Veganuary

[jelly79]

So I have decided to do this and support a colleague in work with an engagement initiative

I like to cook meat free quite a bit but want to explore more recipients and options without making this too difficult

Healthy and low calorie options are top of my list and I'm thinking of planning a few days at a time

Anyone else want to share recipes and motivate through January....?

@bjjgirl

Any tips on how to get full? I feel if he on thousands of calories just to few full

Have a look at some of the plant-based athletes - there are several on Instagram and so on. The original one (or among the first, anyway) is Rip Esselstyn and his Plantstrong site plantstrong.com

I find nuts, nut butters and tahini are good for both protein and feeling full.

Hoping I can join in! 6 days in (permanent change not just for January) and finding it's given me enthusiasm for food again, after being stuck in a bit of a rut for a long time. I was vegetarian for about 15 years prior and reduced dairy and eggs to very little besides a bit of cheese, so not a major change really.

I'm enjoying looking at new recipes and aiming to make one new recipe a week (to avoid just getting stuck in another food rut!), picking a lot less between meals, eating a lot more mindfully and paying attention to nutrition (and finally remembering to take a daily supplement after a couple of years of being deficient in vit D and B12)

Any tried and tested recipes gratefully received

@bjjgirl
Huel is an excellent protein source.

You do need to eat a lot more on a vegan diet. Sourdough is good as highest in protein. I have overnight oats with flaked almonds, add chia seeds. Nut butters are also great. Use all the grains you can, so bulgar, quinoa, pearled spelt, pearl barley etc etc. Obviously lentils, beans & chick peas.

I eat tofu, and gyozas but try to avoid fake meats. I marinade a lot. Oatly semi in tea and coffee, I could never go back to dairy milk.

Hummus, Hellman’s vegan mayo and tahini.
I use date or pomegranate molasses and agave nectar to sweeten.

Also @bjjgirl
I have an Awesome Protein Shake after cycling. It’s the best one. Should be drunk within 20mins or so, but I’m sure you know this

@Spud1130

I really enjoy my food and my diet is certainly more varied now. What sort of meals do you like?

Can I join in?
I'm normally pescetarian but decided to do Veganuary mainly to give myself a bit of focus and challenge during January, and to eat a bit healthier after the excesses of Christmas.
So far, so good. I'm definitely snacking less. There's still lots of left over Christmas food in the house that is not vegan (mince pies, biscuits, chocolate etc) that I would definitely be hitting if I was not doing Veganuary.
I don't mind dinners at all. I'd usually cook at least one vegan dinner a week, so I'm just expanding that and trying out some new recipes. I got the Green Roasting Tin book for Christmas and have made a couple of things from there (Crispy Tamarind Sprouts and Miso Aubergine) which have been really tasty and very easy too. I'd really recommend the book.
Lunches are fine too. I work from home so often have leftovers from dinner, or soup, or sandwiches/wraps so it's quite easy to make those vegan.

After 6 days, I'm missing dairy the most, specifically milk for my tea/coffee. I'm using oat milk which is fine, but it's not the same. Proper coffee made in my espresso machine with foamed milk is my daily treat and I'm missing it! Also missing cheese and eggs.

I'm avoiding much of the fake meat/cheese type products as I don't want to have too much highly processed food. Even vegan yoghurt is made from potato starch and coconut oil and god knows what else! I think it would be very easy to slip into eating a lot of processed food on a vegan diet with all the Beyond Meat, Squeaky Bean etc etc products being so readily available now.

[quote RedHot22]@bjjgirl
Huel is an excellent protein source.

You do need to eat a lot more on a vegan diet. Sourdough is good as highest in protein. I have overnight oats with flaked almonds, add chia seeds. Nut butters are also great. Use all the grains you can, so bulgar, quinoa, pearled spelt, pearl barley etc etc. Obviously lentils, beans & chick peas.

I eat tofu, and gyozas but try to avoid fake meats. I marinade a lot. Oatly semi in tea and coffee, I could never go back to dairy milk.

Hummus, Hellman’s vegan mayo and tahini.
I use date or pomegranate molasses and agave nectar to sweeten.[/quote]
Thanks,'I am finding I need to eat more as the calories seem to burn faster! My weights coming down (just the Xmas 2kg coming off) and I am eating a lot.

So 2 foot long subs in 2 days but they are amazing, I loved the tlc.

Had huel for breakfast today and it made a difference, subway for lunch

My bowel movements are so much easier and cleaner

I don't miss meat at all, or milk

Can you give me your best vegan butter and your best vegan cheese suggestions please?

@IToldYouIWasFreaky

Can I join in? I'm normally pescetarian but decided to do Veganuary mainly to give myself a bit of focus and challenge during January, and to eat a bit healthier after the excesses of Christmas. So far, so good. I'm definitely snacking less. There's still lots of left over Christmas food in the house that is not vegan (mince pies, biscuits, chocolate etc) that I would definitely be hitting if I was not doing Veganuary. I don't mind dinners at all. I'd usually cook at least one vegan dinner a week, so I'm just expanding that and trying out some new recipes. I got the Green Roasting Tin book for Christmas and have made a couple of things from there (Crispy Tamarind Sprouts and Miso Aubergine) which have been really tasty and very easy too. I'd really recommend the book. Lunches are fine too. I work from home so often have leftovers from dinner, or soup, or sandwiches/wraps so it's quite easy to make those vegan.

After 6 days, I'm missing dairy the most, specifically milk for my tea/coffee. I'm using oat milk which is fine, but it's not the same. Proper coffee made in my espresso machine with foamed milk is my daily treat and I'm missing it! Also missing cheese and eggs.

