In Hospitals

The rights of vegan service users

Veganism has been found to come within the scope of international human rights provisions and vegans in the UK are protected under human rights and equality law. This means that hospitals have an obligation to ensure that they do not interfere with a vegan’s right to freedom of conscience, and a responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to avoid any discrimination on the grounds of veganism.

Definition of veganism

Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.

Reasons why people go vegan

• It helps animals
• It can reduce your impact on the environment - a vegan diet can reduce your food related carbon emissions by 50%.
• Well-planned vegan diets support excellent health
• It reduces the demand for feeding crops to non-human animals

Nutrition

A vegan diet excludes all animal products, including meat, fish, milk, eggs and honey, so vegan service users should not be given any food containing them. The Vegan Society and the British Dietetic Association work together to share reliable information about vegan nutrition, including the message that well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages. Visit our nutrition zone to find out about how vegans obtain essential nutrients from diets that exclude animal products.

Nutritional care should be provided in a way that respects equality and diversity. This is a relevant quote from the Care Quality Commission:

"When a person has specific dietary requirements relating to moral or ethical beliefs, such as vegetarianism, these requirements must be fully considered and met. Every effort should be made to meet people's preferences…"

If someone tells you that they need vegan meals, follow these three simple steps:

1. Ask them if they have any other dietary requirements
2. If you’re not sure what is available, speak to the housekeeper or catering manager
3. Make sure that dairy-free spread and fortified plant milk are available

Benefits of vegan catering

• It’s the most inclusive option. Vegan food will be enjoyed by most people, including:
  • Vegans, vegetarians and people who eat meat and fish
  • Those trying to limit their consumption of animal products
  • People with allergies to milk and/or eggs (if free from these allergens)

  Vegan meals may be acceptable to people who eat Kosher or Halal food; this must be discussed on an individual basis

• It’s better for the environment. Research has associated vegan diets with the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide – a strong vegan offering helps to make your catering service more sustainable.
• It’s easy. Producing tasty meals that are rich in fibre, low in cholesterol-raising saturated fat, and provide multiple servings of fruit and vegetables is straightforward when serving vegan food. Vegan options are particularly valuable for service users, staff and visitors who are nutritionally well.

Medical nutrition

Currently, medical nutrition companies are not manufacturing nutritionally complete products that are suitable for vegans. The closest you can get to a supplement drink is a commercial vegan-friendly meal shake, and even soya-based tube feed contains vitamin D3 from animal fat. If an undernourished vegan is unable to obtain adequate nutrition from a food-based approach, it’s important to discuss options in a sensitive manner. The Vegan Society’s definition of veganism recognises that it’s not always possible to avoid animal use, but bear in mind that it could be the first time in decades that this person has considered consuming a nutrition product containing animal ingredients.

Medicine

A vegan may have no alternative to using a medical product that is tested on animals and contains ingredients of animal origin. Again, sensitive discussion of the options available is important. Sometimes, it’s possible to find a suitable alternative to a medicine containing animal ingredients. For more information, check out this blog about medication written by a pharmacist, and this blog about surgery written by a doctor.

Further information

Person-centred care blog

If you'd like to explain your rights to your hospital, you can use the form at the bottom of this page to access our template email or use the letters in word.  

The rights of vegan patients

Veganism has been found to come within the scope of international human rights provisions and vegans in the UK are protected under human rights and equality law. This means that hospitals have an obligation to ensure that they do not interfere with a vegan’s right to freedom of conscience, and a responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to avoid any discrimination on the grounds of veganism.

Medicine

The definition of veganism recognises that it’s not always possible to avoid animal use in a non-vegan world, and this is particularly relevant to medical situations. Keeping well helps us to be effective advocates for veganism.

You may have no alternative to using medicine that is tested on animals and contains ingredients of animal origin. Sometimes, it is possible to find a suitable alternative to a medicine containing animal ingredients. For more information, check out this blog about medication written by a pharmacist, and this blog about surgery written by a doctor.

Hospital stays

If you know that you’re going into hospital, you can ring ahead to find out about their vegan offering. Call the switchboard, and ask for the catering department. Once you've made contact, find out the following information:

• The best member of ward staff to speak to about catering, such as the housekeeper
• Are vegan options on the main menu, a separate menu, or made to order?
• Will there be a delay between ordering and receiving vegan food, and if so, how will the catering service fill this gap?
• Provision of fortified plant milk and dairy-free spread

Ward staff may have limited understanding of vegan nutrition. You might find it useful to complete this form, and use it to explain your needs.

