I’m not even entirely sure how to pronounce Veganuary, but
as I’ve been vegan for a while now, I thought I’d share my tips on how to
reduce your intake of animal products. This doesn’t have to apply only for this
month, and it really doesn’t matter if you don’t want to commit to going fully
vegan this month or ever. Just trying a couple of these suggestions is a step
in the right direction! There’s no such thing as a perfect vegan, and it isn’t
a competition. There are no vegan police. This might be a useful read if you have any vegan friends or relatives, or just to educate yourself. Anyway,
you do you, but helping the planet and the animals along the way too is pretty nice, so here’s some Veganuary pointers if you want to take part in any way at all:
you do you, but helping the planet and the animals along the way too is pretty nice, so here’s some Veganuary pointers if you want to take part in any way at all:
· Simple swaps:
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| We owe a lot to soya x |
o
Milk
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| A carton of Oatly oat milk |
Where to begin??? This tweet just sums it up perfectly tbh.
Soya is what you
might find if you’re lucky in some questionable café where all the (non-vegan)
cakes wrapped in cling film and the tables have red and white checked table
cloths. The staff would probably think oat milk was a night club or something.
Soya is a solid option which is good in coffee and on cereal. Tea, not so much.
This year my eyes were opened to just how good the other milks are. My personal
rating scale is now:
-
Oat
-
Hazelnut
-
Cashew
-
All others
Oat milk is SO good in hot drinks. Oatly especially if you’re feeling
fancy, but I like the alpro one too, and you can even make your own. Cashew and
hazelnut are so damn creamy. If you have no intention of going even slightly vegan,
and take nothing away from this muttering “bacon tho” under your breath, at
least consider trying a different milk. They’re SO good. Cow’s milk? Nasty.
Also the alpro chocolate milks like chocolate almond are just crazy good too-
it is very hard not to drink the whole carton in one go tho
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| Violife vegan cheese for cheese boards mmmm |
o
Cheese?
Let’s be honest- it was only a matter of time before we reached this
topic. The number of times someone has said to me “I could be vegan if it
wasn’t for cheese”. Hey, you’re saying this to the girl who used to stand at
night with a block of tesco mild cheddar and a knife, eating as many slices as
I thought I could get away with without anyone discovering my obscure habit.
And don’t get me started on camembert. Quite simply, I think cheese is the
hardest thing to give up. It’s definitely addictive, but now I don’t even crave
it. It’s still my biggest weakness as a vegan and sadly after enough drinks I
have devoured a friend’s cheesy chip (or 3). But you do stop missing it as much
as you expect. Pizza is crazy good without cheese. I know, I know, I was
surprised, too. Especially a proper sourdough pizza. It’s crazy when you
realise that you don’t actually need it that much. But if you are missing it, I
think that Violife sliced cheese is the most convincing cheddar alternative,
but Tesco’s grated cheese in a bag alternative is very decent because it melts
beautifully. For a soft cheese Boursin style number, Tesco’s peppercorn coconut
oil cheese is also spot on. And I’ve heard great things about Asda’s vegan
cheeses, too. Their pizza counter instore even offer vegan cheese!!! Right I
need to stop rambling. Nutritional yeast is an alternative for like cheesy
sauces though I personally think it has more of a nutty taste than anything else-
it’s cheap online though and contains a lot of B12 (we’ll come to that later).
You can also make your own cashew based cheese really easily which is actually
pretty nice, though I’m far too lazy to bother
o
Meat?
The world of fake meat is a pretty crazy one, and some vegans don’t like
anything too “meaty”. The game changed a lot this year when Iceland released a
very affordable massive range of No Bull products including a bleeding burger, which
were all pretty decent and pretty convincing in my opinion. Linda McCartney
will also be queen to me though; the products are SO good- just the thought of
the sausages makes me salivate a bit x they’re not all vegan tho (obvz the
cheese plait etc. isn’t) so have a check.
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| The holy grail of vegan "meat" |
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| I really like this tweet- eating plants is not restrictive!!! |
o
Butter?
Well, there are some super fancy vegan blocks of butter out there
nowadays, but for peasants like me, margarine does the job. In theory all “olive
oil” and similar spreads should be vegan but they all seem to add a bit of
buttermilk, so don’t assume. Vitalite spread is my personal fav,
but for baking
the Stork blocks make exceptional cookies. They’re just chilling amongst the other
spreads in the supermarket aisle, by the way
o
Chocolate?
Depends how fancy you’re feeling. Vego is the goal- Holland and barrett
sell this incredible bar which is like the smoothest milk chocolate (think
lindt) with whole hazelnuts inside. But hella pricey. For your everyday fix,
o
Yoghurt?
Not gonna lie, I’m not a big yoghurt fan anyway, but there are loads out
there. Alpro vanilla is nice, but their nicest has to be their Go On range.
High protein but also the little pots have a layer of like fruity deliciousness
and yeah just cannot fault. I also recently tried the Coconut Collab company’s
coconut natural yoghurt and although a little more pricey it was so good
o
Eggs?
