Your Council

Find out who your local Councillor is and write, write, write! Use our template letter or the form below, and get in touch with your Councillor. You might want to highlight great local vegan options, or even invite them round for a vegan lunch to discuss the issues.

If you have local elections this May then this is a perfect opportunity to ask your local candidates whether they’ll support this campaign.

We’re asking Councillors to support our campaign in the following ways:

• Leading by example and offering a vegan meal in their Council canteen every day. As a starting point they might want to try The Vegan Society’s Plate Up for the Planet seven day challenge.
• Use their influence on public sector institutions in their local authority to encourage better vegan provision. This might be through the public procurement process in local schools, or collaborating with the health board.
• Consider bringing a motion to make their Council a supporter of vegan food across our public services.

You can play a vital role in both supporting the rights of vegans, and promoting the wider benefits of veganism for people, planet and animals.

Veganism is a 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.

Inclusive

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 service providers 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.

This equality extends to the provision of suitable food, and we would like to see tasty, nutritious, appropriate vegan meals on daily menus in all our public sector institutions – starting with hospitals and schools. Menu changes may seem challenging or expensive at first, but we can offer plenty of support.

Sustainable

Providing vegan options does not just protect the rights of vegans. Vegan food can be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. Increasing vegan food provision in your area will support environmental initiatives. A vegan diet can reduce your food related carbon emissions by 50%. If you’re interested in the environmental benefits of veganism you or your whole Council might want to try The Vegan Society’s ‘Plate Up for the Planet’ seven day challenge.

Healthy

Both the British Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognise that totally plant-based diets are suitable for every age and life stage.

It’s easy to produce tasty options that are rich in fibre and low in saturated fat, provide multiple servings of fruit and vegetables, and exclude processed meat, which the World Health Organisation has classified as a cause of cancer. In addition, some research has linked vegan diets with lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.

The Vegan Society can help local catering teams to build vegan meal plans. We have an in-house dietitian who can help with balanced meals and answer any questions that catering providers may have. We also have resources for services users and providers across the public sector on these webpages.

Please consider supporting our Catering for Everyone campaign by doing the following: -

• Leading by example and offering a vegan meal in your own canteen every day. As a starting point you might want to try The Vegan Society’s Plate Up for the Planet seven day challenge.
• Using your influence on public sector institutions in your local authority to encourage better vegan provision. This might be through the public procurement process in local schools, or collaborating with the health board.
• Consider bringing a motion to make your Council a supporter of vegan food across our public services.

Please support this campaign, for the good of the planet, our public health, and for animals.

A vegan diet excludes all animal products, including meat, fish, milk, eggs and honey. It’s been estimated that over half a million people in Britain are eating a vegan diet, and many others are interested in eating more plant-based diets. It’s important for caterers to have an idea of how to hit nutritional targets without animal products, and our nutrition zone provides some great resources. We work with the British Dietetic Association to share the message that well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages.

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.

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 staff

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 employers 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

If you’re reviewing menus, consider making vegan meals 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.

It’s particularly important to offer a variety of well-balanced meals to vegan members of staff. 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. Here are some menu planning tips:

• 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.
• Some breakfast cereals are not suitable for vegans because they are fortified with vitamin D3 from animal fat
• Ensure that dairy-free spread is available if you’re offering toast
• Ensure that most meals feature legumes (beans, lentils and peas) as the main source of protein, but add variety by making use of soya mince, tofu and Vegan Quorn too. Legumes and the dry variety of soya mince are particularly economical options.
• Ensure that fortified plant milk is available in refreshment areas

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

Vegan Catering Made Easy

Ffeindiwch allan pwy yw eich Cynghorydd lleol ac ysgrifennwch ato/ati dro ar ôl tro! Defnyddiwch ein llythyr templed a chysylltwch gyda’ch Cynghorydd. Efallai byddech am dynnu sylw tuag at opsiwn fegan da lleol, neu eu gwahodd draw am ginio fegan i drafod materion.

