campaigns > vegan pledge 10

London Vegan Pledge 2010

Forty three Londoners made a healthy and compassionate start to 2010 by pledging to go vegan for a month from 23 January to 20 February. Just over half of the pledgers ate either meat or fish (37% were meat eaters; 17% were pescetarian) the rest (46%) were already vegetarian. Most people found out about the pledge through word of mouth (18), a leaflet (16) or email list (9), and 2 people from the Vegan Campaigns website.

The participants attended meetings at the start and end of the vegan month at Somerstown Community Centre in Central London. On arrival they received a free info pack, including our Vegan Beginner Guide with recipes and advice on vegan living.

In the morning, those taking part were introduced to their “vegan buddy”. These experienced vegans facilitated small groups, giving participants the chance to discuss their reasons for taking the pledge and raise any concerns they had. Participants took the pledge for a variety of reasons, including animal suffering, the environment or to improve their health. Some saw it as a step to going vegan long term, others simply as a challenge or way of finding out more about the vegan diet.

The meeting also included a vegan quiz, a savoury cookery demonstration by Clare Persey of Fairfoods and a nutrition talk by dietician Sandra Hood. There was a full vegan buffet at lunchtime including chickpea korma, Cheesly and spinach pie, raw salads, and a selection of vegan cakes. The first meeting finished on a high note with Alex Bourke of Vegetarian Guides presenting an entertaining slide show entitled “Eating out in London and beyond”.

During the month buddies kept in touch with their pledgers by email and phone and sometimes by meeting up, for example to go shopping at an organic fruit and veg market. The majority described their buddies as very helpful, both at the meeting and in between. For example: “Very encouraging and friendly emails with lots of useful internet links”…“Brilliant. Robb sent some really useful emails and links and met up with us half way through for vegan cakes!”

Vegan Campaigns also sent weekly emails, giving useful weblinks on a different topic each week, such as eating out or socialising. The pancake recipe just before Shrove Tuesday was particularly well received. “Just to let you know that I cooked pancakes tonight using your recipe. I was initially very skeptical but was proved totally wrong. They were absolutely delicious sprinkled with brown sugar and lemon juice!”

The pledgers came back at the end of the month and discussed their experiences of being vegan. Though there were some challenges such as eating out and reading labels most enjoyed the pledge. Rather than feeling restricted many found the vegan diet opened up lots of new, exciting and healthier food options.

Participants enjoyed trying out new foods and recipes, feeling healthier and helping animals and the environment. One pledger said she enjoyed “Everything! The food, the feeling that I was eating so healthily, loosing weight, the fact that I can eat and live without harming anything.”

We gave feedback to the group on how they had improved their health, helped the environment and saved animals – Kelly Slade from Animal Aid estimated the group saved 300 animals in just one month!

We were lucky to have the involvement of two nutrition experts Stephen Walsh author of “Plant Based Nutrition” and dietician Sandra Hood. Sandra used a detailed health questionnaire to assess the before and after health of the group. Along with our team of health volunteers, she also measured the body mass index, waist to hip ratio and blood pressure of participants on day one and at the end of the month.

Stephen Walsh analysed these health check results and gave feedback at the second meeting. Twenty nine people had before and after health checks. The group experienced some positive health benefits during the month. On average they each lost 1.4kg in weight, 1.6cm from their waist and 1.3cm from hips. The waist to hip ratio of the group (an indication of the risk of heart disease) went from 0.822 before the pledge to 0.816 at the end of the month. The group’s average blood pressure was also very slightly lower at end of the month.

One participant had slightly raised cholesterol of 5.1 at the start of the month and this stayed the same when re-tested at meeting two. However, the only pledger in the group to have high cholesterol of 7.5 prior to taking the pledge was delighted to see this drop to 5.7 by the end of the month. He took the pledge because he wanted improved health and thought the vegan diet would be a better solution to raised blood pressure and raised cholesterol than prescribed medications.

At the end of the month he decided to stay vegan and wrote “I wish to continue with the health improvement manifested at the second weigh in (reduced blood pressure and cholesterol). More vegetarians should learn of the excellent work you are doing! Vegetarians who claim to be concerned about animal welfare are stuck half way as are those who claim that a vegetarian diet is healthy.”

Stephen then inspired the pledgers to continue by describing the long-term benefits of a healthy vegan diet, and explaining the best way to achieve this. After the meeting, Sandra Hood analysed the before and after health questionnaires. 42% (11) stated their health improved, the remainder stated it stayed the same.

Overall there was an improvement in all areas (energy levels, hair, skin and nails) with the exception of memory which was unchanged. There were no real negative comments except one person who reported increased flatulence! Another person said they could have eaten more healthily with better planning. Two people commented on how they felt much “lighter” and another who suffered with irritable bowel syndrome said they felt less bloated. Read more health results.

Matanah from Spirited Palace Café introduced pledgers to the art of vegan baking, demonstrating a delicious cake with samples and recipes. We ended the meeting with a talk from Brian Jacobs, hypnotherapist on how to stay motivated followed by the inspiring Vegan Society film “Truth or Dairy”. Everyone received a vegan goody bag on their way out.

We also organised a trip to Huggletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary on Saturday 13 March. Pledgers met and connected with farmed animals including cows, chickens and sheep, giving further motivation to embrace a vegan lifestyle.

The third London Vegan Pledge had amazing results, with 26 of the participants (60%) planning to stay vegan. Most of the rest (33%) are now almost vegan or cutting down on animal products. This is a slight increase in numbers and percentage from last year when 23 (58%) decided to stay vegan. Two of the pledgers wrote: “It’s a decision which I have thought about for years. The vegan pledge was the motivation I needed” “I feel great being a vegan, I don't intend to go back”

A further 14 (33%) participants will eat more vegan food; 3 were still considering going vegan either now or in the future, and two have decided to go vegetarian from eating meat. Again, this is an improvement on last year when 7 out of the 40 said they would eat more vegan food. Only 3 pledgers will go back to their original diet. Reasons for not going vegan included lacked of availability of vegan products, difficulty in eating out, financial and personal preference.

Pledgers completed evaluation forms after both meetings and gave very positive feedback with some suggestions for improvement, such as better venue and better time keeping. People particularly enjoyed the food especially at meeting 2 where 93% rated it as excellent, the remainder as “good”.

The pledge overall was rated as excellent by 76% of those who completed the final questionnaire, the rest said it was “good”. Some comments are: “Very well organised, friendly, clear info and great food”… “It was really good - a whole range of activities on the subject - excellent!”… “Thank you very much again to everyone who is involved in organising this pledge…. I enjoyed learning, meeting people and of course the lovely vegan food!! Thank you!!!”…“Very very helpful in being motivated and transition from vegetarian to vegan!”

The Vegan Pledge is a great way of encouraging people to go vegan, and we will run it again in 2011. But anyone thinking of going vegan need not wait until then; the Vegan Society has an ongoing pledge where support is given by email. Sign up at www.vegansociety.org.uk.

This event was organised by Vegan Campains, a volunteer run group promoting veganism in and around London. Thanks to all those who took part and to everyone who helped on the day. Also, a big thank you to the Vegan Society and Vegfund for sponsoring the pledge, and to the following companies for donating products:

Alara
Animal Aid
Bute Island
Clearspring
Just Wholefoods
Plamil
Rebecca's Cakes
Redwoods
Suma
Swedish Glace
Tropical Wholefoods
Vegetarian Guides
Vx Shop


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