Becoming VEGAN

Hello there!

I get a lot of questions asking 'how to' become vegan, as the idea itself seems so daunting at first. I promise it's not that difficult! We are creatures of habit, and the more we do something the easier it becomes.

I'm going to dive straight in:

1. Switch milk for non-dairy
This is the simplest and arguably most effective change. There are so many alternatives to milk now, including almond, soy, coconut, oat and hemp, all with wonderful different tastes (my fav is coconut!). Soy milk is relatively cheap now as well, with major supermarkets adding it to their own brand lines.
Milk is loaded with hormones that are intended for a 400lb calf, not humans. We're the only species that drinks another's milk. Would you put human breast milk in your tea? Probably not :P
Also - cows are impregnated often in order to maximise milk production. The poor girls spend most of their life pregnant, and then get most (if not all) of their babies milk taken away. Sometimes, the babies are given calf replacement formula. Completely unneccesary.

2. Eat more fruits and veggies!
As many veggies as you can eat. All day, every day. Google recipes for inspiration! Avocados may contain fat, BUT it's natural fat. So don't be afraid. Fruit may contain sugar, but it's NATURAL sugar. It becomes energy! There's a woman who eats basically only fruit, and she looks amazing. Check her out http://thebananagirl.com/
Try putting fruits and veggies at the top of your food pyramid. Fill your plate with as many veggies as you want, then add your fake meat, pasta, rice or whatever.

3. Replace meat and fish with substitutes 
This sounds flippin obvious, but I'm going to tell you what substitutes there are. (Note - there are many many many more than this)
- Quorn's new Vegan range! The chicken pieces are so easy to cook, and delicious. They come in a bag from the frozen section. They also have spicy burgers, yum yum.
- Linda McCartney sausages! There are some other things in her range that are suitable for vegans, but I just love these snags. They're great in a sandwich, fry up, or for dinner.
- Tofu! I'm not a tofu expert (yet), but I know that you can use this beautiful creation as a substitute for many things. Get some breadcrumbs and make fake fried chicken, use it in place of an egg in cooking or baking, put it in salads or stir fries, eat it raw (if you like), make sushi with it...  the list is endless. Again, give it a google. I'm not much of a chef.
- I know there are some great fish substitutes out there too, however I have yet to try them. Watch this space though...

4. Stop buying leather and silk
Some people decide to keep things that they already have, some throw them out. There's no right or wrong way here. Being vegan is about doing the best you can! Just be more conscious now when you buy things :) There are lots of leather alternatives, including pineapple skins!!

5. Read labels
When eating out or on the go, you will realise how much milk and eggs are unnecessarily added to things. That's when it gets hard to be a vegan! Just remember, when ordering at a restaurant, you can ask for changes! Imagine if you had a dairy allergy and were a veggie - they'd have to accommodate you. Don't fear using the word vegan though - I know you might feel like 'one of those people', insisting things be changed, but trust me, the world is slowly following suit. There are plenty of restaurants offering vegan options now, but sometimes you need to ask!


Happy Monday everyone!! xoxo