Raw April

For April I am going to try eating more raw food and seeing the effect (if any) it has on my health and any challenges I face. 

It shouldn't be such a challenge to eat raw food but these days it is easier to eat quick, processed foods as they are easy to prepare and often cheap. 

Adding more raw food into your diet can only be a good thing as many nutrients and vitamins are lost when cooking, so it is one way to improve your health and immune system.

I have already stocked up on fruit (apples, bananas and melon) and will be trying new foods throughout the month, I like trying new things and trying to constantly work towards being as healthy as possible so I will keep you updated on my April challenge and share raw food recipes I attempt along the way. 

It can be hard to find a good Vegan cider but this Harry Westons Vintage cider is available in supermarkets and labelled vegan. Not a lot of brands label their alcohol so it is nice to find one you can trust which tastes good too. 

Jammy Dodgers No longer Vegan

The once accidentally vegan biscuit will soon be no longer vegan as the brand have sadly decided to change their recipe which will now include Milk protein. 

I have no idea why this is added to so many snacks which could easily be made vegan, I have to assume it is because it is a cheap additive which is more cost effective for the company but is bad news for Vegans and anyone with allergies to milk, it's also not great for the cows who are mistreated at dairy farms but obviously this company doesn't care. 

I think this is a bad move for the brand as many people have complained- not just because it will no longer be vegan but because people like the taste, why change something that people already like. 

Just a warning to vegans who may buy this brand thinking they are vegan. Start checking the labels as the new recipe may be in shops soon or just boycott the brand all together until they change the recipe back to dairy free. 

You can always make my home made version here which are nicer and healthier anyway http://vegoutveganguide.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/jam-biscuits-simple-recipe-for.html who needs shop bought junk food! 

Hiking Snacks

Ma Baker bars are delicious! This strawberry bar was so tasty and filling. They are the perfect vegan snacks for hikes and outdoor adventures. Having a fruity flapjack makes it a healthy alternative to chocolate bars but the fruit gives it a sweetness that makes you feel like you are having a dessert. 

It is a perfect portable size that makes it a great travel snack. You can easily fit this is a bag or in your pockets. It is light but filling which is ideal if you are planing a long hike or long journey. I have only recently started seeing these bars around, I found this one at a farm shop but they are also available online. I think this brand will become more popular soon and will be available in more places.

Superfood Salad

Healthy food is not only delicious but good for you too. Eating well keeps you body and mind in good shape, remember you are what you eat. This super food salad of avocado, brown rice, hummus, mushroom and red onion, broccoli and mashed chick peas has many health benefits that will turn your evening meal into medicine. Here's how the foods you eat benefit your health: 

• Avocados are good for normalising your blood pressure which is great for lowering your risk of kidney and heart disease. 
• Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant which keeps you healthy and helps cuts to heal. 
• Hummus is a great source of protein and add flavour to the salad.
• Brown rice contains fibre which can reduce high cholesterol levels, fibre also helps keep blood sugar levels under control making it a great choice for people with diabetes. 
• Mushrooms are a source of selenium which is an antioxidant. They also contain protein showing that you don't need meat to get enough protein in your diet. 
• Chickpeas contain protein, fibre, magnesium and folate they are a great vegan friendly source of protein to consume regularly.
• Red onion contain many nutrients such as folate, calcium, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K. 

Eating healthy foods on a daily basis helps prevent chronic diseases. They contain all the nutrients you need and also make delicious meals. Try making your own super food salad which can be added to and contain seasonal vegetables. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone! I will be celebrating with a lovely vegan meal and a dairy free Easter egg. I'm happy to read in the news that there has been a rise in dairy free Easter eggs being bought this year, here's to vegan power and more people choosing to live a cruelty free life. No animals need to be harmed for you to celebrate a holiday. I hope everyone has a lovely day. 

Avocado and Broccoli Potato Salad

Left overs can quickly be used to create healthy meals. This Avocado and Broccoli potato salad is made from left overs from the previous nights dinner. By adding a few extra ingredients and herbs you can create a healthy lunch or delicious side salad to have with a meal. 

