What is Vegan Food?: Exploring Delicious Choices and Their Benefits
More and more people are asking themselves what vegan food is and are adopting a conscious approach to their diet, seeking healthier and more sustainable options. This phenomenon is not a passing trend but a continuously growing movement supported by compelling data.
According to a report published by the organización Plant Based Foods Association The Good Food Institute,, sales of vegan meals in the United States increased by 27% in 2020, surpassing $7 billion. This growth is not limited to the United States alone; it has become a global movement. Awareness of the benefits for both health and the environment has driven this transformation in how we consume food.
In this article, we will explore what vegan food is, its benefits, and how our company, Alimentos Sanygran, leads the industry with its wide variety of plant-based solutions.
What is Vegan Food?
Vegan meal is defined by its complete exclusion of animal products, including meat, dairy, and eggs. This diet stands out for its health benefits, providing essential nutrients, and its positive impact on the environment by reducing the ecological footprint. Opting for vegan meals is a conscious and ethical choice. In the following sections, we will explore how Alimentos Sanygran excels in the production of high-quality vegan products, such as vegan burgers, aligning with these principles.
What is Vegan Cuisine?
Vegan cuisine refers to the culinary practice that exclusively uses plant-based ingredients, completely excluding animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. The goal is to prepare dishes that are not only tasty and nutritious but also respect animal welfare and the environment. Vegan cuisine is characterised by its creative approach, as it allows for the preparation of a wide range of recipes, from soups and stews to desserts, using plant-based alternatives.
It is important to highlight that vegan cooking is not just about eliminating animal products but about incorporating a wide variety of plant-based foods that offer rich nutrition, including fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This way of cooking also aims to promote sustainability and ethics, using ingredients that have a lower environmental impact.
What is Vegan Food?
Vegan food encompasses a wide variety of plant-based foods, which can include:
- Fruits and vegetables: From classic apples, bananas, and tomatoes to leafy greens, pumpkins, and aubergines.
- Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, beans, and soy, which are rich in protein and fibre.
- Whole grains: Brown rice, quinoa, oats, and buckwheat, all rich in essential nutrients.
- Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds, which provide healthy fats and plant-based proteins.
- Plant-based alternatives: Plant milks (soy, oat, almond), tofu, tempeh, and seitan, which are used instead of animal products in various dishes.
These foods not only provide complete nutrition but also offer impressive culinary versatility, allowing you to enjoy delicious vegan dishes that either mimic traditional flavours or highlight the freshness of natural ingredients.
What is Vegan Food Like?
Vegan food is a diet based exclusively on plant-based ingredients. It is characterised by the total exclusion of animal products, meaning no meat, dairy, eggs, or honey are consumed. While it may seem that the options are limited, vegan food is extremely diverse and can include all kinds of dishes: from simple comfort foods to gourmet options.
This type of diet is not only beneficial for health, as it is rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants, but it also has a positive impact on the environment. The production of vegan foods generates a lower carbon footprint, uses fewer natural resources, and promotes more sustainable farming practices.
Our contribution to vegan food: Leading as a vegan food manufacturer
Over a decade ago, Alimentos Sanygran embarked on its journey in the agri-food city of Tudela as an innovative start-up and has now become a prominent food tech company in Spain. With the largest industrial capacity in Southern Europe, they excel as manufacturers of a diverse range of products, from premium vegetable ingredients to Plant-Based meat analogs and cutting-edge second and third-generation plant-based solutions. These products are available in industrial, retail, and foodservice formats, demonstrating their versatility and commitment to successful Plant-Based food projects.
Our Excellence in Vegan Burger Manufacturing
Alimentos Sanygran has showcased its excellence in manufacturing pea protein burgers, that mimic the texture and taste of animal-based meat. We delved into this in detail in a previous article (you can read it here). These plant-based burgers are an ideal choice for those seeking authenticity in vegan cuisine.
However, is one of the vegan meat manufacturers that stands out for going beyond replicating meat.They have also developed other burgers that stand out for their focus on plant-based solutions. These alternatives do not attempt to imitate meat but are crafted using techniques that better preserve the nutrients, flavors, colors, and aromas of the natural ingredients they contain.
This culinary innovation reflects our dedication to providing a wide range of options in the world of vegan cuisine, from those that mimic meat to those that authentically highlight the essence of plant-based ingredients.
Benefits of Choosing Quality Vegan Food
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, well-planned vegan diets are healthy, nutritionally adequate, and can offer long-term health benefits. Here are some key benefits:
| Improved Health | Vegan diets tend to be low in saturated fats and cholesterol, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and improve cardiovascular health. |
| Weight Loss | Many people find that adopting a vegan diet leads to sustainable weight loss due to the consumption of high-fiber, low-calorie foods. |
| Environmental Sustainability | The production of vegan foods often has a lower environmental impact, including reduced carbon footprint and more efficient use of natural resources. |
| Animal Ethics | Opting for vegan food is an ethical choice that avoids animal exploitation and contributes to reducing animal suffering in the food industry. |
| Flavor Diversity | Vegan food offers a wide variety of flavors and ingredients, allowing the exploration of new culinary experiences and the discovery of natural ingredients in their full glory. |
Vegan food is not only a healthy and delicious option, but also an ethical and sustainable way of eating. With a wide variety of foods and innovative products like those offered by Alimentos Sanygran, vegan cuisine is proving to be a viable and nutritious alternative for everyone. By choosing this lifestyle, you are not only taking care of your health, but also contributing to the well-being of the planet and animals. The vegan revolution is underway, and more and more people are joining it.