Like the title of this post says I’ve been dreaming about meat, not in some weird kinky way but in a makes me wake up hungry and craving it way, possibly with a bit of drool. My partner has decided to go Vegan, after toying with the idea for a while he read a book, The China Project and it tipped him over the Vegan edge. Now I’ve only read snippets of it so I can’t really comment but Mr Science is totally sold on it. When he told me that he was going vegan the thought of doing it myself absolutely filled me with fear. I was also pretty annoyed with him as I knew it was going to make eating with him challenging. Surprised too as this is the man who I filmed eating a fillet steak as he was enjoying it so much. I am not the Worlds best veggie eater and foods on my never ever, will only eat them if I’m dying of starvation list include mushrooms, cauliflower and asparagus (I could add more, this is just a small sample) so you can see why I was worried about not making a very good Vegan.
I previously cut out dairy and then soya when I was feeding Ava due to her allergies so cutting out dairy was going to be nothing new. However I had just got used to being able to have a cheese fix again and eating normal cakes and chocolate, sob. I like cheese and I like cakes and I know you can bake your own so the cakes isn’t too big a deal but cheese is. You can’t replace cheese no matter how hard you try it’s just not the same. Even writing this now I’m thinking of a pepperoni pizza with loads of melted cheese, mmmm.
Despite all of my concerns I’ve decided to give it a go. I’ve not gone fully vegan as in I have cheated, more than once. I had a roast dinner the other day, but I would say I’m eating 90/10 to vegan now and this next week I’m going to try and make it to 100. I’m probably not going to be fully vegan all the time and sneak in a cheese and bacon fix every now and then, or maybe I wont. After cutting out dairy I didn’t go back to having cows milk preferring almond milk on cereal and soya in latttes and when I think about it milk is pretty gross. I’ve also never been an egg fan only having it within cakes and other baked food so stopping eggs it pretty easy. It might be that after a while I get used to having no meat or animal products and it becomes normal and my cravings fade (please tell me they fade).
So far we have discovered some really actually quite surprisingly yummy recipes and I’m enjoying knowing that I’m eating healthier as everything is fresh and from scratch. I will keep you up to date of how we are getting on.
If you can recommend or point me in the direction of any vegan blogs, cookbooks and products please let me know.
I’ve been toying with the idea of going vegan for a while. Although I’m not sure I could commit 100% as hubby would definitely not go vegan but I’m hoping to cut down on animal products in my own diet. I love the Deliciously Ella cookbook and Oh She Glows. Both have blogs too which are helpful and full of yummy recipes.
I have been like you (trying to be vegan but it’s a work in progress!) and have bought lots if vegan cookbooks but not found very many child friendly, more posh blog type food! I have liked ‘so what do you eat’ by Liz cook and also the innocent badger cookbook for simple family meals. I also love the ms cupcake baking book! And the fairfoods Devon website for recipes, live their shepherds pie! Also love the Facebook page uk supermarket vegan finds. Or maybe it’s uk vegan supermarket finds? Can’t remember which way round!
Good Luck lovely! Although we still eat meat occasionally through the week we are pretty much vegan due to dairy/egg allergies which alongside a soya allergy make for interesting cooking! I only ever bake vegan now and I actually can’t tell the difference… there is a really amazing chocolate cake recipe on the blog that if you undercook it just slightly it comes out fudgy and gooey! Most shop bought pastry contains no dairy so that may help! Also there are some good cheese alternatives, we use Violife as it is available in most supermarkets and is soya free although if soya isnt a problem tesco do quite a good range and some people I know swear by Bute Island products! Just yell if you need any help!
This sounds like such an interesting journey – I became a vegetarian at 9 but, like you, would find it hard to cut out cheese! Blog/YouTube wise I really like Niomi Smart and Gemma Tomlinson – both have yummy looking recipes and what I eat in a day videos 🙂 #picknmix
Helen x
We have recently cut down on dairy because my son is allergic to cows milk, I’ve tried the vegan cheese and it is gross!