Feedback

Whether you want to rate or slate it, please consider providing the hospital with feedback about your experience. During your stay, you can ask to speak to the nurse in charge. You can also use the hospital’s website to locate information about how to contact the nurse in charge of the ward or a department manager and how to submit feedback in other ways, such as contacting the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service / Concerns Team. For patients in England, another option is to share your experience on the NHS website (search for your service and post a review).

Vegan Society support

If you feel that hospital staff are struggling to meet your vegan needs, and you’re finding it difficult to resolve the situation, you can seek support by calling 07482 363922 on weekdays. If you have a non-urgent query, you can email KnowYourRights[at]vegansociety[dot]com.

If you’re seeing a clinical dietitian, Vegan Society dietitians might offer to provide relevant information, but the clinical dietitian is ultimately responsible for your dietetic care, and a case discussion may not be appropriate.

If you'd like to explain your rights to your hospital, you can use the form below to access our template email or use the letters in word. Just complete the fields, press copy, then paste into your email browser - you'll then see the full suggested email to send to your hospital.  

Benefits of vegan catering

• It’s the most inclusive option. Vegan food will be enjoyed by most people, including:
  • Vegans, vegetarians and people who eat meat and fish
  • Those trying to limit their consumption of animal products
  • People with allergies to milk and/or eggs (if free from these allergens)

  Vegan meals may be acceptable to people who eat Kosher or Halal food; this must be discussed on an individual basis

• It’s better for the environment. Research has associated vegan diets with the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide – a strong vegan offering helps to make your catering service more sustainable.
• It’s easy. Producing tasty meals that are rich in fibre, low in cholesterol-raising saturated fat, and provide multiple servings of fruit and vegetables is straightforward when serving vegan food. Vegan options are particularly valuable for service users, staff and visitors who are nutritionally well.

Definition of veganism

Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.

Reasons why people go vegan

• It helps animals
• It can reduce your impact on the environment- a vegan diet can reduce your food related carbon emissions by 50%.
• Well-planned vegan diets support excellent health
• It reduces the demand for feeding crops to non-human animals

The rights of vegan service users

Veganism has been found to come within the scope of international human rights provisions and vegans in the UK are protected under human rights and equality law. This means that hospitals have an obligation to ensure that they do not interfere with a vegan’s right to freedom of conscience, and a responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to avoid any discrimination on the grounds of veganism.

How to cater for vegans

Ensure that your service offers a variety of balanced vegan meals. Consider making them available to anyone because they can be enjoyed by most people, helping them to hit their fibre and 5-a-day targets and limit saturated fat. You can keep menus simple by serving vegan options as standard. For example, you can keep the vegetable soup of the day dairy-free, and create puddings without using dairy and eggs, which can be served to vegans with custard made using traditional custard powder and soya milk, or ready-made soya custard or dessert.

Menu planning tips

Fruit & vegetables

• Ensure meals contain a vitamin C source, such as pepper, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kiwi fruit, oranges, strawberries, pineapple, grapefruit or orange juice. This boosts absorption of iron from plant foods.
• Offer a really rich source of carotenoids every day, such as sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash, spinach, kale, cantaloupe melon or apricots
• Offer a good source of vitamin K daily, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, broccoli, spinach, spring greens or kiwi fruit

Starchy foods like grains and potato

• Some breakfast cereals are not suitable for vegans because they are fortified with vitamin D3 from animal fat
• Wholemeal bread is a good source of zinc
• Ensure that dairy-free spread is available for toast

Protein

• Good sources of plant protein tend to be rich in iron and zinc too, making it even more important that they’re included in most meals
• Some options are particularly economical e.g. legumes (beans, lentils and peas) and the dry variety of soya mince

Omega-3 fat

• Vegans should be encouraged to consume a really rich source of omega-3 fat on a daily basis, such as six walnut halves (20g) or a tablespoon of ground linseed
• If you can buy linseed in bulk and mill small batches as needed, this might work out a lot cheaper than offering walnuts
• Using vegetable (rapeseed) oil for cooking is helpful
• Although it’s not thought to be essential for vegan health, the long chain omega-3 fats found in oily fish can be obtained from a microalgae supplement
• If nuts are banned due to allergy policy, this may make it more challenging to optimise intakes of omega-3 fat

