For some, going vegan is an ethical decision; for others, it is about health. Studies have shown that, on average, vegans have a healthier Body Mass Index and have lower cholesterol levels. What’s more, by going vegan, you can dramatically decrease your greenhouse gas emissions by half. Whatever your reason for experimenting with veganism, November is probably a good time to try it as there is so much support out there due to World Vegan Month which starts today (November 1st) with World Vegan Day

We fear it may be a long month, but we’re hoping a few recommended products and venues will help us though it…

To drink:

Benefit Shakes are the UK’s first fruity almond “milk”– shakes. No more juicing, mixing and mess in the kitchen to get your perfect dairy-free fruit blend, these 250ml bottles of yum come chilled and ready to drink. Made in the UK by Lovely Fodder Ltd, Benefit Shakes are one of the first fruit shakes to combine the idea of a milkshake with natural fruit juices and vitamin enriched almond “milk”. The Blueberry & Acai version is vegan friendly and also counts as one of your five-a-day.

But if you fancy something a bit less fruity and more fizzy, grab a can (yes a can!) of Most Wanted slightly sparkling Pinto Grigio. Getting through Veganuary is hard enough for a first timer so there’s no way we’re combining it with Dry January! But did you know that most wines contain animal products? Luckily for us, not Most Wanted’s delicious Pinot Grigio, it’s keeping us going at the weekends!

To eat:

The joy that is Quorn has developed from a niche brand into a way of cooking life for many of us. Whether you’re veggie or not, Quorn offers an appealing alternative to meat as it’s so low in fat but still provides plenty of protein. And now the brand has extended its range of vegan products, so you can now get anything from burgers and fillets to fajita strips and fishless fingers. The vegan line certainly lacks a chewiness, but is pretty tasty, and great to use as an ingredient in bigger dishes such as casseroles or enchilladas.

If pizza is your thing then you need to try the new Margherita by free-from range Kirsty’s. Topped with a creamy ‘vegan cheese’, this is the best vegan and free-from pizza we’ve tried. While vegan cheese will never totally fulfil our tastebuds, this pizza uses the best of the bunch, and the spicy tomato sauce couple with a crispy gluten-free base makes it a meal worth having. Not only is the pizza suitable for a wide variety of dietary requirements and allergy sufferers but is a healthier alternative to regular pizza too, coming in at under 660 calories for the whole pizza, which is also low in sugar and saturated fats. Buy exclusively from Tescos.

Mindful Chef is a health-focused recipe box subscription service which offers a 100% Vegan meal box option. All the recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and contain no refined carbs. Customers receive a weekly box containing recipe cards, pre-portioned ingredients and fresh produce sourced from small award-winning British farms. Each recipe features just 10 ingredients and takes a maximum of 30 minutes to prepare – perfect for the busy Belle who wants to cook mindful meals.

Providing a wide range of box options to suit all lifestyles, Mindful Chef offer 1, 2 and 4 person boxes. The boxes start from £4.50 per portion and are delivered free of charge to homes and offices across the UK.

If you’re a pasta fiend, do try Explore Cuisine’s pant-based range. Their selection of pasta from across the globe integrates beans, peas, lentils and rice to provide you with the basis for nourishing meals that are easy, quick, naturally colourful and most importantly delicious. Explore Cuisine’s range is a healthier alternative to traditional pasta that looks, cooks and keeps the same texture as regular pasta. Crafted from organic beans, chickpeas and lentils, unlike standard wheat pasta, these pastas are gluten-free, high in protein and high in fibre. Perfect for filling you up without the uncomfortable bloated feeling that often follows indulgence.

To go:

High Street chains are getting in on the act with vegan dishes available at favourites such as Pizza Express and Wagamama. Pizza Express offers the vegan Giardiniera, which combines artichokes with asparagus, red onion, garlic oil, black olives and seasoning, on a classic dough and passata base. Not only this, but following feedback from their customers, requesting the Italian-made vegan mozzarella alternative, this cheese is now available to be used across all of their pizzas – making it a great option for those experimenting with veganism.