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| Tofu scramble- image taken from the Vegetarian Times |
I found eggs really hard to give up because there isn’t really an
alternative product out there, but again, if you’re treating yourself health food
stores and online shops offer Easy Egg products which you can supposedly use to
make your own omelettes and scrambles. What a time to be alive, eh?! I haven’t
tried it myself but black salt supposedly has a very egg taste and can be used
to flavour convincingly, though this isn’t something I’ve personally bothered
with. The only egg alternative I tend to opt for is a tofu scramble. You
essentially just mash a block of tofu with a fork, season it and pan fry it
with some vegetables and serve on toast. It’s close enough to scrambled eggs to
be a comforting reminder of the meal without a weird eggy taste. P good in my
opinion. For egg replacements when baking, mashed banana, apple sauce and the
water in a can of chickpeas (SO DAMN WEIRD I KNOW BUT IT WORKS SO WELL) are definitely
your best (and budget friendly) bets
o
Desserts?
It is actually super simple to make nice vegan desserts, but sadly
getting hold of them just ain’t so easy. A chef where I work recently whipped
up a vegan crème brulee- which is ridiculous when most restaurants will offer sorbet.
I’m gonna talk about eating out as a vegan more generally, but for desserts at
home, there’s actually loads of choices. Over Christmas I made this peng ting chocolate roulade which was lush! If you’re feeling lazier, a lot of supermarket
apple strudel’s are vegan, magnum now make their own vegan magnums in regular
and almond, ben and jerry’s do 3 vegan flavours, Alpro make some good ice
creams and Swedish glace vanilla is possibly even better than the real deal.
The choices are endless.
Supermarkets often do their own vegan desserts like
vegan cheesecakes, asda did some chocolate and caramel pots this Christmas which
should still be around… And if in doubt I like to whip up a batch of oreo brownies
and serve with some vegan vanilla ice cream- lush. Vegan baking doesn’t have to
involve flaxseed and milled linseed and all kindsa crap you’ve never heard of- just
google it and you’ll find normal vegan recipes I swear. Also, to go with
desserts, alpro and oatly both do single cream and custard alternatives which
are fab. And asda and morrisons do vegan squirty cream in a can!!!!
o
Meal
deals?
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| M&S vegan sandwich- from reddit |
2018 was like the year of the vegan, and suddenly the choices have gone
from pathetic little falafel and hummus wrap to VEGAN BLT and VEGAN PLOUGHMAN’S?!
I can’t quite believe it. Boots meal deal is my personal vegan fav; I think
they might have 4 vegan sandwiches?? Maybe even more, including vegan BLT or
all day breakfast, they also do a vegan chocolate brownie or different Trek
flapjacks as snacks, and vegan iced coffee as drink options!! Absolute madness.
Tesco have the Wicked Health range which do loadsa sandwiches which are a bit
expensive tho. Waitrose does a vegan cheese ploughman’s among other options
which I haven’t actually tried but just love that that is an option. M&S also
do loadsa options including
a No Turkey feast which I’m yet to try which has
actual fake meat in!! how exciting!! Though at their prices ain’t so much of a
meal “deal” is it?? As a standard rule, most supermarkets will do at least one
vegan sandwich, though it may just be salad. Get some fun crisps to spice things
up and you’re good to go. Oh, and if you have a Pret nearby you’re balling as
their vegan sandwiches are SO good. Just general vegan advice:
- ·
A lot of
stuff in supermarkets is not labelled vegan
Have a skim of the ingredients list, and if
there’s no milk, cream or eggs (which will be in bold as they’re allergens) and
no meat or fish, you’re generally good to go. Also if you’re being a strict
vegan, look for honey too. It’s not an allergen so is more likely to sneak in
their unnoticed.
- ·
Linda
McCartney sausages
Do I even need to expand? They are
RIDICULOUSLY good. Referred to by the more tragic among us as simply ‘Lindas’
these sausages are just delicious. Can’t really remember what a normal sausage
tastes like, but these will not disappoint. Too good. Oh and if you’re in a
rush, microwave them for like a minute and a half and you’re good to go. Life
hack
- ·
Non-fresh
pasta
Fresh pasta (the kind you keep in the
fridge) is made from eggs, so it’s not vegan. With nearly all of the cupboard
stuff, you’re good to go. Just check the label
- ·
Alcohol
I’m gonna be 100% real here- I don’t really
check. Like I’ve said before, no one is a perfect vegan, and this is something I
should be more aware of. Apparently some cider is strained through fish
bladders??? Mmmmmm delicious xx As a general rule, a lot of wine is not vegan,
so check the label. And I found
this SUPER helpful graphic on Instagram which gives you a much better list than
I could compile
·
Accidentally
vegan
Unbeknown to most ordinary people, there is
a whole world of “accidentally vegan” products out there. There are entire Instagram
accounts dedicated to showing products which are vegan unintentionally, and
these are often useful when eating with your non-vegan friends. When seeing
these products, you’re likely to encounter the “may contain traces of milk”
slogan, which vegans come to explain to every family member, friend and work
colleague. I tend to describe it as “they have to put that in case someone with
a milk allergy eats them and dies” but if that doesn’t apply to you, you’re
good to go.
