Scrambled tofu, sweet potato and spiralized courgette salad

Vegan Meal Idea- Scrambled tofu, sweet potato and spiralized courgette salad. This healthy, quick meal is a perfect combination for a tasty evening meal. I love scrambled tofu and believe it is not just a breakfast choice, it is high in protein and contains magnesium and calcium. Try adding red onion and avocado to it for flavour and season with your favourite spices. Sweet potato is a great addition to any meal, it has a naturally sweet flavour meaning it can simply be boiled for around 20 minutes and added to the dish. I have posted a recipe for my raw courgette salad, this makes a great raw lunch and any left overs can be used along side your evening meal. I like meals that are quick to prepare and healthy and it is possible to do both. Try adding different items to any meal to make it healthier and full of nutrients and most importantly filling. Vegans definitely don't just eat rabbit food. 

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. 

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. 

Baked Sweet Potato

Why do we only ever use white potatoes for baking? Sweet potato is a nice alternative. 

It has a sweet flavour, is full of nutrients and cooks quickly. 

Put them straight in the oven and cook until soft, cut in half and eat the insides. 

For toppings add non dairy butter, fried red onion and mushrooms and serve with broccoli and top with vegan cheese. 

These healthy alternative baked potatoes will be a new favourite. 

Eat the Rainbow

You may have heard the saying eat the rainbow but what does it mean? 

It is a favourite quote of health gurus and fitness coaches. It basically means eat more colourful food such as fruits and vegetables because each colour contains valuable nutrients and vitamins that are essential for good health. 

By choosing food based on colour you gain all the different benefits listed above. Each one has great properties such as red foods helping heart health and white foods reducing the risk of cancer. However you shouldn't stick to just one colour of food. To gain the best overall benefits it is important to eat a variety of foods- remember to 'eat the rainbow' and you will get all the nutrients your body needs to improve your immune system, fight infections and diseases and act as the best form of anti-ageing. Food is the best medicine and eating healthily can help you avoid needing actual medicines. 

An easy way to add more colourful food to your diet is to prepare all your ingredients first when cooking. Add all your different ingredients to your plate first so you can see how colourful it is, if your plate doesn't look like a rainbow add some more vegetables. 

If your plate has a variety of colours you know that you are gaining many different nutrients, even if you are unsure what they are you will know that it is healthy and full of essential vitamins. If your plate looks too beige or all the same colour it's a sign you are not eating the right foods. Think about junk food or a take away, it is very rarely bright in colour because it lacks nutrients. Add more variety to each meal and you will feel the difference. 

Quick lunch idea- scrambled tofu and sausages

Who says scrambled tofu is only for breakfast, for a quick meal idea you could have Linda McCartney sausages (vegan) with scrambled tofu and salad. 

The scrambled tofu was made by frying red onion, adding garlic, paprika, mixed herbs and cumin to flavour. Adding the tofu broken into pieces. Chopped spinach and grated carrot were added for flavour. Yeast flakes added when cooked. 

This is a quick meal idea full of protein and vitamins. The sausages take 15-20 minutes giving you enough time to make the scramble. 

Quick Lunch Idea- Vegetable Pate from GranoVita

This Vegetable Pate makes a great vegan lunch. Made by GranoVita it is made from onions, herbs and spices, perfect on sandwiches or crackers it is full of flavour, easily spreadable and is in a resealable tin which you can keep in the fridge. It's perfect for those days when you need a quick lunch. 

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

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 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. 

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.