Tips for cutting out animal products?

[Bookaholic73]

I’m in the process of transitioning to a plant based/vegan diet (I’m not really sure of the wording, or what difference it makes, so I’m sorry if I’ve said it wrong).

I’ve done great with dairy, as I never ate a lot of it anyway. Apart from ice cream..I’m struggling to find a good DF one.

In regards to meat, I’m eating Taifan (I think that’s the right brand) tofu and am hooked on the almond and sesame one.

My main questions are around other sources of protein. Where can I get more protein from?
I’d also like to try my hand at lentils..any suggestions are welcomed.

In fact, any suggestions about an easy transition would be great, and much appreciated please!

I’m several months meat free so also looking for tips. I haven’t actually tried tofu yet. I do eat yogurt & milk at the moment but hope to go vegan.

I do make veg & lentil Bol/lasagne/curries. I just throw a load of red split lentils in the saucepan with the veg & tinned toms.

I made this the other night but I know from attempting another recipe that I really don’t like puy lentils so I soaked around 150g of red split lentils in boiling water for 20 odd mins whilst prepping everything else then drained and added to the mix. It was delicious & I will make it again.
realfood.tesco.com/recipes/vegan-shepherds-pie.html

I had meatless farm sausage patties tonight which made a change from curry/bol/lasagna. I am getting fed up of eating the same stuff because I don’t know what to eat!

My favourite vegan ice cream is coconuts organic mint chocolate chip. I don’t currently live in the U.K. but am pretty sure it’s a British brand. I also like the Alpro chocolate hazlenut.

I’m dairy free (and apart from the above occasionally sugar free!) but also trying to transition to animal free and will look out for Taifun.

I made the James Wong baked tomato sauce and had with lentil pasta - divine!

I would buy or borrow the Bosh books and Anna Jones cook books as you'll find yummy recipes that are quick and healthy.

I don’t use lentils as much as I use chickpeas, beans or tofu.
I generally only use them in these recipes:
Curry www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-sweet-potato-lentil-dhal
Lentil ragu www.madeleineolivia.co.uk/blog/easy-lentil-ragu
Shepherd’s pie realfood.tesco.com/recipes/vegan-shepherds-pie.html
Moussaka healthylivingjames.co.uk/ultimate-vegan-moussaka/

I don’t really find protein a problem. For me, it’s calcium.
If you’re worried about protein in meals, just make sure you choose protein-based snacks:
Soya yogurt
A handful of nuts or Munchy Seeds
Kallo protein rice cakes
Apple and peanut butter
Veg and humous
Toast and marmite (B vitamins)
Protein cereal bar (I like Special K coconut, cocoa and cashew)

@Youdontknowwhatyoureonabout I tried several types of (revolting) tofu before finding that specific brand. So don’t be put off if you don’t like it the first time you try tofu.
Thank you for the recipe, I’ll try that.

@ElaineMarieBenes thank you, I’ll keep an eye out for that ice cream. I’ve tried the approach one and wasn’t a fan.

@footprintsintheslow good idea, I’m going to order some vegan cookbooks. I normally get recipes online, but I think this sounds better.

@Fivemoreminutes1 thank you for the recipes, I’m bookmark them.
Those are the kinds of snack I’m already eating, so it’s good to know I’m on the right track!

@Bookaholic73 I’ve just remembered, The happy pear are two Irish brothers who do lots of amazing looking food. They have videos on YouTube and post pictures of amazing food on Instagram. They cook a lot with chickpeas & beans though which I don’t like but they also have recipe books. Maybe watch a couple of their videos before committing to a book purchase?

instagram.com/thehappypear?igshid=ut4uohi0ewu2

youtube.com/c/thehappypear

I've been on my vegan journey for a while and have been completely vegan for a month now.

I really love the Bosh books, I have cooked so many recipes from there. Definitely recommend!

Ben and Jerry's DF ice cream is AMAZING. Alpro is also good. But I usually pick up whatever is on offer.

For protein in eat tofu, lentils, pulses, chickpeas. I add nuts in to a lot of cooking. Nutritional yeast gets chucked in or on a lot of stuff too.

The only tging I find with some Bosh recipes is that the omit protein a bit so I normally Chuck some lentils or chickpeas in too.

But for simplicity and top taste I cannot recommend Anna Jones enough. Her book looks a bit trendy for me but the recipes are fantastic. We live on them