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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Veganuary anyone?

328 replies

mnpeasantry · 30/12/2016 23:26

So, never had a lot of luck with launching popular threads but wondered if anyone was game for a bit of vegan January?

My plan is to eat a plant based diet and cut out booze for all except 3 pre planned events in January.

I've put together a list of meals that sound good to me and not too arduous to put together on top of working and caring for two under 3.

Meals include:

Chips
Quinoa and sweet potato cakes
Avocado
Guacamole and tortilla chips
Veg chilli
Lentil soup
Brocolli and cashew stir fry
Spicy coconut noodles
Onion bhaji
Aubergine curry
Hummus
Sweet potato and white bean chilli
Curried coconut veg noodles
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/veggie-noodles-with-curried-coconut-sauce/
Sweet potato chickpea curry
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/sweet-potato-chickpea-amp-spinach-curry/
Pumpkin, chickpeas and coconut curry
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetable-recipes/pumpkin-chickpea-coconut-curry/
Vegan shepherds pie
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/vegan-shepherd-s-pie/
Best vegan burger
www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/the-best-vegan-burger/

Why? Feeling a bit fat after Christmas and still need to lose a bit of baby weight. I feel that I have become a bit meat based in my meal planning lately and would like to diversify a bit. I'm aware of environmental and ethical issues surrounding the consumption of meat and I feel like I'm starting to believe that dairy doesn't really agree with me and triggers a number of allergies in my family.

So, is anybody with me? Let's (hopefully) improve our health and fitness, complexions, environment, digestion, etc! Feeling hopeful.

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mnpeasantry · 01/01/2017 21:48

Simon - how are Linda's pulled pork burgers? Would you recommend?

I've done a huge shop and got in a ton of chickpeas, sweet potatoes, quinoa, limes, chillis, brown rice, lentils, veg and rice noodles. Tomorrow night I'm going to make a large chickpea and spinach curry and freeze a load of it.

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Tubbyinthehottub · 01/01/2017 21:57

I'm vegetarian, not vegan but I've been mainly vegan today:

B - porridge with almond milk, seeds and fruit
L - Fry's chicken style burger in a bun
D - Jamie Oliver's smoky veggie chilli and rice

But then I had some chocolate

LauraMipsum · 01/01/2017 21:58

Just a heads up that the LM pulled pork burgers are not vegan, as they contain honey.

SimonNeilshair · 01/01/2017 22:04

Oh poo Laura, I thought I was doing so well! thanks for letting me know

EmLH · 01/01/2017 22:07

Hi, I've signed up for this as I was veggie for years before returning to eating meat. I still struggle with it morally and would like to end up staying at least vegetarian if I find veganism too much of a leap. I'm interested to see if I will notice a difference in energy levels etc.

So, today I ate the following:

Sesame seed bagel with Waitrose avocado spread and Pip & Nut peanut butter for breakfast. This is normal for me so the only thing that changed was the spread instead of proper butter.

Lunch was a poppy seed roll with salad and falafel.

Dinner was stir fried veg with ginger, garlic and soy sauce, served with rice.

Dessert was a Coconut Collaborative chocolate pot, which was rich, but lovely.

Snacks were Mr Filbert's flavoured seeds and a tangerine.

I had my normal tea, but with coconut milk instead of organic full fat. I also had a heated cup of coconut milk infused with a spiced chai teabag, which was really nice.

So far, so good! I think the biggest challenge will be that DH and DD aren't doing it with me and so I will probably be cooking two different meals a fair bit.

In case anyone is looking for any vegan recommendations, I would highly recommend Cauldron falafel (eat tons of these anyway) and the Linda McCartney red onion and rosemary sausages, they're yummy.

Looking forward to hearing about people's recipe discoveries Smile

LauraMipsum · 01/01/2017 22:37

I did exactly the same a few months ago Simon! I'm used to checking labels now but honey isn't an allergen so it's not in bold on the ingredients list.

The LM onion and rosemary sausages are fantastic though!

JenTeale · 02/01/2017 08:05

Morning and happy Veganuary!

I'm in this for environmental reasons and as a wee personal challenge.

Milk is the biggest problem for me. I love a milky coffee in the morning but yesterday's offering made with almond milk made me feel sick! There must be an alternative that I can enjoy, training myself to like it black hasn't been successful so far.

I'm about to make some porridge, lunch will be soup, oatcakes and Hummus with a bit of salad, and I've got a huge Bean an veg Chilli for dinner.

