Disappointing attempts at Veganuary

[Grasping]

I appreciate some restaurants are trying but generally, it’s disappointing.

Perusing some local menus I have found vegan meals listing both halloumi and honey.

I’m surprised at the ignorance of some chefs tbh.

[Kaiken]

Not always are the menus designed by the chefs. Often it will be the restaurant manager or the marketing specialist that adds a couple of dishes on their social media page.
You are better off selecting restaurants that don't follow trends and offer vegan dishes all year round.

Or select Middle Eastern restaurants which offer dishes that are accidentally vegan

[Grasping]

@Kaiken

Not always are the menus designed by the chefs. Often it will be the restaurant manager or the marketing specialist that adds a couple of dishes on their social media page.
You are better off selecting restaurants that don't follow trends and offer vegan dishes all year round.

Or select Middle Eastern restaurants which offer dishes that are accidentally vegan

Yes. I know where to go for vegan meals and have my favourites.

I’m just surprised at the ignorance

[DicklessWonder]

I find the opposite. I want veggie food, but everywhere seems to interpret that as vegan now. Generally carby, highly processed stuff.

[PurpleDaisies]

It’s definitely real halloumi and not a substitute? I queried whether a “fish finger sandwich” was vegan but it turned out they just hadn’t specified they were vegan fish fingers.

My last school used to serve actual fish fingers as the vegetarian option which led to an awkward conversation with the cook.

[PurpleDaisies]

@DicklessWonder

I find the opposite. I want veggie food, but everywhere seems to interpret that as vegan now. Generally carby, highly processed stuff.

Vegan/veggie options do seem a lot more fake meat now. I miss proper spicy bean burgers rather than beyond meat beef burgers which seem to be everywhere now. I can cook one of those at home.

[KateLumley]

What a lot of bollocks it all is. Committed vegans will know what to eat, and what to avoid. I was offered fish in a restaurant years ago as a 'vegetarian' option. I didn't immediately order it, thinking 'wow I never in all my years as a vegetarian knew I could actually eat fish after all.

Vegetarians have been unhappily eating their mushroom risotto and goat cheese surprise for years. Suddenly the veganuarians arrive and it's all 'fish' fingers and chicken free nuggets. And cheese made out of fucking coconut.

[changedforschoolpost]

I was looking at a menu of a restaurant near me and I can either have meat sandwiches or vegan cheese sandwiches, no actual cheese available. Same in so many other places- M and S deals- either meat or mac n vegan cheeze. Nothing with actual vegetables like the veg alternative used to be. I have been veggie for 30 years, used to be a nightmare to get anything apart from veg, now I struggle to get actual veg in certain places. Do like fake meat at times but also as a veggie, want to eat a vegetable based meal cooked well when I go out, not something I can shove in the oven at home.

[TonksInPurple]

@changedforschoolpost

I was looking at a menu of a restaurant near me and I can either have meat sandwiches or vegan cheese sandwiches, no actual cheese available. Same in so many other places- M and S deals- either meat or mac n vegan cheeze. Nothing with actual vegetables like the veg alternative used to be. I have been veggie for 30 years, used to be a nightmare to get anything apart from veg, now I struggle to get actual veg in certain places. Do like fake meat at times but also as a veggie, want to eat a vegetable based meal cooked well when I go out, not something I can shove in the oven at home.

I think some times the problem is that vegetables take time and skill where as burgers, nuggets etc can you fried and done!

[changedforschoolpost]

I concur!

[LovesColourGreen]

I have been "almost" vegetarian (meat/fish on very rare occasions) for 8 years before I became completely vegetarian 3 months ago. I still eat dairy and eggs. I agree with previous posters that due to veganuary, a lot of shops and restaurants offer meat/fish or vegan - with no in-between for those of us who would still prefer to choose a bean burger over a fake meat one. Meat subs can be great; I have been using quorn mince for years when I don't fancy lentils but a lot of the new fake meats are heavy in salt and fat to give flavour. Personally for me the best vegetarian meals are those which are "accidentally" veggie such as mac and cheese, mushroom risotto, lentil cottage pie, a cheese ploughman's sandwich or egg mayo sandwich.

[DicklessWonder]

I agree. But it’s even harder when you don’t eat rice, pasta, potatoes or bread either!

[Everyonehasavoice]

@KateLumley

What a lot of bollocks it all is. Committed vegans will know what to eat, and what to avoid. I was offered fish in a restaurant years ago as a 'vegetarian' option. I didn't immediately order it, thinking 'wow I never in all my years as a vegetarian knew I could actually eat fish after all.

Vegetarians have been unhappily eating their mushroom risotto and goat cheese surprise for years. Suddenly the veganuarians arrive and it's all 'fish' fingers and chicken free nuggets. And cheese made out of fucking coconut.

Yep
Ive been vegetarian for over 50years
Putting up with nothing on the menu that’s vegetarian
Now , as you say it’s all gone vegan, I’m still putting up with nothing on the menu as it’s all vegan. ( I do know I can eat this but let’s face it coconut cheese is crap ).

[Everyonehasavoice]

@LovesColourGreen

I have been "almost" vegetarian (meat/fish on very rare occasions) for 8 years before I became completely vegetarian 3 months ago. I still eat dairy and eggs. I agree with previous posters that due to veganuary, a lot of shops and restaurants offer meat/fish or vegan - with no in-between for those of us who would still prefer to choose a bean burger over a fake meat one. Meat subs can be great; I have been using quorn mince for years when I don't fancy lentils but a lot of the new fake meats are heavy in salt and fat to give flavour. Personally for me the best vegetarian meals are those which are "accidentally" veggie such as mac and cheese, mushroom risotto, lentil cottage pie, a cheese ploughman's sandwich or egg mayo sandwich.

As an alternative to bean burgers you can make yourself some seitan ( pronounced satan 😂😂😂 ). 75% protein. All home made. Originally from the far east I think.
And it’s chewy, something we don’t get the chance to do much of.

[Notcreative]

I personally like fake meat as I think it makes it possible to get enough protein on a vegan diet. There are only so many beans you can eat in a day, lovely as they are. I find one beany meal a day enough. I'm curious though- those of you who don't eat it- where do you get your protein?

[DarkNecessities]

@Notcreative

nuts and seeds, grains, vegetables & fruits, sourdough, chick peas, lentils, tofu, tempeh, seitan. I also take Huel for a quick meal and often a protein shake after a long workout

[Notcreative]

@DarkNecessities thank you and I agree with you to a point. I also eat nuts and seeds, grains, vegetables (not so much fruit) and loads of bread, chickpeas, lentils, beans, and seitan. I do eat tofu and tempeh, but I don't like to eat soy every day, but tbh when I totted up the protein content of everything I found it quite difficult to achieve 45g or more per day without adding some fake meat here and there (I guess unless you do eat soy each day).

[DarkNecessities]

I suspect you’re not counting all the protein you’re eating. If you include some protein at every meal you’re doing ok.

I had a Bol Pot for lunch - 20g

A typical breakfast is toast and peanut butter or overnight oats with dried fruit,
flaked almonds and chia or flaxseed. You can even add protein powder.

I sprinkle Engevita (nutritional yeast) on some meals or stir it in. Add seeds onto salads and make dressings from tahini and/or hummus.

Think how you can incorporate different grains. I make risotto from a combination of rice, spelt, pearl barley and quinoa.