Calcium

• A daily vegan menu should contain at least two portions of really calcium-rich food per day. Here are examples of one portion:
  • 200ml fortified plant milk
  • 200g fortified soya yoghurt
  • 70g calcium-set tofu (uncooked weight)
• A weekly provision of 3.5 litres of fortified plant milk is recommended to help meet a vegan’s calcium needs in hospital
• The quantity and quality of the protein found in the soya variety of fortified plant milk is similar to that of cows’ milk
• Ensure that fortified plant milk is available in refreshment areas

Iron

• Provide a daily diet that contains good sources of iron, such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, cashew nuts, ground linseed, pumpkin seeds, kale, raisins and fortified breakfast cereal
• Iron-rich food should be combined with a source of vitamin C to optimise absorption (see ‘Fruit & vegetables’ above for examples).

Nourishing options

Vegans should experience the same standard of nutritional care as non-vegans during hospital stays. This can be achieved by ensuring that your menu carries higher calorie and protein meals as well as healthy eating options. Here are some ideas:

• Scrambled tofu/baked beans on toast or a soya sausage sandwich could be served as cooked breakfast options
• If you’re able to serve peanut products, peanut butter and jam on toast is a great combination
• Tofu and soya alternatives to mince and sausages provide good quality protein in a form that is less bulky than legumes. Vegan Quorn meat substitutes can also help people to hit higher protein targets.
• People are often surprised to discover that vegan food can be really calorific. Boost energy intakes by offering suitable pastry, white sauce, dumplings, potato wedges, roast potatoes, Bombay potatoes and creamy Caribbean, Thai and South Asian curries.
• Puddings are a valuable source of nutrition. You can make them available to vegans by providing suitable sponges, crumbles and fruit pies, custard, rice pudding and fortified jelly.

Ingredients to avoid

Vegans don’t eat anything that comes from an animal. This includes:

• Meat, including chicken, fish or any kind of shellfish
• Milk from any animal, or products containing milk such as cheese, yoghurt, cream and mayonnaise
• Eggs, or products containing eggs
• Honey, gelatine or beeswax

Here is a non-exhaustive list of common ingredients to avoid:

The Food-Info website provides further useful information about ingredients.

Please note that if a product carries a label which states that it may contain traces of an animal ingredient, this does not prevent it from being considered a vegan product.

If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for vegans, check if it carries the Vegan Trademark. If not, get in touch with the manufacturer for the most reliable and up to date information.

Cross-contamination

Kitchen organisation and food service also need to be considered. Caterers should strive to minimise cross-contamination from non-vegan products as far as is reasonably practicable. This includes keeping vegan and non-vegan foods separate, and using clean equipment.

Further information

The British Dietetic Association’s Nutrition and Hydration Digest

Vegan Catering Made Easy

Hawliau staff fegan

Mae feganiaeth wedi ei gafod i ddod o dan gwmpas darpariaeth hawliau dynol rhyngwladol ac mae gan feganiaid y DU ddiogelwch o dan gyfreithiau dynol a chydraddoldeb. Golyga hyn bod gan ddarparwyr gwasanaeth rhwymedigaeth i sicrhau nad ydynt yn amharu ar hawliau’r fegan i ryddid cydwybod, a chyfrifoldeb o dan Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 I osgoi anffafriaeth ar sail feganiaeth.

Diffiniad o feganiaeth

Mae feganiaeth yn athroniaeth a ffordd o fyw sy’n ceisio eithrio - cyn belled ag sy’n bosibl ac ymarferol - pob ffordd o ecsbloetio neu ddangos creulondeb, tuag at anifeiliaid i gael bwyd, dillad neu unrhyw beth arall; ac o ganlyniad, hybu’r datblygiad o brofi opsiynau heb anifeiliaid er budd pobl, anifeiliaid a’r amgylchedd. Mewn termau dietegol mae’n terfynu gyda’r defnydd o gynnyrch a ddaw naill ai’n gyfan neu’n rhannol o anifeiliaid.

Rhesymau am fod pobl yn mynd yn feganiaid.