You will need: 

* boiled potatoes 
* Half and avocado
* chopped red onion
* cooked broccoli 
* mixed Italian herbs

Simply fry all the ingredients in a pan using fry light (the potatoes and broccoli should already have been boiled until soft.) 

Add herbs and cook until the potatoes are brown

Fry the onion first, followed by the potatoes then the broccoli and avocado. 

Serve. 

This is such a simple salad to make but it tastes amazing, chilli flakes or yeast flakes can be added for extra flavour. 

More Vegan Menus Please

It's exciting to see so many restaurants now having a separate vegan menu. Recently the pub chain Weatherspoons announced they had taken certain things off the menu like the Sunday Roast but were adding a whole new Vegan menu. 

This is great news for vegans eating out and about. This chain of pubs is in most cities and is a popular and cheap option. Knowing that they now have vegan options makes it easier when eating out especially if you are on a budget. 

It seems to be setting a trend as well as more and more places now have not just a few options but dedicated vegan menus. It shows how veganism is gaining not only in popularity but in recognition. Restaurants are catering for people instead of losing business. 

Whereas some people will still prefer to eat in a vegan restaurant it does mean it is easier to eat out with non-vegans and gives you more choice. Let's hope it's a trend more places take notice of. The days of having a side salad or chips as the only vegan option will hopefully be a thing of the past. 

100% Pure- Vegan Make-up

I've just stumbled upon this brand 100% Pure which is a vegan make-up and skin care range which uses only natural, food based ingredients. They are not tested on animals, contain no animal ingredients or chemicals. 



The range looks amazing with everything you need from make-up brushes, moisturisers to lip sticks and face powder. It just shows that you can have a great cosmetics range that is vegan. This brand is made in the USA but they have a UK based website where you can order. 


The products look amazing! Are brilliant quality and good for your skin, the products are described as health for your skin. It's time to stop putting harmful chemicals on your body which are absorbed into your body and use natural alternatives. This brand is perfect!  

Visit the site here: http://uk.100percentpure.com/

Live a better life Fair

On Saturday the 19th March the Live a Better Life fair is taking place at Liverpool's St Georges Hall between 10am and 4pm 

There will be 120 stalls, food samples, talks and demonstrations and everything is 100% Vegan. 

With only a £2 entry fee this is going to be a great event, plus it is very convenient for anyone within travelling distance of Liverpool as St Georges hall is directly across from Lime Street train station.

Run by the Ethics and Health Foundation the fair is all about teaching you how to live a healthy, happy life without hurting animals, other people or damaging the environment. There will be a range of fairtrade, organic and cruelty free products to introduce you to ways of living a more ethical life.

This is set to be a great day out, whether you are vegan or interested in living a cruelty free lifestyle and learning more this is the place to be. Go and stock up on interested products, sample vegan food and see how you can live a better life.  

The Benefits of Almond Milk

I have recently been drinking Almond milk, I never thought I'd move away from Oat milk but I am really enjoying this non dairy milk in tea, for baking and on cereal. It is perfect for everything and also have a lot of health benefits. If you haven't already tried it give it a go, it comes in sweetened and unsweetened versions. 




The health benefits are: 

• It is low in calories, meaning it is great for anyone trying to lose weight or watch their calorie intake
• It is a source of calcium, meaning it is a perfect alternative to cows milk and you know you are drinking something that is good for your bones 
• With no cholesterol or saturated fat it is great for your heart health 
• It is a source of vitamin D which works to improve your mood and reduces your risk of Arthritis and Osteoporosis 
• It improves your immune system 
• It contains protein and B vitamins making it great for muscle function, helping your muscles grow and heal 
• It is easily digested as it contains fibre 
• It has a low impact on your blood sugar, as long as there are minimal additives meaning it is great for reducing your risk of diabetes as it is an alternative to sugary drinks
• It is great for your skin as it contains vitamin E, increasing your intake of Almond milk will keep your skin healthy and glowing

There are so many health benefits to Almond milk it should definitely be on your list of non-dairy milks to try and add to your daily diet. The unsweetened version is great for anyone who doesn't necessarily like the taste of almonds and it is not overpowering in hot drinks. Give it a go to improve your health. 