Already open at Boxpark Croydon, Boxpark Shoreditch and Camden, the UK’s first vegan doner kebab restaurant What The Pitta will open their fourth brand in Brighton this month. The famed vegan kebabs include non-GMO soya pieces marinated in a blend of their secret spices, and provide the perfect healthy, guilt-free meal. The bread is handmade on site in front of customers, and filled with homemade hummus, tzatziki, fresh salads and chilli sauce. 

In London, fine dining Japanese restaurant Ginza Onodera offers an incredible vegan sushi roll (pictured right) filled with endives, red pepper, cucumber, sorrels, pickled carrots and avocado, and garnished with Yoshinogawa seaweed and pumpkin and pomegranate seeds. Or head to Gauthier Soho, Ceviche in Old Street, and Lyle’s in Shoreditch for daily offerings of vegan meals that are bursting with flavour and goodness.

Just opened in St James’s, head to Baby Bao which has already built up a loyal following with vegans in Brighton with their Meat Free Monday menu. They have plenty of vegan bao and sides at their newly opened London site too such as their Mushroom bao with sweet n’ sour, miso mayo, crispy shallots, scallion and pickled carrot.  Chakra Kensington is a recently refurbished Indian restaurant with a dedicated vegan menu featuring highlights such as Chakra Channa, Assam tea-infused chickpea curry cooked with channa masala powder and tomatoes. 

Out of town, try Home Bar and Kitchen in Ickenham which boasts an ever-changing vegan specials board, as well as gluten-free and organic options; Or Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Place which offers fine dining vegan delights including a carrot and cumin puree starter served with chargrilled pointed cabbage and lemon emulsion, a chestnut and sage crushed Butternut, butternut fondant served with crispy kale, oyster mushrooms, roasted pine kernels and butternut puree, and a wild mushroom quinoa complimented with charred broccoli, mushroom powder and roasted shallots. 

To read:

If you’re still stuck for inspiration on where to dine, invest in a copy of Vegan London, the ultimate handbook for hungry Londoners and tourists alike, listing venues, menus and more. Compiled by vegan blogger Serena Lee, you can find anything vegan from bangers ‘n’ mash to banh mi between the pages, and in the capital. With eighty of London’s best vegan and vegan-friendly establishments at your fingertips, you’ll find food and drink for every budget and for any occasion, all done the ethical way.

To use:

If you’re giving Veganuary a real go, you might not have realised that your beauty regime could also be affected. While testing on animals is thankfully not so common with brands any more, many still contain animal-derivative ingredients. If the product is vegan – it will tell you. If it doesn’t it’s unlikely to be!

While more and more brands are joining the organic, vegan movements, not all manage to combine their ethical stance with product quality. However, here is our pick of the ones that do:

• For hair: Argan Oil of Morocco has a whole range of haircare products which contain the finest certified organic Argan Oil, which has been used for centuries by Berber women to naturally nourish, moisturise and restore shine and softness to the hair. And as well as being 100% organic, the range is also 100% vegan. 
• For skin: DAYTOX. Not just a single detox treatment, but a detox skin care range that can easily be slotted into your daily routine, and is 100% vegan. A combination of clinically tested active detoxifying substances, medicinal plants and precious oils stimulate and support cell renewal and give great results. Available from Waitrose, priced between £10 – £29. Belle recommends the Volcanic Mud mask (RRP £20) which can be used either as a daily cleansing foam or a gentle purifying mask. 
• For teeth: White Glo’s Pure and Natural toothpaste is completely vegan and organic. Free from fluoride, harmful chemicals and bleaches that are often incorporated into tooth whitening products, White Glo’s toothpaste formula whitens teeth with natural ingredients. Worryingly there are an estimated one billion plastic toothbrushes contained within landfill sites across the U.S alone. To try and combat this, White Glo’s toothpaste includes a free biodegradable bamboo toothbrush that naturally decomposes as opposed to plastic toothbrushes that take an estimated 400 years. RRP £6 and available from Boots.