• Mae’n helpu anifeiliaid.
• Mae’n cyfyngu ar eich effaith ar yr amgylchedd fegan leihau eich - mi all diet fegan leihau eich gollyngiad carbon hyd at 50%.
• Mae diet fegan sydd wedi’i chynllunio’n dda yn hwyluso iechyd da.
• Mae’n lleihau ar y galw i fwydo cnydau i’r anifeiliaid hynny nad ydynt yn ddynol.

Maethiad

Mae diet fegan yn eithrio holl gynnyrch anifeiliaid, gan gynnwys cig, pysgod, llaeth, wyau a mêl, felly ni ddylai feganiaid gael cynnig unrhyw fwyd sy’n eu cynnwys hwy. Mae’r Vegan Society a`r British Dietetic Association yn cydweithio i rannu gwybodaeth ddibynadwy ynglŷn â maethiad y fegan, gan gynnwys neges bod diet fegan sydd wedi’i gynllunio’n dda yn medru hwyluso byw yn iach ym mhobl o bob oed. Ymwelwch â’n nutrition zone i ffeindio allan sut mae feganiaid yn derbyn maethiad hanfodol o ddietau sy’n eithrio cynnyrch anifeiliaid.

Dylai gofal maeth gael ei ddarparu mewn ffordd sy’n parchu cydraddoldeb ac amrywiaeth. Dyma ddyfyniad perthnasol gan y Care Quality Commission:

“Pan fo gan berson ofynion dietegol penodol sy’n berthnasol i gred foesol neu foesegol, rhaid i’r gofynion hynny gael eu hystyried a’u cwrdd. Rhaid gwneud pob ymdrech i gwrdd â dewisiadau pobl…”

Os fydd rywun yn dweud bod angen pryd fegan, dilynwch dri cham syml:

• Gofynnwch iddynt a oes ganddynt unrhyw ofynion dietegol eraill.
• Os nad ydych yn siŵr beth sydd ar gael, siaradwch gyda’r gwarchodwr cartref neu’r rheolwr arlwyo.
• Gwneud yn siŵr bod taenydd di-laeth a llaeth planhigyn ar gael.

Manteision a ddaw o arlwyo i feganiaid.

• Mae’n opsiwn cynhwysol iawn. Bydd bwyd fegan yn cael ei fwynhau gan y mwyafrif o bobl, gan gynnwys:
• Feganiaid, llysieuwyr, a phobl sy’n bwyta cig a physgod.
• Y rheiny sy’n cyfyngu ar fwyta cynnyrch anifeiliaid.
• Pobl gydag alergeddau i laeth, a/neu wyau (os yn rhydd o alergeddau). Mi all brydau fegan fod yn dderbyniol i bobl sydd yn bwyda bwyd Kosher neu Halal; rhaid trafod hyn yn unigol.
• Mae’n well i’r amgylchedd. Mae ymchwil yn cysylltu dietau fegan gyda’r gollyngiadau isaf o garbon deuocsid - mae cynnig da o fwyd fegan yn eich gwasanaeth arlwyo’n helpu gwneud eich gwasanaeth arlwyo yn fwy cynaliadwy.
• Mae’n hawdd. Mae cynhyrchu prydau bwyd blasus sy’n uchel mewn ffibr, isel mewn brasder dirlawn ac sy’n darparu digonedd o ffrwyth a llysiau yn hawdd a syml.

Maethiad Meddygol

Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw cwmnïau maethiad meddygol yn gweithgynhyrchu cynnyrch cyflawn maethol sydd yn addas i feganiaid. Yr agosaf ar gael yw ychwanegiad i ddiod sydd wedi’i fasnachu fel darpariaeth fegan-gyfeillgar sy’n cynnwys pibell diwb o fraster anifail fitamin D3. Os nad yw fegan dan orchudd yn medru cael maeth digonol o’r bwyd, mae’n bwysig i drafod opsiynau mewn dull sensitif. Mae diffiniad y Gymdeithas Fegan yn cydnabod nad yw bob amser yn bosib osgoi’r defnydd o anifeiliaid, ond rhaid cofio y gallai hyn fod yn enghraifft o’r tro cyntaf mewn degawdau pan fod y person hwn yn ystyried bwyta cynnyrch sy’n dod o gynhwysion anifeiliaid.

