With an increasing number of individuals opting to reduce or eliminate meat from their diets for health, environmental, or ethical reasons, the demand for resources supporting a plant-based lifestyle has surged. Magazines dedicated to vegan and vegetarian diets have become invaluable tools, offering recipes, nutritional advice, lifestyle tips, and inspiration for both seasoned vegans and those simply "vegan curious". This article explores a range of plant-based diet magazines, highlighting their unique features and contributions to the vegan community.
The Vegan: A Quarterly Publication by The Vegan Society
The Vegan is the award-winning quarterly magazine published by The Vegan Society, delivered directly to its members. It serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals navigating the vegan lifestyle, whether they are long-time adherents or just beginning their journey. A key benefit of Vegan Society membership is the exclusive access to The Vegan, available in both printed and digital formats. The physical magazine is produced by Seacourt, known for its environmentally-friendly printing practices. Recent editions have featured interviews with figures like vegan chef Omari McQueen and articles from contributors such as gardener Danielle James.
Veganic Gardening: A Feature in The Vegan
Danielle James's article in The Vegan sheds light on "veganic gardening," a practice that aligns with vegan principles by employing vegan and organic methods in green spaces. Veganic gardening avoids harm to animals and relies on plant-based fertilizers, promoting biodiversity and eliminating the need for pesticides, harmful chemicals, GMOs, and animal by-products. James recounts her childhood experiences in garden centers and her later connection between cooking, gardening, and veganism.
Contributing to The Vegan
The Vegan welcomes contributions from vegan writers, journalists, and recipe developers, offering commissions starting at £250 for articles and £150 for reviews. The magazine also encourages members to share their thoughts on the publication and various vegan topics. Membership in The Vegan Society starts from £2 a month, supporting the organization's efforts to promote veganism, aid vulnerable vegans, and collaborate with institutions and governments.
Plant-Based Resources at the New York Public Library
The New York Public Library offers a variety of resources, including books and e-magazines, to support individuals interested in plant-based diets.
Read also: Delicious Plant Paradox Breakfasts
Books
- How to Cook Everything: Vegetarian: This book by Mark Bittman, features over 2,000 straightforward and delicious recipes covering various aspects of meatless cooking, including salads, soups, eggs and dairy, vegetables and fruit, pasta, grains, legumes, tofu, breads, condiments, desserts, and beverages.
- I Can Cook Vegan: Bryant Terry, a food justice activist, presents the fundamentals of plant-based cooking, teaching readers how to create delicious meals using vegetables, grains, and legumes.
- The Part-Time Vegetarian Cookbook: This cookbook emphasizes a flexitarian approach, focusing on vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, eggs, and dairy foods, with meat or fish playing a secondary role.
- Plum: Gratifying Vegan Dishes from Seattle's Plum Bistro: Makini Howell shares innovative plant-based recipes from her vegan fine-dining restaurant, with many recipes being allergen-friendly, gluten-free, or soy-free.
- Vegetarian Chinese Soul Food: Hsiao-Ching Chou offers vegetarian recipes for stir-fries, rice and noodle dishes, soups, braises, and pickles, including vegetarian versions of dumplings and dim sum.
- Vegetable Kingdom: The Abundant World of Vegan Recipes: Bryant Terry celebrates the diversity of vegan cuisine with flavorful recipes centered on vegetables, beans, grains, and nuts.
- East Meets Vegan: Sasha Gill blends Eastern and Western culinary traditions to create plant-based dishes that are both comforting and nutritious.
- Root: Small vegetable plates, a little meat on the side: Rob Howell offers vegetable-centric dishes with the option of adding small portions of meat.
- The Book of Veg: The Joy of Eating Veggies: Alice Zaslavsky provides a comprehensive guide to handling and cooking vegetables, featuring over 150 recipes.
- Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan: This book offers creative plant-based recipes without compromising on taste or variety, covering dishes from mac 'n cheese to English fry-ups and ice cream sundaes.
- Dinner Daily: 30 Minutes to a Complete Vegan Meal: Nisha Melvani makes vegan cooking accessible with recipes for complete vegan dinners that can be prepared in 30 minutes.
E-Magazines
The New York Public Library also provides access to numerous e-magazines about food, cooking, eating, and health through platforms like Flipster and PressReader.
Strategies for Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet
Transitioning to a plant-based diet can be a rewarding but challenging process. Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, and Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN, offer several strategies for success:
- Set a Time Period Goal: Start with a short-term commitment, such as three weeks, to assess how you feel and track changes in energy and mood.
- Meal Plan and Prep: Plan your meals for the week and prepare ingredients in advance to avoid reverting to old habits when hunger strikes.
- Stock Your Pantry and Fridge: Keep essential plant-based foods, such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans, readily available.
- Don’t Count Calories: Focus on the abundance of nutrients and nourishment provided by a plant-based diet.
- Keep a Cheat Sheet of Plant-Based Protein Options: Identify your favorite plant-based protein sources and keep a list handy for quick reference.
- Go Slowly: Gradually incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet, starting with a few days a week and expanding from there.
- Be Patient with Yourself: Don’t get discouraged by occasional slips; focus on progress and learning from your experiences.
- Lean on Prepared Foods if Needed: Utilize convenient plant-based options, such as meat alternatives and packaged snacks, in moderation.
- Don’t Just Eat Veggies for Your Meals: Ensure your meals are nutritionally balanced by including a variety of plant-based protein sources, grains, and healthy fats.
- Find Your Tribe: Connect with others who are following a plant-based diet for support and inspiration.
- Listen to How You Feel: Pay attention to how your body responds to different foods and adjust your diet accordingly.
Featured Vegan and Vegetarian Magazines
Several magazines cater specifically to the vegan and vegetarian audience, offering a wealth of information and inspiration.
1. VegNews
VegNews is a leading vegetarian and vegan magazine that covers a wide range of topics, including news, recipes, interviews, product reviews, and lifestyle articles. Available in both print and digital formats, VegNews has become a go-to resource for many in the vegan community.
2. Forks Over Knives Magazine
Inspired by the Forks Over Knives documentary, this magazine focuses on health and nutrition, offering recipes, expert advice, and real-life success stories for healthful living. It promotes a whole-food, plant-based diet and provides resources for those seeking to improve their health through nutrition.
Read also: Nutritious Granola Recipes
3. Vegetarian Times Magazine
Vegetarian Times Magazine offers recipes, health information, gardening tips, and how-to guides. While it has transitioned to an online-only format with a premium ad-free option, it remains a valuable resource for vegetarian and vegan recipes that use readily available ingredients.
4. Chickpea Magazine
Chickpea Magazine is an independent publication that focuses on mindful and sustainable living. Each issue contains evergreen content, including recipes, DIY projects, personal stories, and articles on various topics.
5. Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine
Vegan Health & Fitness Magazine (VHF) integrates plant-based living with health and fitness insights. Launched in 2012, VHF aims to promote a healthier and more compassionate world by focusing on veganism in the context of health and fitness.
6. Vegan Food & Living
Vegan Food & Living focuses on making plant-based living easy, enjoyable, and accessible. It provides recipes, health advice, and lifestyle tips, catering to both long-time vegans and those new to plant-based eating. The magazine also publishes the UK’s best-selling vegan magazine, filled with seasonal recipes, news, and guides.
100 Best Recipes (Deliciously Updated for 2025!)
The special issue "100 Best Recipes," initially launched in January 2021, features a collection of top-rated recipes, including breakfast dishes, plant-based desserts, and everything in between.
Read also: Advantages of a Plant-Based Cleanse