Veganuary 2025

[kikisparks]

A thread for anyone doing this who might need any help or tips 😊 I’m already vegan but happy to offer suggestions or support if anyone wants it!

Rhythm 108 and Hipp are also very good, as is the brand “Buttermilk” despite the name! Let us know what you think of the ones you try.

Thank you for the thread! I'm doing veganuary for probably the 5th time or more but I never seem to get it to stick. I'm veggie anyway but it's eggs that I miss. Last year I tried to be vegan plus eggs but then dairy crept back in over Xmas too!

Welcome! What kind of eggs is it you like? I find tofu scramble can be quite good for scratching that “umami protein” kind of itch, have you tried black salt?

I like a fried egg muffin, frittatas loaded with veg, egg mayo sandwich, being able to try the cakes my kids have baked.... I've even tried to talk DH into getting chickens so I can 'just' eat those eggs 😂

I love this recipe. I make a little portion of it to have in a ramekin with a cooked breakfast to dip toast etc. in 🤤
https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-egg-yolk/

I also like the Bosh! scrambled tofu recipe after trying many. Regular breakfast feature in this house. Often pimp it up with some mushrooms and peppers and things too. I don't usually bother with the black salt now as I've reached the point where I find eggs quite repulsive. I think looking at things as an alternative to eggs, rather than trying to recreate a version of, helped.

I’ve definitely seen vegan frittatas and “egg” mayo sandwiches recipes so maybe a good place to start! Actually the egg mayo one is one I’m keen on trying, M&S used to do a pre packed vegan “egg” mayo sandwich which I loved but they don’t make it any more. I like the look of this recipe but I don’t like onions:

itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-egg-salad-sandwich/#recipe

And I posted up thread an omelette recipe I’m hoping to try, based on chickpea flour. You can also buy pre made products like “just egg”.

Bosh! recipe. Chilli flakes optional!

I'm normally vegetarian (40+ years) and I'm doing Veganuary. For me it's an opportunity to eat better, i.e. much less junk. I'm glad not to have gained weight over Christmas especially as we were in Thailand for most of it, but I have 18lbs to lose.

I just finished Invisalign and couldn't cook with turmeric, but now that I can use it again I'm looking forward to a tofu scramble.

Chelsea Mae and Healthy Vegan Mama on YouTube are good sources of really straightforward food that doesn't serve a family of 6 (looking at you, Bosh!!)

This is my fave sandwich and baked potato topping:
https://simple-veganista.com/chickpea-of-sea-salad-sandwic/

Hope it’s ok to join the thread for inspiration. I’ve done a few recipe boxes which were delish (Planthood), and trying to do more plant based recipes for every day for January and onwards. I have never liked tofu, but have tried a few things recently that have worked pretty well. Crispy gochujang was one of them after a Planthood dish.

Absolutely, all welcome. That’s two recommendations for crispy gochugang tofu on the thread now, if only I liked really spicy things! Did you also use this recipe https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/gochujang-tofu/?

What’s the next thing you’re thinking of trying? I need more recipes in my repertoire just find it hard to find the time, and trying to save money or I’d look at the meal boxes.

It was this recipe I had but when I did my own version I used Itsu sauce from Waitrose which worked well enough.
https://planthood.co.uk/blogs/instructions/crispy-gochujang-tofu-bowl-with-spicy-cucumber-pickle-creamy-avocado-over-sushi-rice

and https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/itsu-gochujang-sauce/267836-828355-828356

I bought one of the Bosh books before Christmas so looking to try a few of those.

This one always goes down well when I have had visitors

https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/masala-roast-carrots-with-lentils

I have a bosh cookbook actually, need to have a look at it again. DH likes the Gaz Oakley stuff so we have one of those cook books too.

Unless I’m in a really “cooking” mood and have lots of time I need very simple, quick recipes and those aren’t always as easy to find. Also have a fussy small child, which is why I want to try the omelette and egg mayo recipes as I think she might actually try those 🤞😂

On the egg topic my DH makes an amazing (sweet) French toast with tofu, I can ask him for the recipe if that’s something anyone would find helpful.

Yes please for the french toast! Do any of you make your own oat milk? Is it worth it?

I’ve checked and it’s this one https://itslivb.com/2019/03/13/the-best-vegan-french-toast/

Never tried to make my own oat milk, I’d love to use less tetra packs but it just feels like my life needs some convenience right now. My in laws get oat milk delivered in re-usable bottles which is the compromise I’m considering but it’s very expensive!

I made a curry last night in my usual way, chuck some mild curry spice and beans and veg in a pot and cook up 😂 but it was actually very nice. I tried cauliflower rice which I thought would be rubbish but it was actually not bad, will use it again. Maybe need to try making my own as I bought a pack but it was pricey!

What’s everyone having over the weekend? I’m having people over tonight so doing pizzas for ease.

Lovely thread!
Good luck new veganers!!
I've been vegan about 18 years now (i just had to work that out I'm 😮) and it's a million times easier now than it was then!!!
So much stuff in the supermarkets but please try and show your local health food shops some custom, they can be expensive but there's often some wonderful stuff. Ethnic shops have a lot of amazing stuff too.
If I can think of any little bits of advice I will come back:)

The only one I like is Kinda Co which is UNBELIEVABLE

So I really didn't like the cheese I bought so will try and find one of the other ones to grate on my pasta and chilli which has been suggested! And yes @Wavescrashingonthebeach we have a lovely shop which sells vegan/ethical
/Refills nearby and I'm planning to go in this weekend to get extra supplies. I think I need gram flour, nutritional yeast, almond butter and flax!

I miss getting all that stuff! The proper vegan health food stuff!
I'm such a lazy vegan nowadays with having a toddler and baby to runaround after (they're being raised pescetarian as a compromise with meat eating DP, the 3 year old doesn't want to eat real meat we've discussed it with him and he says EW to it haha).
We've had a lack of cooking facilities so that hasn't helped. I've had a lot of "things on toast" and far too much processed food lately.
I'm definitely going to try and get back into proper cooking this year and doing some lovely meals from scratch!

Could someone clarify for me please? I’ve never tried nutritional yeast and worry it tastes cheesy. Does it? I hate cheese, don’t eat eggs unless hidden, and eat minimal dairy, so I’d make a better vegan than a vegetarian. I’m actually not interested in going the whole hog, but am interested in more plant-based food generally. So if I hate cheese, is there any point trying nutritional yeast?

It has a savoury flavour. I used to eat it by the spoonful but then I had a bad reaction once and don't eat it any more. I think I must have had a load after a multivitamin and it was vitamin overload. It's really really high in vitamins!
It's worth trying though it's not crazy expensive just try a little sprinkle.

@Wavescrashingonthebeach that sounds like a lot! I've got a toddler and a 4 year old so we are just coming out the other side. Probably looking at DH eating with the kids at the weekends for a while and maybe me later if I'm having something a bit different. Not ideal but I don't think I can get them on a totally vegan diet as the 4 year old (and DH!) are too fussy. I'm doing it so I have something for myself for a few months as honestly I'm so sick of eating the meals they will eat on repeat which do involve quite a lot of meat, which was never my preference. And we get through SO much milk etc now that I don't feel like im wasting anything by eating different stuff. But yeah it's extra time in the evenings doing seperate food prep which wouldn't have been possible even 3 months ago for us with the two smalls. Hang in there!