Earlier this year, The Flash star Candice Patton told Wild Elements, "I always say I'm vegan adjacent." And apparently, she's not the only one who thinks so. Like "Main Character Energy" and "Athleisure," "Vegan Adjacent" has become a full online vibe, with Pinterest boards, TikTok gags, and even Reddit threads pouncing on the trend.
So if you're claiming to be "vegan adjacent" (or wondering if you can be "vegan adjacent") here's the deal:
Vegan adjacent means being more conscious with your choices surrounding plant-based food. It means if you're grabbing coffee and you can get a non-dairy latte instead of a milk-based one, you'll do it. It means if you're debating between beef or mushroom tacos for dinner, you'll opt to go plant-based. That choice is based on proven data that eating plants is better for the air, water, and soil around us, and on science that says plants are powerful, efficient, and delicious ways to fuel our bodies.
Vegan adjacent also means going easy on yourself and others when plant-based choices aren't possible. It means not freaking out if the only yogurt at your bodega is dairy, or if your friend makes her famous BBQ ribs for your dinner together, because we're all just doing the best we can.
In Candice Patton's words, "I want to encourage people to not get overwhelmed when it comes to the environment, you know? All you have to do is one small thing... Even starting small and making one change—being better at recycling, or eating like one plant-based meal a week—is moving the needle in the right direction. Just be environmentally curious, whether it’s about elephants or veggie burgers or trees. Find one thing in nature you think is so cool. That’s the first step right there."
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