16 vegan recipes to cook through the week

WORDS Ella Jane PUBLISHED Mon, 1 Nov 2021 - 1:00 pm

November 1 marks world vegan day, which has us thinking about the vegan recipes we know and love. While we are not in the business of telling anyone to do with their diets, we can all agree that turning to more plant-based habits on a regular basis can be beneficial for both planetary and physical wellbeing, alongside ethical considerations of course.

The health benefits of incorporating plant-based meals into ones diet are endless. "A whole foods plant based diet has been linked to a significant decrease in the risk of developing high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality." Says Kylie Alla, a Soulara recipe writer and food scientist. "A plant based diet that’s abundant in whole grains, legumes, fruit and vegetables is rich in fibre, micronutrients, prebiotics and plant sterols which help your body function effectively and ultimately contribute to better overall health."

"Plant based meals aren’t necessarily easier to digest than meals that contain meat and dairy but they will help to significantly improve the overall health of your digestive system." Alla notes. "A whole foods plant based diet is rich in fibre which will keep your bowel movements regular and help prevent many of the diseases associated with the colon and large intestine. Bacteria in your gut also use fibre as fuel and a well fed gut microbiome is an essential part of a healthy digestive system."

Alongside the health benefits, eating more vegan recipes can drastically impact our carbon footprint, with the University of Oxford noting that cutting meat and dairy products from our diets could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73 per cent.

We will always encourage intuitive eating and finding what works best for your individual health and wellbeing, but if you feel compelled to start trying more vegan recipes, see our favourites below.