Quitting meat and other animal products to start a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle can come with its challenges. There are so many new things to discover or avoid and it can be overwhelming for someone who’s new to plant based living. However, a thrifty veggie doesn’t let any of that get in their way. We’ve selected 9 apps for vegans and vegetarians that are going to make everything about plant based living easier. This selection is made taking into consideration the number of ratings for each app and their overall ratings in the app stores to assess their popularity. Whether you’re looking to be more organized with your cruelty-free diet, or trying to figure out which products are vegan-safe, this list is for you!
Happy Cow
One of the most popular platforms for vegans and vegetarians, HappyCow helps its users find vegan restaurants nearby. Actually, the app has already evolved far beyond that since its launch in 1999. HappyCow is great not just for finding vegan places, but also for checking out reviews and recommendations about these places. This one is essential both for new veggies and seasoned ones alike.
abillion
What started out with the ambitious goal to help 1 billion people become vegan by 2030 and to donate 1 billion dollars to the vegan movement has now become one of the most successful apps for vegans and vegetarians. This online community works to build a more sustainable world, and serves as a place to review and recommend brands, restaurants and products. The catch here is that, every time a user posts a review, they get $1 to donate to a charity related to the vegan movement.
Oh She Glows
This one simply had to be included in our top apps for vegans and vegetarians. Oh She Glows can be used as a recipe book, featuring recipes from an award-winning blog of the same name. This gem comes with beautiful photography to serve as inspiration, as well as a ton of customization options. Although the recipes here are carefully curated and edited for top reliability, you can adjust, add notes, remove ingredients and whatever else your heart desires.
Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen
Dr Greger’s top recommendations from his best-selling book, How Not to Diet, are all gathered in just one app. This one is less about what’s being eaten and more about how much and how often. The app is presented by the founder of nutrionfacts.org and is here to help users looking for a healthier diet. Without counting calories, you can keep track of your daily portions of fruits, vegetables, seeds and is a general life-saver in terms of having an organized diet.
Veggly
Veggly is the dating app for vegans and vegetarians. Currently at the 500k users mark, Veggly is here to help you find your Veg-Love! After all, veggies need more than just yummy food to live a happy life. Users can like, match and chat with each other, which can lead to something else. There is also an emphasis on meaningful connections, so it’s also excellent to make new friends. Tired of having to filter through meat eaters? Then definitely check out Veggly!
Shopwell
Shopwell is a product scanner that takes into consideration not only barcodes and labels, but also the person using it. By creating a Food Profile with goals, restrictions and health concerns, each user gets a Score. With this information, the app can not only simplify the nutritional information, but also indicate how well it matches up with what the user has established in their profile. It also recommends similar products that might be a better choice, so definitely not just a product scanner!
Vegan Meal Plan
Here’s an app for vegans and vegetarians who want to step up their cooking game. Vegan Meal Plan comes with a bunch of gorgeous pictures and all the nutritional information to go along with mouth watering, healthy recipes. It makes whipping delicious meals up so much easier that the recipes themselves come with timers for each step of the recipe with a cooking time.
Vegan Maps
Over 100,000 options for vegan, raw and vegetarian restaurants? That sounds like a dream come true! Whether you are on the road or still haven’t found out where to get the best cruelty-free food near you, Vegan Maps is sure to have something that will please you.
Yuka
Yuka is a product scanner that gives you all the information you need about a product, whether it’s food or cosmetics. It also gives a score based on nutritional quality, presence of additives and organic dimension. Based on these factors, the app tells the user which options are better and healthier. Yuka also recommends other products, which is always handy!
Choosing a vegan lifestyle is not only about your dietary preferences; committing yourself to a genuinely vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle extends to all other areas of your life, from beauty and personal care products, fashion items like shoes, bags, and clothes, cleaning supplies for the home, furniture and home decór, since animal products happen to be found in a number of things you may not even imagine, and even when products can be vegan, which means that they don’t contain animal products, they may have been tested on animals, which is why it’s important to go for cruelty-free options as well.
If you want to know more about the basics of how to go vegan and have a truly committed vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle at home, keep reading to learn what the experts told us.
As a new vegan, what are the staple foods that should never be missed in your pantry?
Nutritional Yeast – Fortified nutritional yeast is an essential vegan pantry staple making sure you get enough vitamin B-12, naturally found in meat. Often referred to as ‘nooch,’ it can be an acquired taste that adds umami and ‘cheesy’ flavor to your meal. It can be stirred into recipes towards the end of cooking. Or try sprinkling it over the top of pizza, salads, soups, pasta dishes, etc. I recommend starting with a small amount, adding more as you get used to this savory ingredient.
