Morning Fuel Food

Porridge is becoming my favourite breakfast food at the minute. It is easy to make, delicious and most importantly filling. When you are busy in the day at work, university or school you need a hearty breakfast which will set you up for the day. 

Porridge is perfect because oats are naturally filling but also really healthy. I cook mine with almond milk, it gives it a delicious creamy flavour and I often add a splash more on top when it is done. For the topping I love adding chia seeds as these are also filling and full of nutrients. Another favourite topping is banana as it will add some sweetness while giving you an energy boost and not to mention adding some peanut butter, which is a good source of protein and an even better source of deliciousness. 

With the autumn mornings starting this could be the perfect warming breakfast to fill you up and keep you going until lunch, it will also stop the need to snack throughout the morning. It is also quick to make which is important on busy days. This breakfast was made using Organic oats from Tesco which are well worth trying. 

Sunday Scones

Sunday Scones

What's better on a Sunday afternoon than a cup of tea and a Scone? This simple vegan recipe will prove that you don't need dairy to create a classic and you can make the perfect light and fluffy scones to treat your family and friends. This is the perfect accompaniment for afternoon tea on a Sunday...or any day for that matter. This recipe is quick and easy but will create a delicious classic. You could also try them with vegan cream or different flavours of jam, the possibilities are endless and you might be surprised when you taste them that they are vegan! 

Ingredients:

• 8oz self raising flour
• 2oz sugar (for flavour but can be omitted)
• 2oz non-dairy butter (try using Pure or Vitalite)
• 150ml unsweetened almond milk (other non dairy milks can be used)
• a little water to mix
• non-dairy butter and raspberry jam to top

Recipe: (Makes around 12 small scones)

1. Heat the oven to Gas Mark 8
2. Mix the flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl
3. Add the butter, in small pieces, and rub it into the flour with your finger tips to create a breadcrumb like mixture
4. Make a hole in the centre and pour in the milk- mix it to form a dough
5. Add a little water if needed to create the dough
6. On a floured plate or surface knead the dough
7. Roll out the dough and use a circular cutter to create the scones
8. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper
9. You can brush the scones with milk or flour before baking to create a nice golden look
10. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until risen and golden on top
11. Leave to cool, then cut and add butter and jam   

An eco-friendly piece of Cake

 What's better than take away cake? Only take away cake in biodegradable container. This delicious cake from V-Revolution in Manchester came in a container than can be added to your food waste bin as it is biodegradable. I am a big fan of using less plastic packaging and being eco-friendly although it is not always easy as most places use lots of plastic and packaging which ends up in the land fill. Of course this vegan business is leading the way in disposable packaging. It means you can save the planet whilst eating cake! 

Vegan Options at University

I was really impressed to find out that my University has vegan options in the cafe. They do a range of vegetarian and vegan food and I was lucky to get the last vegan sandwich (this shows how popular they are!) This houmous and Cajun roast mushrooms and veg was the perfect combination and full of flavour. University is definitely a vegan friendly environment, they had Nakd bars and a selection of herbal teas at the afternoon tea on my induction session and there is always a vegan option on the menu. It is good to see a big institution like a University catering for different diets and it also shows that veganism is popular with an educated crowd. There are other vegans on my course and lots of people seem open minded about it. I think I'm going to like it here! 

Student Snacks

Congratulations to everyone starting at University this week, I just had my first day on my masters course yesterday and my brain already hurts with the amount of work I have to do! I was worried about finding vegan options at University so to make sure I had one less thing to stress about I bought some snacks which are great for students on the go. 

I filled a lunch box with peanuts and dates, these are great options as they provide a quick, filling snack that's easy to carry in a bag, 

I also bought a pack of YoYo bears, these are a great healthy option. It's also lightweight, leaving more room for books. 

I bought some Kinnerton chocolate and broke off a few squares. Chocolate is a great quick sugar hit to keep you going on a busy day, I love this brand as it is made in a allergy free environment. I also bought some Vegan Fudge to try. 

These are just some of the snacks I've found to take to University. Hopefully they will help any student vegans survive a day of lectures and study sessions. 

How to make Chocolate Nice Cream

Nice cream is a healthy way to eat dessert while adding to your daily intake of fruit and vegetables. It is so easy to make, simply blend frozen fruit with non dairy milk and any flavourings such as vanilla or cinnamon. I personally like using bananas, mango and pineapple but any fruit is good, you can simply use what you have available. To add the chocolate flavour you simple add 1-2 tbsp of cocoa powder or cacao powder if you want to make it even healthier. I like to top my nice cream with chia seeds as it adds a nice crunch. 

Also pictured is the accidentally vegan Ruffle Raspberry bar, in case you need more chocolate. It was nice to try this bar although the coconut taste was too overpowering for me so I'll stick with my healthier dessert in future. 

Vegan Falafel Wraps

This vegan classic is something you see in shops all over. However it is easy to recreate at home. This falafel wrap was served with roasted sweet potatoes and salad- this is the perfect quick and easy vegan lunch. 

Firstly you will need to chop some salad. Tomatoes and cucumber go well in this meal as they add flavour and are inexpensive ingredients. 

