Vegan Vampires- Not so scary Halloween Treats

The witching hour is upon us and Vegans want to share in the fun and rot our teeth too! So here's a break down of some vegan treats you can share with friends, give out to trick or treaters or just eat by yourself as you hide in the dark and ignore the knocks on the door. 

1) Tesco Free From Chocolate buttons: 


Kids will love them because who doesn't love chocolate buttons and the best thing is they are milk and dairy free. Find them in the free from section in Tesco. 

2) Starburst:

This is one of the amazingly accidentally vegan products that is perfect for a Halloween party, fill up a bowl and enjoy a guilt free vegan treat. 

3) Goody Good Stuff Cola bottles:



Found in Holland and Barrett and many health food shops these vegan cola bottles are perfect for Halloween treats. It just shows you that anything can be made vegan, check out the range for more vegan sweets to add to your many treats. 

4) Love Hearts: 



Go back to your childhood and see if you get the message you want with Love Hearts. They are almost too nice for Halloween but since they are vegan you can add them to the collection and show all the ghouls at your party how much you love them. 

5) Kettle Chips: 



 If you can't take any more sweets, try something savoury instead with Kettle Chips. Some of their range is labelled vegan and perfect for parties. 

Who says Halloween has to be scary for Vegans- you can carve pumpkins, dress in ridiculous outfits and eat your body weight in sweets like everyone else! Happy Halloween everyone. 

Vivani- Vegan Chocolate

This is yet another brand find from the Northern Vegan festival, Vivani are a premium chocolate brand- not all their range is vegan but they have a great selection. The white chocolate nougat bar is delicious, it's made with rice drink powder instead of milk. Other vegan options include dark nougat, orange and cherry. The whole range is also organic meaning it is a healthier option. 

Whole Earth- Healthy Fizzy Drinks

If you are looking for a healthier version to most fizzy drinks Whole Earth is a great brand. Their drinks are made with sparkling water and natural ingredients. They are certified organic and suitable for vegans! So there's no need to give up fizzy drinks but instead switch to a healthier brand. 

What does Milk taste like again?

I honestly can't remember what milk tastes like. Isn't that strange? The thought came to be the other day when I was enjoying a soya hot chocolate in one of my favourite vegan cafes Earth. I was trying to remember how different milk tastes from soya or if it tastes different at all and I couldn't, after around four months of being vegan I have forgotten what something I used to have all the time tastes like. 

I've never been a huge fan of dairy products anyway but having spent so long being vegetarian I didn't realise how quickly I could forget the taste of something and how I no longer cared. I am happy to have my hot chocolate with soya, oat milk or even water, I don't crave dairy or feel that I need it in my diet. I actually feel healthier now that I've removed it, maybe it wasn't as good for me as I once believed.  

So for everyone who feels that they will never live without the taste of milk, cheese or meat trust me you will, you will even forget the taste of it or why you loved it so much in the first place! 

The things I thought I'd never be able to live without were cheese, milk chocolate and milk in my tea. Now I love the Violife alternative to cheese, to me it tastes the same so I'm not missing out, vegan chocolate wins hands down in the taste competitions to any chocolate I ever ate in the past and I now love the creamy oat milk I have in my tea and couldn't imagine a brew without it. Apparently it takes your taste buds around 21 times of eating something to get used to it, which is always good to remember when trying new foods, but maybe it also means that after a few weeks of not eating something you forget what it's like.  

Taste changes if you allow it, your body adapts, your mind changes. You CAN live without meat and dairy, you might even prefer the alternatives. Why not give it a go? 

Why it's important when celebrities go Vegan

Liam Hemsworth recently did an interview for men's health where he announced he has now gone vegan. This is exciting news because when a celebrity does something...anything it makes the news, it has a wider audience and reaches more people. The Hunger Games star will undoubtedly have many fans who will be wondering about his new lifestyle, looking into what it means to be vegan and maybe deciding to follow in his footsteps? This can only be a good thing, it also gets the idea of being vegan into the news. People will debate and question him, some will disagree but it gets people talking because celebrities have power in the media. 

