Does anyone fancy doing Veganuary with me?

[IfyouseeRitaMoreno]

I’ve read “How not to die” the apparent vegan bible.

I’ve ordered a bunch of fruit and veggie boxes for the new year

I’ve armed myself with nut butters, pumpkin seeds and coconut milk.

I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos on the evils of intensive meat farming both for the animals and the environment.

I’ve bookmarked dozens of vegan recipes.

I’m ready.

I just need a few mumsnetters to keep me company so we can spur each other on.

Anyone care to join me?

It's tricky in the beginning with preparation but it gets easier. If you struggle with anything pm me and I'll do my best to help.

We gave up eating meat at home for environmental reasons, and since then I've totally gone off the idea of it. I've also started to hate the idea of dairy too, although I do have cheese at the moment. Happy to join you in 'Meat, fish and dairy free', but I'm not cutting out eggs just yet!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
I'm in (except I failed last year because of being unable to find a milk that I could tolerate in hot drinks).

PurpleDaisies
I’m with you remus, the substitute milks are horrid in hot drinks. I only drink black coffee now.

I think acceptance/enjoyment of substitute milks is influenced by habit and exposure over time - it might take a while to stop comparing other milks to dairy. I know I would find cow's milk horribly rich if I started drinking it again, even though I drank it happily for many years.

Hi, can I join in?
I've been thinking about going vegan for a little while mainly for the impact on the environment, so though veganuary was a good place to start.
Has anyone found any good vegan cookbooks? I've started following a few accounts on Instagram for motivation.

@InACloudOfGlitter I can recommend Deliciously Ella's books, BOSH! and anything by Laura Miller.

Hope you enjoy it!x

I am doing this, my 12 year old wanted to do it so we are. We eat meat, fish etc., etc.,but spent many many years dairy free so I guess we sort of know what vegan products we like.

We love oatily barista already! I am going shopping today, what does everyone love for an egg replacer in cakes/baking. I used to buy a powdered egg replacer but have read about chai or flax seeds being good?

We made a start last night with Puy lentil soup and eat plenty of pulses anyway.

Giving up cheese might be harder. We used to love Sheese mature cheddar but I can’t seem to find it atm.

Have just bought the Veganuary book for 99p on kindle.

@Fabulouslyfatatfifty Wooo! Vegan excitement there.

For egg replacer in baking, I either use flax or apple sauce! Google it and you'll be shocked at how well it works. You can also do things like use Betty Crocker cake mixes and add a can of coke. The mind actually boggles!

Oooh, I've used avocado too. Brownies turned out brilliant!

Thank you rabbit, we are excited (DD is really excited). I didn’t eat meat for about 12 years and DD had an epipen for dairy and egg until she was 9.

We are going shopping in a minute and have a booths and a Waitrose, both have good free from sections. We still eat Alpro yoghurt, Swedish glacé, divine dark and Booja booja so with chocolate and instant desserts sorted we are halfway there.

Cheese wise I didn’t like vegusto when it came out, not sure if it has changed since? Any suggestions if I can’t find Sheese?

I've been vegetarian for years. Deep down I know I should be vegan but have struggled-I like cheese too much! Not that I eat loads of it but am not sure about the vegan versions of cheese.
Another one who wants a decent milk substitute for hot drinks. I wish you could buy small cartons to try them. Any decent vegan yoghurt either as I quite like M&S Greek yoghurt with berries for breakfast.

I'm in. Been thinking about this for a while and needed a bit of a kick up the bum to get started. DH is doing dryathon next month but I don't drink so I wanted something to do.

Oatily barista is our favourite

Will be watching this with interest. I've more or less cut most dairy out as it was bloating me and making me feel rotten. Don't miss cow's milk - in fact it made me feel quite bokey last time I had it - but I really miss yoghurt, and they put milk powder in so many things I still end up eating it! Try to avoid soya as soy milk made me feel worse than cow's milk, and that seems to be the go to substitute.

