The pandemic has changed people’s behaviour as we have been forced to adapt our lives in one way or another. Whether it’s through changing the way we interact with people, friends, colleagues or customers, or how we’ve had to abandon travel plans amidst worldwide restrictions. 
The changes in behaviour have extended to people’s eating habits too, and for those that I have spoken to about it, it’s clear that it has been a ‘make or break’ time for it. For those who had 100% belief in plant based diets, they’ve had more time to dedicate themselves to Vegansim. More time would’ve likely been spent exploring new vegan recipes, learning how to cook different vegan dishes, and increasing the energy and time to their plant based life. On the other hand, this pandemic has disrupted the vegan way of life for many, with factors such as financial insecurity, job losses and uncertainty leading them to move away from plant-based commitments. 
The trend for veganism here in Qatar continues to grow, and the demand continues to increase — which is a great news! Every day, vegan offerings, options on the menu, dishes and snacks are popping up across the country to meet the needs of people who understand that the only diet that is genuinely full of vitamins and minerals is a plant based diet. A plant-based diet contains 64-times the amount of immunity-boosting antioxidants compared to a diet that includes meat and dairy.
Earlier this year, a Los Angeles-based company investing in plant-based foods has confirmed its latest funding was led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). QIA’s growing portfolio of long-term strategic investments has historically focused on banks, hotels, airlines, airports, and corporate firms — but now, for the first time in our country’s history, Qatar has invested in a vegan food product, demonstrating Qatar’s desire to be a part of, and enrich the continued, fast growth of plant based food products as the number of vegan food consumers worldwide grow. 
The company that has received funds from Qatar is looking to replicate the success of ‘Beyond Meat’ — the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks, and satisfies like beef, without any genetic modification, soy or gluten. Beyond Meat has been a market success, and Qatar were reportedly very impressed with its fast growth, leading to the decision to invest in an American company focused on finding the next plant based hit. 
I thought about the constant growth of the demand for veganism after a conversation with a friend of mine here in Doha who recently celebrated a three-year anniversary of being vegan. She’s never looked back, and the longer she has dedicated herself to it, the stronger her commitment is. 
Another friend of mine celebrated her ‘two year milestone’ by going to a vegan restaurant here in Qatar with her family. While her family haven’t made the full switch, they recognise that her decision to consume a vegan diet means she is healthier than ever before owing to the natural nutrients of plant-based foods. 
If you haven’t made the switch yet, or are still unsure…try replacing parts of your existing diets with plant-based alternatives. By doing so, you will have started the journey and taken your first steps towards living a better vegan life. 


* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92