Can I be vegan if I don't like....

[Mallowmarshmallow]

Hi everyone

I completed veganuary this year as an attempt to think more about what I was choosing to eat and get out of that rut of eating the same foods all the time.

Whilst it had its challenges, I really enjoyed it and so, to date, have continued to make vegan choices. I don't feel in any way inclined to eat meat, and am certainly dairy intolerant so didn't consume much beforehand anyway.

However, I don't like tofu, anything pretending to be meat that isn't.... or particularly lentils (although I could be swayed on lentils if anyone has any good recipes....although they give me a windy tummy...).

Do you think I could continue to successfully be vegan on the basis of avoiding those foods I'm not keen on....?

[Ryantrain]

How are you with beans?

You would need some source of protein. Why dont you trial it without labeling yourself or announcing it to anyone, sort of like an experiment?

[Ricekrispie22]

Yes!
There are loads of everyday food products fortified with protein these days - bread, cereal bars, porridge, mug shots, dairy free milks... My DD doesn’t like nut butter so she has this porridge www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/297519261
In Tesco you can get chickpea fusilli and green pea fusilli which are high in protein. Even vegan pasta sauces have added protein like this Sacla bolognese www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304415085
Yes we do have lentils a lot in our house as it gives us more variety. We all enjoy lentil ragu, lentil burgers, dahl, lentil stew, lentil shepherds pie, lentil balls etc....
Our favourite meals without lentils are:
chickpea curry
chickpea tagine
falafel burgers, bean burgers
Tuscan bean stew
nut roast
tray bake realfood.tesco.com/recipes/aloo-gobi-traybake.html
Chilli
When my Dd is out, I cook with peanut butter as a source of protein. This satay is a favourite www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/satay-sweet-potato-curry

[Toomanygerbils]

Have you considered being a flexitarian?

[Blondie1984]

Have you tried tempeh or seitan? Edamame beans?

I think with tofu it’s about packing it with flavour - otherwise it’s grim

[DropYourSword]

You could possibly compromise and do 3-4 days a week vegan, and the others not.

[muddypuddles12]

You can be vegan without labelling yourself as such. Allowing you to be flexible on what you want to eat.
If you're asking what sources of protein you can get without meat / dairy / tofu / lentils then there's lots. Beans and pulses especially, and with such a spike in veganism, there are new foods being fortified with various proteins and vitamins popping up every day. My son has cows milk protein allergy and soya allergy, and isn't mad on meat so he is essentially a vegan who eats fish and I manage to get protein and calcium in his diet very easily.

[lljkk]

Potatoes, OP, for the protein. As ever, it's iron deficiency you have to watch out for.

[ivykaty44]

Keep eating lentils and very slowly increase the amounts, allow your gut flora to adjust and get used to lentils and all the marvellous nutrients they hold.

Make sure you soak and cook sufficiently & use a pressure cook if it helps

[Ylvamoon]

I agree, keep eating lentils and Co. over time, your body will get used to them. And you will find recipes you like...
I don't eat tofu or meat substitute 🤢. But then, we are having 1-2 vegan days & 1-2 meat / fish days per week rest is veggie. This works perfectly for us as a family. We eat what we like not what we think we should be eating.

[SW16]

It depends what your motivation is.
If environmental, as far as I can see, UK caught mackerel, sardines, crab etc are not under threat, sustainable, incur no air miles and are packed with vital B vitamins and protein.

I’m not sure about being vegan just for the sake of it when some vegan foods (e.g avocado, almond milk etc) are not exactly ‘virtuous’ environmentally.