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Take a look at the WWF #Eat4Change Web page

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Eat4Change: change what you eat one plate at a time

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You can cook and eat healthy, delicious food that’s good for you and good for the planet just by making a few small changes. We’ve got you covered.

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For those interested in trying a vegan dish or even embarking on Veganuary see here

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Veganuary has inspired and supported millions of people to try vegan since 2014 - with participants from almost every country in the world. We have worked with businesses to drive up vegan options in shops and restaurants, and have made veganism more visible and accessible through our work with national and international media.

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Veganuary - the international movement inspiring people to try vegan!

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Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more than 2.5 million people in 228 countries to try vegan for January - and beyond!

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In 2023 I cooked an aubergine based meal once a week. I'll be aiming to be more adventurous in 2024.

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I found the Eat Low Carbon quiz helped me understand more about the carbon cost of some everyday foods I eat. 

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I found the Eat Low Carbon quiz helped me understand more about the carbon cost of some everyday foods I eat. 

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I got 7/10 on the quiz and feel like I'm more aware of what I can do to reduce my carbon foodprint after doing it.

Kirsty F

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Are you concerned about climate change? Well, now that you've changed your lightbulbs, it's time to change your lunch!

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This website has some fantastic vegan recipes that I'll be trying out over January.

Kirsty F

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Here is a collection of our very Best Vegan Recipes. Whether you are simply trying to eat less meat, cook more plant-based meals, consume more vibrant healthy produce, or subscribe to the vegan lifestyle, I hope these vegan meals will inspire you on your health journey, wherever that leads.

As it turns out, we have about 400 vegan recipes (or vegan-adaptable recipes) on the blog, which surprised me because that is about half of our recipes!

We sorted through all our readers' favorites and featured the "tried and true" recipes here. View our entire collection of Vegan Recipes to see more!

OUR BEST Vegan Recipes!

Rich and robust, this plant-based Lentil Bolognese is hearty, "meaty, " full of depth of flavor. Toss it with your favorite pasta, or spoon it over creamy polenta- either way, this simple, nourishing vegan meal is one the whole family will enjoy and will quickly become one of your go-to vegan meals!

Cozy up with a comforting bowl of vegan Butternut Squash Risotto with Leeks and Spinach made with very little fuss, in your Instant Pot (or on the stovetop.) Vegan-adaptable and Gluten-free this is quickly becoming a reader favorite. Make the flavorful Leek oil out of the left-over leek tops to drizzle over your bowl of risotto. One of my personal favorites!

India's flavorful street food -also called a Bombay Burrito, made healthy! This vegan version is bursting with so much flavor- filled with curry mashed potatoes, roasted Indian cauliflower, chickpeas, fresh spinach, cilantro mint chutney and pickled onions. Absolutely delicious! One of my personal vegan dinner recipes!

Delicious, vegan Coconut Rice Bowls are healthy and adaptable! Curried jasmine rice cooked in coconut milk and topped with tofu (or your choice of protein) and seasonal vegetables. All tossed with a simple, flavorful sauce, fresh cilantro, mint and toasted coconut flakes. A flavorful vegan meal, bursting with so much flavor!

An aromatic Indian rice dish with vegetables and chickpeas- infused with Indian spices. It's a quick and easy vegan meal, perfect any time of year. Serve with Cilantro-Mint Chutney.

One of my favorites, this incredibly flavorful, Crispy BBQ Tofu Sandwich topped with avocado and cool and creamy cilantro cabbage slaw and can be made in under 30 minutes and will turn anyone into a tofu lover. 🙂

A whole cauliflower is roasted in the oven until golden and tender. Seasoned with Zaatar and drizzled with tahini sauce its a delight for the senses -bursting with Middle Eastern flavors. Easy and delicious, it serves 2 perfectly!
CABBAGE STIR FRY
This quick and simple Cabbage Stir Fry is humble yet overflowing with savory flavor. Full of amazing health benefits, cabbage takes center stage here transforming into a luscious side dish or perfect topping for rice or buckwheat soba noodles. Ready to serve in about 30 minutes!

Sheet-Pan, Chipotle Portobello Tacos - smoky, spicy and "meaty", these VEGAN tacos are sure to satisfy even the most diehard meat-lovers! Make them in 30 minutes! A satisfying meal for the plant-based diet!

A cozy fall recipe for Vegan Shepherds Pie with mushrooms and root vegetables- topped with pillowy mashed potatoes. A delicious vegan main dish -perfect for the holiday table.

