When you can't go vegan, but want to make some kind of change: here are a few ideas.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

I know that there are a lot of people out there who aren't ready to take the plunge into plant-based eating, or who simply can't do so due to allergies/intolerances/family preferences/finances etc. If this is you but you'd like to make some changes anyway, then you might find some of the ideas on this thread useful (that's the plan in any case)!

I'll kick it off with honey.

My DH and DC are omni, and they do like honey. The vegan alternatives are maple syrup and agave nectar; both fine in themselves, but I admit that I wince at the thought of all the airmiles/distance travelled to my shelf. Therefore, I like to buy honey from local beekeepers - the ones which are such a small operation that they have one hive in the garden which they tend with obsessive care I like the local aspect, and hopefully it's helping British bees. People selling their own honey can be found on FB using local sites (parent groups are helpful) or maybe ask a gardener friend with an allotment if they have spotted any hives up there.

Further tricks and tips for a not-exactly-vegan lifestyle are welcomed

I love this thread! I'm a meat eater but cutting right down on it which is a step forward.

What's worked for me is the 5aday recommendation changing to 10aday.
It means i consciously choose pulses or beans instead of meat for protein. It's a little change and not sure i ever want to go totally vegan but there's a lot less animal products in our diet than a year ago.

Thank you for the constructive and non judgemental approach to this thread.

I don't usually bother with vegan "cheese" because it's frankly revolting.

Violife slices resemble cheap American plastic cheese and are tolerable in a sandwich.

And if you are rolling in gold coin like Smaug then the Nutcrafter Creamery cheeses are AMAZING. I get them at Christmas.

But for things like baked potato toppings, I just use hummus instead. I buy the Yarden brand which is slightly more expensive but totally worth it, and less pricey than cheese anyway.

Thank you. Will check out the nutcrafty creamery cheeses. I am saving loads of money but not have meat several times a week, so can splash out on cheese 😊

I actually love the new Tesco cheeses, the grated mozzarella is really impressive. Nutcrafter creamery is amazing too.

I think if you can go vegan EXCEPT FOR milk in your tea, or some Brie, that's still great. Or could you be vegan at home, but flexible when you eat out? It doesn't have to be all or nothing to be worth it.

Oh I have been looking for a thread like this.
I am not a vegan and not sure if it's really for me.
My "sin" is fish. Which is outrageous because it's an actual animal that is killed so I can eat it.
I have found quitting meat from mammals and birds and even dairy quite easy (once I accepted I would have to just not eat cheese) mainly because I "get it" about the cows and their babies iyswim but I guess I don't feel the same way about fish and it seems particularly nutritious.

Interested in the uht organic milk for my omni family - does it taste ok?! Love the idea of the calf at foot dairy but I just can't afford those prices and have a few concerns over giving raw milk to the kids. But I would love love love to get my family to cut down on milk consumption. I've tried giving them oat milk as people say it's the nearest to dairy taste wise. They weren't fooled. And I don't think I can ever get my husband to give up his daily cheese and pickle sandwich

A very interesting thread. I gave up meat two and a half years ago, but very, very occasionally eat fish (I work long haul for an airline and can't always choose what I can eat). I will always continue eating eggs as we have our own hens (ex battery rescues), and I don't have a problem with British honey either. I don't like soya or Quorn so tend to eat veg and beans. I'd like to move away from dairy and will have almond lattes or use it on cereal, but I don't like it in tea or coffee, and have to admit I prefer regular milk. My difficulty would be cheese. This year I gave up sugar and processed food to loose a lot of weight (I'm nearly half way) and find I'm eating a lot of cheese.

The calf at foot dairies don't sit right with me either somehow. I can't see that it's good for the cow to be feeding a calf and getting milked, surely it's over production re the milk and will tire the cow? My ex battery hens don't live a long life (average of 5 yrs despite ending their lives with a few years of natural lifestyle) compared to a normal hen, and I'm convinced it's because their bodies are un naturally stressed by the pressured egg production.

I'd like to try this. Do you have any recipes or meals you do week on week out that you really enjoy?

It would be good to have some ideas to start and work towards this gradually x

Don't rack up the air miles.
Coconut and almond products mean we are destroying somebody else's environment.
Buy local, buy British, buy European as much as possible.
Lamb is the most environmentally friendly meat. Dried peas are long overdue a revival.
It is not just about cruelty to animals it is about sustainability and the environment too. The UK would be unrecognisable without grazing.

Cantthink fish is my 'sin' too! Ive stopped eating meat and I can really do without dairy but honestly... fish!!! I just love it sooooo much. And there are no alternatives, because nothing else compares

I'm very happy with the amount of animal products I have cut down on though, and if I only eat fish, say twice a week, and compare to how much animal prod I was eating just a year ago, its so much better.

Honestly, I never thought I would become (nearly) vegan - I think its becoming more and more popular - I feel a revolution is afoot!

yes Flibberdee, it definitely seems to be increasingly popular.

Can anyone in here please advise me on soup for someone who is vegan but currently ill with bowel and liver cancer?

I want to provide batches of soup for their freezer but need pointers. As much as they want to stay vegan, they acknowledge that it's tricky in the circumstances. Soup needs to be highly nutritious yet low fibre and no spices.

Any advice very gratefully received.

Cream of Galloway have recent become a calf at foot farm and make delicious ice cream and cheese. Worth checking out their stockist page - also a great family day out if you are in area.

Seeking - without meaning to upset anyone on these threads, can I suggest that you approach the Vegan Society with this very specific question. I wouldn't feel qualified to make any suggestions, despite having been a vegetarian and, more recently vegan, for over 30 years.

DH has a very good friend who is vegan. She worked as an NHS dietician and has done a lot of work with the Vegan Society, advising on nutrition. So, I think they would definitely be able to help you and your friend

I find Oatly oat milk is a great alternative to regular milk.

Great thread.
I eat fish and a lot of dairy and while I don't plan to give up either, I would like to reduce my dairy intake.
Where's a good place to start for high iron vegan recipes?

my problem is milk....my children always notice - does aybody have ay thoughts about what goes best w/cereal?

Ill confess I'm not a vegan, but my son is allergic to everything . We find oatly milk is very good and works perfectly with cereal etc. It can be a little sweeter. But they also do a range of cream and creme fresh.
Can confirm violife cheese is as the name suggests vile. It doesn't so much as melt, but shrinks .

Does anyone have any suggestions for dairy free philidephia or similar? Also needs to be soy free?

As an adult I can't bear soy milk anymore. I like coconut or almond personally.

I'm quite tempted to eat honey at the moment. There was a very long and heated honey and toast thread the other week here got me thinking about it.

Oh yes, Oatly milk good too. We use the barista milk for our coffee machine, is that oat too, possibly

I'm getting more interested in this - and am wondering about how to reduce the 24 pints of milk we drink a week. It is such a massive amount in the fridge on shopping day.

Can anyone recommend a dairy free alternative that is longlife that I can substitute for some of it?

I've been meat free for a long time without realising it. I rather things like quorn to chicken and I hate pork and not fussed with the others. I also find most veggie things have more taste. I would look into giving up dairy as I know it doesn't help my eczema but I'm on a very tight budget and any sort of alternative seems to be really expensive plus I have a real obsession with yoghurt.

May I shamelessly placemark? I am mostly vegetarian now but can't help thinking the amount of dairy I consume will negate any positive impact I think I'm having. I spent nearly 5 years dairy free due to both my children having cmpi and, while I managed, I really did miss cheese. It was the only thing I couldn't manage to replace. Everything else was ok.