I’ve gone the opposite way to you, I was vegan as a teenager, moved out and started eating dairy and after having my daughter I started eating meat. I still much prefer vegan and vegetarian meals though! #picknmix
Wow you are so brave! I have tried to cut down on meat and have replaced the kids nuggets with quorn nuggets and have a boy who prefers quorn over any meat. For me the biggest loss would be eggs…and dairy! I’ve tried other mils in the past and just can’t get on board. What is The China Project? #PickNMix
Oh, I know how you feel! I was dairy and gluten free when O was little as he was intolerant. I found some great free from recipes from American bloggers and still prefer dark chocolate nowadays. My diet was definitely a lot better then, everything had to be made from scratch so was a lot healthier! Good luck, at least it’s not forever! 🙂 x #picnmix
I’m not even vegetarian, but I have come across lots of allergy blogs recently, which produce family friendly vegan food (check out the link up Free From Friday over at @freefromfarm). I cant decide if you’re brave or bonkers 😉 good luck hon xxx
I have read the China Study and it is pretty compelling! We don’t eat meet at all but I think it would be a tall order for me to move to vegan. I am sure it would have lots of benefits though so go you! Good luck and I will be following with interest. Emma @freefromfarm does a #FreeFromFriday and you could try @FreeFromFairy #PicknMix
I could never be vegan or veggie, I like pork pies too much lol! My sister Sarah is a vegan though, has been for years and she owns a vegan shop/deli in Southampton called Rice Up wholefoods. Its worth looking them up on facebook as she posts some really nice pictures of her homemade cakes! I’ve been nagging her to start a blog alongside her shop because she makes some really nice meals. She might be a good person to ask about cheese subsitutes too! #picknmix
I had to cut out dairy for a few months last year and I found it very difficult, but I will say that I don’t think I have ever felt so healthy! You are very brave, I don’t think I could be vegan. I think I could probably go to vegetarian but I think that’s as far as I could go. But I have no willpower, and maybe if I read that book that your husband read maybe I would be vegan too! xx #Picknmix
Its a big thing to go vegan, and I am in awe of people who do it. I am afraid I love my steak to much to do it myself! xx
#picknmix
This sounds like a big lifestyle change – good luck! #picknmix
What a huge change. I don’t think I could do vegan. I’d manage vegetarian as I am really not a huge meat eater, but dairy… I don’t think I would manage! Best of luck to you though, I bet it’ll be so good for your health! #PicknMix
Good luck. I’m a former vegetarian (7 years – back in my teens). Not sure I could go vegan but I reckon I could give up meat again and I think there’s a lot more choice nowadays if you are vegan/veggie than even as little as 15-20 years ago. Look forward to hearing how you get on. #PicknMix
That’s really jumping in the deep end – skip right over vegetarian & into vegan! I couldn’t do vegan. I’d make a good vegetarian, as I have never been a big meat eater, & can easily – often do – skip it. But I’ve never bothered to be formally vegetarian because it seems a bit pointless to label it when I don’t have any actual principles against eating meat – I just figure I may as well continue being mostly but not officially vegetarian! Vegan, however, is too restrictive for me to consider. For one thing, I do like dairy & would not want to give it up. For another, I am too lazy with food for veganism! I find meal planning & making enough of a chore as it is, & that is just too much faffing for me! I like your allowing cheats approach! Good luck with it! #picknmix
I’m impressed that as a self confessed meat eater you’ve managed to get a 90/10 so quickly!
My friend used to eat something called Scheeze. It was awful and smelled like Wotsits. He eats a lot of curries as a good way to get a flavour hit from spices without needing the sort of non vegan ingredients often used for padding out meals.
Good luck!
#PickNMix
Just remembered a possible option for a non cheese pizza. Slimming World’s fakeaway recipes have one for a houmous based topping instead of cheese. I was a little dubious but imagine it might work really well with grilled vegetables on top.
#PickNMix
I can’t imagine not eating meat but even more so cheese I’m a complete addict. Although I LOVE mushrooms and cauliflower 😉
Stevie xx
You are so brave and so supportive to give up meat for your hubby if he is doing it too. I don’t think I eat healthy enough to go vegan as I need to eat way more veggies and I probably have way too much cheese, and meat in my diet along with cake to say goodbye but I have heard its so much better for you. Good luck lovely. 🙂 Your body I think will stop craving it when you get pass the “hump I call it. I gave up carbs last summer and I didnt even think about them after a while but at first its all I could think about. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
I think its great you are giving it a go – will also make it easier when cooking if you all have the same! I guess its just changing your lifestyle a bit and then as you say if you make a little slip up very occasionally its not the end of the world! #PickNMix