Quick way to add vegetables to your diet

If you are struggling to get your five a day fruit and vegetables a great way to add veg into your diet is to roast different vegetables to have with your main meal. 

This is the selection of vegetables I chose. There is sweet potato, celery, mushrooms, new potatoes, carrot and red onion. Coconut oil was added along with mixed herbs, paprika, cumin, turmeric, pepper and chili these are to add flavour and coconut oil adds taste and is one of the healthiest oils to use. Although any vegetables and spices you have available to use can be added to the mix. 

Making this half of your evening meal means you are gaining nutrients, vitamins and increasing your vegetable intake. It is also a tasty addition to have alongside vegan sausages, nut cutlets or the new vegan quorn burger. It is filling and most importantly healthy. Add more veg to your diet with this easy method. 

Dough Pizza Kitchen Manchester

It's true Vegan's don't have to live without pizza and dairy free cheese on a pizza can taste amazing! 


If you live in Manchester or are visiting the city Dough Pizza Kitchen is a great place to visit, you can easily add dairy free cheese onto any of their pizzas, so adding it onto a pizza which is already marked vegetarian makes it a vegan option, it means you can dine with non vegans and actually be able to eat something. Gluten free and whole wheat bases are also available making everyone's dietary requirements catered for. 

Peanut Power from Meridian Foods

100% peanut butter, 100% vegan, 100% amazing. If you are looking for an easy way to add protein into your diet peanut butter from Meridian foods is a great option. It has nothing added and no added palm oil. Most peanut butters have salt and oil added for flavour so this brand is different and healthier. It is made from 100% peanuts roasted then ground until smooth and that's it! 

It is delicious and packs a protein punch perfect for vegans and is great if you are into weight training as it's a great protein filled addition to your diet instead of using protein powders. 


It comes in a variety of sizes perfect whether it's an occasional treat, a weekly staple or you are using it for many reasons. It can be added to cakes, used in baking and on toast so if you love peanut butter and use it for breakfast and for baking you are more likely to want the 1KG tubs. They may not last as long as you think when you find out how delicious it is! 

Find out more at http://www.meridianfoods.co.uk/Products/Peanut-Butters/Conventional/Peanut-Butter-Smooth-100

Vegan Quorn

I have finally found Vegan Quorn at Asda...they must have been getting rid of some old stock first before putting the vegan options out. 

I can't wait to try it- the only vegan options so far are the quorn pieces and the hot and spicy burgers- let's hope they are so popular more of the range goes vegan.  



If you are still struggling to find these products check out this page with a list of all the places stocking them so far: 

http://www.quorn.co.uk/~/media/Quorn/Downloads/Quorn_Vegan_Retailers_PDF.ashx

Vegan Soap

Did you know some soap brands are not suitable for vegans? Some of them contain animal fats. If you wouldn't eat these products you definitely won't want to clean your body with them. 

Luckily there are vegan soaps you can choose from. Try this Aloe Vera antibacterial hand wash for a vegan and germ killing soap that will keep your bathroom cruelty free. It's available in Superdrug for £1.39 but is currently on offer for only £0.68. Grab yourself a bargain! Who says vegan products have to cost the earth. 

Vegan Cosmetics- Cruelty free beauty

Avoiding animal products isn't just something which relates to food. All products such as cosmetics can contain animal products, this is something which is less well known and vegans can struggle to know which products are suitable. 

It's hard to understand all the lists of ingredients in cosmetics as most of them are chemicals so it's almost impossible to tell at a glance which products are suitable for vegans and which ones are cruelty free. Even products that don't contain anything animal related may have been tested on animals which makes buying beauty products difficult. If you avoid animal cruelty in food you are almost certainly going to want to do the same with other products but where do you shop and what products can you buy? 

As well as looking for vegan labels on products it is important to check for cruelty free labels which prove no animal testing is used. 

One shop which makes buying beauty products easier is Superdrug. Their own label products are never tested on animals and the brand is against animal testing, a lot of their own brand products are also labelled vegan taking the difficulty out of choosing products. They are also value for money and perfect for vegans on a budget. 