Vegan Finds- Chick pea dhal

Found at Sainsburys, this vegan chickpea dhal is perfect for a quick curry night. Simply heat and eat with brown rice. Being vegan is becoming so easy with more convenient foods to have in your cupboards. I love cooking but sometimes a simple, fast meal is helpful on busy days. Why not stock up for rainy days and you can always copy the ingredients when you want to make your own home-made version. 

Vegan food for cold days

The cold weather makes you want nice warming foods- here's some vegan options to keep you warm inside while it's frosty outside. 

• Vegetable Soup- Chop up a leek and a load of vegetables and make a delicious home-made soup to keep you warm
• Pies- It's easy to find vegan option, Linda McCartney does vegan country style pies perfect with vegetables and gravy 
• Curry- There's nothing like hot food to keep you warm, a home-made vegetable curry can be as hot as you want 
• Chilli- A hot spicy chilli for when the temperature drops is perfect, have it with brown rice for a healthy option
• Casserole- Who says they are only for meat eaters, make a bean casserole or make one using your favourite vegan sausages for a warming dish 

There are so many vegan options that you are spoilt for choice. Warm yourself up with hearty, vegan food that will keep you healthy. 

Vegan Cake at Manchester Craft Centre

As always it's nice to see Vegan options everywhere I go. This delicious Vegan Chocolate and hazelnut brownie is from Manchester's Craft Centre. They always have vegan options and lots of loose leaf teas to choose from. Hopefully more places will follow suit making it easier to eat out. They also have a vegan option on the menu- a toasted sandwich and sell Fentimans soft drinks where many flavours are vegan friendly. 

This is definitely one to visit if you are in Manchester: http://www.craftanddesign.com/

Need help going vegan?

There's a new feature on the blog, you can now email  vegoutveganguide@yahoo.com for help going vegan, advice, tips or to get your questions answers- like the age old question where do vegans get their protein? 

Also if you have suggestions of products to review or places to visit get in touch. 

Vegan option at Costa

There is finally a vegan option at Costa! This fruity crumble is labelled vegan. This is a nice change in the coffee chain which before only had vegetarian options. Hopefully this is the start of more options to come, the fact that the bar is certified vegan by the vegan society is great as it makes it safe to eat and shows that Costa is recognising the need to have choices for vegans. They are good at having soya milk as an option for drinks so perhaps there will be savoury vegan food in the future. The cafe chain have apparently listened to social media responses asking for more vegan options. It is great to see a company listening to the demands of vegans and recognising the growing number of people turning to veganism. 

Now there is another place you can grab a drink and a vegan snack when out and about. Costa is a place on most high streets so it is great to know being vegan is getting easier. I am planning to email Costa and ask if they are planning more vegan options soon, if more people keep showing demand for products there might be a whole range of vegan options in stores soon! 

How to get your scrambled tofu to resemble scrambled egg

Scrambled tofu is a quick, tasty alternative to scrambled egg. It's great for breakfast or if you're like me any time of day. Low in fat and packed full of protein this is a great, healthy meal. 

However tofu on it's own doesn't look like scrambled egg. If you want it to look similar the simple way of doing it is to season the tofu with turmeric which is a really healthy spice along with tomato purée. These healthy ingredients add colour to your tofu. Give it a go. 

Ma baker Giant Bar Blueberry

Another vegan option to look out for. Ma Baker have a selection of vegan bars with added flavour, from blueberry and raspberry to peanut or cherry you'll be spoilt for choice. The idea of these bars is to have delicious oat snacks that are a healthy alternative. 

This is a products I haven't seen before and it was available on the VEssentials website. Definitely one to stock up on for taking to work or bringing on your travels. 