Spicy Chinese Eggplant with Szechuan Sauce with chilies and peanuts- serve or black rice or rice noodles for a tasty, easy plant-based vegan recipe!

There is so much to love about this Coconut Millet Bowl, made with Berbere-Spiced Kabocha Squash, chickpeas, shallots, and spinach drizzled with coconut lime mint sauce. A beautiful, fall-inspired vegan, plant-based meal, full of vibrant flavor and spice.

Hello, DATE NIGHT Vegan Alfredo! It's made for two, and tossed in a delicious vegan cream sauce , with sauteed mushrooms, Meyer lemon zest and a secret ingredient that gives this extra complexity and depth. This vegan meal can be made in under 30 minutes! Cozy and comforting.

Craving Indian food? This veggie-loaded Vegan Tikka Masala can be made tofu, chickpeas or paneer, in under 25 minutes! An easy, vegan, keto-friendly weeknight meal!

Believe it or not, this recipe won "BEST VEGAN RECIPE" on Food 52! Vegan Lentil Meatballs with Indian Coconut Curry Sauce - a flavorful vegan meal infused with fragrant Indian spices.

Crispy Vegan Quinoa Cake s (with no eggs, flour, breadcrumbs or filler of any kind) topped with Tomato Chickpea Relish- a delicious, healthy flavorful vegan dinner that is gluten-free- a great addition to your plant-based diet.

I may be biased- but this has got to be the best vegan ramen broth on the planet. Vegan Ramen with Miso Shiitake Broth is unbelievably flavorful and warming, made with shiitake mushrooms, crispy tofu, Bok Choy and scallions.

Veggie Burgers never need to be boring! This Asian-style, grilled, vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger is full of delicious umami flavor! It's slathered with an Asian-style "Guacamole", topped with a cool cucumber ribbon salad and crunchy carrot slaw. So much flavor and texture here! Healthy, delicious and really satisfying- this veggie burger hits the spot!

Bucatini Pasta with Arugula Pesto and Heirloom Tomatoes. A fast and flavorful weeknight dinner recipe- this vegan pasta dish has a secret ingredient that gives this an added burst of flavor. I can't wait for you to try it!

This flavorful Vegetable Fried Ric e, is made with seasonal veggies and edamame! A highly adaptable recipe that can be made vegan.

Roasted Sheet-Pan Ratatouille - served 3 different ways. Serve it over polenta, over pasta or over toast! Make a big batch on Sunday then serve for dinner during the busy work week! A delicious plant-based dinner recipe, perfect for using up your summer harvest!

A delicious vegan recipe for Miso Tofu Wrap with Roasted Winter Squash, Baked Miso Tofu, Asian Slaw, Avocado, Furikake and flavorful Miso Dressing.

Here's a healthy, flavorful Mexican-style Oaxacan Bowl with roasted chipotle sweet potatoes and sweet peppers over a bed of warm seasoned black beans. It's topped with crunchy cabbage slaw, avocado and my favorite thing ever, toasted Chipotle Maple Pecans. Hands down, this plant-based vegan meal is one of my all-time favorites!

This Vegan Orecchiette with Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce, is dreamy. Topped with a Carrot Top Gremolata and Toasted Bread Crumbs, we utilize the whole carrot here! Who says you can't have gourmet mac and cheese on the vegan diet. This comes as close as it gets with an extra level of flavor. You'll love yourself for making this. I promise!

These Vegan Peruvian Burritos are filled with roasted sweet potato, fresh corn, peppers, quinoa and creamy black beans, then drizzled with spicy Peruvian Green Sauce. A flavor bomb! Vegan and Delicious, this plant-based meal ticks all the boxes!

A flavorful vegan dinner recipe - Black Pepper Tofu with Bok Choy - a super tasty and fast meal that can be made in under 30 minutes! Make this for someone who is a tofu "skeptic", you'll win them over, guaranteed!

Instant Pot Mujadara - a comforting, healthy plant-based recipe of lentils and rice, with fragrant Middle Eastern spices, served with caramelized shallots, fresh veggies, pine nuts and optional yogurt ( feel free to use vegan yogurt) Gluten-free and Vegan adaptable.

This Veggie Lo Mein can be on the table in under 20 minutes! Loaded up with healthy veggies, this VEGAN, plant-based dinner recipe is fast and easy, perfect for busy weeknights!

This Indian Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Infused with fragrant Indian spices, this recipe is not only delicious, it is is vegan and gluten-free!