Cashews – When you’re looking for dairy alternatives, raw cashews work wonders in everything from vegan mac and cheese, vegan queso and alfredo, cashew ricotta, vegan cheesecake, vegan cream, and more. Those who are free of nut allergies will benefit from adding this versatile nut to your pantry. They blend up creamy smooth in seconds with a quick soak, and you will never miss dairy again!
Legumes – Whether dried or canned, stocking a variety of legumes such as lentils, beans, and peas is a must. They are extremely versatile and the main protein in a vegan diet. Not only are they inexpensive and extremely versatile, but legumes are also low in fat, high in protein and fiber. Plus, they carry essential micronutrients and phytochemicals to keep you at your best.
Spices – Although they are not really a food, having a good assortment of spices on hand will enhance your plant-based meal. I love the simplicity of simple salt and pepper, but spices and herbs can make all the difference and make your recipe come alive. I recommend sourcing the freshest dried spices and using fresh herbs whenever possible.
What kind of vegan options can we have at home as meat substitutes that provide the proteins required?
The first thing that people need to know is that most of us eat too much protein, and unless you are only eating vegan junk foods, the likelihood of you not getting enough protein is slim to none.
Please check out this video (from 2014) by Dr. Michael Gregor in which he answers the question: “Do vegetarians get enough protein?”. As he states in the video: The average requirement is 42 grams of protein a day. Non-vegetarians get way more than they need, and so does everyone else. On average, vegetarians and vegans get 70% more protein than they need every day. Dr. Gregor also has a great cookbook: The How Not to Diet Cookbook.
Store bought meat substitutes (burgers, sausages, chorizo, deli slices, crumbles, etc.) from the following companies:
Tofurkey
Beyond Meat
LightLife
Impossible Foods
Field Roast
Sweet Earth
Morningstar Farms
Gardein
And so many more
And with so many vegan recipes available online, it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Hope this helps you on your journey to a more compassionate and healthier way of eating.
In your experience, what are the Do’s and Don’ts when someone starts to adopt a vegan lifestyle?
“Taking the first step is always the hardest”, but becoming vegan has never been easier than it is right now. So many new options – buying food, dining out, clothes, personal care items, sources of information etc. Everything points to an easier lifestyle than ever before.
What can I eat? – Meat, milk products, eggs, seafood, it’s easy to think that your diet will be seriously limited, but this is simply not true. Most peoples’ diets are very limited by what they choose to base their meal options around. There are a vastly larger number of fruits and vegetable options to base your meals on than animal-based options. Also, for an easy transition, there are also a huge number of faux-products – meat substitutes, dairy-free milks, cheeses, pastries, and ice-creams. You don’t have to forego your fave dishes because these days there are plant-based replicas. It’s just a case of finding the shops and outlets where you can buy them from. And it’s the same with dining out – the hardest part is getting started. Once you familiarise yourself with the local vegan-friendly options, you will find that you can eat at most places, and maybe you just do should not want to support places that do not cater at all to vegans. If you find yourself really short of options, try Italian, Indian, Chinese restaurants – you can always find a few options in these places.
Important foods for vegans – everyone needs to consume essential minerals, vitamins, and other components to ensure optimal health, and vegans are no different. Thankfully a well-planned vegan diet lends itself very well to good health. Most dieticians recommend only a vitamin B12 supplement for vegans since modern living has stripped food of this essential item. However, often vegan-friendly milks, margarines, cheeses, yogurts, even cereals will be fortified with B12. Other vegans take vitamin D supplements if they live in less sunny climes. Yet others take fatty acid supplements, however, studies indicate that most people can synthesize what they need. But the truth is that everyone should follow a healthy diet and you might find that your own supplement requirements are different. You can find many recommended vegan nutritionists online to allay any concerns.
How to tolerate the talk – Being vegan can be very challenging, especially when it comes to the thoughts and reactions of non-vegans, whether they be friends, family, co-workers, or just people you meet. Chances are you will be ridiculed, warned about your health by self-appointed “health experts”, treated to attacks from home-spun irrational philosophers, even ostracised. And the crazy thing is that this is usually from the most ignorant.
The trick is to be prepared. Dealing with these issues is challenging at the start, but the more often you address them, the more confident you will become. You will soon recognize the most familiar lines and build up your own stock answers to them. Remember that science and philosophy are on your side. There are plenty of online resources to help you, including vegan Youtube channels. And try to adopt an engaging and positive approach wherever possible because you are now an advocate for doing the right thing.
