Plant-Based Food Orders Spike in Veganuary

Plant-based food orders in the UK spiked in January 2021, according to takeaway and delivery platform Deliveroo. Searches within the app for vegan food increased by 153% and orders by 117%, which is thought to be due to the large number of people participating in Veganuary. Last year more than half a million Brits joined in with Veganuary, pledging to eat a vegan diet for the first month of the year.  

According to reports from Deliveroo, more than 15,000 restaurants across the UK have added plant-based vegan dishes to their regular menu in response to this demand. Michael Kern, Craniosacral Therapy teacher and former Osteopath, has been vegetarian for nearly 50 years and advocates the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle for animal welfare, for health reasons, and for the wider benefit of the planet. 

 

Taking on Veganuary 

 

Veganuary has proven a popular project to raise awareness in the UK. In 2021 there were an estimated 582,000 participants. An official survey found that 85% of them planned to make permanent changes to their diet following the month. Approximately 40% intended to remain vegan, while the rest planned to reduce their overall meat and dairy intake to varying degrees – at least halving their prior intake. Almost two-thirds of people surveyed maintained a completely vegan diet throughout January, while the remaining third drastically reduced their meat and animal product consumption.  

 

Reasons to Try Vegan 

 

Around 35% of vegans cite concerns about climate change as one of their main reasons for changing to a plant-based diet. According to the Veganuary survey, almost half (46%) of the 2021 participants cited animal welfare as their primary reason for switching their diet, while 21% of respondents wanted to help protect the environment, and a further 22% experimented with Veganuary for personal health reasons. Improved health metrics experienced by participants included higher levels of energy, improved mood, better skin condition and weight loss. 

 

Longevity of Results 

 

An estimated 40% of people who participated in Veganuary plan to stay vegan, while only 10% state they will not be making any lasting changes to their diet. Veganuary has been running in the UK since 2014 and was launched in the US in 2019. Increasing numbers of restaurants and other food outlets and brands are now improving their plant-based offerings as a result of the growing demand.