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Mole Rojo sauce! These healthy vegan tacos are loaded up with cabbage, avocado, radishes and cilantro and full of satisfying flavor and fresh crunchy ingredients.

This Vegan Lasagna is made with a robust mushroom-spinach bolognese sauce, fresh basil, vegan ricotta and no-boil lasagna noodles, topped off with a creamy marinara sauce, and drizzled with Arugula Basil Pesto. Vegan comfort food at its best!

Vegan Pot Pie with Seasonal Vegetables is loaded with vibrant fresh veggies and flavorful herbs cooked in a delicious creamy lemon mustard sauce and topped with a flakey puff pastry crust.

Traditional Oaxacan street food, Tlayudas are a cross between a tostada and a pizza, made with a crispy tortilla, topped with refried beans, cheese (optional) a mound of Mexican cabbage slaw, avocado and cilantro. This healthy version is vegan and GF adaptable!

Szechuan Tofu and Veggies- a flavorful vegan stir-fry with crispy tofu and Szechuan sauce loaded with healthy vegetables! A quick, easy and flavorful plant-based vegan meal your whole family will love.

A flavorful Miso Mushroom Bowl with brown rice, avocado, cabbage, carrots, daikon, edamame and a Miso Ginger Dressing. Vegan and Gluten free.

Middle Eastern Salad Tacos - my personal "go-to", in a "great big hurry" plant-based vegan meal that is loaded with veggies and leaves me feeling energized and satisfied. Vegan and Gf, these easy tasty tacos are packed full of healthy veggies.

Bali Bowls with Peanut Tofu, black rice, roasted sweet potatoes, shredded cabbage, radish and snow peas and the most delicious Balinese-style Peanut Sauce! A tasty plant-based vegan dinner!

Smokey Cauliflower Chimichurri Bowls! These filling vegan bowls are full of flavor and loaded up with healthy veggies. Served over seasoned black beans (and optional rice) with Mexican Slaw, radishes, avocado, cilantro and pickled onions.

Mushroom Pasta with Artichoke Sauce - The creamy vegan sauce is made with canned artichokes hearts, which turns into the creamiest, most delicious and luscious sauce (which can be made in 2 minutes flat, just blend in the blender until silky smooth) warmed, then poured over pasta. Add sauteed mushrooms or sunchokes if you like. So good!

Roasted Chile Rellenos! Flavorful, black bean stuffed chile rellenos with homemade enchilada sauce and vegan ricotta can be made on one sheet pan! Vegan-adaptable with the Tofu Ricotta! Delicious!

Mediterranean Eggplant Wraps with Kale Slaw and Everyday Tahini Sauce. Keep it gluten-free with gluten-free wraps, or turn the whole thing into a hearty salad, by simply serving it in a bowl. Soooooooo full of flavor and nutrients. Keep it vegan or add feta.

Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup (aka Harira) is hearty, full of protein and loaded with nutrients. Warming fragrant spices make this healthy one-pot meal deeply flavorful! Vegan and Gluten-Free adaptable.

Garlic Chili Tofu with Sesame Broccolini - it's really fast, like 15 minutes fast, healthy and super flavorful - vegan and gluten-free. If you've never been a fan of tofu, I want you to do me a favor, make this. Just as an experiment. 😉

Zataar Roasted Eggplant, crosshatched and served with fresh tomatoes, tahini or yogurt sauce and your choice of cooked grain. A simple vegan dinner recipe!

This simple, fast Tofu Broccolini Mushroom Stir Fry can be made in 20 minutes flat - perfect for weeknight meals. Feel free to substitute broccoli, steaming it just a little bit longer. Perfect over rice, soba noodles, or just on its own, it's hearty and yummy!

Zaatar Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Green Tahini Sauce - a simple delicious vegan dinner recipe that is full of Middle Eastern flavor that can be made in 35 minutes! plant-based and delicious!

This Ayurvedic Detox Bowl called Khichari, pronounced kich-ah-ree is an Indian staple that has long been cherished in Ayurveda, for its ability to restore balance and healing in the body. For centuries throughout India, it has been thought of as comfort food, for its gentle cleansing and detoxing properties, which over time bring wellness to the body. It's made with simple humble ingredients. The mung beans liked to be soaked ahead, or use lentils!

Sweet Potato & Lentil Dal can be made with coconut oil instead of ghee. A filling fiber-rich meal that will leave you feeling satisfied. Serve with fluffy basmati rice or homemade naan bread!