Meddyginiaeth

Mi allai fod rhaid i fegan wynebu sefyllfa lle nad oes opsiwn ar wahân i ddefnyddio cynnyrch sydd wedi ei brofi ar anifeiliaid ac sy’n cynnwys cynhwysion a ddaw yn wreiddiol o anifail. Eto, mae’n bwysig trafod yr opsiynau mewn dull synhwyrol. Weithiau, mae’n bosib ffeindio opsiwn addas o foddion sy’n rhydd o gynhwysion anifail. Am ragor o wybodaeth, ewch i’r blog hwn ynglŷn â meddyginiaeth sydd wedi’i ysgrifennu gan fferyllydd, a’r blog am lawdriniaeth a ysgrifennwyd gan feddyg.

Am ragor o wybodaeth:

Person-centred care blog

Hawliau cleifion fegan

Mae feganiaeth wedi dod o dan gwmpas darpariaethau hawliau dynol rhyngwladol ac mae feganiaid yn y DU yn cael eu diogelu gan gyfreithiau hawliau dynol a chydraddoldeb. Mae hyn yn golygu bod gan ysbytai rhwymedigaeth i sicrhau nad ydynt yn amharu ar hawl fegan i ryddid cydwybod, a chyfrifoldeb o dan Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 I osgoi unrhyw anffafriaeth ar sail feganiaeth.

Meddyginiaeth

Mae’r diffiniad o feganiaeth yn cydnabod nad ydy hi bob amser yn bosib osgoi’r defnydd o anifeiliaid mewn byd di-fegan, a bod hyn yn enwedig o berthnasol mewn sefyllfaoedd meddygol. Mae cadw’n iach yn ein gwneud yn eiriolwyr da i feganiaeth.

Efallai, ni fydd opsiwn a bydd rhaid defnyddio meddyginiaeth sydd wedi ei brofi ar anifeiliaid ac yn cynnwys cynhwysion a ddaw o anifeiliaid. Weithiau, mae’n bosib ffeindio opsiynau eraill. Am ragor o wybodaeth, gwiriwch y blog hwn a gafodd ei ysgrifennu ân fferyllydd ynglŷn â meddyginiaeth, a’r blog hwn am lawdriniaeth a ysgrifennwyd gan feddyg.

Cyfnodau mewn ysbytai

Os ydych yn gwybod ymlaen llaw eich bod yn mynd i dreulio peth amser mewn ysbyty, mi allwch ffonio i weld beth yw’r cynigion fegan. Galwch y switsfwrdd, a gofyn am yr adran arlwyo. Ar ôl ei gysylltu, gofynnwch am y wybodaeth ganlynol:

• Y person gorau o blith staff y ward i siarad gydag ynglŷn ag arlwyo, fel ceidwad y gegin.
• Ydy’r opsiynau fegan ar y brif fwydlen, bwydlen ar wahân, neu yn rhan o broses i archebu arbennig?
• A fydd `na ohiriad rhwng archebu a derbyn bwyd fegan, ac os felly, sut fydd y staff arlwyo’n ymdopi i lenwi’r agendor?
• Darpariaeth o laeth planhigyn a thaenydd di-laeth.

Efallai bydd gan staff y ward ddealltwriaeth gyfyngedig ynglŷn â maeth feganaidd. Efallai mi fyddai’n ddefnyddiol i lenwi’r ffurflen hon, a’i defnyddio i esbonio eich anghenion.

Adborth

Pa un ai a bod eich barn am yr ysbyty yn dda neu ddrwg, ystyriwch roi eich adborth i’r ysbyty. Tra yn yr ysbyty, mi allwch ofyn am siarad â’r nyrs sy’n gyfrifol am eich gofal. Mi allwch hefyd edrych ar wefan yr ysbyty i leoli gwybodaeth am y ffordd i gysylltu â’r nyrs sydd yn gofalu am y ward neu reolwr yr adran a’r ffyrdd eraill i gynnig adborth, fel cysylltu gyda Gwasanaeth Cleifion a Chysylltiadau Cleifion yr ysbyty. Opsiwn arall yw rhannu eich profiadau gyda NHS Choices website.

Cefnogaeth a ddaw o’r Vegan Society

Os ydych yn teimlo bod staff yr ysbyty yn ei chael hi’n anodd ymdopi gyda’ch anghenion fegan, a’ch bod yn cael hi’n anodd datrys y sefyllfa, mi allwch geisio cymorth trwy alw ni ar 0121 523 1730 o 09;00 I 17.00 yn ystod yr wythnos waith. Os oes gennych ymholiad llai difrifol, mi allwch anfon e-bost i advocacy[at]vegansociety[dot]com.

