International Vegan Cuisine Month
Indulge in flavorful plant-based dishes with vibrant colors and rich textures. Discover how delicious and nutritious a meat-free diet can be.
Drive February plant-based product sales and recipe engagement by positioning vegan cuisine as accessible, delicious, and nutritious for mainstream consumers exploring meat-free eating.
- Share easy vegan recipe tutorials (mac & cheese, shepherd's pie) to lower barriers to entry for curious omnivores
- Partner with vegan influencers and local vegan communities to amplify lifestyle credibility and drive product trials
- Highlight dairy-free and plant-based ingredient bundles with step-by-step cooking guides to convert February interest into repeat purchases
- Feature customer testimonials on how simple it is to switch to plant-based eating without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction
International Vegan Cuisine Month was started by the American Vegan Society to help bring awareness to how easy it can be for people to switch from eating meat to eating only plants.
The American Vegan Society (AVS) was started in 1960 by President Freya Dinshah. Dinshah is the vegan expert who also wrote The Vegan Kitchen (1965), which was the first cookbook published in the United States to explain veganism and give vegan recipes to the US. Freya Dinshah and her husband have since been considered to be the founders of the vegan and vegetarian movements throughout the United States as well as inspiring the lifestyle in many other places around the world.
Some of the things that Freya did for the vegan cause were: negotiating with food service personnel for vegan options in conference catering (1974-1999) as well as creating the first vegan volume recipes for use in colleges, restaurants, hospitals, and other institutions.
Freya and her husband, through the AVS organization, create magazines for their members to read, host cooking classes for vegans to learn from, and offer other various programs that keep their members up to date about veganism in today’s age.
The American Vegan Society celebrates International Vegan Cuisine Month by inviting people to first simply try vegan food, ultimately attempting to create awareness of the variety of delicious options that people have with vegan recipes.
Try Out Some Vegan Recipes
For those who want to be accommodating and start trying out different versions of vegan cuisine, look up vegan recipes online. Try them out on the family first and then, if it goes well, host a vegan themed dinner party! Get started on a vegan menu with some of these ideas: Vegan Mac and CheeseMade with dairy free milk, raw cashews and nutritional yeast, a perfectly creamy cheese sauce is great over macaroni. Vegan Bombay BurritosTaking their cue from Indian street food, these burritos are filled with curry mashed potatoes, chickpeas, fresh spinach, roasted cauliflower and other delightful veggies. Vegan Shepherd’s PieReplace the meat with root vegetables and mushrooms, add in the usual peas and carrots, then place the traditional mashed potatoes on top for a yummy, satisfying meal. Vegan Broccoli ‘Cheese’ SoupDelicious and nutritious, this soup based in vegetable broth uses cashew cream and nutritional yeast for the creamy, ‘cheddar’ flavor and texture. Serve with fresh baked vegan bread topped with dairy free butter.
Connect with Other Vegans
Consider joining a local organization to find friends in a vegan community who love being vegans. Many cities in the US and all over the world have vegan non-profit organizations that educate people about the vegan lifestyle and support them in their pursuit. In addition, they offer advocacy and outreach for animal awareness. Learn More About VeganismCheck out these interesting facts about veganism that might help make the decision to try some vegan meals during International Vegan Cuisine Month:Vegans are often slimmerOn average, people who live a vegan lifestyle weigh 20% less than meat eaters. Vegan foods help to burn off excess fat and keep it off.Veganism is good for the earthIt takes loads of crops to raise animals and a vegan diet has a much smaller carbon footprint. In fact, it takes 13 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of meat!Vegan diets may avoid toxinsMeat consumption may be linked to toxins, some of which might even be cancer-causing. Fish, in particular, can contain a variety of pollutants and chemicals, but other meats may as well.Vegans may feel happierStudies have shown that people who eat a vegan diet may have less anxiety and/or stress than omnivores do, and they may also have a greater overall sense of wellbeing.
Eat at a Vegan Restaurant
Those who might be considering going out for lunch or dinner might want to choose a restaurant that is known for specifically serving only vegan food. If that’s hard to find, then it might be a good idea to ask for a vegan option menu at a favorite restaurant and see what they have to offer. Those who are proud to be a vegan can certainly take pictures of their food and share them on social media posts to create awareness about International Vegan Cuisine Month with friends, family and other connections. International Vegan Cuisine Month FAQsIs Veganism healthy?Vegans have a somewhat healthy diet that often reveals a lower risk of heart disease. But they may have a slightly higher risk of stroke, potentially due to lower levels of Vitamin B12 which can be taken as a supplement if needed.[1]How do vegans get protein?Many options for protein-filled, plant-based foods exist. And they can even be super tasty! Try soybeans (as edamame or made into tofu), lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, quinoa and spirulina for a protein boost.[1]How do I bake vegan without milk, eggs and butter? Those who love to bake might be intimidated by baking without these key ingredients, but it’s not as hard as it might seem. Commercial options are available for egg replacements, plant-based milks (like almond and soy) are easy to find, and people can even make their own plant-based butter using a base of nut milk and oil.[1]How do vegans make food taste meaty? Many people choose the vegan lifestyle because of health or earth-friendly reasons, not because they don’t like meat! Making food taste a bit more like meat can be done with certain spices and flavorings, like “poultry” seasonings, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, red wine vinegar and freshly ground pepper.[1]What is vegan cheese made of?Vegan cheese can be made from a number of different plant foods, such as soy, seeds, nuts, and even vegetables. They can be flavored uniquely to pair with certain types of foods, and the healthiest options are not highly processed.[1]