What is a Vegetarian?
A person who avoids eating red and white meats, fish and all other water creatures such as prawns and lobsters; and who also avoids slaughter by-products such as gelatine (made from horns, hooves, bones etc), lard and cochineal (crushed insect shell). A vegetarian may or may not choose to eat dairy products, free range eggs or honey.

What's a Vegan?
A person who tends to be much healthier than their dairy and meat-eating counterparts! Why? Because a vegan eats no animal products – red and white meats, fish and other water creatures, eggs, dairy and insect products such as honey and cochineal.
(some vegans choose to have organic or locally sourced honey that is ethical)
That means no animal protein, animal fats or cholesterol in their diet. Far from going short, they can – and are more likely to – pack their diet with a wide range of healthy, disease busting foods high in vegetable protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and good fats. These include fresh fruit and veg, a wide range of pulses, including peas, beans and lentils, wholegrain pastas, breads and rice, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices and vegetable oils – especially flaxseed and virgin olive oil. Following a vegan diet means eliminating any foods that contain animal products or bi-products, plus avoiding all foods that have been produced by exploiting animals or living creatures in any way.

Following a vegan diet
This may sound simple at first but animal products and bi-products can be lurking in surprising places. Take honey, for example, produced from bees, or shellac, a food glaze produced from the secretions of the lac bug, or albumen form eggs and some stearates which are milk bi-products. A well planned vegan diet can give an adequate supply of vitamins, minerals and sound nutrition. If you are new to this diet just check that you are including food groups that up your intake of calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

Here is a quick tip guide:
•​Proteins from nuts, seeds, pulses, and whole grains
•Essential Fatty Acids from plant oils like rapeseed oil, flax oil (linseed oil) and hemp oil
•Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) from whole grains, mushrooms, almonds, leafy green vegetables and yeast extracts
•Vitamin B12 from fortified foods like yeast extracts, veggie mixes, breakfast cereals and soya milks
•Vitamin D from vegetable margarine, soya milk and other fortified foods and plenty of sunshine
•Calcium from tofu, leafy green veg, watercress, almonds, sesame seeds, black strap molasses and hard water.
•​Iodine from seaweeds and other vegetables

Need more Information or advice?
Feel free to contact us (phone number on our contact us page) as most of our staff are either vegetarian or vegan!