Homemade Nachos

Being vegan doesn't mean missing out, you can have all your favourite foods just using alternative ingredients. I love nachos and they are easy to make without using dairy. 

I bought some ready prepared tortilla chips from Sainsburys then made the topping. I did this by chopping two salad tomatoes, half a green pepper, half a red onion and adding a tablespoon of red wine vinegar. For those who like more spice you can add jalapenos and possibly even lemon juice. I like fresh vegetables but the ready made salsa from Sainsburys' own brand is also vegan which can be used. I then grated Violife vegan cheese and heated it under the grill for a couple of minutes. 

And there you have it, a classic snack made vegan. There is nothing that can't be transformed into a plant based, cruelty free version. It's perfect for snacking whilst studying! 

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. 

Roasted Vegetables, Cous Cous Salad and Black Bean Noodles

Today's meal idea is one of my favourites. I love mixing different foods and flavours in a fusion of taste. It allows you to get many different flavours along with the combination of a variety of nutrients. 

This meal is so simple. I roasted some sweet potato which I had cubed, sprayed with fry light and added paprika to. I then roast them in the oven for half an hour or until soft. 

The couscous salad is a simple mix of wholemeal couscous cooked and them mixed with chopped spinach and any spices such as mixed herbs and basil. 

I also roasted some peppers, mushrooms and celery again sprayed with fry light and covered in mixed herbs. 

I also cooked black bean noodles (which are high in protein and a great alternative to pasta) and mixed them with some passata sauce and topped with fried red onion. 

This might seem like a lot of food but it is mainly vegetables with some healthy grains and noodles. However it is a delicious mixture and interesting combination of flavours. Most importantly it is filling, inexpensive and full of protein, vitamins and minerals. This is a great family meal as there is something for everyone and lots of choice. Each part of the meal is also quick to prepare so it is easy to get everything ready at once. 

Hopefully this meal idea will give you some ideas for your next healthy, vegan meal. 

Quick, healthy meal idea Avocado and Chickpea spread on a Bagel with Couscous and Salad

I love quick and healthy foods it makes evening meals easier especially when you are in a rush. This meal idea combined lots of my favourite foods, I made it when I was home late so didn't want to spend a long time cooking but still wanted something healthy. 

I mashed together an avocado and a tin of chickpeas and added the juice of half a lemon and seasoned this with black pepper and added it to a toasted bagel. I then added chopped tomato and cucumber, fried onion and paired it with wholemeal couscous made with mushrooms and grated carrot. It took less than  30 minutes to prepare and was extremely filling and tasty, I also added tahini as a dressing. Eating healthy is easy and doesn't have to take long to prepare. Plus when you have a meal with many different foods you gain the nutrients from all the different ingredients as well as having array of flavour. I used the New York Co bagels for this meal which are vegan and high in protein making them a great part of a meal or a snack after working out. You also gain protein from the chickpeas and healthy fat from the avocado as well as nutrients from the rest of the vegetables. This meal shows that healthy food can be quick, simple and delicious.  

Three Ingredient Meal

All you need is three ingredients to make this delicious salad- cooked broccoli, boiled sweet potato and couscous. All cooked and mixed together and you have a delicious meal or side salad. Herbs and spices can be added for flavour but the sweet potato gives it a nice flavour on its own so it is actually nice to eat plain. I love simple, wholesome cooking and this was easy to do and one of my countryside meals. Vegetables are really easy to source at farm shops and from local sellers so it is easy to make these the basis of my main meals. I also like using couscous sometimes instead of rice or pasta as it is a lighter alternative. This is a simple meal with only three ingredients but one which will fill you up, keep you healthy as it is filled with vitamins and nutrients and is quick to prepare. It also make a nice base to add more things to- make it more filling with tofu or add more veggies like sweet corn and peppers to increase the flavour it is a great base for many more options. 

Farmers Market Finds

One of the best places to find fresh fruit and vegetables is by shopping at farmers markets. The countryside is one place where this is easy to do- you have access to fresh food straight from the farm. They are also great places to find exciting products and try new foods. They are also usually cheaper as you are buying straight from the farmers there is no middleman, no transport costs so you can buy cheap, fresh, healthy food easily. If you live in the city there are usually farmers markets every so often so search for ones in your area and support British farmers. With demands for cheap foods in supermarkets a lot of farmers are struggling so shopping directly from them supports their trade. Another thing I liked was hardly any of the fruit and vegetables were wrapped in plastic, I hate all the packaging used on food like this as it is so wasteful and damaging for the environment, buying loose food is one way to become more eco friendly, it can be hard to do in supermarkets as they like wrapping everything in sight in plastic, if you stay still long enough in the fruit and veg isle they'll probably wrap you up too so buy loose where possible and support farmers. 