Os oes etholiadau lleol yn eich ardal ym mis Mai dyma gyfle perffaith i ofyn i ymgeiswyr lleol os ydynt yn barod i gefnogi’r ymgyrch.

Rydym yn gofyn i Gynghorwyr i gefnogi ein hymgyrch yn y ffyrdd canlynol.

• Arwain trwy ddangos esiampl a chynnig pryd fegan yn ffreutur y Cyngor pob dydd. Fel man cychwyn, gellir ceisio her saith diwrnod, ”Plate Up for the Planet” y Vegan Society.
• Defnyddio eu dylanwad ar sefydliadau o fewn y sector gyhoeddus o fewn eu hawdurdod lleol i annog gwell darpariaeth o fwyd fegan. Mi all hyn fod trwy’r broses caffaeliad cyhoeddus mewn ysgolion lleol, neu drwy gydweithrediad gyda’r bwrdd iechyd.
• Ystyried dod â chynnig i wneud y Cyngor yn gefnogwr o fwyd fegan ar draws y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.

Mi allwch chi chwarae rhan allweddol yn y gefnogaeth o hawliau feganiaid, a hyrwyddo buddiannau ehangach feganiaeth i bobl, planed ac anifeiliaid.

Mae feganiaeth yn ffordd o fyw sy’n ceisio eithrio, cyn belled â phosib ac ymarferol, pob ffordd o ecsbloetio a dangos creulondeb tuag at anifeiliaid, am fwyd, dillad neu unrhyw bwrpas arall.

Cynhwysol

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 ydynt yn ymyrryd ar hawliau’r fegan i ryddid cydwybod, a chyfrifoldeb o dan Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 i osgoi anffafriaeth ar sail feganiaeth.

Mae’r cydraddoldeb hwn yn ymestyn i’n darpariaeth o fwyd addas, ac mi hoffem ni weld prydiau fegan addas, maethol a blasus ar fwydlenni dyddiol ein sefydliadau o fewn y sector gyhoeddus - gan ddechrau gydag ysbytai ac ysgolion. Mi all newidiadau i’r fwydlen fod yn heriol a chostus i ddechrau, ond mi allwn ni gynnig digon o gefnogaeth.

Cynaliadwy

Nid mater o ddiogelu hawliau feganiaid yw hyn yn unig. Mi all bwyd fegan gael ei fwynhau gan feganiaid a phobl nad ydynt yn feganiaid hefyd. Mi fydd cynyddu’r ddarpariaeth o fwyd fegan yn eich ardal chi yn gymorth i fentrau amgylcheddol. Mi all diet da feganaidd arwain at ostyngiad o 50% yn eich gollyngiad carbon personol. Os ydych yn ymddiddori mewn manteision amgylcheddol feganiaeth, efallai mi fyddech chi neu’r Cyngor i gyd yn dewis ceisio’r her “Plate up fôr the Planet” y Gymdeithas fegan am saith diwrnod.

Iachus

Mae’r British Dietetic Association a`r American Academy of Nutrition and Dietrics yn cydnabod bod diet sy’n seiliedig ar blanhigion yn unig yn addas i bob oed ac oes.

Mae’n hawdd creu opsiynau sy’n flasus, sy’n uchel mewn ffibr ac isel mewn braster dirlawn, darparu amrywiaeth o ffrwyth a llysiau, ac eithrio cig wedi’i brosesu, sydd yng ngolwg y World Health Organisation yn achos o ganser. Yn ychwanegol, mae peth ymchwil wedi cysylltu diet fegan gyda phwysedd gwaed a cholesterol is, ynghyd â graddau is o glefyd y galon, diabetes o deip 2, ac ambell fath o ganser.