They also have an exciting make up and skin care range which is completely vegan. B cosmetics is available exclusively at Superdrug, it is their own make-up brand and is completely cruelty free. With a wide range of products, a skin care range for all ages and a men's range, this brand is both cost effective and has everything you need. 

B by Superdrug is such a great idea as it shows vegan products can easily be available on the high street. It also makes choosing ethical products easy meaning more people can do so. A lot of vegan make up brands online are expensive and may put some people off, this brand shows that ethical products can be both cost effective and good quality, hopefully more companies will follow suit. 

Products of note are the Miceller Water cleanser, face cream, eye shadow and lipstick. The lipsticks have brilliant packaging- you have to click the bottom to get the lipstick out and the colours are bold, moisturising and last a long time. The eye shadow has a bold colour, it is creamy and easily applied with a brush and really does last all day. B's stage one day cream is a great day time moisturiser. The stages relate to age groups so you just pick the one belonging to your age range making them easy to choose. It has SPF 15 in it which is a great way to protect your face from the sun all year round. The cream works really well and you only need a tiny bit to cover your face. It does take time to soak into your skin but once it has it makes your face lovely and soft and lasts all day. The cleanser is wonderful too, it visibly removes dirt from your skin and uses 'Micellar water' which is the latest craze in skin care. It is meant to be a gentler way of cleansing your skin. 

B cosmetics is not overly advertised as a vegan brand, if you didn't look for it or notice it on the packaging you probably wouldn't know. There is no big sign on the selves or posters letting you know. Maybe this is because they are trying to be a brand for everyone regardless of whether you are looking for ethical, vegan products or not. Being a vegan brand is not their main feature, it is just part of the product. They promote the brand as good quality, simple solutions to beauty and the fact that the products are also cruelty free is an added bonus. 

So if you are looking to make your cosmetics vegan friendly be sure to buy products which are vegan and cruelty free. Look out for the labels which prove no animals were used and harmed in the production of cosmetics and support vegan brands to show other companies that you gain more customers by being cruelty free.

The Magazine for Vegan's- Vegan Life

"Bringing Vegan into Vogue" Vegan life magazine is the perfect read for finding new vegan products, recipes and information. 

This is a great read for hearing stories of other people's reasons for becoming vegan, articles about the environment, nutrition and health. Being vegan can be a bit alienating in mainstream culture- other magazines will feature recipes that are not suitable for you or give health tips that don't suit your lifestyle. This is one reason this magazine is perfect, it is about all areas of life and shows people that there is a vegan community. Vegan Life is also amazing for finding out about new products, the adverts featured are all vegan businesses that you might never have heard of. 

The fact that there is a vegan magazine on the shelves shows that veganism is increasing in popularity. The only downside is trying to find places that stock the magazine- it is worth contacting your local independent shop or supermarket and asking them to stock the magazine. 

Sources of Protein

So you may be wondering where to get your protein from on a vegan diet. Luckily there are many plant based and non-animal alternatives. Most foods contain some protein but some are better than others. Add the following foods to your diet to stay healthy and keep up your good nutrition: 

• spinach
• broccoli
• avocado
• corn
• tofu
• tempeh
• edamame 
• miso
• soya milk
• peas
• beans
• lentils
• quinoa
• nuts
• seeds
• mushrooms
• whole grain bread 
• oatmeal 
• chickpeas 
• peanut butter

As you can see the list goes on and on, there are so many plant based sources of protein that as long as you are eating plenty of nutritional whole foods your diet will be filled with protein. 

Vegan Sunday Dinner at The Egg Cafe Liverpool

Being vegan doesn't mean missing out. If you love a Sunday Dinner there are plenty of alternatives to meat. One of the best I have found is at The Egg Cafe Liverpool. A Vegan Sunday dinner with nut roast, potatoes, vegetables and gravy is available all day for less than £7. It is delicious, healthy and filling what more do you need? 

The Egg Cafe is a great place for Vegans in Liverpool so if you are planning a trip for a spot of shopping on a Sunday why not get a Sunday Roast to finish off the day? You won't regret it!  

Winter Warner- Vegan hot chocolate and marshmallows

Winter's here, shorter days and darker nights means only one thing it's the perfect time for cosy nights in watching films and keeping warm. It's the kind of weather where you want warming luxurious drinks like hot chocolate with marshmallows and just because your vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out. 