I'm avoiding much of the fake meat/cheese type products as I don't want to have too much highly processed food. Even vegan yoghurt is made from potato starch and coconut oil and god knows what else! I think it would be very easy to slip into eating a lot of processed food on a vegan diet with all the Beyond Meat, Squeaky Bean etc etc products being so readily available now.

Unsweetened soy milk is the best in tea, I have oat milk in coffee but have a stronger option (so flat white not latte)

@bjjgirl the best vegan butters I've tried so far are Flora Plant and Naturli. I usually buy the spreadable versions.

The best cheese I've found so far is the M&S one and the Asda one. Violife mature is also good. But vegan cheese is nothing like real cheese, and so I generally just don't bother with it at all.

Cashew cream is a pretty good replacement for any cream or cream cheese that is called for in a recipe. You just soak your cashews in water overnight, then blitz them with some fresh water, perhaps some nooch or some garlic powder.

@IToldYouIWasFreaky
As with any other diet, vegan isn’t necessarily healthy. I never ate processed foods much before so tend not to eat them now either.

Coconut collaborative natural yogurt is my favourite. Which oat milk are you using? they’re not all equal imo! I only have oatley.

@bjjgirl
Vegan butter - naturli (not the healthiest) so I use Flora day to day.
Cheese - I like Violife Epic Mature.

For grated cheese or Parmesan substitute I use Engevita yeast flakes which are also an excellent source of vit B

[quote RedHot22]@Spud1130

I really enjoy my food and my diet is certainly more varied now. What sort of meals do you like?[/quote]
Ill eat anything... this week I've had

Mushroom and Guinness pie (bosh recipe)
Sweet potato, chickpea and spinach curry
Spaghetti bolognese (soya mince)
"Chicken" casserole (what the cluck)
Cheese burger and chips (Richmond burger)
Pulled Oumph pittas
Stir fry (taste and glory steak strips)
Garlic mushroom and butter bean concoction with jacket spud

I'd like to try some tofu, it's something I've tried cooking once but wasn't impressed, but will order it if cooked by someone who knows what they're doing! (Normally oriental restaurants)

I buy Tofoo.
Usually cut into squares, marinade in soy sauce, sometimes with ginger and garlic. Then bake on parchment paper in the oven.

Tonight we had Taifun smoked tofu, cubed and pan fried. Basically the vegan equivalent of pancetta, pesto, peas and pasta. Quick and tasty

Tofoo is very firm and doesn't need pressing - if you get another brand new sure to press it, at least half an hour but the longer the better.

I like to tear mine into pieces, coat with a bit of oil and conrnflour and then either zap in the air fryer or roast for 30 mins. You can marinate it depending on what you're using it for - soy sauce and apple cider vinegar is a good one.

Oooh can I join? It’s my 3rd time doing veganuary - since last year though my husband has become a full time vegan so at least we’re now eating the same thing! I quite like the way it forces me to cook and eat lots of veggies after the excessive meat and cheese consumption over Christmas. It gets easier every year - was a pretty big change the first year I did it and now I barely notice it other than missing cheese and butter (don’t like vegan alternatives to either).

I’m going to check out the green roasting tin book as need a few new ideas.

I mainly use “Mob Veggie” and Hugh F-W “Veg Every day”. The pinto bean chilli is a meal I make on almost a weekly basis with whatever veg I have in the fridge and it just gets better every time I make it.

www.rivercottage.net/recipes/pinto-bean-chilli

I use Oatley barrister in coffee even when not doing veganuary - tastes better than milk IMO. Expensive though!

What's the tofu texture like when done in the oven?

The Happy Pear have some nice recipes - their Dahl is fabulous. They have a great selection of recipes on their website.

Coconut collaborative natural yogurt is my favourite. Which oat milk are you using? they’re not all equal imo! I only have oatley.

I was using Tesco own brand oat milk but I've also tried Oatley Barista which is much better in coffee (and I got it to foam!) but not great in tea for me. I'm going to order soya milk to see if I prefer that.

On the subject of tofu, I made the Miso Aubergines from the Green Roasting Tin and used Tofoo Smoked Tofu and it was delicious! The texture is very firm and the smoked flavour worked well with the aubergine.
The breaded nuggets that Tofoo make are also very good and easy to prepare - just whack in the oven.

I don’t like oatley barista in tea
I use oatley semi in everything.

Place marking!

I've been on a vegan journey for almost four years now. It's a great way to go 🌱

So update, I have lost 2kg since Monday! And I am eating a lot! It feels easier today, the hunger has settled. I've god avocado on toast for breakfast then huel Mac and cheese for lunch and then I may do a curry for dinner.

I am going to try gusto chianatta, veg and pine nut salad this weekend and maybe a shepards pie

@IToldYouIWasFreaky the only yoghurt I use is the Tesco own brand free from yoghurt - it contains water, soy beans, calcium phosphate and yoghurt cultures and nothing else. No weird oils or starches and most importantly not loads of sugar!

@Spud1130 my best tried and tested recipes are anything by Dreena Burton, particularly if you're catering to children. I've got all of her recipe books and I haven't found a dud one yet.

I'm also a big fan of this coconut lentil curry - I just leave out the chicken and stir in some chickpeas or veg at the end.

There are some great recipes on Forks Over Knives too, it's worth a browse. www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/

Oatly is the best milk substitute I found.

Hairy Bikers coconut and cauliflower curry is fab in fact their veggie cook book is great