This world vegan day, why not make some easy plant-based swaps in your next shop?

As a nation, we are eating less meat than ever. Compared to ten years ago the average Brit is consuming almost 25% less a week, in fact. While rising costs do influence what people are putting in their baskets, more and more people are also making a conscious choice to cut down on meat and other animal products.

If you are thinking of adding some easy plant-based swaps to your shopping list but don’t know where to start, read on!

Bottles of milk surrounded by scattered nuts

Ditch the dairy

Arguably most well-known of all the vegan swaps. There’s an abundance of dairy alternatives out there these days, but that doesn’t need to make it confusing.

Butter is an easy place to start. Dairy-free margarine has been around for decades, but we are living in a time when they are more buttery and ‘realistic’ than ever. Flora’s entire range is now completely dairy free, with the news that they have, again, removed the buttermilk from their Flora Buttery.

And as for milk… well, whether you favour oat, soy, coconut or any of the many other plant-based milks out there there’s a something to suit all tastes!

Had it with honey?

Another simple one to work around – honey can easily be replaced by other sweet syrups such as agave or maple without causing problems for our bees. Both have a naturally sweet flavour which makes them the perfect vegan-friendly option for baking or topping porridge and yoghurt bowls. They can also be swapped out one for one in recipes. No maths needed!

If you want to find other ways to help out our fuzzy black and yellow friends, check out our World Bee Day article.

avocados

Move over, mayo

Picking plant-based doesn’t have to mean life of disappointingly dry sandwiches. Not only are there several vegan mayos on the market now, you could also switch out for hummus or mashed avocado to really give your sarnies a new twist.

Enough with the eggs!

Eggs might feel they’re trickier to replace, but a very simple place to start is their use in baking.

When baking, eggs act as a binder for the other ingredients. This can instead be achieved with ground flaxseed or chia seeds and it’s easier than it sounds, we promise! One egg = one tablespoon of chia or ground flaxseed, left to soak in 3 tablespoons of water until congealed. Mix it in and carry on as normal!

chia seeds and a spoon

These are just a few quick ideas to get you started on your plant-based journey. What are your favourites and have we missed any of your go-to winners?

Let us know in the comments!