SW the Vegan or Vegetarian way....

[Sunflower1981]

even just eating less meat is a good thing so even if you do go back to eating meat you will probably naturally eat less!

I have occasionally posted on the runaholics one but now I have another half to train for in 10 weeks and a full marathon next april I should really join a challenge to keep me on track, which one are you on?

I have my eye on either of those or I've heard the oatly one is nice too - going to see what the big tesco superstore has in stock!! Hopefully they'll have one of them unlike the little one I went to last night

I am trying being vegan for a week after having a very naughty July. I wanted to do something to make me more conscious of what I'm eating and for a little challenge. Not quite for the same ethical reasons as other people, I have to admit. I guess I'll see how I feel, how I get on and take it from there?! Maybe the more ideas and things posted on here will inspire me to do it for longer!

Also, on a separate note... you mentioned running... there are a couple of running forums too under teams and challenges if you fancy joining one of those xx

 

[OpalLilyEats]

even just eating less meat is a good thing so even if you do go back to eating meat you will probably naturally eat less!

I have occasionally posted on the runaholics one but now I have another half to train for in 10 weeks and a full marathon next april I should really join a challenge to keep me on track, which one are you on?

I'm in both the runaholics and the august challenge

I did a half marathon yesterday, have another in mid-Sept then a marathon in April too!!! x

 

[Sunflower1981]

I don't know why I keep signing up for them but I do!! I did one in June which was far too hilly! how do you feel today after that?

I'm in both the runaholics and the august challenge

I did a half marathon yesterday, have another in mid-Sept then a marathon in April too!!! x

 

[lickthelid]

I think I had expectations of it being bacon tasting and it was a taste I wasn't prepared for, everytime I crave bacon I think of little chubby piglets and get the quorn sausages out instead and they always hit the spot!

Those Vega bars are actually nicer than a lot of normal choc x

on another note I saw about a minimins meet up in London-are any of you veggies/vegans planning on attending?

I liked the coco bacon in small pinches. Too much was over powering. Quite an interesting flavour though. I love those boxes for that exact reason, I would NEVER have tried that under any other circumstances! The vego bar was much nicer than standard choc. I have recently discovered that montezumas sea dog chocolate bar (lime and sea salt in 75% dark) is vegan. They are Brighton based so guess where I'll be going next time I'm in town....

I can't commit to weekend stuff like that because my husband works but from what I read they have changed it from London now anyway. A couple of is have discussed a Brighton beach bonanza picnic for the end of the summer too. When we manage to firm a date I'll post something

I wish my new box was here. I'm all excited and now I know others have it too I have people to compare it with. I come from a family of committed carnivores and my husband is under strict instruction that the contents are MINE! Haha.

 

[lickthelid]

That's loads better than a wok!

I KNOW! I'm still amazed. I had to buy a pan rack today as I didn't have room. The casserole dish doesn't even fit on it. Its 5l!

 

[Barbette]

Wow lots of posts!! I buy the Tesco free from medium cheese which is the nicest of the ones they sell in my opinion (it's basically repackaged Sheese) and costs less It melts really well and goes a bit crispy in the oven, very nice! The best cheeses I have found are Vegusto (new customers get a good deal from their website) but they are more expensive yet are very close to the real thing so I sometimes have it as a treat.

With regards to stock, I use Oxo vegetable cubes and with gravy I either make my own (special occasions) or buy Bisto, all the veggie ones are vegan. Label reading becomes much easier over time and you can spot nasties easily - most brands now label things like milk and it's proteins as an allergen and some brands make them bold to make it easier to read packages I do my food shop online with Tesco who also produce a vegan food list every 3 months on their real food website and that is sooo handy for Tesco own-brand products

Wish I had a large Tescos near me, the nearest one is miles out and the small one around the corner doesn't sell any veggie/vegan food as such only soy milk. In fact near me isn't very veggie friendly, near me I have a morrisons that has just reduced it's veggie section, a Lidls which doesn't sell a lot, an Iceland that does a couple of quorn products and a larger asda which is a couple of miles out but doesn't have the best selection of product either. I tend to use the asian supermarkets near me as they have quite a lot of veggie friendly products and they're cheaper too x

 

[lickthelid]

That's a good idea. I need to be bolder with my supermarket choices. I'm Aldi and sains all the way but it's just laziness and convenience. I may explore further afield....

