The ABCs of being vegan

With a rise in the vegan population of the city and more and more people opting for a vegan diet, we decode the concept and give you a detailed guide on all things vegan in the city.

First things first, veganism and vegetarianism are different things altogether. While vegetarians refrain from eating meat, vegans abstain from the use of all animal-related products, especially in their diets. They also abstain from animal by-products like eggs, honey, dairy as well as products tested on animals.

Many choose the vegan lifestyle for several reasons—mostly to prevent cruelty towards animals. Health benefits and environmental protection are other important reasons why a large number of people turn vegans. Rithika Ramesh, owner of The Green Stove, says, "I decided to become a vegan when I got to know about the cruelties perpetuated by the dairy industry."

So with an increasing number of people going the vegan way, restaurants in the city are tweaking their menus to be vegan-friendly in order to cater to this niche clientele. While Café Coffee Day provides a vegan shake and vegan Irish coffee, Moshe's offers a few vegan options. All Starbucks outlets give you the option to use soymilk in your coffee.

Vegan Bytes, based at Elphinstone Road, provides tiffin and catering services specialising in vegan food and also takes up specialised orders. Samir, the owner of Vegan Bytes, who himself has been a vegan for 17 years, says, "We first started with a juice bar. However, both Hemali and I are extremely passionate about food and that's how we came up with Vegan Bytes."

Most south Indian dishes like idli, vada and dosa are vegan as long as they've not been prepared in pure ghee. Restaurants like China One in Dadar, Joss in Fort, Shiro's at Lower Parel and Mainland China to name a few, provide vegan options. Street food including pani puri, sev puri, ragda pattice and vada pav are all vegan as long as they have not used pure ghee.

Vegan food has often been criticised for not being tasty enough in response to which Rithika Ramesh replies, "People often tell me—oh my god, you don't eat cheese, paneer and crème! I think that they probably have not tried good vegan food." The idea behind vegan food is that it is good for your health, the environment and it is cruelty-free for the animals.

Ramesh further elaborates, "Nothing can replace the taste of meat but it is about getting used to new flavours and a new palate."

Because of the many positives and the humane reasons behind its ideology, veganism has become a part of many people's lives, especially animal lovers and those who wish to opt for a healthier lifestyle.

Ramesh concludes, "A vegan diet is not only good for your health but for the animals and the environment as well. If any of these three reasons strike a chord with you, it is the right time to go vegan."