• The effects of a balanced plant-based diet on our health and the environment
• plant-based diet that is healthy and environmentally friendly for us
• Vegetarian pies – what are they?
• Benefits of reducing meat consumption and replacing it with plant-based products

According to the European Vegetarian Union, the number of vegans and vegetarians in Europe continues to grow every year. Germany leads the world in avoiding animal products, but healthy, organic plant-based products are also systematically gaining popularity in Poland. As interest in these types of dishes grows, so does the range of producers who, in order to meet customer expectations, are constantly expanding their offerings. Today, we'll take a look at vegan pâtés —we'll examine what they can be made of, what to eat with them, and how to serve them. Before we get into that topic, however, let's examine the effects of avoiding or at least limiting the consumption of meat and other animal products on our bodies and the environment.

The effects of a balanced plant-based diet on our health and the environment

The newly developed food pyramid, based on the assumption of a reduction in meat consumption, as well as the position of the World Health Organization and increasing social awareness, have led to a growing demand for meat-free products throughout Europe. Reasons for avoiding or limiting the consumption of animal products include:

• health reasons,
• Concern for the future of our planet,
• and ethical arguments.

Breeding animals for meat production contributes to the extinction of other wild animal species. Vast areas of land that are the natural habitat of many other animal species must be artificially inseminated and then transported to grow feed for livestock destined for slaughter. This entire process consumes countless resources—water and energy. Producing just one kilogram of beef requires 50,000 liters of water. This is one of the reasons why meat production has a greater impact on the environment than international transport.

Healthy for us and environmentally friendly plant-based diet

Plant-based diets are currently becoming a dominant trend not only in Europe but worldwide. This lifestyle has a positive impact on animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and our health. Properly prepared from wholesome, high-quality products, a meat-free diet is a good alternative for people struggling with various lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or obesity. Although a vegetarian diet, and even more so a vegan one, has recently involved many sacrifices, giving up favorite dishes and replacing them with tasteless products, producers today have met the most demanding customers and offered food that is not only healthy and organic, and in line with fair trade principles, but also, most importantly, delicious.

However, when avoiding meat, we must remember to replace it with valuable products rich in easily digestible protein and iron. These can be found in whole grains, eggs, legumes, nuts, and seeds. A good source of these nutrients is vegetarian pâtés , which contain all these ingredients.

Vegetarian pies – what are they?

Although we don't initially associate the name pâté with a meat-free product, various types of plant-based spreads are referred to as " vegetarian pâtés " or " vegan pâtés ." Vegetarian and vegan pâtés can be made from any vegetables—these can be tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, eggplant, broccoli—as well as root vegetables, nuts, and seeds—such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, cashews, and legumes—such as chickpeas, lentils, beans, and peas—as well as groats—for example, millet, buckwheat, corn, and pearl barley. Vegetable pâtés are healthy, filling, and, most importantly, delicious. They are perfect as an addition to traditional sandwiches, as a takeaway dish, as a dip for sliced ​​vegetables during a party, or as a standalone snack. Served hot with potatoes, rice, or groats, they can be treated like dinner.

Many people may associate vegan pâté with the bland, colorless taste of boiled vegetables, but nothing could be further from the truth. It doesn't have to be bland at all and gains aroma and additional, expressive flavor through various additives and spices such as:

• Forest or cultivated mushrooms,
• dried tomatoes,
• onion and garlic,
• Spices: chili, smoked paprika lovage, pepper, coriander, turmeric, cumin, basil, thyme, marjoram, parsley.

The addition of herbs and spices supports the digestive process and can also have a slightly warming effect.

Among the healthier, gluten-free and tasty products that provide the body with many valuable nutrients are, for example, vegan pates made from seeds and kernels:

• vegan cashew nut paste - with millet and raisins,
• vegan pate with sunflower seeds - with millet,
• vegan pumpkin seed pie - with corn grits

Benefits of reducing meat consumption and replacing it with plant-based products

Because processed meat, i.e. all kinds of cold cuts, wieners and sausages, as well as red meat – pork and beef contain a lot of saturated fats that are unfavorable to our health, the regular consumption of which can contribute to the development of chronic inflammation and the development of diseases such as:

• Type II diabetes,
• Obesity,
• Heart disease, including heart attack,
• elevated cholesterol.

A plant-based diet promotes the development of a healthy bacterial flora in the gut. Plant-based foods rich in fiber stimulate the growth of good bacteria, significantly reducing the risk of many diseases while increasing the body's overall resistance, for example, to viral infections.

Reducing meat consumption daily and replacing at least one meat dish with a vegetarian product can significantly improve our health and well-being and help improve the fate of farm animals.