Last May, after a weekend away together, I set up a WhatsApp group with my vegan sister-in-law and her partner (also vegan) entitled “Vegan curious …” because, well, I was. Curious, that is. The ethical and environmental benefits of a vegan or plant-based diet have become increasingly difficult to ignore, with research published last year showing such diets result in 75% less climate-heating emissions, water pollution and land use than diets containing more than 100g of meat a day. I am often the only meat-eater in the staff room at work and what was once a fringe issue now seems boringly ordinary. The case for change is clearcut.
That weekend, the couple (both fabulous cooks) had prepared a range of delectable vegan curries for the family, all of which were gobbled up in an instant. The food was delicious and the reasoning behind their dishes – that no animals were harmed in the making of them – was gentle but persuasive. In setting up the WhatsApp group, I wanted to gather a collection of tasty vegan recipes that I could cook regularly and easily for my family, in an attempt to make my move once and for all into a more sustainable, ethical way of eating. And then, I just … didn’t.