Staying the course – Making the transition can appear daunting but do not despair; you are not alone. There are more like-minded vegans than you might imagine, wherever you live. “A problem shared is a problem halved”, so get involved in on-line vegan communities such as Facebook or forums, or join local vegan clubs. And if there isn’t one, start one!
What are the benefits of a vegan diet on our overall health?
In a socio-cultural and economic environment, with large-scale publicity aimed towards influencing the consumption of products and, as consequence, diets, we grow up with the idea that we need animal products such as meat and milk to achieve good health and, many times, social status. However, a strictly vegetarian diet is filled with all the nutrients our bodies need and is scientifically proved to be effective in keeping the body healthy at any stage of a human being’s life.
There are many studies that report the benefits of being vegan and following a plant-based diet. This kind of diet tends to offer more fibers, antioxidants, as well as being even richer in potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and E.
According to the American Heart Association, this type of diet is also effective at preventing cardiac diseases. A study was carried out by the association with 100 participants with pre-existing heart conditions to rate the performance of heart functions for patients with omnivorous and vegetarian diets. The vegetarian diet was shown to significantly reduce systemic inflammation and improved the lipid profiles for the patients, while this wasn’t the case for those with an omnivore diet.
Among other benefits of being vegan is the potential to reduce risks for some types of cancer. Regularly eating vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer by 9 to 18%. Among the cancers that we can reduce the chances of risk, we have prostate cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer.
It can be observed that plant-based living is not only healthy and diverse but can also help us live better and longer.
How do you know when a beauty product is cruelty-free? What should we be looking for?
First, check to see if the beauty brand is listed on Leaping Bunny’s Cruelty-Free List or PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies List. You can also check my cruelty-free brands list. If the brand is in either of these three spots, great! It’s easy to tell they’re cruelty-free.
If it is a smaller brand, such as an indie brand like Necromancy Cosmetica, Fyrinnae, or Sydney Grace Co, you’ll want to check their FAQ page or about page to see if they list their cruelty-free status. Most indie brands will be very transparent. Necromancy Cosmetica, for example, states that their lipsticks are made with 100% vegan materials that have never been tested on animals.
If a brand isn’t on Leaping Bunny’s, PETA’s, or my cruelty-free list, and they don’t have the details in their FAQ page, you’ll need to email them.
The questions I typically ask a new brand now are as follows: (these questions were created with my bestie Jen from My Beauty Bunny 1. Is your company certified by Leaping Bunny/CCIC? 2. Are the products vegetarian? (no animals killed for the products – i.e. some forms of collagen, squalane, etc.) 3. Are the products vegan? (i.e. product ingredients that come from animals like lanolin, honey, milk, etc.
Are the finished products tested on animals by the company, a parent company, a third party or an affiliate company? 5. Are the products tested on animals during the production process by the company, a parent company, a third party or an affiliate company? 6. Do you have documents from your ingredient suppliers to show that they are not testing on animals for your brand or any other brand? 7. Does your manufacturer purchase any ingredients from laboratories that conduct tests on animals? Do you have documents to support this? 8. Are the products sold in any markets where animal testing is required by local law and regulations (China, etc)? 9. If the products are sold in China, please explain how you are avoiding pre-market testing (are you aligned with PETA or Leaping Bunny)?
The information you’re looking for is whether or not the brand tests on animals or if the brand contracts out to their manufacturers/suppliers/a third-party vendor for animal testing.
What kind of materials should we look to incorporate in our home to make it vegan and cruelty-free?
Decorative Pillows:“Covers made from linen, bamboo, and organic cotton are healthier alternatives to leather and wool. They are free from harmful chemicals, vegan, and super soft.”
Pillow Inserts:“Consider rubber, kapok, or buckwheat fill for your decorative pillows instead of foam. These fills, unlike foam, are completely organic and free from off-gassing (the harmful chemicals that foam releases). They are also vegan.”
Sofa Cushion Filling:“When a sofa, for example, is touted as faux, make sure you check the fill. The upholstery can be a faux leather or velvet. However, the foam cushions underneath can be wrapped in feathers or down.”
Comforters and Blankets:“How yummy to wrap yourself in a soft thick cotton, bamboo, or faux fur blanket. These are much healthier, kinder options that contain less chemicals than a wool or down-filled blanket.”
Rugs:“I’m a fan of cotton, hemp, jute, and sisal. They are affordable, organic, and have fewer chemicals than wool or silk rugs. Plus, there are endless styles and patterns that are non-animal based.”
Printed Fabrics:“Printed fabrics are beautiful and come in endless prices and styles. Try to find fabrics that use natural dyes that are either vegetable or water-based.”
