January is Veganuary; many people have been following a vegetarian/vegan diet through the month. However we are almost at the end of the month so why revert back to being a non-vegetarian. So why not decide to go vegan? Well, it has never been easier than right now - there are more and more vegans worldwide every day. Therefore the demand for and supply of vegan products is also increasing. In 2017, the demand for meat-free food went up by an astounding 987%! So you're in good company.
How, though, does one go
vegan? How can you make the transition as smooth as possible?
Let's look at the essential
things to know for going vegan so that you can eat the way you want without
spending too much time, money, or mental energy in the process.
1. Look at veganism as an adventure
Some people see going vegan
as limiting themselves, as restricting what they can have. If you can see
veganism as an adventure of exploration, you'll be more likely to enjoy the
ride and stick with it.
One of my favourite things to
do is walk through the produce aisle of the supermarket and challenge myself to
try a new fruit or vegetable each week. This may take some planning initially,
so allow yourself a bit of extra time to get accustomed to new recipes.
You'll be rewarded with
astoundingly creative vegan recipes that
you can easily find on the internet, such as Beetroot Paneer Curry, Easy Vegan
Nachos, and more.
2. Educate yourself
Going vegan doesn't mean you
can skip protein, of course, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Look up
key ingredients such as vitamin B12-enriched nutritional yeast and other foods
that can provide you with protein.
If you are concerned about
getting the right nutrients on a vegan diet, consult with your doctor. Many
vegan products are vitamin-fortified, and so you don't necessarily need
supplements.
Iron and calcium are
plentiful in plant-based foods, and many dairy-free milks and tofu are
calcium-enriched.
Tofu plays a key role here, as tofu is a healthy, low-fat protein option that is highly versatile as a meat substitute. There are many ways to prepare tofu to achieve delicious flavors and textures that won't have you missing meat.
This is particularly true if you
get yourself a tofu press like the ones at Tofubud that will quickly remove excess moisture so
that your tofu soaks up the delicious flavors of marinades and juices instead. Why not try this delicious pea noodles and tofu stir fry.
A fundamental rule is to
include a source of fats, protein, and carbs at each meal. Along with veggies,
of course!
3. Go easy on yourself at the beginning
There are lots to learn when
you go vegan, so while you are learning new recipes, there's nothing wrong with
relying on the many packaged foods available. Vegan 'burgers', loaves, bacon
substitutes, and other foods shouldn't be the staple of your diet, but they are
great transition foods to quickly please your taste buds while you learn how to
prepare vegan versions of your favorite foods. Vegan food does not mean more expense, check out 100+ Cheap food to buy to get an idea of how you can budget.
4. Create a repertoire of
favorite dishes first
Start with a few simple dishes, and then build on that. Why not check out this vegan Creamy vegan tomato soup .or this roasted aubergine curry and vegetable biriyani
For example, if you love
cheesy sauces, find a recipe for a vegan alternative that you enjoy.
Think about breakfast, too.
If you used to eat eggs, check out vegan breakfast alternatives such as savory
breakfast skillets, oatmeal, avocado toast, or other options such as these mini vegan oat and apple muffins or this Vegan chocolate smoothie
You may want to start a
Pinterest account with meal boards where you store vegan recipes that you come
across to have them all in one place.
5. Learn how to adapt dishes to make them vegan-friendly
There are many tricks to
adapting traditional dishes and ingredients to
vegan versions that are also tasty and satisfying.
The more vegan recipes you
become familiar with, the more you'll understand how to replace not just meat
but cheese, butter, cream, and eggs.
Many people stop at
substituting tofu cubes or tempeh for meat - but there are more creative ways
to replace meat. Dehydrated and marinated mushrooms make an excellent substitute too.. Shredded jackfruit is perfect
for a pulled pork substitute and is now found in supermarkets, restaurants, and
take-outs. Cashew cream may not taste exactly like dairy cream, but it comes
pretty close!
Even baking bread or cakes is
easy to do without eggs. For each egg required, substitute 1 tablespoon of chia
seeds soaked in 3 or 4 tablespoons of water. Your baked goods will come out
deliciously moist and even better tasting than with eggs!
These delicious lemon pistachio and mini bundt cakes are vegan and simply delectable.
Going vegan does not mean you can miss out on sweet treats check out these vegan chocolate chip cupcakes.
Butter on toast is easily
replaced with, sunflower spread, smashed avocado guacamole or coconut oil. Try them and
see which you prefer.
If you find the transition to being vegan difficult and daunting, try changing to a vegetarian diet first then slow cut out dairy and other products gradually till your body starts to adjust. simplyfood is a vegetarian /Vegan blog do check over 900 recipes that will help you to create delicious and tasty recipes easily.
**Collaborative post