Turmeric Detox Broth- pretty much a glowing bowl of goodness! Lots of ways to adapt this healing soothing broth, and customize it to fit your needs. Vegan and GF Adaptable. One of my most popular recipes on the blog to date.

The Best PAD THAI- a fast and easy recipe made with accessible ingredients that can be made vegan using tofu and vegan fish sauce! A delicious vegan dinner recipe, ready in under 30 minutes!

Our authentic Falafels with Tahini Sauce recipe is made with soaked, uncooked chickpeas and hands-down has the BEST texture and flavor! So easy! Bake them or pan-sear them. Great in wraps, bowls, or salads. A delicious vegan meal the whole family will love.

Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese

This Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese is one of our favorite Quick and easy Vegan meals, perfect for busy weeknights! Scroll down to the recipe card below for the recipe!

I hope these healthy delicious vegan dinner recipes inspire you to try something new this week! Please note any of your favorites in the comments below!

More Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes you may like:

40 Mouthwatering Vegan Recipes

Description

Notes

Nutrition
Keywords: best vegan recipes, best vegan meals, vegan Mac and cheese, vegan dinner recipes, vegan dinners, best vegan dinners, vegan meals,

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These crave-worthy vegan dinner recipes are simple, delicious and sure to be on your repeat list! Global flavors and fresh ingredients.

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I currently only eat (locally-sourced) meat once a week so I'm challenging myself to reduce that to once a fortnight. With that, I'm also going to focus on a having a better microbiome diet (by having 30 different fruit and veg every week).

Kirsty F

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2nd of Jan, and I'm challenging myself to eat more low carbon, sustainably and ethically produced foods. As a start, I'm off to buy some oat milk and do a stock take in my food cupboard, where I have lots of cans of beans and pulses and packets of grains. I aim to use local stores /producers and refill stores and reduce my reliance on supermarkets. It means I will have to stop doing daily convenience shopping and plan my menus and shop to a list.

To track my progress, I've started using the free plan on the My Fitness Pal app. I've used it before and found its daily food diary very good. It also shows your protein/carbs/fat/fiber intake as a pie chart. I've signed up to their free 'Eat Green' 14 day plan which includes pointers to explainers about eating green.

Jane W

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What should I look for in a sustainable and ethical products? This chocolate guide is a useful list to get me started:

1. No palm oil

2. Certifications

3. Bean to bar

4. Direct Trade

5. Single Origin / Single Estate

It's recommended brands are US ones. This article gives some UK ethical brands https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/chocolate/best-ethical-chocolate-brands-fairtrade-divine-tonys-chocoloney-a9155341.html

Jane W

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Based on this article, I'm replacing my diary milk with oat milk this month.

Jane W

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Milk is a dietary staple across many countries in the world. But dairy can contribute a lot to the greenhouse gas emissions of our food. In typical EU diets, it accounts for just over one-quarter of the carbon footprint, sometimes as much as one-third.

Growing awareness of this means many are looking to plant-based alternatives. In the UK, surveys suggest one-quarter of adults now drink some non-dairy milks (although not always exclusively). It's even more popular in younger demographics with one-third of 16 to 23-year-olds opting for them.

There is now a range of 'plant-based' milk alternatives available, including soy, oat, almond, rice, and coconut. This raises two common questions: are plant-based milks really better for the environment, and which is best?

In the chart here we compare milks across a number of environmental metrics: land use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and eutrophication - the pollution of ecosystems with excess nutrients. These are compared per liter of milk. At the end of this article I address some of the differences in the nutritional quality of these milks, which is important to consider in certain populations.

Cow's milk has significantly higher impacts than the plant-based alternatives across all metrics. It causes around three times as much greenhouse gas emissions; uses around ten times as much land; two to twenty times as much freshwater; and creates much higher levels of eutrophication.

If you want to reduce the environmental footprint of your diet, switching to plant-based alternatives is a good option.

Which of the vegan milks is best? It really depends on the impact we care most about. Almond milk has lower greenhouse gas emissions and uses less land than soy, for example, but requires more water and results in higher eutrophication.

All of the alternatives have a lower impact than dairy, but there is no clear winner on all metrics.

Common FAQs on this topic:

How does the nutritional profile of dairy compare with plant-based milks?
In the figures above we look at the comparison of milks per liter. A liter of dairy milk is not comparable to a liter of plant-based milk in terms of its nutritional profile.

