We all know someone who has made a personal change during these months of the COVID pandemic, be it starting a new hobby, cutting their hair in a new style, or switching up something about their diet. We here at Tangle Chocolate are advocates for finding small ways to add joy to your life, especially in times like this.
Going vegan is a way that some people have found joy this season, although others will find that hard to believe. Why go vegan?
For one thing, it’s great for the environment. The meat industry creates huge deforestation, soil degradation, air pollution, and food waste. The greenhouse gases produced by raising livestock for food is greater than the greenhouse gases produced by all forms of transportation combined. The resources used for meat production could be transformed into resources that feed the world in more efficient, plant-based ways that would benefit the environment as well.
The second reason to go vegan is that it’s good for your health. Studies show that a vegan diet can lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Of course, there are lots of obstacles to going vegan. You might love the taste of meat; you might be intimidated about cooking vegan meals; you might not want to give up the cultural significance that some meat dishes have. Making a significant change in your diet can be a difficult adjustment, and it can be easier to start small. Cutting out certain foods, or cutting out certain foods on certain days of the week, can be a great way to begin, or even a very worthy end goal.
One way to start small might be by eating only vegan chocolate. Most dark chocolates are vegan, including Tangle Chocolate dark chocolate THINS— check the labels before you buy to make sure. There are even some vegan milk chocolates: Equal Exchange and Raaka both make bars with coconut milk, for example. Boom CHOCO Boom has a rice milk bar, and RAD chocolate is made with almond and cashew milk.
Vegan chocolate is also high in antioxidants, much like certain fruits and nuts. It also has similar qualities to coffee, and can provide a burst of natural energy. Next time you're looking for a quick pick-me-up, try a mug of our vegan hot chocolate--just use steaming plant-based milk or water instead of cow's milk!
Beyond health benefits, vegan chocolate lets you appreciate the taste of the cacao more clearly. Chocolate is a highly nuanced food, and the nuances can often be clouded by sweeteners, flavorings, and lactose additives.
Taking a new step in life can be as small as a 9-calorie sliver of Tangle Chocolate.
http://www.jean-rouaud.com/top-benefits-vegan-chocolate/
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/9-reasons-why-veganism-can-save-the-world/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/09/revealed-20-firms-third-carbon-emissions
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200122-are-there-health-benefits-to-going-vegan