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!  

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. 

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. 

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.