Hemsworth said in the interview he went vegan for his own health and also because he's looked into the mistreatment of animals in the meat industry and couldn't be a part of it anymore. Such great reasons to go vegan and similar to a lot of people's experience. He also used to eat a lot of red meat as it is supposed to be healthy but he said it left him feeling worse. Hopefully this will make people question what they eat. Does your food make you feel good or ill? Intuitive eating is the way forward, just because you have always ate something doesn't mean you have to continue or that it's good for you. Often a lot of what we eat is merely out of habit and habits are easily broken. 

Hemsworth also stated how people now ask where he gets his protein and how he feels- any vegan can relate! No one cares more about your health that when you decided to go vegan. And the reality is people should concentrate on their own diet, a lot of research and time goes into being vegan, you have to make sure you are getting all your nutrients. That's not to say all vegans are healthy as anyone can eat badly but most people don't make the change to become vegan without a lot of thought. The people who question another's diet should look closely at their own first- is it really as healthy as you think? 

One things for sure Hemsworth is joining a growing group of vegan celebrities: Woody Harrelson, his co-star who inspired him to go vegan, Jared Leto, Lea Michele, Alanis Morissette, Toby Maguire and Ellen DeGeneres and many more. These are the people who may have the biggest impact in challenging people's views as fans want to know all about a celebrities life and maybe imitate them. Let's hope more film stars go vegan soon! 

Check out the Men's Health article here: 

http://www.mensfitness.com/life/entertainment/liam-hemsworth-force-nature

The Best Vegan Cooking Chocolate

Never fear the best vegan cooking chocolate has been found. The search is over and this luxury brand is not only dairy and egg free but contains no gluten, is nut free and is made in a special factory away from cross contamination- no may contain milk warnings necessary! 

It delivers on being a vegan brand you can trust and has a gorgeous, rich taste perfect for baking. By melting the chocolate and adding it to recipes you can create brownies, cakes and biscuits. 

Found in the free from aisle of many supermarkets, this bar was bought in ASDA and is priced at around £1.30 which is cheap for vegan chocolate. It is worth buying this brand even if you just want a few squares of dark chocolate to snack on each day as the price is much cheaper than many other brands for around the same weight. Plus by supporting this brand it shows the demand for products free from any cross contamination. 

Ten Tips for going Vegan

Making the change to become vegan can be daunting and difficult at first. Although it doesn't have to be. Here are the top ten tips for becoming vegan: 

1) Do you research- Perhaps the most important piece of advice. If you simply cut out all meat and diary products but don't replace them you'll probably start your vegan journey tired and hungry. Just know there is a vegan replacement for everything and you can have the same meals in a different version. It's also important to research where to get your essential nutrients from such as your protein and calcium, that way when worried meat eaters ask you, you can answer back with a list of alternatives. 

2) Experiment- So you don't have to become a crazy scientist but do try out different recipes, foods and products. It can take time to get used to new foods and develop your taste buds, you never know what foods you will love so give everything a go and expand your horizons. 

3) Go to Vegan restaurants- If you are lucky enough to live near an all vegan restaurant go there for a meal, if not try the vegan options at a vegetarian place. There will be more variety and thought put into the food. Other restaurants may have one option on the menu that can leave you bored and uninspired. Totally vegan places will mean you don't have to worry about how the foods been cooked, you will be spoilt for choice and the staff will have a wealth of knowledge about vegan food. 

4) Support Vegan businesses- from fashion to food, shop anywhere that supports the vegan lifestyle. The only way to make veganism more mainstream and accepted is to show a demand for the products. 

5) Pack a snack- There's nothing worse than being somewhere and feeling hungry and not being able to find any vegan food. Always keep a protein bar or vegan snack with you to avoid this major crisis. 

6) Share your passion- Judging others for their meat and dairy eating lifestyle isn't likely to change them and it gives vegans a bad reputation. Simply share what you love with others, teach rather than lecture and tell people why you are vegan rather than telling them why they should go vegan. At the end of the day everyone has to make their own decisions in life, you can't force people to see the world like you do but you can show them what you believe in the hope that it will educate them. 