Dairy milk tends to be higher in calories, and importantly, contains more protein. 100ml of cow's milk will contain around 3.4 grams of protein, versus 0.5 grams in almond milk. The protein in dairy is also a more 'complete' protein source, which means it has the full profile of essential amino acids.

Most plant-based milks have a similar calcium content to cow's milk - almond and cow's milk both have around 120 milligrams per 100ml, for example.

One of the benefits of plant-based milks is that they are often fortified with vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D, for example, is often added. Cow's milk naturally contains very little vitamin D, although it is possible to buy fortified varieties. Vitamin B ₁₂ is one micronutrient that only occurs in animal products; vegans are therefore at risk of deficiency without supplementation. However, most plant-based milks are now fortified with vitamin B ₁₂.

From a nutritional perspective, the replacement of dairy with plant-based milks is unlikely to be a concern for those with a diverse diet, and for those who do not rely on milk as an important source of protein. It is possible to meet these requirements from other foods - such as a combination of legumes, meat substitutes, and grains. However, for certain demographics - especially young children, and those on lower incomes with poor dietary diversity - this might be an inappropriate switch.

The average person in many lower-income countries gets most of their calories from cheap, energy-dense crops like cereals and tubers (like cassava). This can be more than three-quarters of an individual's calorie intake. These diets do not provide the diversity of nutrients needed for good health - they are likely to be deficient in a number of micronutrients, and protein (once we adjust for quality). Without access to foods that are fortified with vitamins and minerals, often small amounts of animal protein - such as milk - provide one of the few sources of complete protein and micronutrients in their diet.

In such cases, removing dairy from a person's diet without sufficient replacements could have a negative impact on health and nutrition. For most people in middle-to-high income countries, however, this is unlikely to be an issue.
I've heard that soy is linked to deforestation in the Amazon. Is this a concern for soy milk?
One of the largest concerns about alternatives such as soy milk is that they drive deforestation in the Amazon region. It's true that the growing demand for soy has been one of the drivers of Brazilian land-use change. Although, by far, the largest driver has been pasture for beef production.

But, it's important to note what this soy is used for. 95% of Brazilian soy is used for animal feed. Globally, more than three-quarters of soy, by mass, is used for animal feed. The other main co-product is soybean oil. This means that very little of Amazonian land-use pressures from soy have been driven by crops for direct human consumption; most is for animal feed.

Another factor to consider here, especially for European consumers, is that most of Brazil's soy crop is genetically modified (some estimates put this figure at 94%). There are strict regulations on the use of GM soy for direct human food in the European Union. Most of the soy consumed in Europe is produced in Europe.

Soy yields are similar in the EU as they are in Brazil and the rest of South America - 3 tonnes per hectare in France versus 2.9 tonnes in Brazil. In fact, some EU countries have higher yields, such as Spain (3.3 tonnes) and Italy (4 tonnes). So the environmental impact of EU soy will be lower than in South America.

Keep reading at Our World in Data

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Dairy vs. plant-based milk: what are the environmental impacts?

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A growing number of people are interested in switching to plant-based alternatives to dairy. But are they better for the environment, and which is best?

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https://www.transitiontownmk.org/january-2024-eco-challenge/

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What to do next

1. Start planning for your challenge now.

It's worth planning ahead for how you're going to tackle your Eat4Change eco-challenge in January. It's useful to create a weekly food plan so that you can shop for the items you need ahead of time and have recipes ready to go when you need them.

2. Attend our Social Evening to discover more about this topic and to discuss this month's eco-challenge with other challengers.

Our guest speaker promises you lots of useful recipes and practical tips to help you with you eco-challenge to reduce your meat and dairy consumption in January. The event will take place at Aiimi in central Milton Keynes on Wednesday 10 January from 6.30pm - 8pm. Click here to register via EventBrite.

3. Share your tips, experiences and insights with other people doing this eco-challenge on our group Padlet.

(Simply click the image below to access the Padlet, then click the plus icon at bottom right to begin a post.)

4. Gain more understanding about how your food choices impact the planet by calculating your foodprint. Try one of these foodprint calculators that Earthday.org recommends:

BBC Climate Change Food Calculator shows how your food intake compares to emissions of driving, heating a home and consuming water.

Eat Lower Carbon compares the carbon foodprint of different meals, and tests your knowledge on common foods.

Food Carbon Emissions Calculator provides a comprehensive approach to calculating your foodprint. It accounts for transport, waste, and quantity purchased.

