What to eat

Meat substitutes

At first it may seem like so many options have been removed from your diet when making the decision to become veg. This couldn’t be further from the truth! There are countless alternatives to meat products these days, and it can actually be a little overwhelming to choose from them!

You can walk into most supermarkets now and find a specific veggie meat section, which tends to include products made from tofu, tempeh, seitan, coconut, jackfruit, soy granules, or vegetable-based alternatives, among many more.

You can buy these products in the forms of sausages, ground beef, burgers, nuggets, steaks, and just about in any other form. While these options are great to have in the case of emergencies, or in order to mimic dishes that include meat,  you can also aim to make your own versions with healthier ingredients.

Mushrooms, walnuts, beans, lentils, legumes and grains are all great bases for any vegified meat dish, and a dash of spices such as smoked salt can really give your ingredients the flavor they need to satisfy all of your cravings! You can also use tofu, tempeh, seitan or soy granules on their own and marinate, bake, fry, barbeque or roast them to your liking with the spices and sauces you prefer. There are countless cookbooks and online recipes available to help you find your new favorite meat-substitute and get cooking!

Dairy substitutes

Just as is the case with meat, there are so many dairy alternatives today to choose from! For milk alone, you can enjoy soy, rice, coconut, almond, cashew, macadamia, hazelnut and even pea milk, among many others. These are then used as the base to create creamers, cheeses, spreads, baked goods, frozen desserts, chocolate, and more. Each one has its own specific flavor, and you can get them sweetened, flavoured, or plain to suit your taste buds and preferences. You can also choose to make your own milk-all you would really need is a blender, water, and any of the above ingredients. This way you can also flavor it the way you like it, and it is a much more cost-effective option in the long run.

Egg substitutes

In terms of eggs, there are a variety of different substitutes, and some are better suited for baking, with others better suited to cooking. Follow Your Heart has recently released their VeganEgg, which makes cooking scrambles or omelettes much easier and convenient. You can create your own version with tofu, turmeric, and nutritional yeast, or for baking, it can be as simple as replacing an egg with a banana, or flax seed powder!

For replacing meat, dairy and eggs, you will definitely find a wide range of possibilities to choose from, both in terms of buying ready-made options, or creating your own!