7) Use social media- Facebook, instagram, blogs and twitter are all useful tools. Vegans share recipes, products, ideas and their journeys. So use your social media for more than just stalking your friends and learn from other vegans. 

8) Start a vegan notebook- This is a handy tool for jotting down all your vegan tips. If you notice places that have a vegan option, a new vegan brand or a place that sells your favourite products cheaper you can write it down so you don't forget. 

9) Ask questions- E-mail companies about whether they have vegan options and ask restaurants if they can adapt a meal to be vegan, This again shows a demand for vegan products. 

10) Stay strong- It can be difficult and daunting at first but stay strong and remember why you made the change in the first place. Remember it is a journey and you will constantly be learning about new foods and finding products you love. More and more vegan items are appearing on the market and veganism is increasing in popularity everyday so stick at it, stay motivated and remember that even one person going vegan makes a different to animals lives, the environment and your own health. 

Vego Mini Bar- Product Review

I picked this up at the Northern Vegan Festival as part of the Vegan tuck box sample bag and I was excited to try it as I've only heard positive reviews. 

I was pleasantly surprised with the chocolate and hazelnut bar, not being the biggest fan of hazelnuts I was dubious as to whether I would enjoy it but the chocolate is delicious- smooth and creamy which complements the crunchy hazelnuts. I had the mini bar which was filling enough but a full size bar is 150 grams which would be more than enough to satisfy even the biggest chocoholics cravings. It's also fair-trade, vegan, uses organic ingredients and is gluten free you can't really ask for more in a snack. 

Chocolate Tray bake

Who says vegans have to be healthy? There are so many great options for food especially dessert that can be made vegan. 

This tasty little find is from The Egg Cafe, Liverpool.  They always have plenty of vegan options and this massive piece of chocolate tray bake is perfect for dessert as a little treat. The crunchy biscuit base is topped with vegan chocolate. Perfect with a brew! 

If you thought the vegan life style was all vegetables and rice think again. 

The Northern Vegan Festival- Saturday 17th October

Are you excited!! The northern vegan festival is tomorrow in Manchester from 10am-6pm and with only £2 entry and over 150 stalls you wont want to miss it. 

The festival is running at four different locations in the city.

Sachas Hotel, Tib Street, M4 1SH will have 100 stalls, talks, poetry readings and speed dating for all you beautiful single vegans. 

The Methodist Church, Oldham Street, M1 1JQ will have 74 stalls and will also be running speed dating events. 

V Revolution, 88 Oldham Street, M4 1LF will be showing films all day. 

The Thirsty Scholar, 50 Wakefield Street, M1 5NP will have a vegan beer and cider festival. This venue is open until 3am.

If you are in Manchester or can get here tomorrow make sure you check out the festival, this is one of the best ways to learn about the vegan lifestyle, check out products you've never heard of and support vegan businesses. 

Vegan options on the Highstreet

If you are out and about and need a quick snack there are some high street options out there. Sadly there's not yet a vegan cafe on every corner so until there is you can always find places to eat. 

Pret a Manger now have a new vegan option. It is a grilled artichokes and red tapenade baguette. Sounds yummy and is something a bit different. They are also planning to introduce more vegan options in the future so keep an eye out. 

Subway The Veggie Delite is a safe vegan option at subway and one of the healthiest, fill your sandwich with as many vegetables as you want without any butter or mayo- just avoid the flat breads as they contain dairy. 

Starbucks have a few vegan options, drinks can be made with Soy milk and to eat you can opt for porridge with soy, a veggie hummus wrap or a meze salad. 

As vegan options continue to increase in popularity more and more companies are seeing the benefits of adding choice to their menus, keep an eye out for vegan options on the high street you never know where you might find them. 

Ethical Fashion

A vegan lifestyle isn't just about the food you eat, the same ethics should be applied to all areas of life such as the clothes you choose to buy. Avoiding products which use animal skin and fur is one obvious way to do this. Another is to buy from ethical companies which aim to make sustainable clothing rather than the fast fashion of many high street brands. 

One company which is ethical, sustainable and vegan is Monkee Genes which make affordable jeans in a range of materials and are approved by Peta. 



