Veganuary 2018

[lurchermummy]

Myself and DD aged 16 are going to try a vegan diet for January. DD is already vegetarian and I was vegetarian for many years although recently not. I really want to try a lighter healthier plant based way of eating, feel blurgh after all the rich food of Christmas, and am really keen to see if it helps my psoriasis. If we like it we may well continue but I signed up for Veganuary to give us a focus. DD2 is a fussy eater and not a big fan of vegetables so that may be tricky, DH is happy to eat vegetarian but vegan may be a step too far for him. Would really welcome any tips for adaptable family meals eg. sausage and mash, I can do vegan sausages for us and meat for them. I'm actually really looking forward to it now!

[torthecatlady]

I just had beans on toast (without butter) which to be honest is how I like it anyway. I've been feeling very hungry the last couple of days.

[Magpie24]

@torthecatlady I'm hungry too. Been working from home today so I've had too many snacks: green olives, pitta, hummus, peanuts... think I need bigger meals

[PurpleDaisies]

Thanks japanese, that dahl looks lovely. I normally use jars of sauce (or curry paste with tomatoes or coconut milk) unless it’s a special night.

I’m doing ok with the hunger but since I’m eating so many beans and pulses for the protein, I’m having other embarrassing side effects!

[PurpleDaisies]

That should say that dahl book looks lovely.

[torthecatlady]

@Magpie24 I'm so glad it's not just me feeling hungry!

I've been eating healthy snacks in between meals. I think it's just missing the rubbish food I used to eat! And maybe from overeating over Christmas?

Hopefully the weighing scales will reflect this

[torthecatlady]

@PurpleDaisies
Yep, I've definitely been experiencing some of those side effects!

[Magpie24]

@torthecatlady I'm already down a pound but could be a coincidence!!

[Woolfrai]

No side effects here, yet. Looking forward to 'Coyo' tonight.

[AdalindSchade]

I've been farting for England

[Deadlylampshade]

I can set my watch by my poops since going vegan.
Me and my husband refer to our bowel movements as ‘Tom daleys’ because they dive out and don’t leave a splash

[BoBoo]

Oh, and this site is good for recipe inspiration: Yummly. You can just search using 'vegan' or 'vegan' and whatever recipe you want or food you want to cook with. There's a free app you can download and save all the recipies you like the look of, like your personal cook book.

[HemanOrSheRa]

I'm going to lurk for ideas, if I may ? I've been thinking about becoming veggie for a while now. Vegan seemed a stretch too far. However, I had norovirus last week and it seems it has left me with secondary lactose intolerance (I've spoken to my GP). Not sure if I am pleased or not ! So if I have to cut out dairy for at least a while I may as well give Veganuary a go as best I can.

My appetite still isn't 100% right now so can't really meal plan as such as I just don't want a lot of food in general . I was peckish this afternoon so I had a Fry's 'chicken' burger in a bun with salad and a slice of violife cheese. OMG! It was DELICIOUS! So delicious in fact that my meat eating, veg avoiding DP snaffled half so I had to make another one. Not the healthiest option I know but it really hit the spot that other food I've tried since being ill hasn't done. Plus it didn't give me tummy pains, soreness and bloating after either!

[travailtotravel]

Loads of farting here 😁 epazote is a Mexican herb that allegedly reduces the impact of veany flatulence. I've stocked up.

Anyway, snacking much on almonds. Ooh dear. But I've eaten
Porridge with almond milk and banana
Apple
Lunch of falafel, hummus and pita, with some raw carrot and celery and a few spinach leaves.
Dinner was tofu and rice - bloody lovely. Added soy, garlic, ginger and chill flakes to sesame oil and stir fried with green paper, onion and a few mushrooms. DH - a previous tofu refusenik - declared it delicious.

Less somtonights pud which was procamel soy yoghurt. Bleurgh. Like the alpro stuff but was hoping to eschew some sugar.

Not sure what to have for lunch tomorrow....