Os ydych yn gweld dietegydd clinigol, mi allai Heather sef dietegydd o’r Vegan Society, ddarparu gwybodaeth berthnasol, ond yn y pen draw'r dietegydd clinigol fydd yn gyfrifol am eich gofal, ac efallai bydd trafodaeth am eich achos ddim yn briodol.

Os ydych am esbonio’ch hawliau, mi allwch ddefnyddio’r ffurflen isod i gyrchu’n ebost templed. Cwblhewch y meysydd, pwyswch copi, wedyn gludwch mewn i’ch porwr ebost - wedyn mi welwch yr ebost a awgrymir yn llawn. Mi allwch gyrchu’r llythyrau yn “Word“ yma.

Mae diet fegan yn eithrio pob cynnyrch anifeiliaid, gan gynnwys cig, pysgod, llaeth, wyau a mêl. Amcangyfrifir bod dros hanner miliwn o bobl ym Mhrydain yn bwyta diet fegan, gyda llawer o rai eraill yn diddori mewn dietau sy’n fwy seiliedig ar blanhigion. Mae’n bwysig bod gan arlwywyr syniad o sut i gyrraedd targedau maeth heb gynnyrch anifeiliaid, ac mae’n nutrition zone yn cynnig rhai adnoddau gwych. Rydym yn gweithio gyda’r British Dietetic Association i rannu neges bod diet fegan sydd wedi’u chynllunio’n dda yn gallu bod o gymorth i fywyd iach i bobl o bob oed.

Manteision arlwyo fegan

Dyma’r opsiwn fwyaf cynhwysol. Bydd bwyd fegan yn cael ei fwynhau gan fwyafrif o bobl, gan gynnwys:

• Feganiaid, llysieuwyr a phobl sydd yn bwyta cig a physgod
• Y rheiny sydd yn ceisio cyfyngu ar y maint o fwyd maint yn bwyta sy’n dod o gynnyrch anifeiliaid.
• Pobl gydag alergeddau tuag at laeth a/neu wyau (os yn rhydd o’r alergenau hyn). Mi all brydau fegan fod yn dderbyniol i lawer o bobl sy’n bwyta bwyd Kosher neu Halal; rhaid i hyn gael ei drafod gan bob unigolyn.
• Mae’n well i’r amgylchedd. Mae ymchwil yn cysylltu dietau fegan gyda’r gollyngiadau isaf o garbon deuocsid - mae cynnig da o fwyd fegan yn eich gwasanaeth arlwyo’n helpu gwneud eich gwasanaeth arlwyo yn fwy cynaliadwy.
• Mae’n hawdd. Mae cynhyrchu prydau bwyd blasus sy’n uchel mewn ffibr, isel mewn brasder dirlawn ac sy’n darparu digonedd o ffrwyth a llysiau yn hawdd a syml.

Diffiniad o feganiaeth

Mae feganiaeth yn athroniaeth a ffordd o fyw sy’n ceisio eithrio - cyn belled ag sy’n bosibl ac ymarferol - pob ffordd o ecsbloetio neu ddangos creulondeb, tuag at anifeiliaid i gael bwyd, dillad neu unrhyw beth arall; ac o ganlyniad, hybu’r datblygiad o brofi opsiynau heb anifeiliaid er budd pobl, anifeiliaid a’r amgylchedd. Mewn termau dietegol mae’n terfynu gyda’r defnydd o gynnyrch a ddaw nail ai’n gyfan neu’n rhannol o anifeiliaid.

Rhesymau am fod pobl yn mynd yn feganiaid.

• Mae’n helpu anifeiliaid.
• Mae’n cyfyngu ar eich effaith ar yr amgylchedd fegan leihau eich - mi all diet fegan leihau eich gollyngdod carbon hyd at 50%.
• Mae dietau fegan sydd wedi’u cynllunio`n dda yn hwyluso iechyd da.
• Mae’n lleihau ar y galw i fwydo cnydau i’r anifeiliaid hynny nad ydynt yn ddynol

Hawliau staff fegan

Mae feganiaeth wedi ei ganfod i ddod o dan gwmpas darpariaeth hawliau dynol rhyngwladol ac mae gan feganiaid y DU ddiogelwch o dan gyfreithiau dynol a chydraddoldeb. Golyga hyn bod gan ddarparwyr gwasanaeth rhwymedigaeth i sicrhau nad yw amharu ar hawliau’r fegan i ryddid cydwybod, a chyfrifoldeb o dan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 I osgoi annfafriaeth ar sail feganiaeth.