A Meal with only 2 Ingredients

When staying away from home I like to keep my cooking simple. I don't have the usual herbs and spices I have at home so making easy and simple meals is important. 

This was one of my favourite countryside dinners as vegetables are so easily available when you are surrounded by farms and it also makes a healthy meal. 

Broccoli is a source of vitamin E and iron and is low in calories and sweet potatoes make tasty chips without the need for loads of additional flavouring. Also using only vegetables for a meal keeps food costs down while still providing a healthy filling meal. 

This is one vegan meal for anyone who doesn't like cooking but still wants nutritious food. It is simple to do, the broccoli only needs boiling and I peeled and chopped the sweet potato then roasted in the oven with a little oil and seasoned with paprika (although seasoning is optional). 

This is definitely one simple recipe. Only two ingredients but loads of vitamins and minerals. 

Raw Salad

For a quick and healthy lunch a raw salad is convenient and will leave you feeling great. For this easy meal idea follow these simple instructions: 

You will need: 

• Half a courgette 
• 1 carrot 
• Half a cucumber
• Half a red onion
• A handful of lettuce 
• Mixed seeds (eg. sunflower, pumpkin) 
• Organic cider vinegar and mixed herbs 

Simply chop all the ingredients apart from the carrot which should be peeled and grated and mix in with the vinegar and herbs (Around 1tbsp of vinegar and any herbs of your choice) 

This raw meal is so quick and simple, it is the ultimate vegan fast food. Raw food holds more nutrients and fills you up as vegetables hold a higher water content. It is perfect for a hot day or when you are bored of sandwiches. Try adding different vegetables each time and different herbs and spices which will change the flavour. The easiest way to stay healthy is to make your plate as colourful as possible as you know you are getting a range of vitamins and minerals in every meal. 

Spiralized Courgette and Carrot raw salad with avocado dressing

For this raw salad you will need: 

Ingredients for the salad: 

• 1 Courgette (spiralized)
• 2 Carrots (spiralized) 
• 1/2 small Cucumber (spiralized)
• 1/2 Red onion 
• Lettuce chopped (Handful) 
• 2 Celery stalks finely chopped 

Ingredients for the dressing: 

• 1/2 Avocado 
• 2 tsp Organic Cider vinegar
• 100ml water 
• A mixture of spices (Try chilli, basil, paprika, mixed herbs and pepper) 

1. Spiralize the courgette, carrots and cucumber 
2. Chop the celery, red onion and lettuce 
3. Mix all the vegetables in a mixing bowl 
4. Blend the avocado in cider vinegar and water until a smooth paste
5. Add your choice of spices and herbs to the dressing and blend again (Any can be used) 
6. Add the dressing to the vegetables and mix the serve

This is a simple raw salad perfect for lunch on a raw diet or when you are trying to eat healthier. This also makes a great side salad for an evening meal. 

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. 

Roasted Vegetables

For a quick option when roasting vegetables chop onions and carrots

Add carbohydrates- sweet potato and new potatoes 

Then add mushrooms. Add paprika, mixed herbs and roast using coconut oil. You will have healthy roasted vegetables that make a great accompaniment to any meal.  

Supersized soups

Vegetable soup is the perfect meal for cold, blustery days. It is not only an easy way to eat more vegetables but it is a cheap meal. 

One way to make a simple soup extra special is to make it thicker. This is a good idea for making the meal more filling. By adding pearl barley you can make the soup thicker and add a nice flavour. 

This is a cheap addition to a soup. It gives a vegetable soup a kick and fills you up. It is a good idea if you are making a meal for a lot of people, you can make it filling without needed lots of extra ingredients. 

The simple ingredients of a vegetable soup become even more delicious. You can have a very basic soup of carrots, sweet potato, leek and brown pasta and add pearl barley for flavour.  

The barley makes it filling, adds a nutty taste and easily cooks as you bring the soup to the boil. 

It is also a cheap addition to your food cupboard and great to have in as it can also be used as a rice alternative. This is only 0.55p in Tesco, which is great for anyone on a budget. A small packet will last a while and make a wintry soup even more delicious. 

Try it in your soup recipes and see how it can improve on a classic dish. 

Raw food Lunch

Some days a sandwich just won't cut it. Having the same thing for lunch can get boring so if you are in a rush, want to be healthy or just want a change try a raw food lunch. 

A mixture of fruit and vegetables will make it interesting and having a variety of flavours will make lunch time exciting again. 

This picture shows raw organic carrots, grapes and nectarines. Eating raw foods whole as opposed to in smoothies helps keep you full longer and they are filled with essential nutrients and vitamins. 

Keep it healthy and simple this lunch time and step away from the boring bread! 

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.