Here are a few classics:
o
Oreos
These are problematic in terms of palm oil, but this is not what this
post is about. For a new vegan at a social event where there’s biscuits, these,
Lotus biscuits and party rings (also peng) are a safe bet. They’re good in baking,
vegan milkshakes, and they’re not obscure so you’re carnivorous friends aren’t
gonna cry eating them. Check if buying different flavours tho because they're not all vegan friendly
o
Jus rol
The pastry company have so many vegan products. So if you wanna make a
pie, some sausage rolls, whatevs, they have your back. Their cinnamon swills,
croissants and pain au chocolats take 12 mins in the oven and are super good,
too
o
Pesto
That fancy pesto brand do a vegan pesto, bc, heartbreakingly, pesto has
milk in. Tesco also do a cheaper one for like £1.50, and if you’re really
feeling fancy, you can make your own. I think vegan pesto tastes the
same tbf
o
Garlic bread
If garlic bread wasn’t vegan I probably would have quit by now xxx Most
supermarket own brand’s cheapest garlic bread is vegan- just check the label.
Iceland also do vegan garlic bread slices, and some restaurants like Franco
Manco and Zizzi’s do it too. Thank god
o
Greggs’ Belgian
buns
Just a useful random snack for if you’re out
o
Co op and
morrisons’ donuts
The
Co-op jam and custard donuts are vegan, as are morrisons and they have
caramel!! Check in your local store tho because some use egg
·
Eating
out
Going for food as a vegan has got SO much
easier. If you find yourself somewhere obscure with no vegan options, chips,
jacket potato with baked beans, salad, or bread without butter are usually your
best bets. Not the most exciting though.. As well as some AMAZING independent places, a lot of chain restaurants
have your back.
For pizza, Franco Manco, Zizzis, Pizza Express, The Stable and
even Pizza Hut all offer vegan cheese. For brunch the Lounges chain, Cosy Club
and Boston Tea Party all have vegan options.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Handmade
Burger Co. have options.
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| Vegan wrap at Nando's |
Nando’s have 2 burgers which can be made vegan- just
check when ordering, as I think mayo has to be removed.
Even at McDonalds the
fries and apple pie are vegan, and you can get a veggie burger just remove the mayo!
Even Wetherspoons have a vegan menu.
Wagamama has crazy good vegan options, as
does YoSushi, and a lot of Thai, Chinese and Indian food is easily veganised.
Essentially, you’re in luck. If you’re unsure, ask your server. I’ve been a
waitress longer than I’ve been vegan and literally no waiter or waitress cares
if you want to check something in the menu.
·
Instagram
If you’re new to this, I’d check out Instagram.
There is like a whole vegan world on there. “Accidentallyveganuk” or “nowyouknowitsvegan”
and “vegandailyuk” are good to find out about vegan products in supermarkets, “uglyvegan”
is a lovely account for reminders that vegan’s don’t live off smoothie bowls
and salads- more like potato waffles and beans. From here you will find thousands
of ordinary vegans posting photos of their meals to help inspire you to make
ordinary yummy food without feeling deprived
·
But what
do you eat if you’re vegan????
Most of the time I just eat ordinary meals,
without the animal-based components. Cereal with non-dairy milk or toast with
vegan spread or peanut butter/jam, lunch might be soup with bread, some leftover
curry, a sandwich or basically just anything. I eat a slightly excessive amount
of vegetables, simply because I love them, and I can eat SO many and feel full
and satisfied without gaining a ton of weight. Paired with a carb (usually
potato, bread or pasta, or quinoa if I’m feeling pretentious) and some form of vegan
protein, I’m good to go. Here is an example of a very ugly meal i ate just last night xxxx
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| so ugly lol. 2 potato waffles, some Asda vegan popcorn chicken, Tesco vegan mayo, vegetables in a spicy tomato sauce, roasted spiced cauliflower and some green beans. Plus a smoothie made by my omnivore dad |
But where
do you get protein/vitamins/B12???
Well, I used to be anaemic before I was vegan,
and now somehow as a vegan I am my most
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| protein deficiency who??? |
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| After running my fastest 10k in 42:42 |
If anyone read this whole thing, I am amazed. I don’t often
think of being vegan as a massive part of my identity, and I don’t particularly
like discussing my eating choices with people as they tend to get defensive.
But it is actually something I’m pretty passionate about and I kinda just see
it as common sense! That being said,
veganism is not accessible to all. That’s not something I’m going to talk about
in detail on this post, but it has many implications for finance, cost and
culture, and I’m not going to pretend that it’s currently an option for everybody.
Bottom line is; you do you. But also, the planet is pretty fucked, and I want
to live as compassionately as I can, so I just eat plants. You don’t have to do
the same at all, but as documented in my little vegan bible here, there are
lots of little changes you can make to help make a massive different.
Just
remember, Beyonce is vegan, and that should be all the motivation you need.
Laura x
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