What tips can you give us to start a vegan lifestyle and actually stick to it?
Our Top 10 Tips to Get You Started
It’s all in the planning!
Don’t wake up on the first day of your vegan adventure without having thought about what you might eat! That is the absolute quickest way to fall off the wagon. Ahead of time, have a think about your first day’s meals and buy plant milk for your breakfast and coffee or tea, some dairy-free butter for toast or sandwiches, and something tasty for your dinner.
Some people find making a weekly meal planner helpful, so they always know what they need to shop for and what they will be eating.
Look out for accidentally vegan foods
There are so many everyday foods that just happen to be vegan, so open up your cupboard and take a look. Pasta, rice, peanut butter and Marmite, most breads, tinned tomatoes, chickpeas and kidney beans, jam and marmalade, coconut milk, curry pastes, tomato puree, baked beans, many crisps, crackers and biscuits, herbs and spices, many gravy granules, tea, coffee and fruit juice… There is a good chance that half the foods you already eat are vegan!
Ease yourself in
There is no need to reinvent your whole eating habits. If you like a sausage sandwich, have one – just make sure the sausages are vegan. If you want ice cream, go ahead. There are dozens of different delicious flavours out there. You can have almost everything you had before in a vegan version, so just switch like for like.
Veganise your favourite dishes
Again, there is no need to adopt a whole new eating regime. If your signature dish is lasagne, make a vegan version with soya mince and plant milk for the béchamel. If you love a morning fry-up, you can make it with vegan bacon and sausages. Whether you cook curries, casseroles, soups, stews, pies and pasties, roast dinners, cakes, desserts or anything else, simply veganise it.
When you’re ready, branch out
Many people find that becoming vegan opens up a whole new world of recipes and ingredients, and rekindles their love of great food. Once you’ve got the hang of the basics, why not jump in and try some brand-new recipes (there are thousands online) and see if it ignites your culinary passions.
Keep snacks to hand
Don’t get caught out! It’s really easy to pick up vegan snacks in most places but not everywhere, so make sure you keep a bag of nuts, a chocolate bar or some fruit in your bag or car just in case.
Persistence pays
Not every vegan product will work for you but just because the first cheese you try or the first latte you make doesn’t hit the spot, don’t rule out all other cheeses and plant milks. There are so many different ones to try – cream cheese, melty cheeses, nut-based, coconut-based, soya-based, all flavours and lots of different brands and styles; and as for milks, you’ll find oat, hemp, almond, coconut, rice and soya. Try them all, and you will soon find your perfect match.
HappyCow
Like eating out? Download the HappyCow app onto your phone and let it guide you to your nearest restaurant, café or shop where you can find vegan food wherever you are in the world.
Find your tribe
It’s easy to feel isolated as a new vegan but there are millions of us out there. Find your local vegan meetup group and make like-minded friends in real life or search online for vegan groups that interest you. From vegan runners to bakers to knitters; from vegan weightlifters to fashionistas to activists. They’re all there waiting for you.
Be kind to yourself
Everyone makes mistakes. Whether you ate something non-vegan accidentally or simply gave in to temptation, it’s OK. It doesn’t mean you are no longer vegan; it just means you are human! Chalk it up to experience and move forward.
What mistakes should be avoided when transitioning to a vegan lifestyle?
First things first – don’t be too hard on yourself. Some people find it easier than others to give up animal products completely from day 1, but others may go back to their normal eating habits from time to time, and both are ok; that’s just part of the process. Don’t beat yourself up for “not doing it right”.
Next, try to avoid vegan junk food. Most people think that just by being vegan, you’re automatically healthier, but that’s definitely not the case if your daily meals just consist of burgers and pizza. I highly recommend you do your research and have lots of healthy vegan recipes on hand to experiment with. Personally, I’m a fan of adding at least 50% raw food into your daily meals as that gives you lots more nutrition. Try dividing your plate in half – fill half your plate with something cooked and make the other half a salad.
Lastly, don’t worry about protein and calorie counting. It is very easy for a vegan diet to meet the recommendations for protein. In fact, vegetarians and vegans actually average 70% more protein than they need every day. Just make sure you have plenty of variety, listen to what your body needs (not craves!) and enjoy your food.
-Anya Andreeva, founder of Live Love Raw and author of “How To Be A Raw Foodie”.
What recommendations can you give us to raise vegan children?