Don't think I will do a full veganuary but will make a conscious effort to eat more vegan than not and see if I can slowly introduce it. I have been trying but my main problem is I'm really bloody lazy.

Btw oatly do a delicious chocolate milk drink, a lovely custard, and our local holland and Barrett always had their single cream substitute reduced to 50p even though it's long-dated. It's lovely in pasta sauces! Coconut Collab snowconut sticks are also amazing - coconut "icecream" dipped in dark chocolate. Thought it would be like eating a frozen bounty but it's so much nicer.

DD was weaned on oatily chocolate , it is still her favourite drink at 12.

@fabulous

Ok, so cheese is a hard one. We all know it's the elephant in the room. I was absolutely cheese obsessed before going vegan (five years ago) and it does take time, but you'll not only move past it, you'll find some of the weird tasting alternatives moreish as well! I kid you not.

My faves are:
Violife slices (perfect for sandwiches)
Asda own brands aren't too shabby and they have Sheese as well
If you really need a treat, try fancypants online douchey vegn cheese shops that deliver in the post. I spent a bit on some posh fake cheese and daaaaaamn, it was good. This place is great: mousesfavourite.com/

Ooh those cheeses look good. It appears they aren't far from MNHQ-maybe someone needs to pop over to sample some!

My local Waitrose had a range of violife so that is fab but I have just looked at Ocado and they have got tons but sadly not the Sheese strong cheddar version.

I think i will do an Ocado order and plan what I am going to cook.

Waitrose had sold out of oatily full stop earlier!

I'm in! I've been vegetarian for over 27 years but I'm such a bad one. I"ve slipped so far down the laziness slope that I now just bung in a load of cheese with everything I eat. I'm hoping a month dairy- and egg-free will force me to be more imaginative Andre-educate my taste buds and, without the copious amounts of cheese, butter, sour cream and chocolate I usually live on, I hope very much to lose weight.

Anyone doing this? OP? I've survived my first day and, while the motivation is high, Ive batch-cooked some Dahl, cauliflower Bolognese and courgette pasta sauce. If I can have some quick meals in the freezer, it will hopefully prevent the lapse into peanut butter on toast for every meal. Tomorrow I want to make a lentil ragu and a nut roast. Any lovely meal ideas anyone can recommend?

I’ve been lazy and bought some vegan curry sauces so if I’m needing something super easy, I’ll use one with chick peas and frozen spinach!

@steala

I’m a “full time” vegan.
Favourites are
Pasta with lentil Bolognese
Fajitas with pepper, onion, portobello mushroom and sweet corn
Wraps with falafel, salad, hummous and chilli sauce
Home made wedges and salsa for when you want something a bit stodgy
Veggie fried rice with Thai paste (the green dragon one is vegan)
Dahl and rice
Vegan paella is easy and often delicious
Shroomdogs (only in Sainsbury’s) with mash and veg
Tuscan bean stew with crusty bread
Baked potatoes with leftover curry in them
I made a vegan Alfredo recently that was divine, I’ll dig up the recipe.
Nut roasts
Mixed bean chilli and rice
Chilli and sweet potato quesadillas
Lentil shepherds pie

Thank you, Lastqueen, some lovely ideas. I'll give lots of those a go.

Day 2 and I'm finding it a little challenging. Not the meals: I have eaten delicious, nutritious meals and I'm not hungry at all. The problem is that I am pre-menstrual and my go-to comfort foods: buttery toast, cheese and crackers, cheesy pasta and, most of all, kilos of chocolate, aren't vegan. I've had vegan pate on matzo crackers and fruit and cashew nut butter with celery. All very nice, but they haven't stopped me incessantly searching the fridge and cupboards for more.

Any vegan comfort food suggestions?

The good news is that there is clearly no mystery why I am a stone overweight and reliance on healthier alternatives (eliminating comfort-eating seems beyond me at the moment) may well be the best thing I've done for myself.

Lots of crisps are vegan. That’s my go to, with houmous, guacamole and vegan yoghurt.