veganuary for the whole family

[redpriestandmozart]

The family want to do this to kick start going vegan full time and it's striking fear into me :( I'm vegan and have been for 5 years and I'm happy to get along doing my own thing, eating what I want without thinking of everyone else's likes and dislikes! I like everything (except tofu) so it's never hard work.

So now the men folk in the family think it would be a great idea (without doing any of the work) you know, just have delicious meals set in front of them! Yeah I know I should ask for help but believe me it's easier if I just do it for them.

If you did this with your family this year what did they enjoy the most? Any recipes that were foolproof and remained in your weekly meal planner for the rest of the year? Thank you, it may just be easier for me to run away for the month of January and let them get on with it! :)

[YeOldeTrout]

So... why do you do all the cooking?

[redpriestandmozart]

Because they'd starve if I didn't cook!!!!

[Onykahonie]

Veganuary would be a great time to get them involved in cooking, but if they really won't, then hearty pulse-packed meals might be winners. I've done Veganuary the last couple of years, but really missed cheese, so have gone back to vegetarian each time! Not sure if I will bother to try this time or not.

Anyway, here are some of my recipes..

meal plan 1
meal plan 2

[YouStillLookLikeAMovie]

OOoh, I like that blog Ony.

I am not vegan, or even veggie, but always like to find new family friendly veggie meals (my kids aren't fussy, but they are little so not spicy and easy to adapt portion sizes. Plus we all hate Quorn/meat substitutes)

[Onykahonie]

Oh, thanks :-)
I'm using less meat subs as my kids get older, but still find them useful for a quick meal. I tend to cook from scratch most night, so meals have to be easy and nutritious!

[YouStillLookLikeAMovie]

Oh I didn't mean to sound rude about quorn . I guess the thing is, if you're not veggie, you tend to think "it's ok, but it'd be nicer with chicken". Because it's not every meal, our veggie stuff goes down better when it's a total change IYSWIM.

[Onykahonie]

YouStillLookLikeAMovie ...I know exactly what you mean. I'm not overly keen on them, but meat-eating dh likes them, so I do use them as an add-on to some of my wholly vegetable-based meals, so he doesn't feel like he's missing out!

[Cookingongas]

I did veganuary last year- found it very very hard tbh.

Anything involving fake cheese, or almond milk in replacement of cream was hated by all.

This mushroom bourginon ( minus the butter) has lasted as a family favourite

m.tesco.com/mt/legacy.realfood.tesco.com/recipes/mushroom-bourguignon.html?un_jtt_redirect=sc

As has this stew www.vapromag.co.uk/north-african-squash-chickpea-stew/

And I've been very impressed with a lot that Anna jones has to offer. ( though not all vegan)

Good luck!

[Socialaddict]

I am so glad I found this thread, as I was just about to post one exactly the same. My DD (15) would like to do Veganuary and I am supportive. I also think I'll join her (most of the month at least). I was just wondering about tried and tested recipes, so thank you for the links, shall look at them next.
Regarding the bread - is there a special kind vegans eat, or are most wholemeal, granary versions ok? I realize that the cheese will be a problem and so will the milk. In Tesco's there is this milk alternative, called Koko, which I very much like and recommend.
Do you think I should give her any supplements to this diet and if so, which ones are good?
Shall follow this conversation with interest.

[Veterinari]

Bread is basically flour water and yeast so no animal products
Most frozen pastry is =vegan (check ingredients for marge/veg oil instead of butter

I'd agree that nicer meals tend to be those that don't replicate met-based dishes
Asian foods are good for this and easily adaptable. The moosewood veggie cookbooks are good and lots of vegan options

[weaselwords]

I love this thread! I'm doing Veganuary too and since I do all the cooking was wondering what to make for my family if 4 that wasn't veg and chickpea curry every night. Those links are great

[binkiesandpopcorns]

I'm doing Veganuary too. I love that north african squash and chickpea stew. Quorn now also makes vegan "chicken" pieces if anyone's interested.

Socialaddict I'd supplement with Vitamin B12.

Its worth googling accidentally vegan as well, as there are an awful lot of vegan products on general sale in supermarkets etc that you wouldn't realise were vegan.

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

Accidentally Vegan is good.

Was checking out Nak'd snack bars today.

Anyone know anything about airline vegan food? I've had vegan meals twice on BA: once was amazing, filling and fresh, and once was virtually all fruit which made me starving and pee a lot. Which is the norm?

[Sparklycat]

We are vegan and vegetarian family but often just eat vegan. Favourites are Shepherds pie made with the VegiDeli mince from Holland and narrative. Pasta with pesto, veg and sausages. Mushroom risotto and curries with veg and lentils.

[Sparklycat]

As for vegan airline food it's generally a curry and fruit for pudding.

[pinkyredrose]

The 'menfolk' in your family should really learn how to produce meals. If they'd starve if you didn't cook why weren't they dead before you arrived? Are you letting them off the hook because they're men? What happens if you're ill or away?

Tell them it's one night on one night off for your cooking, they cook alternate nights. Otherwise they'll end up married to martyrs wryly smiling through gritted teeth about how their husbands just 'can't cook'.

[redpriestandmozart]

pinkyredrose actually you are right, maybe 2016 should be the year I kick their arses into shape. I have been meal planning all afternoon with details of who is making what, that will go on the fridge on Sunday!

[pinkyredrose]

Yay, that's brilliant OP, way to go!

[AbbyCadabby]

If you do Fb, these are good groups:

www.facebook.com/groups/270959229775655/

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www.facebook.com/groups/270959229775655/

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www.facebook.com/Veganuary/?fref=ts.

[ivykaty44]

I think it's the moosewood book that does a fabulous recipe for enchildas using sweet potato and beans, its vegan as no cheese is needed over the enchiladas but instead you can make a salsa. We sometime have but I use bake beans as one of the sides with this as mine both love beans.

I make up a big vat of vegetable casserole with egg plant, courgette and tomatoes carrots lentils etc following the principal of a bolognaise sauce. Then use this with spaghetti, as a cottage pie mix and have made lasagna but used cheese. I did though once find a recipe for lasagna using a cauliflower sauce which was vegan