The perfect combination is Choc Shot mixed with your choice of non-dairy milk and Anandas marshmallows. 

Choc shot from Sweet Freedom is vegan, 100% natural and only 14 calories per teaspoon, it can be used in many ways such as spreading on toast, making milk shakes or adding to fruit. It can also be added to heated non-dairy milk to make hot chocolate. It is a healthier and most importantly vegan solution to making guilt free hot chocolate. 

Anandas Marshmallows are handmade in the UK, made in small batches and contain natural ingredients. Available in a variety of flavours such as vanilla, peach, raspberry and caramel you'll be spoilt for choice! Available on-line and at vegan fairs and festivals these beautifully packaged treats make great gifts or are perfect for added to your hot chocolate. 

Both these products together are a healthier, natural hot chocolate perfect for lazy winter nights. 

To find out more about these products visits: 

http://www.sweetfreedom.co.uk/

http://www.anandafoods.co.uk/

Vegan Starter Kit from Peta

Handy tip for all new vegans needing advice and inspiration, you can get a FREE starter kit from PETA. 



You can have a digital copy e-mailed to you or receive one in the post. It's full of information on what foods to buy, which foods contain protein and calcium and has an invaluable meal planner. 

This is perfect for new vegans or anyone struggling with what to eat on a vegan diet. It also contains information on why going vegan is good for the environment and your health making it perfect for anyone considering going vegan, it will give you all the facts to make your decision. 

It is a really informative and handy guide- recommended for all. 

Get your copy here: http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=23376

Ten questions you will get asked as a Vegan

Prepare yourself for the many, many questions. Going vegan seems to come with a large neon sign above your head which says please ask questions about my lifestyle. 

Prepare yourself for the top 10 questions vegans get asked. 

1) Where do you get your protein? I imagine most people don't know where they get their own but they want to know where yours comes from. 

2) Why did you go vegan? Get ready to list your many, many reasons. 

3) How long have you been vegan? Some people think it's a prison sentence, make sure you keep that tally chart going.  

4) What can you eat? And people laugh at Vegan's taking pictures of food- it's only because everyone is so interested in our meals! 

5) Do you want to eat {Insert non vegan food here}? Even when people know you are vegan they will offer you something containing animal products. Maybe this is why people start wearing vegan t-shirts? 

6) Do you get enough calcium? Just like protein, everyone is obsessed with calcium and they probably won't believe you when they say you can get calcium from plants. 

7) What do you eat when you go out? At a vegan restaurant everything! At a non-vegan place probably nothing or chips even when you don't like them it can be the only vegan item on a menu. 

8) Why don't you eat dairy or eggs since they don't kill the animal? Some people don't see the dairy and egg industry as cruel as no animal dies. This is wrong male chicks dies as they are of no use to the industry, baby calves are taken from their mothers used in the milk industry and often killed for meat and the cows used in the dairy industry are eventually used for meat. Sorry to break it to you but the meat and dairy industries are linked and are both cruel! 

9) Isn't it expensive? Maybe people don't realise a main part of your diet is fruit and vegetables. Anyone on any budget can go vegan. 

10) How do you live without bacon/milk/cheese/eggs? Easily is a good answer. Don't think about Veganism as giving up meat and dairy but as giving up animal cruelty. 

It's easy to change your habits when you know you are doing it for a good reason and it's easy to answer questions on Veganism when you are prepared with all the answers. Love your lifestyle enough to answer all the questions you will get asked and share your many reasons for going vegan. 

Happy World Vegan Day

Happy World Vegan Day! 

In honour of the day, whether you are vegan, going vegan or interested in the lifestyle I wanted to share a great organisation which I have recently joined- The Vegan Lifestyle association. 

They are a non-profit organisation for anyone interested in Veganism and provide tips, support for vegans and promote an ethical lifestyle. They provide invaluable information and a helpful community, why not join today and be part of this friendly and growing group. 

It is FREE to join and run by volunteers. The website is easy to use and full of helpful information. 

Check it out at https://veganlifestyleassoc.com and sign up today