Raising vegan children can come with a set of unique challenges for parents. Talking to children about veganism from an early age can be a daunting task. Especially as reasons for being vegan are not always kid-friendly. However, it’s important to be transparent with your child about why your family is vegan, even if it’s a little uncomfortable at first. There are a lot of resources out there from vegan children’s books to vegan subscription services like Vegancuts. After all, as a parent, you never want your child to feel like they are “missing out”. At Vegancuts we curate 100% vegan snack boxes each month to showcase the very best vegan products on the market. Embracing fun experiences like subscription boxes go a long way to ensuring your kids don’t feel “left out” – and who knows, it might even make their friends jealous!
Why is it important for vegans to supplement with B12 vitamin? Why is this necessary?
Vitamin B12 used to be found in the soil where we farm our food. But over the centuries of over-farming, our soil is mostly barren of naturally occurring B12, which leaves no plant-based sources of it (although it’s worth noting that B12 deficiency rates are about the same in both vegans and non-vegans alike). B12 is a very important vitamin, and deficiencies can have symptoms ranging from sluggishness all the way to irreversible brain damage! A deficiency can take years to develop, as we can store it in our livers for 3-7 years, so even if you haven’t supplemented for years and your blood tests are fine now, it doesn’t mean that they will be down the line. With vitamin B12 supplements being so affordable and readily available, there is no reason not to take the supplement and stay healthy — vegan or not.
– Dani Taylor, Vegan Strong Assistant Tour Director, Author, Vegan Strength Coach, and Natural Bodybuilding Athlete
As you can see, nowadays, you can find vegan options for almost everything you need to move forward to a fully vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle. As more of us choose this way of living, more products will be offered in the market to cover all the needs of this growing trend all over the world.
As Veggly grows further, make sure you subscribe to our blog and stay up to date with all of our announcements, other news stories, blog posts, and recipes.
Here are some benefits of being vegan and how we contribute to the lives of animals, the environment and our own health in the course of one year.
The fundamental premise of veganism is to save animal lives, even if at a limited capacity. This means taking an ethical stance in favor of those who suffer throughout all levels of human consumption: food, clothing, accessories, cosmetics and events. In our daily lives, this seems like a long list of chores, but avoiding certain kinds of consumption is possible and can have many positive results. We become more aware and responsible with all forms of life.
Animal exploitation lies at the center of a series of harmful consequences, like the violation of animal rights as sentient beings capable of feeling pain, fear and demonstrating happiness and love. The environmental devastation promotes climate changes, increased pollution, emission of greenhouse gases, expropriation of native people and the expulsion and death of animals in their natural habitats. For humans, animal consumption might also be unhealthy.
“If anyone argued that discriminating and exploiting non-human animals is justified because they are less intelligent, or because we are stronger and more powerful, then we’d have to accept that this kind of exploitation may also be applied to humans who are weaker and less powerful. That would mean discriminating against members of our society who are too young, too old, too sick. Who would stand for that?” animal-ethics.org
Benefits
The benefits of being vegan are in three fundamental concepts for the harmony of life on Earth: preservation of the dignity and life of all animal species, including humans, environmental protection and health.
How many lives can a vegan save in one year?
One vegan can save on average one animal per day and up to 582 animals per year. The author of this research is Harish Sethu, a professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, US, a PhD in electrical engineering. This estimate was published by the website Counting Animals.
To reach this estimate, Harish used data about the amount of animals who were killed for food in the United States and population size. With most aquatic species being killed, the result was somewhere between 371 and 582 animals yearly.
To achieve a more accurate number, he had to exclude vegetarians and vegans and divide the total number of killed animals exclusively between the meat-eating population.
However, this research’s conclusion is fairly conservative, given that it doesn’t account for animals killed by the egg and dairy industries, which could make the figure even higher. It’s important to emphasize that the aquatic animals who are “accidentally” killed by the fishing industry, thousands of them, also don’t factor into this data.
Still, vegans’ generous and compassionate ideals save hundreds of lives every year.
Environment
According to a report about land use and climate change from the IPCC, an international panel that assists the UN, the scientis Marta G. Rivera Ferre explains how chicken and pork consumption currently represents 77% of animals raised to feed the world, and 22% is beef.
Each of these species contributes to climate changes in a different way. The ruminantes emit methane gas with heating potencial 28 times bigger than CO2 and can stay in the atmosphere for up to ten years. Monogastric animals, which are no ruminant, emit nitrous oxide and CO2, which can stay in the atmosphere for up to 100 years.
To the UN for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases, much more than all of the public transportation exhausts in the world. Including its by-products, livestock accounts for at leat 32 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year, that is, 51% of all global greenhouse gas emissions.
