The Ins and Outs of Veganism Today

With its recent surge in popularity, many of us still struggle to comprehend what true veganism is all about. So, while we carry products that cater to many different types of customers, today, we will examine veganism - what it entails and showcase some of the excellent vegan-friendly products we sell on our website.

The term “vegan” came from a small group of vegetarians who decided to omit dairy, eggs, and any other products derived from animals in their diets. Today, many vegans choose to live a life that excludes all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, whether from food, clothes, or any other practice. Here are a few more reasons why people decide to go vegan: 

Health

Studies indicate that following a plant-based diet may drastically improve our health as most of the food consumed in a vegan diet is nutrient-dense and good for our bodies.

Environment

Many people choose to go vegan to help avoid using animal products that negatively impact our environment and agricultural industry. It is commonly believed that animal products require more resources and, in turn, can create higher greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based options.

Nutrition

To maintain a healthy vegan diet, vegans must focus on food diversity by including as many fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes, and seeds in their diet. One area of nutrition, however, is the lack of protein. Although it can be resolved by incorporating a range of protein products, it remains a dietary concern that should not be neglected. Vegans can obtain sufficient protein from foods like lentils, peanut butter, tofu, peas, almonds, broccoli, spinach, rice, whole wheat bread, kale, soy milk and more.

In terms of fat, vegan diets are generally low in saturated fats and free of cholesterol.  However, they consume some high-fat foods, including nut butters, seed butters, oils, margarine, nuts, coconut, and avocado. Although delicious, these foods should be used sparingly!

Vitamin D is another area of concern as it is generally lower in vegan diets but can be consumed by being exposed to sunlight. Try fifteen minutes, two to three times a week, and it should suffice the daily requirement; at least that’s what is recommended for vitamin D production in most adults. In addition, some foods are fortified with vitamin D, including some plant-based milks like soy milk and rice milk.

Lower animal protein intake may reduce calcium losses, too, so vegans should eat high calcium levels, like tofu made with calcium sulphate, dark green leafy vegetables, and calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice. If they can’t obtain these particular foods, vegans can always take a calcium supplement. Some other excellent sources of calcium include soybeans, almond butter, okra, turnip greens, tempeh, broccoli, bok choy, and more.

Despite a few obstacles, vegans can always derive nutrients from different sources – there is always a choice. So, let’s move on and explore what DirectFood.store has to offer. Here are a few plant-based products that you may want to try!

Exploring Vegan Products

We offer a wide range of vegetables, including some unique items like sea asparagus, fresh morel mushrooms, and various microgreens (radish, daikon, speckled pea, spicy mustard, sunflower, pea shoots, broccoli, basil, arugula, and cilantro). Of course, we also carry everyday favourites – broccoli, kale, lettuce, beets, onion, garlic, squash, and herbs.

Get your hands on fresh, seasonal berries in our fruit combo box from Peace Arch Farms Ltd. Filled with local blueberries, raspberries, and cherries from the Okanagan, this delicious mix is sure to be a sweet, summer hit! We also carry fresh Okanagan apples, apricots, and haskap berries from West Coast Wild Foods; do check them out!

Organic fruit/vegetable blend powders from RYP Naturals Inc. can be used as dietary supplements or an ingredient added to prepared foods. They have no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or other processing agents - great for smoothies and soups!

And Koop Foods, our new partner who has created delicious plant-based sauces and dressings in original flavours like spicy avocado, cashew ranch and cashew caramel. Their dressings and sauce also contain fermented seasonings, which enhance the flavour in every product, plus they are made in small batches using locally sourced ingredients! Delicious and a must-try!

We also carry a wide selection of nuts, seeds, flours, beans and grains, including organic quinoa and rice from Avafina Organics.

Lastly, don’t forget to try products from Justgo Smoothie, our partner based in beautiful Vancouver, BC. Their ingredients are uniquely selected for optimal nutrition and healthful benefits from head-to-toe: no preservatives, non-GMO, no gluten, no added sugar. Oh, and did we mention we’re talking about smoothies here? Not only smoothies, but superfood smoothies, chock full of organic, vegan ingredients like amaranth, buckwheat, and chia seeds. Just use a blender or shaker cup, add some milk and ice, and you’re ready to go!

If you are a vegan or transitioning into veganism, explore all of our vegan options and let us know what you think. Finally, there’s one thing we can take away from this article; it’s that veganism is indeed great for your health! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us anytime. 😊

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-a-vegan#foods-to-eat

https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm

https://academy.plantbasednews.org/blog/what-is-veganism

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-a-plant-based-diet-right-for-you/