In 2020, amidst the global pandemic, Veganuary was a roaring success and managed to cut through the noise of Covid-19 and see a record breaking 580,000 participants sign up. This year and with the pandemic still front of mind, Thomas Franks London used our voice to champion plant-based, healthful food choices through the Veganuary workplace challenge.
Our Group Director of Health and Wellbeing, Christine Bailey MSc PGCE MIFM MBANT teamed up with our London client location to host a series of webinars for their teams globally. 235 members spanning Europe, Americas and APAC from our London client location signed up to join the conversation showing that attitudes towards plant-based diets have been steadily evolving and have now become quite the hot topic.
The first session discussed ways to Eat for the Environment; how plant based diets are vital for promoting the health of our planet. Swapping beef for beans is more sustainable, helping to fight climate change and dramatically lowering our environmental footprint. Currently, we are consuming the planet’s natural resources faster than the Earth can replenish them. Our planet is heating up. By replacing meat with vegetarian sources of protein, (nuts, seeds, beans and lentils), we can reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions so that we are firing on all cylinders whilst our planet can be restored to its natural balance.
The following session discussed how, what we choose to put on our fork is more powerful than any pill or medicine when it comes to our health. Plant Power is all about making simple changes to our diet so that plants become more central to our meals. Whilst vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian diets can often be deemed as an option for the more ‘woke’ amongst us, actually a sustainable diet is a cheaper option.
Christine’s informative webinar touted the perks of eating plants and cutting back on meat. Whether you are an environmental advocate, an animal lover or simply, want to live your best healthiest life, being plant based is the one underlying thread that seems to be compelling so many of us. Going plant based is not so much a diet as it is a general approach to eating by powering up our plates with more plants and reaping the wellbeing rewards.
Celebrating fresh, local, seasonal produce is at the heart of our food at Thomas Franks London. We are passionate about creating delicious, nourishing dishes that are kind to our bodies and the planet. Our Plant Power project seeks to encourage us all, whatever our age to eat more plants. The aim is to encourage long term healthy eating patterns that are both sustainable and achievable. Wake Up With Plants, Jazz Up Your Salad, Super Soups and Get Saucy are just a few of our initiatives at our London client location that focus on the nutrients that we need to keep our minds and bodies fighting fit.
By spearheading the Veganuary challenge and advocating the compelling reasons to try switching meat for plants based alternatives, our webinars sought to amplify the movement. The inspiring discussion certainly offered our global audience food for thought, “Love this, thank you for the inspiration and the education. I’m in!” and “It’s good to feel I am doing something, it’s easier than you think!” were just a couple of the positive feedback received. Our London client location gave us an incredible platform to encourage diets that are high in human health benefits and low in environmental impacts. Together we can overcome whatever challenges the future may hold one dish at a time!
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” Arundhati Roy
