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Join in on World Vegan Day

Veganism now has a seat at the main table, with more and more of us switching to plant-based diets. This 1 November, the movement gets its own global day of celebration, aimed at showing the benefits for us and the planet. Try it for the day and see where it leads...

From food fad to staple diet

Fruit, veg, legumes and whole grains are packed with beneficial fibre, vitamins and minerals. ‘People want to make informed choices. An increasing amount are becoming “flexitarians”,’ says IKEA Food managing director, Michael La Cour. The Vegan Society saw a 360% rise in plant-based diets in 2006-2016, while the global meat-alternative market will reach $5.2bn by 2020.

Fast food that’s good food

IKEA veggie balls are a tasty, easy-cook option to try on World Vegan Day. A healthy alternative to the iconic meatball, this vegan option is made with chickpeas, carrots, peppers, corn and kale, so they’re full of vitamins and high in fibre. They’re also free from gluten, soy, nut, egg and lactose, so as many people as possible can enjoy them.

Pickle and preserve

Vegetables are versatile. Try pickling red cabbage as a nutritious side dish. Bring vinegar, water, sugar, salt, coriander seeds and chilli flakes to boil, take off the heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Slice cabbage, add a teaspoon of salt, leave to soften. Strain vinegar liquid, pour over cabbage in a pickling jar and leave to infuse in fridge for a week before using.

Sneak in extra veg

Boost your vegetable intake and try veggie balls as a side dish as well as a main. Fry a few and serve them alongside a fragrant pho-style soup. Simply add shitake mushrooms, spring onions, cabbage, chilli and broccoli to a hot vegetable broth and garnish with fresh slices of lime, mint and coriander.

Food for thought

David Johansson, product developer for IKEA Food, is part of the team behind the veggie balls recipe. ‘We want to inspire people to live a healthier life, within the limits of the planet,’ says David. ‘By adding more delicious and affordable plant-based options to our food offer, we enable more people to do that. Delicious plant-based food is one step towards a healthier planet.’

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