VEG-ISM PART TWO: ... Except it IS All Fun and Games

I can say one thing quite confidently.

When you change your diet this dramatically, contrary to what you probably think, you will be amazed by the new variety. Cancelling out meat and/or dairy products prompts one to think about new ways to make food exciting. It does require a bit of creativity, but if you're lacking in that department, never fear! Google saves the day every time. I would also reccommend investing in a couple of cookbooks to help you along the way. And, the best part is, that even with a vegan diet, you never need to be left wanting. As I said, there are alternatives to almost everything!

In this post I would like to tell you about some foods that you can buy at the supermarket that are vegan (because otherwise you spend HOURS reading labels!). This is a list that was given to me by a friend of a friend when I was 16 and first decided to go vegan:

Oreos (original)
Aztec mild corn chips (red pack)
Gingernuts
Healtheries ready salted chips
So Good soy icecream
Lite Licks icecream
"Hungry" vege patties (foil pack)
Quality Bakers bread
Cream Buns (only if mock cream)
Olivani
Soy Cheese (gourmet cheese section)
Kingland Soy Yoghurt
Filo Pastry
No Egg baking substitute
Vita Wheats
2 Minute Noodles (curry & oriental flavours)
Mi Goreng noodles
Whittakers dark chocolate
Belgium Cream biscuits
Nanas light apple pie 4 pack (from Countdown)

Also, as a note, in terms of soy milk, buy So Good insted of vitasoy, because vitasoy has no B12. So Good Essentials is even better, because it has more folate than the others. Some people can't stand the taste of soy milk, so I would reccommend starting with flavoured soy milk, I prefer vanilla but there's also chocolate and strawberry.

It can take a couple of weeks to get used to the flavour of soy products. But one thing is for sure, once you're used to it, and you've lost the taste for milk, it's delicious and if you accidentally have milk (an incompetent barista might put in in your coffee) then you'll probably spit it out because you lose the taste for it.

There are also "mock meat" products, which are all suitable for vegetarians but some might have egg or dairy in them. But they are seriously delicious, and can be easily found in most supermarkets refrigerated near the dairy section. This is usually the same place where they keep soy yoghurt, tofu, tabouleh and falafel, which are all fantastic and delicious and VEGAN! Products include sausages, burger patties, and pretend bacon. They don't taste exactly like meat, and are usually made out of vegetable protein and tofu. They are usually spiced up with delicious herbs though, and the texture is pretty close but not as stringy as meat.

I want to make one post this week for the meat eaters; where you can buy free range meat and what brands are best. It will also include some info on eggs. That's coming up tomorrow!

Love,
M Tehrase
xoxo