ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK
Not so long ago, being vegan marked you out as a food extremist: a skinny hippy who was a headache to cook for and who probably knitted their own yogurt. How things have changed.
Riding the crest of the wellness movement wave and a renewed interest in healthy eating, veganism is sweeping up more of the British population than ever before. Research by the Vegan Society shows there are now 542,000 vegans in Britain, up 360 per cent since 2006. And as the numbers have surged, the face of veganism has changed too. The stereotypical skinny hippy has made way for buff athletes, glamorous celebs and foodies who want their meals to be delicious as well as ethically sound and nutritious. It might not be there yet, but veganism is heading mainstream.