No Vegan Labels

After a rather annoying visit to Asda, where yet again I was charged for items which were 'on offer' and had to queue up at customer service like an extra from Oliver Twist begging for my money back in order to save a few pennies (every little helps right?) I'm wondering why I shop here at all? 

It's not my regular supermarket as I mainly shop at Aldi but for some branded products I occasionally shop in different supermarkets depending on where I am closest to that day. I don't mind the store and there are some things which are cheaper, the Asda brown pasta is very reasonably priced and they do stock some vegan options, however their own brand food is not vegan friendly. 

None of the Asda's own brand products are labelled vegan, even though some of them obviously are. They label things vegetarian and it is then a case of reading ingredients and checking for dairy or egg products. This would be far too time consming if this was my weekly shopping haunt and it's wasting valuable minutes of my life I could be spending writing my blog or relaxing on the sofa! Some of the products are fine and are actually vegan friendly so why don't they label them vegan like other supermarkets such as Sainsburys and Tesco have been doing for a while? 

It seems a little lazy, if you can have a vegetarian label on food why not a vegan one? Even things like rice cakes only have vegetarian labels on them, it's not a major issue but if other supermarkets are capable of vegan labelling it's strange that this major chain don't want to do the same and appeal to the growing number of vegans in this country. 

I think from now on I am going to be supporting the vegan label more often as I feel it is the only way to show demand for vegan products, so if Asda can't be bothered to label something vegan I won't bother to buy it. 

Sea Dog Chocolate

Another day another discovery of vegan chocolate. One of my favourite foods in the world and there are just so many vegan options! I liked the look of this Sea Dog chocolate I saw in the supermarket as the brand (Montezumas) has a range of unusual flavours like this Lime and Sea Salt bar. I love the packaging and the fact that it is a British company so you are supporting a local brand. It also uses minimal ingredients which is also a bonus and could be an interesting option to use in baking as it would give your desserts an interesting flavour. This was found in the supermarket along with all the other bars of chocolate, this shows how vegan options are becoming more popular and mainstream. A lot of the time the vegan chocolate is separate in the 'free from' isle so it is nice to see a vegan choice along with all the other options. This is another option for when you are out shopping. It does not clearly state it is vegan on the front so it may be a brand you've never heard of. Enjoy! 

Find out more about the brand here: https://www.montezumas.co.uk/

Hemp Protein- Vegan protein powder

If you are looking for a vegan protein powder to add to smoothies or food Hemp Protein is a great option. This product from Pulsin is suitable for vegans, is a natural products which provides a lot of protein. This is good for anyone wanting to increase their intake of protein as it can be added to smoothies giving you a boost before or after working out. These powders last a long time as well as you only need a small amount so it is value for money. Hemp is a great choice as well as it has many other nutritional benefits, it is high in fibre and is a source of Omega 3, making it healthy choice to add to your diet. 

Check out more protein powder options here: http://www.pulsin.co.uk/pulsin-protein-powders

The Cosy Club Manchester

The Cosy Club in Manchester's Corn Exchange is a great place to stop for a bite to eat day or night. With a full, separate vegan menu it is so easy to order vegan food and it means you can go out to eat somewhere with your non-vegan friends and family. You have to ask for the separate menu however it is also available online so you can see the range of options here: http://www.cosyclub.co.uk/uploads/1246.pdf

The vegan options are actually quite impressive and not just the standard salad or chips which some places serve, there is a vegan breakfast along with other breakfast items, panini's, a burger or tabbouleh as mains and plenty of sides or tapas items. All in all it is quite impressive and allows a vegan to have options which is often unheard of!

The actual restaurant is nicely decorated (with the exception of the animal heads why?) It has a vintage, eclectic feel and you can choose to eat in the living room style bar area, the restaurant or outside if there is ever any Manchester sun. One thing that sets this place apart as well is the selection of games, making it a really cool place to come with friends and it is great day or night from breakfast to after work drinks this place is very versatile and has a relaxed atmosphere. I guess it has to with a name like the Cosy Club!

I've been here a few times and have recommended it to friends and family who have all liked the food and there has always been great customer service.

These pictures are from the first time I visited the Cosy Club and had lunch. The portions were huge, the falafel sandwich was delicious and along with chips it is definitely a filling lunch! The prices are good too so you don't have to spend a fortune. I definitely recommend this as somewhere for vegans to eat in Manchester and The Cosy Club have restaurants in other cities too so you might find one near you. The relaxed atmosphere and separate vegan menu make this place a winner, add it to your list of places to visit. 

Find out more here: http://www.cosyclub.co.uk/ 

Eat Real Chips

For a vegan snack try Eat Real's selections of chips. They are a healthier version of crisps made from different grains in a variety of flavours with many of them being gluten free as well. These are great for guilt free snacking and perfect on the go or maybe you might even share them? 

The hummus chips are nice although very plain. These are great if you prefer ready salted crisps over stronger flavours. This is also a gluten free choice. Products like this are especially great if you are trying to get healthy, you can still have treats but opting for a product like this over other crisps allows you to eat something tasty which also has less fat. 

These quinoa chips are delicious and full of flavour. They remind me of quavers, they definitely had me double checking to make sure they were definitely vegan as the sour cream flavour is so realistic. These are perfect if you feel you are missing out on cheese flavoured snacks as very few on the market are vegan. 

These are a perfect choice for a healthier way to snack and are a vegan guilt free treat. 

For more information on the Eat Real product range click here: http://eatreal.co.uk/index.html

Veg Out Jumbo Sos Roll

If you need a quick lunch on the go this is one of my favourite go to foods. It is a vegan sausage roll, filled with a soya based filling. It is really tasty and filling and nice cold. It is once of the rare vegan convenience foods as not many places cater for vegans. It is not something I would eat all the time as I prefer whole foods and home made options but sometimes you need something quick and tasty, perhaps when you are out shopping or forget your lunch at work. This is available at Holland and Barrett which is great as they have stores on most UK high streets. Grab a quick vegan snack to go and if you try it let me know what you think in the comments. 

Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Wheatgrass Powder

I've heard good things about Wheatgrass powder so I decided to try it to improve my health. This was the cheapest brand I could find which was organic and had great reviews. This wheatgrass powder from Sevenhills wholefoods is labelled vegan and is certified organic. I am trying to opt for organic brands where possible so this was definitely a great option. I watch a lot of vegan youtube videos and learnt about the amazing benefits of drinking wheatgrass juice from one of these videos. It is great to drink in the morning before breakfast to start your day. 

Wheatgrass is so beneficial as it contains all minerals known to man. There are so many reasons to drink wheatgrass you might be surprised by the numerous health benefits: 

1. It is full of vitamins including calcium, magnesium, selenium and zinc
2. It is an effective healer because it contains so many nutrients and is antibacterial
3. It contains Chlorophyll which is an excellent blood builder and is known to slow down the ageing process
4. It purifies the liver and gets rid of toxins 
5. It can help with digestion problems 
6. It can reduce blood pressure 
7. Some of the many nutrients in wheatgrass include vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids. 

It is clear that wheatgrass is a powerful supplement to take, I bought this after having a cough for a few weeks to see if it could help improve my health. I will do an update if I notice any benefits. I have started drinking it in the morning to start my day. I am impressed with all the studies and research done which show that it can improve energy levels and is even said to turn grey hair darker! I'm hoping that I notice some effects and I am pleased I was able to find a product which is both certified Vegan and Organic.