SimonNeilshair · 02/01/2017 08:59

alpro soya is the best milk for coffee I've found, supermarket own brands tend to split for some reason. Oatly also do a frothy milk for coffee, I haven't tried it though.

glintwithpersperation · 02/01/2017 10:19

When it comes to changing milk in your tea/coffee you have to put up with a little pain for a couple of weeks. It will always taste awful but you will adapt. I now think cow milk tastes disgusting, I changed from soya to almond last year and it was a struggle but now prefer it.

psychoactive · 02/01/2017 10:23

In for the recipes and inspiration - eased back into veganism over past few weeks but adopting a 'practical and possible' approach and finding it surprisingly easy 99% of time. Living mainly on sweet potatoes and spinach and avocados and bananas at present.

Mermaidinthesea · 02/01/2017 10:23

I was vegan for 25 years but put on so much weight - too many carbs I think so I;m back to vegetarian and have lost a fair bit.

KlingybunFistelvase · 02/01/2017 13:07

Can I join please?

I'm doing veganuary this year, though not necessarily for weight loss. It would be a lovely added bonus though!

Today has been:

B: Porridge with rice milk and some apricot conserve
L: leftover chickpea curry, dahl and rice from last night's tea
T: don't know yet, but I like the look of some of the meals on here!

Snacks: vegan cereal bar, fruit

KlingybunFistelvase · 02/01/2017 15:43

JenTeale I can't stand almond milk, especially in tea and coffee. I am not that keen on soy either. My favourite is rice milk. I have it in tea and really don't notice the difference much. I've also tried the koko coconut rice dream stuff but still prefer plain rice milk.

mnpeasantry · 02/01/2017 16:06

Welcome Klingy!

Agree Glint that milks are acquired tastes. I love soy milk in lattes.

Someone made me the most delicious Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall caponata for lunch it was soooo tasty!

www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/05/caponata-from-river-cottage-veg.html

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LauraMipsum · 02/01/2017 16:32

Today has been

B: scrambled tofu and mushrooms on toast

L: huge salad with beans

D: spaghetti with meatless balls (new recipe, we'll see how it works out!)

shockthemonkey · 02/01/2017 17:12

Oh dear, I am going dry and gluten-free already this january -- adding vegan on top would leave me with nothing to eat!

But, I am cheering you all from the sidelines. Admire the effort and am all for the ethical treatment of animals, so veganism is on my list for some day.

mnpeasantry · 02/01/2017 17:21

Thanks Shock! You sound like you've got enough on your plate (pun unintended)!

Laura, what's in the meatless balls?

Just had Jamie's sweet potato, chickpea and spinach curry with basmati rice. Was lovely but feel like my tastebuds need to adjust a little.

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mistykins · 02/01/2017 17:27

Hi,
I've been thinking about doing this but I'm not ready to start yet.
I've been looking at the food I eat and thinking how to change the things that aren't vegan. I don't eat a lot of meat anyway.

Most days I eat Jacobs crackers either for lunch or tea. They seem to be vegan. However, I usually have a laughing cow cheese triangle on them. I'm doing my fitness app to get the extra pounds from Christmas off.

Has anyone got an idea for what I could put on my crackers for a similar amount of calories (50)?

I also like oatcakes (are they ok?)

Thanks

mnpeasantry · 02/01/2017 18:06

How about avocado, misty, with a little salt and lemon or lime juice? Or hummus?

Or peanut butter?

Not sure of calories though

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hazelnutlatte · 02/01/2017 18:35

Mistykins you can get vegan cheese spread in tesco and sainsburys. I've not tried it myself but it could be worth a try.
For those looking for milk for coffee I've heard that oatly foamable is pretty good.
Those who have had scrambled tofu, do you have a good recipe? I love scrambled eggs for breakfast so would love a good substitute.

psychoactive · 02/01/2017 19:24

I didn't get on v well with tofu scrambles but will experiment further.

Today's lazy vegan supper for two: bag of black kale pushed around a large frying pan with sesame oil garlic red chili mushrooms and a sachet of brown rice and quinoa, dolloped onto a plate of salad (spinach avocado mushroom and steamed beetroot)

Veganuary anyone?
Veganuary anyone?
Veganuary anyone?
psychoactive · 02/01/2017 19:25

Oh wait I also roasted two sweet potatoes (in chunks) and added that to the kale and quinoa thing because I'm obsessed with sweet potato 😃

hugoagogo · 02/01/2017 19:49

Chickpea pate (granovita I think) could work on a cracker?
I get mine from Holland and barret.

SimonNeilshair · 02/01/2017 19:59

I have failed today after having an unexpected lunch in a country pub Sad not much choice for veggies let alone vegans! I had mushroom soup which undoubtedly had cream in it, I also ordered a white coffee without thinking.

just made a vegan cheese sauce to have with pasta and broccoli for dinner though Smile

mnpeasantry · 02/01/2017 20:06

Nice pictures psycho. Looks great.

Simon, how do you make vegan cheese sauce? How does it taste?

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