Anyone planning to do Veganuary this time?

[OfficerPetriHawkinsByrd]

So, January 2020 I mean.

Obviously, we have a couple of months till it starts, but I like to get prepared and practice some vegan meals in the run up.

Is anyone else planning to do it and would they like to join me on here?

I've started my Veganuary prep by switching to soya milk in hot drinks today. I'm actually planning a totally vegan day today again as prep. Last time I did it, I got caught out, so this is why I'm prepping early! If anyone has any tips or if anyone is doing the same thing, please join me!

Oooh, I am considering this. I try to cook vegan as much as possible but it's really hard with 3 kids. 1 of them will happily eat vegan but the other 2 are fussy, and I hate having to cook separate meals.

As far as milk alternatives go, oat milk has been my favourite so far.

I've bought the Bosh! book and am loving it, lots of good ideas. They've got a tv series starting on ITV in January.

Yes! Became vegetarian a year ago and now I really want to give this a go as am already feeling so much better.

Am currently trying out milk replacements as I drink a lot of tea so need something that won't curdle! Am also a cheese addict which will be the most difficult thing for me (along with cooking separate meals for the family as a PP mentioned!)

I’m going to do it. I haven’t eaten dairy for about six months now. I discovered that I actually prefer coffee black and have almond milk in tea.
My two youngest children are fussy so I tend to cook separate for them most of the time anyway. My eldest will eat anything though.
Last January I mostly made vegan mains for OH and me with the option of meat or fish on the side for him, which he didn’t always want. I also froze individual portions of vegan curries etc. so there was always something for me if I cooked something non vegan for everyone else.

Yes! I eat 90% vegan anyway, but it’s nice to have that extra push to go 100%.

I do struggle with eating out though, as usually the vegan option is crap, or there is nothing vegan apart from a side salad and chips. So it’s worth looking up good vegan places beforehand if you like going out for dinner.

Make sure you get portable vegan snacks for if you’re hungry and nowhere suitable to buy from. Cereal bars, protein balls, fruit etc

Yep, me! I did it last year. I was vegan the whole of January and most of February.

I kept a lot of the eating habits (e.g. never went back to normal milk) and am almost entirely vegetarian now.

I have never felt more healthy than I did last January. I slept better and my skin and hair were amazing. The temptation of a take away got to me in February though I fell off the wagon.

I do veganuary all year round

Thank you for trying it :)

@Richlyfruited I was a cheese addict too. I quite like fake cheese slices in sandwiches (they're like uber-cheesy fake cheese) but I've not found a replacement for actual cheese. To be honest, I just stopped eating it and it sort of fell out of being a habit. I've eaten cheese only two or three times the whole of 2019. In 2018, me and DP could get through a 400g block a week.

@todayisanewday75 this is the bit I struggle with. I have 3 kids, the eldest will try everything and likes most things, but the other two are fussy. I'm also on a tight budget so cooking 2 separate meals is hard.

I think I need to do a little bit more planning ahead, so that I've got something for everyone without too much stress every day.

Yes cooking separate meals can be overwhelming and expensive unless you’re organised and plan ahead. I tend to keep a stock of foods my younger two will eat in the freezer and pasta with grated cheese as a back up, DC3 thinks it’s the best meal ever and would happily eat it every day.

I have signed up. I've been vegetarian for 35 years and occasionally vegan too. I have soy or almond milk instead of regular milk when out and at home, but do have products with milk in them often, as well as cheese, especially halloumi with a salad of baby spinach, quinoa, cucumber, pomegranate and avocado - I will have to think of an alternative to that! I have an egg intolerance so largely avoid them apart from 1-2 times a month I will have a dessert such as cake that contains egg, so now I will be giving those up too.

I did it last January, and I’m still going now- one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Well done to all of you! I was vegetarian and (almost) dairy free before, which definitely helped a lot. I’d recommend signing up for email alerts for ideas and support, and there’s a UK Vegan Facebook group if you’d like support on there.