Water resources, shallow or underground water available for all kinds of regional uses or water basins are also highly affected by livestock. Water consumption for animal agriculture varies between 33 and 75 trillion spent gallons annually. Only in the United States, agriculture is responsible for 80 to 90% of water consumption.
According to Michael F. Jacobson, to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, feed production for livestock consumes 56% of water in the United States.
With livestock, there is excessive water spending across all of the industrial spectrum, whether it is for the production of eggs, dairy and leather, but also for the production of meat itself. In a conservative estimate, it take more than 2 thousand gallons of water to produce 2 pounds of beef, but this figure can go up to 4 thousand gallons.
Animal consumption directly affects the environment. Water waste, deforestation and CO2 emissions.
What are the benefits of being vegan? In one year, one vegan can avoid the waste of:
401,504 gallons of water Deforestation of an area of 14,929 ft² 8,933 lbs of CO2 (cowspiracy.com/facts)
Health:
In a sociocultural and economic environment, with large scale publicity aimed towards influencing the consumption of products and, as consequence, diets, we grow up with the idea that we need animal products such as meat and milk to achieve good health and, many times, social status. However, a strictly vegetarian diet is filled with all the nutrients ouar bodies need and is scientifically proved to be effective in keeping the body healthy in any stage of a human being’s life.
There are many studies which report of the benefits of being vegan and following a plant based diet. This kind of diet tends to offer more fibers, antioxidants, as well as being even richer in potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E.
According to the American Heart Association, this type of diet is also effective at preventing cardiac diseases. A study was carried out by the association with 100 participants with pre-existing heart conditions to rate the performance of heart functions for patients with omnivorous and vegetarian diets. The vegetarian diet was shown to significantly reduce systemic inflammation and improved the lypidic profiles for the patients, while this wasn’t the case for those with an omnivore diet.
Among other benefits of being vegan is the potential to reduce risks for some types of cancer. Regularly eating vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer in 9 to 18%. Among the cancers that we can reduce the chances of risk, we have prostate cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer.
It can be observed that plant based living is not only healthy and diverse, but can also help is live better and longer.
As Veggly grows further, make sure you subscribe to our blog and stay up to date with all of our announcements, other news stories, blog posts, and recipes.
We are happy to announce we’ve reached 1 million Veg-Matches in the app! That’s 1 millions veggie connections that were made possible by Veggly and that makes us very happy! 🌱😊
The world’s number 1 dating app for vegans and vegetarians witnesses 12x growth in just 18 months. We now have over 300,000 users around the world. Not on Veggly yet? Install now. The next Veg-Match could be yours. Got a single vegan or vegetarian friend? Help them out by letting them know about Veggly! 😉
Since July 2019, the Veggly has grown in user numbers by a factor of 12, from 25,000 users. At the same time, we are also celebrating over 1 million ‘Veg-Matches’ (where two users match with each other) and we predict over 2 million by mid 2021. There has never been a better time for vegan and veggie love!
Overall, the United States now has the highest number of Veggly users in one country, with 47,823. Brazil (46,620 users) is second, Germany (39,703 users) is third, and the UK (35,190 users) is fourth. Spain is fifth, with 14,136 users.
To celebrate hitting the 300,000 user mark and 1 million Veg-Matches, we have launched two new initiatives:
1 Million Veg-Matches and Success Stories
A new series of blog posts sharing heart-warming success stories of couples who met on Veggly, starting with Charity and Joe (who met despite living in different countries: the Netherlands and UK)
Free ‘Veglentine’ coins
We celebrated ‘Veglentine’s Day’ by giving free coins (credits) to new and existing users. More to come soon!
Commenting on the new user milestone, our Founder, Alex Felipelli, said: “The growth we’ve seen is incredible! As veganism continues to surge in popularity across the world, so does the demand for herbivorous dating and relationships. So many of us want to be with someone who shares the same values and love for animals, so it’s no surprise we have hit the 300,000 user mark so quickly.
“This milestone will strengthen our commitment helping this community grow as much as possible. Especially as it was Valentine’s Day last week, we will do our best to make sure every herbivore on our app finds their ‘Veglentine’ this year.”
Available throughout the world (used in 181 countries), we are now set to continue our rapid growth thanks to a growing army of vegan volunteers around the world who have worked together to translate the app into Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Italian, Danish and Polish, with many more languages, including Korean, on the way.
Vegan Lunch Box Ideas? Read on for 9 Practical ones and help your kids eat well while preserving the environment and saving the animals.
A number of the world’s population have adopted veganism. Their reasons vary, from concerns about their health, protecting the environment, and not harming the animals.
Even after taking all animal foods off the table, including eggs, milk, cheese, and honey, sometimes this may leave you worried about what you will include in your kids’ lunch box. Kids’ meals should never be bland.