Homemade hummus really makes this dish. It is so simple to make although if you are in a rush the shop bought variety is just as good. To make this simply blend a can of chickpeas with a teaspoon of tahini sauce, add some garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and water. I add cumin to mine which gives it a nice flavour. Any left overs can be stored in a tub and used up within 2-3 days. 

Add the hummus to a wrap. These wholemeal wraps were shop bought, many wraps are vegan making them a great option for lunches, just check the ingredients. 

Now it's time to add falafel, you can either use homemade or shop bought versions like these cauldron falafels which were cooked in the oven for 10 minutes. 

I flattened the falafel to add it all over the wrap. Lunch is starting to come together! 

Now add salad. I added the tomato and cumcumber mixture as well as some avocado. The choices are endless as it really depends what salad you like. Spinach or lettuce would be a great addition as well as red cabbage or onions. 

Roll and wrap. This is harder than you think so make sure you don't overload the wrap, you can always come back for more but you don't want the wrap to fall apart. 

And done! Simple add your sides, I chose sweet potato as it is one of my favourite foods and is a great combination to the flavours of the wrap. I added some extra cucumber and of course a little sauce. This meal makes a delicious lunch or dinner, it is healthy, quick and tasty what more could you want. The wraps also make great packed lunch additions and save you money on the shop bought variety as all the ingredients don't cost much more than one shop bought pre-packaged meal. Ditch the expensive meal deals and try home made! 

Lentils and Rice & Quinoa- Vegan protein meal

My go to food at the minute is lentils, I have them several times a week in many different dishes and could easily eat them all the time. They are so versatile and a great source of vegan protein. Many people don't think a vegan diet can be high on protein but lentils have 26 grams of protein per 100 grams which is really high making them a perfect addition to your meals, especially if you are into health and fitness and want to build muscle on a vegan diet. Lentils also have nutrients such as magnesium, fibre, potassium and iron meaning you get more health benefits than just protein which is something meat alternatives which are high in protein can't compete with. 

Lentils are also so simple to use. To cook they are washed and boiled in water for around 20 minutes. To make these curried lentils I simply added a stock cube and spices (cumin, turmeric and curry powder). This was serves with rice and quinoa. These are also great protein foods as quinoa has 14 grams of protein and rice has around 7 grams, depending on which brand you use. All in all this is a great, quick meal filled with vegan protein. It is perfect for after the gym when you don't feel like cooking a time consuming meal but still want something healthy and filling. And it is also a cheap dish which is perfect for vegans on a budget! 

Mini Burgers

I love making burgers, I use different ingredients every time I make them. Sometimes I use chickpeas or butter beans or even kidney beans to make up the burgers. They are so simple to make and I have recently found a new way to shape them. These mini burgers are made into round shapes by using a biscuit cutter, the type you would usually use to shape scones. It is so easy to do you simply place the burger mixture into the cutter on a lightly oiled tray and then take off the cutter leaving a perfectly round mini burger. I also cook my burgers in the oven now instead of how I used to cook them in oil. I am always looking for ways to make my food as healthy as possible and reducing the amount of oil you use is an easy way to do this as oil can contain trans fats. keep your food healthy and looking amazing! 

Cauliflower Mince

I am moving away from using vegan frozen mince and introducing more whole foods into my diet. This is because whole foods are far more nutritious than any processed food, not to mention cheaper. In meals where I would usually use mince I have substituted it for cauliflower. This vegetable can become an amazingly hearty mince for dishes such as spaghetti bolognese or curry. 

You might not believe that a cauliflower can be transformed into mince but it is actually such a simple process, simply wash, chop and blend the cauliflower in a food processor. It ends up resembling bread crumbs. This can then be cooked in a sauce of your choice. 

I used it in a pasta sauce along with mushrooms and onion to create a vegan spaghetti bolognese. It is absolutely delicious and the cauliflower takes minutes to cook in the sauce. It makes the meal very filling, making it perfect for family dinners. It is also a healthy alternative to shop bought processed foods. Plus using vegetables makes the meal inexpensive, vegan food really can be cost effective. Try serving it with wholemeal pasta for a delicious, healthy and filling meal. 

Rice Dream Chocolate Milk

You can never have too much chocolate in your life. Either eating it or drinking it, the delicious taste of chocolate will never get old. This is why I love finding new products like this Rice Dream chocolate. It is Rice milk with added chocolate for a tasty drink. This is great for packed lunches or a chilled drink on a hot day. I liked the taste of it, rice milk is quite light and full of flavour. The chocolate adds a nice taste as plain rice milk doesn't have a particularly strong taste. I definitely recommend this product as a great snack. It is easy to take with you to work or school and has added calcium and is also low in fat. Bonus! 

Mallows- Vegan marshmallows

How cute is the new packaging for Freedom Mallows. These vegan marshmallows are delicious I have eaten them before but this packaging is new. I love the cute little character and packaging design. I love great illustrations on packaging and it seemed like a good enough reason to buy them, not that I needed much persuading as they are the perfect accompaniment to hot chocolate which is one of my favourite things.

They are labelled vegan and also suitable for many other diets as they are gluten free, dairy free, fat free, soy free and GMO free as well as nut free. Making them a really versatile snack for many people. This is another great vegan product. Check out more here: http://www.freedommallows.com/