Mi all y Gymdeithas Fegan helpu timau arlwyo lleol i sefydlu cynlluniau prydau fegan. Mae gennym ddietegydd mewnol a all helpu gyda phrydau cytbwys ac i ateb unrhyw gwestiynau a fydd gan y darparwyr arlwyo. Hefyd, mae gennym adnoddau ar gyfer y defnyddwyr gwasanaeth a darparwyr ar draws y sector gyhoeddus ar y tudalennau gwefan hyn.

A wnewch chi ystyried cefnogi ein hymgyrch “Catering for Everyone” os gwelwch yn dda, drwy wneud y canlynol:

• Arwain trwy ddangos esiampl a chynnig pryd fegan yn ffreutur y Cyngor yn feunyddiol. Fel man cychwyn, mi allent geisio her saith diwrnod ”Plate Up for the Planet” y Vegan Society.
• Defnyddio eu dylanwad ar sefydliadau o fewn y sector gyhoeddus i annog gwell darpariaeth o fwyd fegan. Mi all hyn fod trwy’r broses caffaeliad cyhoeddus mewn ysgolion lleol, neu gydweithrediad gyda’r bwrdd iechyd.
• Ystyried dod â chynnig i wneud y Cyngor yn gefnogwr o fwyd fegan ar draws y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.

A wnewch chi gefnogi’r ymgyrch hon er lles y blaned, ein hiechyd cyhoeddus a’n hanifeiliaid?

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 Dietic 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 braster 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 naill ai’n gyfan neu’n rhannol o anifeiliaid.

Rhesymau am fod pobl yn dod yn feganiaid.

• Mae’n helpu anifeiliaid.
• Mae’n cyfyngu ar eich effaith ar yr amgylchedd - mi all diet fegan leihau eich gollyngiad 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 anffafriaeth ar sail feganiaeth.

Sut i arlwyo i feganiaid

Os ydych yn adolygu eich bwydlenni, ystyriwch wneud prydau fegan yn agored i bawb am eu bod yn gallu cael eu mwynhau gan y mwyafrif o bobl, gan eu helpu i gyrraedd eu targedau ar gyfer ffibr a “5-a-day” a chyfyngu ar fraster.

Mae’n enwedig o bwysig i gynnig amrywiaeth o brydau cytbwys i’r aelodau hynny o’r staff sydd yn feganiaid. Mi allwch gadw’r bwydlenni’n syml drwy gynnig opsiynau fegan fel rhan o’r fwydlen safonol. Er enghraifft, mi allwch gadw cawl y dydd yn rhydd o gynnyrch llaeth, a chreu pwdinau heb laeth ag wyau, a ellir ei weini i feganiaid gyda chwstard o bowdr cwstard traddodiadol a llaeth soia, neu gwstard soia wedi’i wneud ymlaen llaw neu bwdin. Dyma rhai canllawiau i’ch bwydlen:-

• Sicrhewch fod eich prydau’n cynnwys fitamin C, fel mewn pupur, brocoli, bresych, briwiau Brwsel, ffrwyth ciwi, orennau, mefus, pîn afal, grawnffrwyth, neu sudd oren. Mae hwn yn hybu’r amsugniad o haearn o blanhigion.
• Mae ambell rawnfwyd frecwast yn anaddas i feganiaid am eu bod yn cynnwys y fitamin D3 sy` dod o fraster anifeiliaid.
• Sicrhewch fod taenydd di-laeth ar gael os ydych yn cynnig tost ar y fwydlen.
• Sicrhewch fod y mwyafrif o’r prydau’n cynnwys llysiau (legumes) fel ffa, ffonbys a phys) fel prif ffynhonnell o brotein, ond ychwanegwch amrywiaeth trwy ddefnyddio mins soia, tofu, a Quorn feganaidd hefyd. Mae llysiau a’r fersiwn sych o mins soia yn enwedig o economaidd.

Cynhwysion i osgoi

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 gŵyr 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.

Croes-lygru

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

Vegan Catering Made Easy