It’s tricky to prepare a lunch that will excite them to eat. One trick that we use is to pick up a Play Kitchen. This gives your little one the opportunity to play and cook alongside you and helps ease them into the concept of veganism.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the top 9 vegan lunch box ideas that are easy to prepare and interestingly tasty.
9 Practical Vegan Lunch Box Ideas
Vegan Tofu Burgers
All kids get excited with burgers. Tofu burgers are quick and easy to make. Additionally, wheat germ, diced onion, and green onion garlic powder provide good nutrition to fuel kids’ bodies. You should definitely try out this recipe.
Vegan Fried Rice
This meal will ravish your kid’s Chinese food craving. The vegan fried rice recipe is light and so tasty. Its ingredients are easy to get and will only take you less than 20 minutes to prepare. Kids can enjoy this meal alongside vegan spring rolls.
Vegan Lunch Box Sandwiches!
Sandwiches have never been a boring lunch option. You can easily create any classic sandwich kids will love.
The trick is never to make them too soggy and always let the young ones choose their vegan fillings. Always vary the sandwiches. Occasionally use wraps, bagels, and rolls in place of bread.
The chickpea-kale spread sandwich will get your kid anxious for lunchtime. It’s advisable to include a snack in their lunchbox. Fruits are a perfect combination alongside sandwiches.
Thai Broccoli Salad + Peanut Dressing
Gather all the ingredients for this healthy gluten-free meal. For the peanut dressing, blend all the ingredients and add 3 tablespoons of water. The dressing shouldn’t be thick.
Prepare the broccoli by boiling for approximately 3 minutes till they turn to a bright green. Stir the water and add shredded cabbage, scallions cilantro to the ready broccoli in a clean jar.
Easy-peasy right? This super healthy and delicious broccoli salad can fit into your kids’ lunch schedule with the right ingredients.
Spicy-Vegan Oaxacan Bowl
This Mexican-styled meal will definitely become your kid’s favorite meal. Top it with crunchy cabbage slaw, avocado toasted chipotle, and they will love it even more.
Vegan Corn Chowder
The aroma of soup is always enticing. Vegan corn chowder soup will easily become your kid’s and home favorite soup. With veggies and few spices, you will have a delicious creamy texture the kids can pair with anything for lunch.
Kale Quinoa Salad
Quinoa is definitely one of the most nutritious foods. These two superfoods will leave your kids energized and satisfied. The salad in the quinoa makes it solid enough to be a complete meal.
‘’Noodle It Up!’’
If your kids love noodles, you are in luck because there are many vegan options for you.
Noodles are so easy to prepare, especially on a tight schedule. Garlic sesame noodles and Jade noodles are so versatile, loaded with lots of veggies, and useful.
Zucchini Soup
This one has more calories than the time it takes to be ready. In less than 30 minutes, this sweet-scented soup loaded with healthy veggies will be ready. Serve zucchini soup with some crusty bread, and your kid will have a complete lunch.
Bonus Idea: Crunchy Baked Granola Bars
These are the flawless bars kids should have in their lunchboxes. They are a healthy dessert kind of meal but can work as a snack during lunch. They are easy to bake, needing only less than 10 ingredients.
Focus on meals that kids will have no trouble finishing and what they like the most. Packing a treat and funny notes in the lunch box will always motivate kids to finish their meals. Having many choices will just work out for you. The above 9 vegan lunch box ideas, and a bonus recipe, should keep the ball rolling for you.
What’s the right way to chop and prepare vegetables and fruits to get the most from them? In this article, we give great tips on how to prepare vegetables for your vegan recipes.
There are a many reasons to go vegan or at least include more vegetables in your plate, including animal welfare, environment conservation, health and even sexual performance.
Home-cooked meals are fast becoming a luxury, with a study published in the Nutrition Journal showing that while in 1965, up to 95% of meals were prepared at home, by the start of the new millennium, only 72% of people were doing so.
The shift in gender roles, rising housing prices, and the need to pay off student loans are just a few reasons for this phenomenon, although any vegan will tell you that time management is key to enjoying healthy meals regularly. Of course, if you are busy, then you may struggle to come up with varied enough meals throughout the week.
By prepping vegetables the right way, you can ensure your produce retains the maximum amount of nutrients and remains in the best possible state for your vegan sautés, sandwiches, wraps, snacks and soups. By preparing your vegetables together, the process can be as much an opportunity for romantic connection as the meals themselves.
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Investing In Quality Equipment
If you are vegan, then your shopping cart probably wields a host of colorful vegetables of all shapes, textures and sizes.
