At one time, going vegan, like going gluten-free, meant sacrificing on flavour and diversity in your meals. But supply and demand is a wonderful thing, and with the number of vegans ever growing, so too the number of great vegan alternatives to the ingredients and meals most often missed.
Today, there are a lot of different vegan products to choose from, which means that it is easily possible to go vegan and still eat what you love. In addition to pre-made foods being versatile, there are also plenty of vegan meat and dairy-free recipes to choose from. Like the concept and ethics of going vegan but you’re not 100% sure if it is the right move for you? Well, let us tempt you. Here are 4 IDEAL vegan alternatives for the food you love.
VEGAN ICE CREAM
Due to a rise not only in veganism but also in allergies to eggs and dairy, supermarkets now stock a wider range of vegan-friendly ice creams. From brands like Alpro that specialise purely in products for people with specific dietary requirements, to ice cream moguls Ben and Jerry’s, the range of vegan ice creams is these days incredible. Ben and Jerry’s now do a vegan version of their famous Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream. If that isn’t progress for vegan living, nothing is.
Of course, if you would rather make your own ice cream, then you can do. There are plenty of vegan ice cream recipes to choose from, all you need is an ice cream maker, a dairy-free cream or milk, and a flavour of choice; fruit, coffee or whatever else takes your fancy.
FAUX MEAT? FO’ SURE
Vegans can still eat ‘meat,’ the only difference being it’s faux meat, not that from an animal. Once upon a time, this was chewy and nothing like the ‘real’ thing. But times have changed, and vegan palates are ever more discerning. And demanding, too. Meat-free alternatives can be made from all manner of things, from tofu and mushrooms to cauliflower and lentils, and can taste incredible, with great texture to match. Such is the call for vegan meat, that there is now a fried chicken shop that has recently opened in London that exclusively sells vegan fried ‘chicken’.
VEGAN CHEESE
People considering going vegan often cite a lack of cheese as the primary reason for staying on the path of meat and dairy. But, if cheese is a big part of your diet, there’s no need to panic. Supermarkets now stock a wide range of vegan cheeses, replete with good texture and tang.
LET THEM EAT CAKE
There is a common misconception that vegans can’t eat cake, but that’s not the case. There are lots of delicious vegan cakes to choose from, so there’s no need to miss out. Plenty of cafes, restaurants and supermarkets now offer ranges of the good stuff, and.you can also easily make your own vegan cakes too, using dairy-free spread instead of butter, vegan egg instead of regular egg, and you can make dairy-free topping too. Nut butters, for instance, are also a great alternative to dairy butter, and olive oil cakes taste divine. When it comes to cake, going vegan definitely doesn’t mean that you have to miss out.