I am. But won't be starting until term starts so it'll be 'veganuaryandthefirstweekoffebruary'!

Any recommendations on vegan wine?

I'm thinking of doing it. I don't eat meat & have a vegan daughter so often cook vegan food already. I know I'll enjoy the food and trying different recipes, but the hard part for me will be giving up milk in tea, butter on toast, cheese grated on pasta, etc. I am not keen on non-dairy milk/marg/cheese, so I think I will just stick to black tea, no cheese, etc.

@howamisupposedtodothat try Naturli butter in a block from Sainsbos. It’s honestly delicious! I don’t miss butter at all now. Cheese is harder, still haven’t found a decent one yet.

Thanks Mustard, I'll get some of that.

Omfg, this hasn't been showing up in my "Threads I'm on" for some reason, so I thought it had died a death! Came on to the vegan pages looking for inspiration and saw this. I'm unbelievably excited so many people have posted (saddo). Hurrah!

I'm starting my Veganuary shopping list. What does it say about me that vegan friendly wine was top of my list? I think because that has been the thing I have sometimes struggled to find, as I'm fussy enough about wine as it is.

Cake also high on my list.

I have to say that the one thing I have never managed to find a replacement for is milk chocolate. But I don't have that very often anyway and I do love a vegan chocolate cake or brownie.

I’m planning on going to an Indian supermarket and stocking up on different lentils and brown rice, so much cheaper than supermarkets and I could happily eat rice and dal most days.
I’ve never tried it but DS tells me that his dad (my ex who is vegan) likes vego chocolate which looks like milk chocolate.

Oh thanks for the Vego chocolate recommendation! They sell it in Holland & Barratt apparently, so I can get it there.

I’m going to give it a go . I want to try for 75% vegan permanently so this will be a good kick start (not going to put myself under pressure to do 100% as DH is very fussy and DS has allergies so cooking is already quite a time-consuming activity, prepping at weekends.

I’ve got a freezer coming next week for the garage so that will mean I have room to make batches of falafels, bean burgers, curries and pasta sauces to save a bit of time too.

Anyone got any good cookbooks they keep going back to? I love “Isa Does It” and I’ve just ordered “Veganomicon” from the library so can’t wait to get that as I really love her style and easy recipes. On the other hand I can’t get on with Deliciously Ella at all, dinners are far too sweet and I’d say 75% of recipes I’ve tried of hers just haven’t worked at all (if it wasn’t for Isa I’d assume I’m just a shit cook .

Me. Last year I did vegan in the week and veggie at weekends, apart from milk in tea which was real. Now I know I can cope with Oatly milk in hot drinks (the only non-disgusting vegan milk I've found) so will probably try to do full vegan for the month. I don't like vegan cheese, but do want to try the Applewood one; otherwise, I'll cope without cheese for a few weeks.

Agree that plenty of good curries is the way to go! I also keep meaning to try the Oatly creme fraiche for chilli.

For yummy milk like chocolate you could try making your own it’s dead easy.
Melt cacao powder, coconut oil, vanilla extract, agave together.
You can also use cacao butter.
I sometimes add various fruits, nuts and seeds and a bit of sea salt.
I always add loads of coconut oil as that’s what makes it taste smooth and creamy, more like milk chocolate.

Top tip^^ thanks!

PorridgeAgain the cook books I use a lot are the Bosh books, esp the first (orange) one, and Hugh Fearney Whittingstall's Eat More Veg. We tend to eat lots of curries, spicy stews, and roast veg-type dishes, and both books have a lot of those kind of things. The green Bosh book is good too, but IMO has too many recipes that try to re-create the flavours or textures of meat dishes - but probably very useful if you miss eating meat.

Some of the Bosh recipes are a bit fiddly with lots of different spices, but you can often adapt them or batch cook for more convenience e.g. there's a nice korma recipe that I've adapted slightly to make the sauce separately, so I can make a big batch and freeze.