people have heard of the whole-food or raw-food vegan diets but there are others, including the 80/10/10 vegan diet – that limits fat-rich plants such as nuts and avocados and relies mainly on raw fruits and soft greens instead. The thrive diet is where followers eat plant-based whole foods that are raw or minimally cooked and there’s even a junk-food vegan diet – this lacks in whole plant foods and relies heavily on highly processed foods such as mock meats, cheeses and fries, proving that being vegan does not automatically mean being healthy.
Many Unilife students are from countries located around the world; with different religious and cultural backgrounds, and as such, they have a range of dietary preferences and needs, and many of our students are vegans. We spoke to Amy, who shared her reasons for being vegan and why she thinks everyone should try it. ”There is really delicious vegan food out there and it really sparked my interest in cooking fresh and healthy foods, eat out less and try new things!”
The central location of our Unilife buildings in the hub of Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester city centres means that we have a wide selection of vegan or pro-vegan option eateries within walking distance. Here’s a selection of options that our students have recommended that you might like to try:
Portsmouth
- Pie & Vinyl is worth visiting for the décor and soundtracks alone, but they also have a wonderful selection of veggie and vegan pies including the Not dog Pie. 49 Marmion Road, Southsea.
- Smile Café is a friendly little spot which serves home-cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners with both vegetarian and vegan options. 61 Castle Road, Southsea.
- If you’re looking to eat out for a special occasion, why not try Beckett's restaurant – their new chef has lots of inspiring vegan dishes on their menu to tickle your tastebuds. 11 Bellevue Terrance, Southsea.
Southampton & Winchester
- Southampton has its own annual vegan festival held at the O2 Guildhall in November. Find out more on their Facebook page: @southamptonveganfestival.
- Piecaramba! has a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, and offers a range of vegan pie options. 30a Carlton Place, Southampton and 11a Parchment Street, Winchester.
- A little further afield is Offbeat was recently featured in the top 30 vegan and veggie restaurants to visit in the UK by The Times newspaper. Sunnyfields Farm, Jacob’s Gutter Lane, Totton.