Find out more here http://www.firstqualityfoods.co.uk/mabaker.html 

Or shop here: https://vessentials.co.uk/

Unboxing a parcel from V Essentials

I am on a Facebook page giving vegan offers. Here I found out V Essentials were having an offer of free delivery in February. I decided to use this offer and see what the company was like. 

They had a good selection of vegan products from brands such as booja booja, Moo free, Biona, and ten acre. 

I ordered some items and the parcel arrived three days after I placed the order. There was also the option to pay via paypal which was a nice option as I feel safer using Paypal on-line. 

I was impressed with the speedy delivery, the box was delivered by a courier. The convenience of online shopping is great and having a website that caters just for vegans is ideal. 

I clearly stocked up on vegan snacks. They weren't all for me though promise! I put in a few orders for my family. This is a good idea if you want to save postage costs when you can't get free delivery, order items for several people family and friends and share the postage price. 

Of course vegan chocolate was ordered! And these organic Leek and Potato soups are perfect for bringing to work. I replaced my Orgran Egg replacer as I love to bake and this is one of the best egg replacers I have tried so far it is convenient to have in for making those delicious vegan cakes. 

There was one problem with my order, I ordered two Hummus chips and only received one. Having contacted the company I received an email back instantly and a refund for the missing item was done in minutes. This was seriously impressive. Mistakes happen so this wasn't a problem but how a company deals with a problem is key. Customers are won or lost through the customer service. I was happy with the response I received so I will definitely use this company again as it's handy for stocking up on treats. 

The store also sells toiletries and essentials like pasta. Overall I am very pleased with the company, I am glad I tried it as it is somewhere I will use again. 

Check it out at https://vessentials.co.uk/ and if you do use the site let me know what you think. 

Raw till 4?

I was chatting to a friend about going Raw till 4, this is the idea of only eating raw food until 4 pm, so essentially your breakfast and lunch would consist of raw food such as fruits and vegetables that you don't cook. The idea in eating lots of whole foods, unprocessed food is designed to increase your energy levels and health as a major part of your diet will be natural. 

It is definitely challenging as most people, including myself are used to the convenience of processed food. It also means eating a lot more as to get enough calories from fruit and vegetables you need to have bigger portions. Eating a lot of food is not a bad problem to have but it is still challenging. 

I am planning on trying Raw till 4 in the future but for now I am eating more raw food along with my lunch to change my diet slightly. I would normally have a sandwich for lunch so instead I am having half a sandwich along with grapes, kiwi, celery and carrot. Sometimes adding more healthy options into your diet slowly helps you make a positive change. It introduces new foods into your diet and gives you a taste for something other than the same items you always have.

Try adding more raw food into your diet even if Raw till 4 isn't for you as the health benefits will be amazing. 

Lolos- vegan cafe in Ramsbottom

I recently visited Lolo's vegan cafe in Ramsbottom. I had never heard of this place, a friend suggested it for lunch and I was not disappointed. It has some of my favourite things a 20s theme, vegan food and a vegan shop. I wish I lived nearer to this cafe as it would definitely be my regular place to eat. It should certainly be on your list of places to visit. 

The lunch menu has a nice selection of sandwiches and salads and there is a daily changing menu of cakes and ice cream. 

I tried the Lolo's Club sandwich with chips and an orange and mango drink. The waitress also bought us all water with lemon at no extra charge. 

The food was delicious, it was vegan food done well. The sandwich contained vegan cheese, fake meat, avocado and salad. It was a lovely combination and the combination of flavours went so well together. 

I also got to look around the shop, it is stocked with a great selection from food products to cleaning supplies. The fridge was packed full of vegan cheese and meat alternatives. It is only a small shop but it is jam packed with interesting products. The best part about the shop is you don't have to check the labels to see if it's vegan. I think more vegan places should have a shop attached as it takes the hard work out of finding vegan products. 

This is definitely a place to visit. If you want delicious vegan food done well give it a try. Even my meat eating friends were impressed. I am looking forward to trying the evening menu and sampling some of the cakes and vegan ice cream for sale. 