Sut i arlwyo i feganiaid

Sicrhewch fod eich gwasanaeth yn cynnig amrywiaeth o brydau fegan cytbwys. Ystyriwch ei gwneud yn agored i bawb am eu bod at ddant y mwyafrif o bobl, gan eu helpu i gyrraedd eu targedau ffibr a 5-a-day a chyfyngu ar eu braster dirlawn. Gellir cadw’r bwydlenni’n syml trwy arlwyo’r opsiynau fegan yn safonol. Er enghraifft, gellir cadw’r cawl llysiau yn un di-laeth, a chreu pwdinau heb laeth ac wyau a ellir ei gyflwyno i feganiaid gyda chwstard o bowdwr cwstard traddodiadol a llaeth soia, neu gwstard soia a phwdin.

Awgrymiadau i gynllunio bwydlen

Ffrwyth a llysiau

• Sicrhewch fod prydau yn cynnwys ffynhonnell o fitamin C, fel pupur, brocoli, bresych, briwiau Brwsel, ffrwyth ciwi, orennau, mefus, pîn afal, grawnffrwyth a sudd oren. Mae hyn yn amsugno haearn o fwyd planhigion.
• Cynigiwch ffynhonnell gyfoethog o garotenoidau’n feunyddiol, fel tatws melys, moron, butternut squash, sbigoglys, bresych deiliog, melon cantaloupe neu fricyll.
• Cynigiwch ffynhonnell dda o fitamin K yn feunyddiol, fel briwiau Brwsel, bresych, sbigoglys, glaswellt y gwanwyn a ffrwyth ciwi.

Bwydydd â starts fel grawn a thatws

• Nid yw rhai o rawnfwydydd brecwast yn addas i feganiaid am eu bod wedi’u gadarnhau fitamin D3 o fraster anifail.
• Mae bara gwenith cyflawn yn ffynhonnell dda o sinc.
• Sicrhewch fod taenydd di-laeth ar gael i'w roi ar dost.

Protein

• Mae ffynonellau da o fwyd planhigion yn gyfoethog mewn sinc a haearn hefyd, a’i wneud yn bwysig iawn i'w cynnwys yn y mwyafrif o brydau.
• Mae rhai opsiynau’n enwedig o economaidd ee legumes (ffa, ffonbys a phys) a`r amrywiaeth sych o fins soia.

Braster Omega-3

• Mi ddylai feganiaid gael eu hannog i fwyta gwahanol ffynonellau o omega-3 yn ddyddiol, fel chwech hanner cneuen Ffrengig (20g) neu lwyaid o linad wedi’i chwalu.
• Gellir prynu digon o lined ac mi fydd hwn efallai’n gweithio allan i fod yn rhatach na chynnig cnau Ffrengig.
• Mae defnyddio olew llysiau (olew rêp) ar gyfer coginio’n ddefnyddiol.
• Er nad yw’n cael ei gyfrif i fod yn hanfodol i iechyd feganaidd, mae braster Omega-3 sy’n bresennol mewn pysgod olewog ar gael mewn atodiad microalgae.
• Os bydd cnau yn cael ei gwahardd, efallai bydd hyn yn ei gwneud hi’n fwy heriol i optimeiddio braster omega-3.

Calsiwm

• Mi ddylai bwydlen feganaidd gynnwys o leiaf dwy gyfran o fwyd calsiwm-gyfoethog pob dydd. Dyma esiamplau o un gyfran:
  200ml o laeth planhigyn wedi’i gadarnhau
  200g o iogwrt soia wedi’i gadarnhau
  70g tofu wedi’i osod ar galsiwm (pwys heb ei goginio)
• Awgrymir bod darpariaeth wythnosol o 3.5 litr o laeth planhigion cadarn pwysig i gwrdd â gofynion calsiwm claf feganaidd tra’n yr ysbyty.
• Mae maint ac ansawdd y protein a geir yn y fersiwn soia o laeth planhigyn yn debyg i laeth y fuwch.
• Sicrhewch fod llaeth planhigyn ar gael mewn mannau lluniaeth.