Our partner FoodPrint has a fun and easy quiz that helps you better understand the concept of a foodprint and shows you how well you're doing so far.

How Does Your Diet Contribute to Climate Change? The New York Times quiz allows you to choose common meals and beverages to see how your carbon foodprint compares to others.

The Meat Calculator shows you how much water and carbon dioxide you save if reducing your meat consumption. It also tells you the approximate number of animals that could live from your reduction.

Why this eco-challenge is important

According to "52 Climate Actions", eating less meat and dairy is one of the most powerful actions you can take to reduce your climate impact. This is because meat and dairy have a very high carbon footprint, particularly when it comes to beef and lamb.

The Environmental Working Group have calculated the carbon footprint of one KG of many everyday foods in the U.S. As you can see from the table below, the huge emissions for every kg of lamb, beef, cheese, and chicken make it clear to see why 10-15% of global climate changing gases are from meat and dairy production.
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Everyday Foods: Kg CO₂e per Kg of food
Why beef, lamb, and cheese are so bad for climate change

Sheep and cows are ruminant animals, which means they have specialised stomachs that allow them to eat grass. A by-product of this digestion process is that they release methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times stronger than CO ₂.

There have always been ruminant animals - from North America's bison to Europe's wild sheep and goats. So it's perfectly possible to include farmed ruminants in climate-friendly agriculture. The problem is that the number of ruminants around the globe is rapidly increasing and typically, outside of the UK*, most of them are no longer fed on grass but on corn, soya, or wheat.

Feeding animals on crops like these, that humans can eat, is a very inefficient way of producing food. So on the one hand it's OK to have a little grass-fed beef, lamb, and dairy in your diet, but on the other hand eating these foods in large quantities is a real problem. If you do eat beef, lamb, and dairy, source it well and as locally as possible.

So, a climate friendly diet has three key steps:

1. Minimise consumption of beef and lamb and source it carefully

2. Make a well thought through ethical choice about being vegan, vegetarian or omnivore

3. Reduce the amount of food you waste, especially meat

*In the UK, most cattle are required to be grass-fed at least some of the time - Pasture for Life guarantees all its meat is from 100% grass fed animals.
Is vegan always better?

A vegan diet is better for the climate, and has strong ethical and health reasons as a choice of diet too. When rainforest is cut down to grow soya, it's mainly for feeding to cows, not humans. However, some vegan foods have a high carbon footprint, such as out of season tomatoes and air freighted asparagus, so avoid them.

Being vegan isn't healthy for everyone though; if you're a nursing mother or have an underlying health condition or anaemia, read around the subject first. If you live in a very cold or dry part of the Earth, it may be difficult to get a healthy diet without meat. Similarly, choose your plant-based "meat alternatives" carefully as imitation meats such as vegan nuggets, veggie sausages and burgers, fake chicken pieces, and ready meals, can be ultra-processed. Often these foods contain additives such as emulsifiers, texturisers, and colours and may also be classed as high in added salt, sugar or fat, which have been linked to heart disease and cancer.

Reema Patel, a registered dietitian at Dietitian Fit, says that "Overall, whole foods that are plant based, are considered the most beneficial to our health, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, unprocessed soy, nuts and seeds, rather than vegan products which have undergone a high level of processing".

On the one hand, meat and fish in their purest form are unlikely to be heavily processed because they are a single ingredient food. But on the other hand, there's no denying that eating less meat - and particularly red meat - can come with great health benefits.

There are also ethical reasons for veganism that are based on being kinder to animals and our planet.

But for those who simply cannot give up meat, then the recommendation is to enjoy well-sourced meat less often instead. After all, eating a limited amount of cheese, pork, chicken, and fish and a little grass-fed beef is compatible with a stable climate, especially if everyone does their bit to reduce the overall meat and dairy consumption.

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1. Start planning for your challenge now. It's worth planning ahead for how you're going to tackle your Eat4Change eco-challenge in January. It's useful to create a weekly food plan so that you can shop for the items you need ahead of time and have recipes ready to go when you need them.

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A simple vegan dish that I tried and liked

Jane W

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Vivid green and an amazing way to increase your veg intake, this pasta tastes like so much more than the sum of its parts. Garlicky, fresh and vibrant, it's wonderful.

This recipe is part of a Vegan budget meal plan for two. In September 2023, this recipe was costed at an average of £1.51 when checking prices at three UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.

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This vivid green pasta tastes like so much more than the sum of its parts. Garlicky, fresh and vibrant, it's a wonderful alternative to pesto.