This company started in 2006 and is a great choice for anyone wishing to buy Eco friendly clothing. They also raise awareness of the environmental and human cost to buying cheap fashion. Knowing where your clothes come from is as important as knowing where your food comes from. No animal should be killed for a meal just as no human should suffer terrible conditions making cheap throw away clothes. 

The charitable side of the company started in 2013 after the Rana Plaza disaster. It aims to educate people on the reality of how clothes are made and invest in communities. The idea is to show people the true cost of clothing in the hopes that more people will be willing to buy from a company which chooses not to put fashion before human life. 

Ethical clothing is not always the most fashionable but this is one brand which matches style with compassion. Here are some great choices from the website: 


Berry Organic Chinos £50 


Skinny jeans £35


Dusky Denim skinny jeans £34 


Men's skinny jeans £55

 Visit http://www.monkeegenes.com/ to see the great range. 

Rawr Chocolate

Another day, another post about vegan chocolate. These raw chocolate bars are from the cleverly named company Rawr. They sell raw, dairy free, fairtrade and organic chocolate bars in many different flavours. 

What really makes these bars different is that they are produced raw- which means it is made at low temperatures to preserve the enzymes and nutrients in the ingredients which makes it a healthier alternative to highly processed chocolate bars which are treated with chemicals. 

This isn't only a guilt free chocolate choice the company itself is also one of the most ethical around. The ingredients used are certified by the soil association, ethically sourced and organic. All the packaging is made from recycled material, is recyclable itself and only minimal packaging is used. One amazing thing about the packaging is 10% of it is made out of recycled cocoa shells meaning nothing is going to waste and you are eating chocolate wrapped in chocolate which is an amazing idea. 

Check out the amazing range of flavours here: www.rawrchoc.com

Vegan hot chocolate at Bonbon Chocolate Boutique

 Looking for great tasting vegan hot chocolate? Then look no further than Bonbon Chocolate Boutique in Manchester. If you are not looking for great tasting vegan hot chocolate then why aren't you? You should be trust me! 

One of the things that some people may worry about when going vegan is not being able to eat chocolate- milk chocolate bars are everywhere and most people don't know many alternatives but luckily vegan chocolate has come along way, there are many brands that taste amazing and are truly delicious and the same can be said for vegan hot chocolate. 

The delicious drink made with pure chocolate and water can be found at Bonbon Chocolate Boutique. This hidden gem in Manchester's Northern Quarter is an artisan chocolatier and cafe serving handmade chocolates as well as a great selection of treats many of them vegan. One popular brand booja booja is sold here, the amazing selection of dairy free chocolates in a range of flavours make the perfect gift for a vegan friend or even a treat for yourself. 

The cafe is known for it's hot chocolate and it's easy to see why, it's suitable for vegans and is available to have in different flavours, the chocolate orange is delicious. Other flavours include salted caramel and chili. This place is well worth a visit to grab a hot drink and pick up some vegan essentials...chocolate! It just shows that many places are now catering for vegans and supplying alternatives to dairy. 

Make time for a visit to this quaint little cafe and indulge in some vegan chocolaty goodness. 

Visit www.bonbonchocolate.co.uk for more information. 

What is Veganism?

Some people don't know what it is or what it means. That's OK- it can be a hard concept to get your head around, it is not a mainstream concept like vegetarianism yet. So for those of you who don't know here's a pretty simple definition.

Veganism: A plant based diet avoiding all animal foods e.g meat, dairy, eggs and honey. It is also a lifestyle choice against the exploitation and cruelty of animals for any reason such as producing food, clothing or testing products.

Welcome to Veg Out

Welcome to Veg Out the new Vegan food and lifestyle blog. This is your guide to all things vegan. As a lifelong vegetarian I have recently made the transition to being a vegan and have learnt a lot in the last few months. My only regret about becoming a vegan is not doing it sooner! I very quickly learnt which foods to eat, where to find the best vegan food and where to gain knowledge of vegan products and places to eat which I will share. It is a journey which I am enjoying and a change for life. Feel free to contact me for information or to share tips and I hope you enjoy reading this blog.