Switching to a vegan diet can be beneficial to both your body and the environment, and with World Vegan Day on 1 November there has never been a better time to give a vegan diet a try!
According to PETA, the largest animal rights movement in the world, meat is not environmentally friendly, and when you consume it, you are adding to one of the biggest causes of climate change our Earth is currently suffering.
“By some estimates, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all of the world’s transportation systems combined. According to the United Nations, a global shift toward a vegan diet is vital to combat the worst effects of the climate crisis” according to PETA.
With this being said, it can be hard to transition to a vegan diet. There is the cost of vegan food produce and the fact that most of us might not even know where to begin. To try and make things a little easier for those considering making the switch, SIN has compiled a list of some of the best places in Galway City offering vegan options.
First up, Greens & Co. located on Henry Street are a plant-based eatery who serve fresh food and drinks. Their entire menu, including the milks and cheeses, are 100% plant based and vegan. Serving breakfast, all day brunch and all-day lunch options from 10:30am – 5:30pm every Monday to Sunday, they have the means to encourage a meat-free diet. Sunday roast, hotdogs, pancakes and an array of sweet vegan treats are all on offer at Greens & Co.
Next, The Lighthouse Café on Abbeygate Street has been serving Galway vegan and vegetarian options since 2017. Mark Legh, who runs the cafe with Kerry Legh, works with as many local suppliers as possible; “We believe that eating vegetarian/vegan food shouldn’t mean compromising on flavour, or replacing meat with heavily processed fake meat alternatives, our dishes are made using fresh veg, nuts, legumes, spices and seeds.” With a breakfast, lunch and drinks menu full of vegan options, including a full vegan fry-up, a sweet potato & white bean burger, a daily plant-based hotpot, and oat milk pancakes, they have covered all the vegan bases that you might want.
The wildly popular Dough Bros on Middle Street have been voted 37th for the Best Pizzeria in the World for 2022, number one in Ireland for 2022 and 16th in Europe 2022, and the numbers really do speak for themselves. If you want to stick to your new vegan diet on a night out, then Dough Bros wood fired pizza have options for everyone. Vince Vega-N, Legalise Marinara, Hey Pesto, Vegan Bros’Chetta, and their Vegan Garlic Dip are all of their vegan options that are just as tasty and environmentally friendly.
Xi’an Street Food on Quay Street have a goal to remain real and authentic by honouring the thousand-year-old culture and taste of Xi’an. Their famous spice bag has become a staple of Galway City cuisine and they have created a version that deserves just as much popularity, but with a vegan twist. The Veggie Spice Bag has deep fried tofu, veggie balls, chips and their spice mix and this can be purchased with a dipping sauce and drink of your choice for €12.50. They also serve a Handmade Veggie Mixed Salad, which is a fresh salad mixed with greens, veggie balls and a sauce of your choice. A bite of China, but make it vegan!
With this list in hand, there is no reason to not at least try a vegan meal, if not for yourself then for the environment. Go on, get ready for Veganuary and start this month!
