Vegan - 5 letters that can change the world. What does it mean to be vegan? How does it impact the environment and how can you start following a plant-based diet? Where to buy vegan food in Amsterdam? And what would actually happen if everyone went vegan?
According to an Oxford study, "a global switch to diets that rely less on meat and more on fruit and vegetables could save up to 8 million lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds, and lead to healthcare-related savings and avoid climate damages of $1.5 trillion (US)."
At Little Plant Pantry, we try our best to make it easier for you to adapt to a vegan diet. We offer all kinds of delicious products, from flours, grains, herbs & spices, ferments, plant-based cheeses to handcrafted pasta and vegan desserts.
Visit our shop located in the heart of Amsterdam or shop your favourite vegan products online and get them delivered right to your doorstep:
What does vegan mean?
So what does vegan actually mean to us? It is quite simple: plant-based products. In other words, food not made from animals or animal by-products.
What can you eat or drink as a vegan ?
If you decide to follow a vegan or plant-based diet you may want to include the following products into your regular meals:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- GrainsΒ
- RiceΒ
- Herbs & Spices
- Oils & Vinegar
- Nuts & SeedsΒ
- Dried Fruit & BerriesΒ
- Flours & StarchesΒ
- Pasta
- And much more!
Where to find this delicious vegan food in Amsterdam? You can find fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables at local markets. For the rest, we've got you covered! Combining various ingredients together will allow you to produce your own vegan food, such as spice mixes, granola, soups and stews or even vegan cheese.
What to avoid when you follow a vegan diet
A vegan diet does not include animal products or by-products. When it comes to food and drinks, avoid consuming
- Meat (including pork, beef, goat, deer, etc.)
- Poultry (including chicken, turkey, quail, etc.)
- Fish (including freshwater and saltwater fish & seafood)
- Diary products (including milk, yogurt, curd, cheese, etc.)
- Honey
- Eggs
What is the difference between being vegan and vegetarian ?
So how is vegan different from vegetarian? A vegetarian would eat everything a vegan diet has to offer plus dairy products, eggs and honey. In other words, a veggie-lover that sometimes enjoys yogurt, curd and omelette :). A person that eats products from animals that moo, bleat or hum, but not their meat.
There is no magic to being a vegan. In fact, you've been eating vegan products your whole life! Think bread and vegetable broth.
If you browse our product library, you will recognize most of the products as typical pantry staples. Becoming a vegan does not mean revolutionizing your diet. Quiet often, it is a return to the basics π
Why is vegan food good for the environment?
When you go vegan it is not only beneficial for your body but also for our planet. So why is being vegan actually good for our natural surroundings? Being vegan reduces carbon emissions in big amounts. No forests need to be cut down for planting crops that feed animal stock, less water is used and farmland is more sufficiently used. Studies have shown that being vegan can cut an individual's carbon footprint by more than two thirds.
Curious to know more? Read on to learn how to transition to a vegan diet.
How to start a plant-based diet?
What is the easiest way to start following a vegan diet? We have a few tips here that will make it easier for you to transition to a plant-based diet:
- Get yourself inspired and research vegan recipes online.
- Explore local markets and include more fruit and vegetables to your diet.
- Try to rethink your eating habits.
- Explore alternatives like vegan camembert, yogurt or grated cheese.
- Replace protein sources like chicken or meat with vegan proteins such as tempeh.
- Ask friends who already are vegan how to start a plant-based diet. Sometimes it is easier to change your eating habits if you have supportive friends!
In conclusion, everyone has to find her or his own way of moving towards a vegan lifestyle. We at Little Plant Pantry can help making it a little easier.
How to live vegan in Amsterdam besides consuming plant-based food
Being vegan also means trying to reduce the consumption of other non-food products that are derived from animals. We found some shops in Amsterdam that offer vegan clothes and cosmetics to point you in the right direction when you're doing your research. For fruit and vegetables, we recommend visiting Noorder Market and Haarlemmerplein Market. If you're looking to buy new natural cosmetics, try visiting DIY Soap. As far as clothing goes, many brands now offer vegan clothes (try checking Geitenwollenwinkel and Noumenon). And don't forget to frequent second-hand shops!
Did you know? We also produce our own natural soap and shampoo bars and other natural cosmetics in our store. We are happy to explain more about our products when you visit our shop.
Our favourite vegan recipes
We love to inspire you with some delicious vegan recipes. These are some of our favourite ones:
Meet our vegan suppliers
We work with local suppliers that deliver vegan food to our shop in Amsterdam. To let you know more about where your food is coming from, we started a health food webinar series. Our aim is to ask our suppliers to share their knowledge and shed light on different areas within the field of sustainability.
If you want learn more, check out our recorded webinars below:
- What is Hyper-Artisanal Pasta? with UnEttaro
- Locally Grown & Produced in Amsterdam with Roots, Rice & Beans
- Vegan Cheese Made from Nuts with Rosie & Riffy
In conclusion, we can say that following a vegan diet is better for people and the planet. A win-win for everyone. Give it a try! We can't wait to meet you in our vegan food shop in Amsterdam π
Article written by Stefanie Behrendt, founder of wegozero.
