An estimated ¼ million people in the UK are now following a balanced vegan diet, and as with healthy guidelines for the general population, this contains plenty of fruit and vegetables, starchy foods like bread, pasta, rice and cereal, and protein such as tofu and soya products, seeds, pulses and nuts.
What distinguishes a vegan from a vegetarian is that a vegan will exclude all foods of animal origin; as defined by the Vegan Society, a vegan product must be made without any ingredients derived from or produced by animals, birds, fish or insects. This means that ingredients made from milk and eggs must also be avoided if following a totally vegan diet.
Also, different plant foods contain varying amounts of essential nutrients, so it is vital that a variety of different plant sources are eaten together or at least over a day so that a full range of amino acids is obtained to strike the right balance.
There are however many foods restricted to a vegan, for instance some manufactured foods contain emulsifiers which might be derived from animal fats and vitamin D of animal origin.
See our meal suggestions from the recipe database suitable for following a vegan diet.
