Any vegans about? Need ideas and advice

[sweetkitty]

I've been vegetarian for years but have realised I'm eating far too much dairy and it just feels stodgy and unhealthy. I'm trying to eat more vegan, I don't know if I will go 100% vegan but want to cut out most dairy from my diet (and eggs too).

This week I've changed to soya milk and sunflower spread instead of butter. Soya milk isn't bad actually.

What about cheese substitutes if I want to make a meal that needs a bit of cheese?

How did you feel health wise turning vegan? Did you notice a difference?

What about supplements? I assume I'll need vitamin B12, I already take that and iron.

B12, D & iodine. I don't know many vegans that take iodine but I do (when I remember). Do you really need iron? I've been vegetarian for ugh 15 years or more, I've never needed iron, it's everywhere (vegetables, grains, pulses)

Almond milk is really good too

Tesco have started selling Violife cheese slices which is great for sandwiches etc. For block cheese I normally get Vegusto but you have to order that online. You will find other things in shops, those are just my favourites. For cheese as a topping, mix it with chopped nuts. For cheese sauce, add some marmite (this works with real cheese sauce too). Then if there's something you don't like about the cheese or it's too dear, you can use less and get a similar effect

Holland and barrett do Cheesley cheeses and Sheeze now too (may have misspelled both names there!) which I really like but I know not everyone does so have an experiment to see which you prefer.
Have found the Cheesely supermelt mozzerella best for pizzas, although Violife do a pizza cheese too which is ok.

I prefer oat milk to soya but usually end up with soya as it's cheaper.
Have also never had a problem with iron, levels were always fine while checked during pregnancy.

Healthwise I almost have no eczema anymore, sometimes it can come up a bit if I'm caught in the rain but nothing like it used to be and day to day my skin is totally clear now. I did have very severe eczema (itching to the point of infected sores) as a child but as soon as I got rid of dairy and egg my skin cleared up very rapidly.

I was also on the higher end of a healthy weight for my height and I dropped down to the lower end of healthy very quickly after turning vegan, despite the fact I do a lot of vegan baking!

What sort of sweet treat could I take to a vegan dinner party and where would I get it from? (Hijacks thread in desperation having spotted the word "vegan").
TIA

3littlefrogs what kind of thing? I found a vegan lemon cheesecake in Asda's freezers recently, it was okay

I had thought about a pudding or some cookies/cake sort of thing to share.
What would a vegan cheesecake be made from? [hopelessly ignorant].

Mind you - if all else fails I could take a large bunch of grapes. [sudden inspiration].

Jamie o vegan chocolate parfait 3little if you're up for making something yourself?

I will have a look chewbecca - thank you.
I do like baking.

I love baking so am looking forward to veggie cakes.

I think I'll miss Fresh cream and ice cream though my hips won't

Yes - I am definitely going to try that Chewbecca.

It looks really nice and I want to make an effort.

3littlefrogs this is lovely and her whole blog is gorgeous

sweetkitty I eat vegan probably 80% of the time (10% each for locally caught fish and my neighbours eggs)

I use almond milk rather than soy as it's better for you and the environment and if you're veggie for animal welfare reasons, most soy is now actually grown to feed cows so you're still putting money into the industry. I've adapted over time so now I have black coffee, use almond instead of cow's milk for baking (use more of it though as it's not as thick), don't use butter or fake-butter (I don't see the point in substituting natural stuff for over processed vegan alternatives) and use coconut oil for baking instead

For cheese - you can make your own vegan cheeses from nuts mostly (google cashew cheese to start), actually it's easy and only uses a few ingredients. For cheese flavoured food (in pesto, warm cheesey dips, mac'n'cheese style sauces) get yourself some nutritional yeast.

Check out the above link and the whole Oh She Glows blog, she's my favourite vegan blogger around and the very very rarely used meat substitute items.

I feel better but I've also combined it with reducing alcohol and exercising more (mainly I do yoga and cycling, I hate the gym) so it's probably a combination. I tone up easier though and don't have as many irritable bowel movements as I used to. My skin is clearer too - no idea if any of this is diet related though.

I was a vegan for many years. I found a site called Goodness Direct great- lots of dairy substitutes. There was something called Toffutti or something like that that was a tofu cream cheese. Really nice. And Booja Booja ice cream is divine.

Local pizza place uses this- mozzarella made from rice milk. It's pretty good on a pizza.

Coyo yoghurt is good too, especially the vanilla one. Waitrose do it I think, as do goodness direct. link to 310 voucher for goodness direct

I used to eat loads of nuts to be honest.

Thanks

Had pasta with a tomato, kidney bean and sweet corn sauce it was lovely would have usually had cheese on the top.

I'm trying not to use substitutes but they will be useful sometimes I love pizza too.

Have had toast and sunflower spread
Banana
Veg soup and bread
Dried fruit
Tomato pasta

Quite good really maybe a bit more fruit or veg needed

All I have done today is eat

Nairns Oat Biscuits and raisin and nut mix

Yeah, I recommend getting a tub of nutritional yeast (made by Engevita) - we use it to make "cheesy" sauce for pasta or vegan lasagne (make a roux with flour, marge and nutritional yeast, add non-dairy milk to make it a smooth sauce, add Dijon mustard and soy sauce to flavour it). And we have it sprinkled on toast every morning too! I love nooch