The campaign to encourage people to try vegan in January is now in its seventh year and is all set to be bigger than ever. Already, half a million people in 178 countries have taken the month-long vegan pledge and one of them was Swansea’s Kathryn Morgans.
‘I’d been an on/off veggie since I was 14,’ she says, ‘but had just gradually transitioned from omni, then pescatarian to vegetarian. Initially I thought, “let’s see how this goes for a month” but I knew within days that there was no going back.”
That month trialling veganism was life-changing for Kathryn.
‘It was the best decision I have ever made,’ she says. ‘Going vegan made me do so much research into the environmental impact of the meat industry, the impact on health and the shocking truth about animal cruelty. I am so much more informed, and I would say healthier, too.’
And while the issues can be serious, Kathryn has found great pleasure in the food, and she hopes that her top five Swansea eateries will help others who are following in her footsteps and taking part in Veganuary. They are:
- Bluebell Coffee & Kitchen – a huge selection of vegan-friendly food including the ultimate vegan breakfast. There are healthy options here as well as a great selection of homemade cakes. Very friendly owners, one of whom is vegan.
- Croeso Lounge – a lovely bar/restaurant which is part of the Lounges chain, with beautiful views over Swansea Bay and a relaxed atmosphere. What I particularly like about Croeso is that they do what very few places do and offer a vegan option on the children’s menu. It’s great that my whole family can eat together.
- Boo’s Kitchen – a vegetarian cafe that has many vegan options. Lunches here are exceptionally tasty and all dishes have an interesting twist.
- Babita’s Spice Deli – Babita’s can be found at local farmers’ markets and as a pop-up restaurant. The food is almost all vegan and is the tastiest Indian food I have eaten.
- Canteen 18 – 100% vegan with a lovely choice of comfort vegan foods. The sausage rolls beat any other I’ve found!
Says Veganuary’s Head of Communications Toni Vernelli:
‘Kathryn’s top tips for eating out around Swansea look amazing and indicate the extraordinary range of delicious plant-based options that are becoming available all over the country. Many people, like Kathryn take part in Veganuary as a challenge, and to see if they can last the month, while others are already motivated by animals, the environment or improving their health. These are all great reasons, and everyone is welcome to take part. And perhaps, this will be the best decision they ever make, too!’
It is free to take part in Veganuary, and everyone who does so receives daily support emails that offer shopping lists, an eating out guide, nutrition advice, recipes, meal plans, and answers to common questions. They also receive social media support in a closed Facebook group where they can connect with other participants, and a free celebrity e-cookbook. There are also competitions with great prizes and special offers throughout the month.
Kathryn enjoyed Veganuary so much, she has decided to stay vegan and has inspired one of her sons to also become vegan. Her message to people thinking about taking part in 2020 is:
‘Give it a go! It is far easier than it has ever been, with so many options in the supermarkets and eating out is easy, too. Plus, you’ll be part of a huge community of like-minded people who know that we are doing the best that we can for the environment, for the animals and for our health.’
Image credit: Canteen 18