[Anniethinggose]

Cor, some of these meal ideas!
I'm planning on reverting to being vegan but I've still got chocolate in the house.
I've always been vegetarian but never liked dairy or eggs so have always been a kind-of vegan but had quite a junk food diet.
My plan is to make much more wholesome food from scratch, in batches and to stick to it.

[VioletCharlotte]

This is what I've eaten today -
Breakfast -
Berry and banana smoothie
Lunch -
Roast veg Risotto
Dinner
Mushroom and spinach bake with sweet potato fries and spinach
Snacks
Cashews, walnuts, dark chocolate, naked bar

Just had an email from Asda with loads of great ideas for Veganuary.

https://www.asdagoodliving.co.uk/food/features/vegan-recipes#cmpid=emc-ahc-e--otc-gooddnewsletterer--insp---E100003443-_-01

[Littlepig8834]

Dinner today was lentil pie, was very nice and filling. We didn't have any tomato or bbq sauce so just added tomato purée and paprika and it made enough for leftovers.
Recipe here if interested: www.thespruce.com/vegan-lentil-loaf-recipe-3377145

[Hermagsjesty]

Can I join please?! Been veggie for years and years and have been leaning towards totally plant-based for a while... hoping Veganuary will give me the kick into it! I’m also gluten-free (coeliac) which does make it a bit harder as I’m already so hard to cater for out and about. Also am a total cheese fiend so I think that’s what I’ll find hardest!

[Magpie24]

Welcome all!

@Littlepig8834 I like the look of that lentil loaf, did it hold its shape ok?

[LauraMipsum]

Good luck to all those doing Veganuary!

I did a 30-day vegan challenge 2 years ago and have been vegan since. It's made me much healthier and happier. It's worth persisting with I reckon.

If anyone is after recipe books, my two favourites are Forks Over Knives and Dreena Burton's Plant Powered Families. That second one I haven't found a dud recipe in yet.

[HemanOrSheRa]

Oh my! I'm doing Dry January and wondered what I would do without a mug of hot chocolate for a bedtime treat drink for being good . Warmed Oatly chocolate milk is AMAZING! So delicious I can't believe it. I had to check the carton and double check on the website!

www.oatly.com/products/international/chocolate-oat-drink/

[Littlepig8834]

Hi magpie, yep, held really well. Better than I thought to be honest. Plus it's a recipe you could easily tweak with different flavours.

[DeliveredByKiki]

I’m in! I’ve been what my dad refers to as a pesky-vegan for 2years, so am still occasionally eating fish and seafood but no eggs or dairy. I fell off the wagon a few times over Christmas though so DH and I both doing Veganuary to get back on it

My fav vegan cookbook is Oh she Glows but also a fan of minimalist baker and thug kitchen. I really want the HFW new veg book

I live in California so have access to some amazing vegan cheeses!

[JapaneseBirdPainting]

Morning all! [waves to fellow penguin Heman]

I love Dreena Burton also Laura. I have her book but 'read' it rather than cook from it- I'm inspired by you to try a recipe!

I have exams today (retraining) and am still under the weather 3 weeks on from flu. But meeting my parents afterwards for lunch and chose a delicious Greek deli that has a set vegan menu as well as more meaty fare (my dad - despite being open minded in all other ways scoffs about vegans). I can't wait for lunch!!!

I love the look of that lentil pie Littlepig.

[Todayisanewday75]

I’ve had a few vegan stints over the past couple of years and am in for January. Yesterday I had

B Avocado, hummus and tomato on rice cakes
L Dhal with sauteed veg and seeds
S Aubergine, sweet potato and chickpea madras with brown rice and green beans
Snacks an apple and a rice cake with sunflower spread and marmite

Today will be much the same as made big batches of everything

Am also having a dry (ish) January. There are 6 bottles of beer in the fridge so will make that my monthly allowance.

[LauraMipsum]

What are you eating today?

I don't know what I'm doing for lunch - quite possibly Quorn vegan fillets from the freezer - but dinner is going to be the Forks Over Knives veg biryani with pineapple chutney and okra.