Veganism is becoming increasingly popular in Poland and around the world. It is not only a diet based on plant-based products only, but also a lifestyle and worldview focused on caring for animals and the entire planet. On November 1, we celebrate World Vegan Day, which is a great opportunity to take a closer look at this food trend, as well as get to know the vegan assortment of our confectionery.

What is veganism?

People who follow a vegan diet completely eliminate animal products from their diet, including meat, fish, seafood, dairy products, eggs, honey, and gelatin. Vegans also avoid other products that are produced using animals or cause them to suffer, including cosmetics, clothing, and leather goods. In addition, these people are opposed to entertainment in which animals are the main attraction, so they do not visit zoos, circuses, or oceanariums. So, in a broader sense, veganism is not just about how you eat, but a specific philosophy of life.

Why was World Vegan Day created?

This day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, chairwoman of the British Vegan Society, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the organization. The holiday is primarily intended to promote a vegan lifestyle and encourage people to try and discover nutritious plant-based dishes – alternatives to traditional dishes. What's more, various interesting events are organized on the occasion of World Vegan Day: conferences, meetings, tastings and culinary workshops. All such events help people interested in veganism to gain reliable knowledge about a plant-based diet and additional motivation, and also support the community. World Vegan Day also becomes a pretext for conducting talks about the ethical treatment of animals and the protection of the natural environment.

Is a vegan diet healthy?

Supporters of the vegan lifestyle consider this way of eating to be the healthiest. At the same time The American Nutrition Association has recognized the vegan diet as appropriate for all population groups. This applies to adults, as well as people with special nutritional requirements, such as children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and athletes. Additionally, the advantages of veganism have been pointed out, resulting primarily from limiting the consumption of red meat and saturated fats. In addition, a large share of the vegan diet is occupied by fruits and vegetables, which are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Its health-promoting nature can contribute to protection against the occurrence of many diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cancer. These are the so-called diseases of civilization.

Is it worth switching to a plant-based diet?

In addition to the health reasons mentioned above, there are several other reasons why some people decide to adopt a vegan lifestyle. One of the main reasons is the ethical aspect of killing animals – vegans and vegetarians can remain in accordance with their own conscience, because their diet does not contribute to the suffering of these living beings. An equally important motive for switching to a plant-based diet has become concern for the common planet for many people. Studies show that an economy based on animal agriculture is more burdensome for the natural environment than the production of plant-based food – due to greater greenhouse gas emissions and significant water consumption. Veganism, on the other hand, helps reduce these negative effects in nature.

It is also worth adding that plant-based cuisine offers a wealth of flavors, spices, and combinations. Currently, we have wide access to a variety of vegan products on the market, from which you can easily create fantastic dishes.

Vegan pastries at Jacek Placek Confectionery

As a company in the catering industry, we want to follow modern food trends and respond to changing market needs to satisfy different taste preferences of our customers. That is why we have introduced Jacek Placka to our assortment some time ago =>special cakes – with people with special dietary requirements in mind. Among them, you will find primarily suggestions for baked goods for vegans. We offer vegan apple pie, poppy seed cake, shortcrust pastry with cherries, as well as FIT shortcrust cookies. All these products are made exclusively from plant-based ingredients based on traditional recipes of our founders.

For special occasions, we have created =>vegan strawberry cake, also ideal for people with lactose intolerance. We prepare the sponge cake based on oat milk and pumpkin. And to make the cream we use aquafaba, i.e. water left after cooking chickpeas - perfect for whipping. We also add strawberries to the resulting mass to give it the delicious flavor of these fruits, and we decorate the top and sides of the cake with them. Everything looks great and tastes delicious!

We cordially invite you to taste our delicious vegan pastries and celebrate World Vegan Day with us!