When prepping this produce, it is important to use the right utensils, since your slices or pieces should be uniform to ensure even cooking.
There are many fancy electric tools around that shred, slice and dice, but if you have a small kitchen, simply have a good set of knives for small, medium and larger vegetables will most probably suffice.
Wrapping Chopped Vegetables In Plastic
If you are concerned about the possible loss of nutritional value caused by cutting and prepping vegetables beforehand, know that there are good ways to slow down nutritional loss.
As stated by Dr. A Kader of the University of California at Davis, by wrapping cut produce in plastic, you can reduce nutritional loss to about 10% for Vitamin C, 7% for folate, and just 3% for beta carotene.
Keep the vegetables in your fridge, and keep them in airtight containers. Buy fresh, seasonal vegetables if possible so you consume food with the maximum possible nutritional content.
Choose The Right Vegetables To Prepare
Some vegetables – including broccoli and cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, celery, sweet potatoes, winter squash and zucchini – can last in an airtight container in the fridge four around three days.
Others – including eggplant, potato and avocado – oxidize, and are better prepped on the same day they will be cooked.
There are also specific hacks that work well for some vegetables. For instance, you can prepare potatoes a day in advance, placing them in a bowl of water and popping them in the fridge.
Freezing Vegetables
You may buy an extra large batch of vegetables that the two of you won’t be able to consume in a few days. If so, freezing is a good way to save your purchases.
Avoid freezing vegetables with a high moisture content (including lettuce, mushrooms, and cucumbers) as they can freeze up then take on a mushy texture when thawed.
If you are excited about prepping your vegetables for beautiful vegan meals with your partner, ensure you save as much money as you can.
You can achieve this! Freeze excess produce and prepare vegetables all at once so you are more likely to use them over the next few days. For freezing, concentrate on low-moisture vegetables, planning meals in such a way that you utilize high-moisture produce first.
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So there you have it! There’s no excuse not to prepare vegetables for your next date! 🙂
As Veggly grows further, make sure you stay up to date and read some of our success stories and messages from our users who found love from their Veg-Matches – all on this page here.
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In this article, we reveal our latest research showing how two-thirds of vegans report an increase in sexual performance and enjoyment since switching to a vegan diet.
Very exciting news for vegans today! Especially when it comes to life in the bedroom! We’ve released new data from a survey of 5,000 vegans across the world revealing how making the switch to a plant-based diet has impacted their sexual enjoyment and performance. The results are worth celebrating!
The research shows that over two thirds of vegans (67%) have experienced a noticeable increase in sexual performance and enjoyment after making the switch to a vegan diet.
In particular, vegan men were most likely to notice a difference. 7 in 10 (71%) vegan men reported a boost, in contrast to 59% of vegan women.
The new findings are consistent with arguments made in The Game Changers by Dr. Aaron Spitz who witnessed a significant boost in strength and duration of erections for male athletes who took part in a controlled test to measure the impact of a vegan diet.
We believe these findings are likely to contribute further to the continued rise of veganism and plant-based diets across the globe.
This excellent growth has helped fuel our own growth in users. We now have over 290,000 users around the world. Find your Veg-Match today!
Commenting on the new research findings, our founder, Alex Felipelli, said: “This is exciting news for vegans and anyone considering a switch to a vegan diet! It’s yet another excellent reason for ditching animal products and choosing vegan food at every meal. It’s clear that your diet can impact life in the bedroom!”
So there you have it! If this doesn’t convince non-vegans, what will?!
As we grow further, make sure you stay up to date and read some of our success stories and messages from our users who found love from their Veg-Matches – all on this page here.
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Check out this amazing vegan cookie recipe, ideal for this weekend! 😍🍪 Thanks, @goodhousekeeping for sharing this delicious dessert recipe idea. Read below ingredients and directions! ✨
Ingredients
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 c. canola oil
1/4 c. water
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips
1 c. semisweet vegan chocolate chips
Vegan Cookie Recipe Instructions:
With all the ingredients ready, it’s time to get your hands dirty (so to speak):
1. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Toss with chocolate.
2. In second bowl, break up brown sugar, making sure there are no lumps. Add granulated sugar, oil, water, and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add flour mixture and mix until just combined (there should be no streaks of flour).
3. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Spoon out 2-inch mounds of dough, spacing 2 inches apart. Freeze 30 minutes.
4. Heat oven to 375°F. Bake cookies, rotating position of pans after 6 minutes, until edges are golden brown, 9 to 12 minutes total. Let cool.
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There you have it! Delicious Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
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