Homemade Brown Bread Recipe

This simple brown bread recipe is great for anyone new to baking. It only needs a few ingredients making a loaf cheap and easy. Fresh, home made bread is delicious, you may not want to go back to shop bought bread after mastering the art of making your own. 

You will need:

• 350g Wholemeal flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1tsp sugar
• 1tsb Yeast
• 200ml warm water 

Instructions: 

•  Mix the flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a bowl
• Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm water mixing to form a soft dough, adding a little more water if needed
• Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic
• Shape into an oblong and place in a greased loaf tin
• Cover with oiled cling film and place in a warm place for an hour, or until the dough has risen to the top
• Glaze with a tiny amount of non dairy milk (e.g. Oat milk) 
• 15 minutes before baking pre-heat the oven to Gas Mark 6
• Bake for 35 minutes, until the bread is risen and lightly browned, you can take it out of the tin and return to the oven for 5 minutes if you want the sides to be browned 

Leave for 1 hour to rise in a warm place- this can be near a radiator or hot oven, it may take longer to rise depending on how warm it is. Make sure the bread rises before baking

The bread doesn't need a glaze but using a non dairy milk will stop the top from browning too much, you can easily glaze the bread by taking a teaspoon of oat milk and brushing over the top 

Home made bread is delicious, you can eat it hot or save it until the next day

The finished product, Try it with butter and jam for a savoury snack that tastes like a dessert 

Homemade Vegan Cocktails

My favourite drink is Disaronno, which is vegan and a lovely amaretto drink. 

I used to mix it with fizzy drinks but I was looking for something healthier so I bought some Cherry juice to mix it with. This is obviously better than drinking acidic fizzy drinks. 

The cherry juice is from Sainsburys and labelled vegan, again I like the move for more products to be labelled vegan even if they are simple products that you can assume are suitable it makes it easier to shop and find products to buy.

This is a simple drink to make, a small amount of Disaronno with cherry juice is an easy and simple home made cocktail. 

Having juice instead of fizzy drinks is also healthier than having sugary fizzy drinks. Obviously any alcohol should be consumed in small amounts but compared to cocktails mixed with various spirits and mixers in bars, this home made version will be better for you.  

Grab your favourite spirit and try a home made cocktail with your favourite juice there are so many option from blueberry to pomegranate you'll be spoilt for choice.  

Jam Biscuits- Simple Recipe for a delicious treat

If you are a fan of Jammy Dodgers you will love this recipe. It is so quick and simple and uses minimal ingredients but creates a delicious dessert. 

You will need:

• 4oz vegan butter (eg. Pure or Vitalite) 
• 2oz Sugar
• 6oz plain flour 
• Raspberry jam to fill 

Instructions:

• Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until smooth
• Add the flour and mix to make a firm dough 
• Knead the dough briefly until smooth and then shape into a ball
• Chill the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes (Wrap it in cling film or store in an airtight container) 
• Once chilled roll the dough out and cut using a biscuit cutter. You can use any shape you want but they all need to be the same
• Transfer to a baking sheet using either baking paper or a greased tray cook the biscuits in a preheated oven on the middle shelf at gas mark 6
• Cook for 10-15 minutes until the biscuits are turning golden brown- you can turn them over half way through to ensure even cooking
• When cooled add the jam and sandwich together or cut the circles in half and sandwich each half depending on how many you want to make

The biscuits before cutting, you can sandwich them together like this to make larger biscuits or cut in half

Seedless jam is nice to use as it creates a smooth filling for the biscuits 

Only minimal ingredients are used so it is a simple recipe to try 

These biscuits really taste like Jammy dodgers but the home made version has no additives and is all natural ingredients

The biscuits themselves are soft and crumbly and so easy to make! Who needs shop bought snacks! 

This is a great recipe for anyone new to biscuit making, it is a cheap and easy way to practise your baking skills and these make amazing gifts as they look and taste great