Haearn

• Darparu diet dyddiol sy’n cynnwys ffynonellau da o haearn, fel ffonbys, chickpeas, ffa, tofu, cnau cashew, llinad wedi’i chwalu, hadau pwmpen, bresych deiliog, rhesins, grawnfwyd brecwast wedi’i gadarnhau.
• Mi ddylai bwyd haearn-gyfoethog gael ei gyfuno gyda ffynhonnell o fitamin C i optimeiddio amsugniad (Gweler uchod o dan “Ffrwythau a Llysiau” am esiamplau)

Dewisiadau maethlon

Mi ddylai feganiaid brofi’r un safon o ofal maeth a`r rheiny sydd ddim yn feganiaid yn ystod ymweliadau i’r ysbytai. Mi all hyn gael ei gyflawni drwy sicrhau bod eich bwydlen yn dangos prydau o galorïau a phrotein uwch yn ogystal â dewisiadau bwyta iach. Dyma rai syniadau:

• Mi allai tofu wedi’i sgramblo/ffa wedi’u pobi neu frechdan o selsigen soia gael eu hystyried fel dewis a fyddai’n dod o dan eitemau wedi’u coginio.
• Os ydych yn gallu arlwyo cynnyrch a ddaw o gnau daear (peanut), mae menyn cnau daear ynghyd â jam ar dost yn gyfuniad gwych.
• Mae dewisiadau fel tofu neu soia, yn lle mins a selsig, yn darparu protein o ansawdd uchel mewn dull sy’n llai swmpus na’r llysiau (legumes). Mae Quorn i feganiaid hefyd yn ddewis a all arwain at dargedau protein uwch.
• Yn aml, mae pobl yn rhyfeddu i sylweddoli bod bwyd fegan yn gallu bod yn eithaf caloriffig. Rhowch hwb i gymeriant egni gan gynnig crwst addas, saws gwyn, twmplenni a lletemau tatws, tatws wedi’u rostio, tatws Bombay a chyris hufennog o’r Caribî, Thailand a De Asia.
• Mae pwdinau yn ffynhonnell werthfawr o faeth. Mi allwch eu gwneud i feganiaid trwy ddarparu sbyngau addas, teisennau a “crumbles” ffrwythau, cwstard, pwdin reis a jelly wedi`i gadarnhau.

Cynhwysion i'w hosgoi

Nid yw feganiaid yn bwyta unrhyw beth a ddaw o gorff anifail. Mae hyn yn cynnwys:

• Cig, gan gynnwys cyw iâr, pysgod neu unrhyw fath o bysgod cregyn
• Llaeth o unrhyw anifail, neu gynnyrch yn cynnwys llaeth fel caws, iogwrt, hufen a mayonnaise
• Wyau, neu gynnyrch yn cynnwys wyau.
• Mêl, gelatin neu ŵyr gwenyn

Dyma restr fer - ond nid gyflawn - o’r cynhwysion cyffredin a ddylid eu hosgoi:

Mae gwefan y Food-Info yn darparu mwy o wybodaeth ddefnyddiol am gynhwysion. Noder os gwelwch yn dda: Os yw’r cynnyrch yn arddangos label sy’n datgan y gallai’r cynnwys ddangos olion o gynhwysion anifail, dydi hyn ddim yn ei atal rhag cael ei ystyried yn gynnyrch fegan.

Os nad ydych yn siŵr ynglŷn ag addasrwydd y cynnyrch i feganiaid, gwiriwch i weld os yw’n cario’r Nod Masnach Feganaidd neu’r Vegan Tradmark. Os na, cysylltwch â’r gwneuthurwyr am wybodaeth ddibynadwy a chyfoes.

Croeshalogi

Rhaid hefyd ystyried trefniant y gegin a gwasanaeth y bwyd. Mi ddylai arlwywyr anelu tuag at leihau unrhyw groeshalogi o’r cynnyrch di-fegan ar wahân, a defnyddio offer glan.

Rhagor o wybodaeth

The British Dietetic Association's Nutrition and Hydration Digest

Vegan Catering Made Easy