Veganuary anyone?

[mnpeasantry]

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.

I eat vegan meals at least twice a week in an effort to feel more morally sound

I've recently discovered by accident a kind of mock bolognese. Chop up a whole tray of chestnut mushrooms, 2 white onions and vine tomatoes, sprinkle with garlic oil and herbs. Roast it all up then blend with handheld blender, looks like mince I kid you not. Add a bit of tomato pasta sauce if required.

My other favourite guilty pleasure meal is Linda McCartney vegan pie, sweet potato mash, veg and bits (which I was shocked to discover is in fact vegan!)

or BISTO

Bisto is vegan! The original and the onion are, the new swanky versions with real meat juice obviously not though.

I've made pesto (alla genovese ish) using prosociano (the violife fake Parmesan) it was okay but in general I'm happier without fake cheeses. It surprises me I don't miss cheese at all as it was one of my greatest enthusiasms once upon a time! But I've edged my way back into veganism with a philosophy of 'if I really want to I can eat anything' I just find I always want to stick to the plant based options.

Tonight, roasted sweet potato and chickpeas (in lemon juice olive oil garlic tamari red chili I forget what else) and spinach

Hi all!

Nice to see lots of new posters and hear how everyone's getting on.

Jen, I meant coffee shop soya lattes which I find delicious.

Thanks NotWhatIExpected. I will watch the kale like a hawk!

I've started to miss cheese a bit but am keeping strong. My DD1 insisted I share my coco collective blueberry yoghurt earlier but little did she know I had chocolate pots secreted away which I sampled after bedtime so no sharesies! So delicious thank you to the PP's who suggested it.

Did a really good lasagne tonight. (If I do say so myself!) Loads of veg - courgettes celery carrots peppers red lentils etc, vegan cheese, tinned tomatoes. Even the kids loved it!!

Peeling, thanks, I didn't think it would freeze well but may be worth a try to prevent waste (other major bugbear of mine at the mo).

Strange, which vegan cheese did you use for your lasagne please?

Also what spread do people use? I'm on olive oil spread, don't really like it.

hi all,

Lorelei, we generally use the Vitalite dairy free spread, we've been using it since Lent last year, it's really nice, even on toast. its fine for cooking with too.

I had a real test last night when I cooked pizza for the kids. It's my absolute favourite food and I'd normally scoff any spare slices...but they're still wrapped up in the fridge and I haven't even been tempted

tomorrow I've invited my parents round for lunch, I've cheated a bit and brought ready made pies (Linda M for me and dh) I'm going to make an apple pie for pudding though, fingers crossed my dairy free pastry is a success!

Well I ventured to the next town to us where there is a costa, and had a really lovely coffee experience for the first time in a week.

I don't have a frothing contraption but am thinking to gently heat the soya milk and then add the coffee to it, using weaker coffee than usual, so reducing heat, acidity and the risk of curdling.

Best of luck with the pastry Simon. Let us know how it goes.

Jen, glad you enjoyed your coffee

Many jus-rol pastries are vegan if anyone was wondering, the one in the green box (even their croissants)!

Morning! May I join?I was vegan about 10 years ago and was in great health. I need to get back to it.

Doing Dry Jan as well, hoping to really overhaul my health this year. I am away for a conference this weekend, so am buying out a bit. :)

people mentioned vegan meatballs - what I used to do was get a box of ordinary sage and onion stuffing (doublecheck ingredients) then add more grated onion, some finely chopped and cooked mushrooms and shapre those into 'meatballs'. They were brilliant for spagetti meatballs. Even my Dcs ate them!

I am trying to limit processed food and processed cars though as I have a real carby look to me right now. :)

It was violife. It's actually ok!

mmmm just bought my breakfast from Pret. Chana masala wrap with spinach, peppers and coconut yoghurt, clementine, grapes.

There is something very satisfying about getting your 5 a day in by breakfast time!

Morning! I'm doing Veganuary too - not going too badly so far. Accidentally ate honey in a granola bar but other than that no slip ups.

I've been making Bircher muesli for breakfasts most days - oats in coconut/soya yoghurt the night before with cinnamon and nuts.

Lunches have been homemade soup (batch cooked at the weekend) or leftovers from the night before.

Last night was a test - DH had a pizza (he did ask if I minded first, which was nice!) so I made a vegan melanzane parmigiana using Jamie Oliver's recipe. The Violife Parmesan replacement tasted pretty good in it!

I've found the Veganuary website helpful, and Pinterest!

Thanks, I didn't like violife cheese at all I'm afraid which is a pity.

Btw I see there are people on here who have been vegan in the past..
sorry to be shallow but I am also hoping to lose weight on this
Did anyone calculate calories on it? I haven't bothered yet because I'm eating less and am feeling much more energetic but I just wondered.

I'm off cakes and biscuits and things anyway, so the coconut choc pots or a bit of vegan choc - like a couple of squares - are my main treat so not terribly calorific anyway.

I did Lorelei. I went vegan in my very early 30s and lost about a stone (not sure how quickly- but fairly quickly.... 2 months maybe?). I hovered aroun 9.7 and 10.3 in my vegan days (am 5 ft 4 inches) but always thought i had to lose more. never really thought about calories per se, but there were things I would never have eaten- loads of bread and rice for example. I was a pretty healthy vegan. I dont like sweet food or chocolate so that was never an issue for me,

10 years later - well, since I stopped really, I got bad PND and became a binge eater and binge drinker - now nearly 13 stone. I am keen to not count calories, but cease the really unhealthy drinking and eating behaviours. So I am hoping that going vegan will re-jig myself and my health. I really really want to lose at least 2 and a halfstone also. But I am happy if it takes an entire year. :) I want to think more healthily about my life in general.

Not sure that helps answer your question though!

I don't know if it's related but I have a thumping headache today. Can't think what else could be causing it though. 😞

Strange, ha e you reduced sugar, alcohol, caffeine?
Yesterday I had a headache from the fucking awful weather but that happens to me a lot due to lack of sunlight.

Shiny, that's interesting. I just think I will be in better balance sbd hopefully find weight loss easier.

Afternoon all.

I've been suffering from headaches when I wake up in morning. Not sure if dry January related or vegan change. They never last long but be good not to wake up with one!

I'm trying not to look at the long lists of foods that are naturally vegan as they tend to be quite junky. Who knew party rings where vegan hey?

Lorelei - I didn't lose weight last time I was vegan - but I was a healthy weight anyway. Was vegan for about a year and weighed 8 stone. I'm more like 9 stone now and wouldn't mind losing a bit of weight, but I can't see it happening just by going vegan - will need to count calories too I think.

I just find calorie counting so dull
I made a meal planner for last week and that's well within my calories so I suddenly thought, maybe I can stop the boring counting. I'm going to plan another week of meals and then just keep repeating days.

I know it's not a weight loss thing, I just thought it would help.

If you stick to mostly whole foods and limit the processed stuff then I think you would lose weight without counting calories. I'm aiming to do just that but I can't seem to resist the junk!

I've gone a bit mad on toast! I decided that from tomorrow I'm not going to eat bread. I'm going on holiday in March and i need to lose half a stone at least