 

[Barbette]

The standard supermarkets here don't really cater well for veggies but as there is a very large asian community in Leeds there are loads of asian shops and supermarkets everywhere that sell fruit & veg some of them I've never seen before. They also sell the biggest range of beans, lentils and pulses I've ever seen cheap and spices at a fraction of the price. If you read the labels a lot of the halal foods are veggie/vegan friendly like their jellies x

 

[lickthelid]

Unfortunately we don't have as much choice down in Brighton. I'm getting on google to see what's local

 

[OpalLilyEats]

Not great photos - sorry!! I topped it with lasagne sheets too then cheese to give it a nice crispy topping.

It was the Tesco "free from" soya medium cheese and melted really well. i didn't really like the taste though... It was quite sweet?!

 

[i_am_plankton]

Not great photos - sorry!! I topped it with lasagne sheets too then cheese to give it a nice crispy topping.

It was the Tesco "free from" soya medium cheese and melted really well. i didn't really like the taste though... It was quite sweet?!

That looks yum! I wonder if the strong one might be better for you? I wasn't too keen on it and thought it tasted less like cheese but everyone's different How are you finding it?

 

[Clover89]

So glad I found this forum!
Im on my 3rd week of slimming world and have been a lacto-vegetarian for 1.5yrs for ethical reasons. I have attempted veganism a good 5times but also given in because I rely on eggs quite a lot, haven't found any vegan yogurts I like or vegan milk which still tastes like cows milk in tea. The idea of dairy farming really repulses me but I cant seem to make the shift once and for all any tips?!

 

[Barbette]

Have you tried "no eggs" and "vegg"? The vegg has more of an egg taste but the no egg is good for baking and cooking with. I used to use the vegg with tofu to make scrambled vegg or you can make a runny yolk with it to go with chips or a breakfast x

 

[OpalLilyEats]

That looks yum! I wonder if the strong one might be better for you? I wasn't too keen on it and thought it tasted less like cheese but everyone's different How are you finding it?

They didn't have the strong one or I def would have picked that one up - love strong cheese!

Finding it absolutely fine, getting into the swing of it now. Everytime I see food/recipes I'm naturally trying to think of a way to vegan-ise it! Not missing a thing My boyfriend was even making bacon and eggs with a cream cheese bagel today for breakfast and I wasn't even a little bit jealous. I think because I have been so fixed on doing it, nothing will distract me.

I hope pickled onions are vegan friendly as I have been munching away at them this morning!!! xx

 

[Sunflower1981]

you seem to be coping really well with it, my OH eats a bacon butty every weekend plus I make him ham sandwiches for his pack up each day and it was hard at first but gets easier.

Pickled onions are fine thank god! there is a list on internet somewhere of accidental vegan foods so things that were not intentionally designed to be vegan but are, things such as oreos and those bacon bits for a salad!

They didn't have the strong one or I def would have picked that one up - love strong cheese!

Finding it absolutely fine, getting into the swing of it now. Everytime I see food/recipes I'm naturally trying to think of a way to vegan-ise it! Not missing a thing My boyfriend was even making bacon and eggs with a cream cheese bagel today for breakfast and I wasn't even a little bit jealous. I think because I have been so fixed on doing it, nothing will distract me.

I hope pickled onions are vegan friendly as I have been munching away at them this morning!!! xx

 

[lickthelid]

So glad I found this forum!
Im on my 3rd week of slimming world and have been a lacto-vegetarian for 1.5yrs for ethical reasons. I have attempted veganism a good 5times but also given in because I rely on eggs quite a lot, haven't found any vegan yogurts I like or vegan milk which still tastes like cows milk in tea. The idea of dairy farming really repulses me but I cant seem to make the shift once and for all any tips?!

I gave up milk by giving up standard tea. I gradually increased my green tea intake until I was down to one cup of normal tea a day then just stopped one day. With all the flavours of green tea (and mint tea) available it wasn't as much of a wrench as I thought.

 

[OpalLilyEats]

Tonight I've made...

Slow cooker veg and bean chilli



Chocolate rice pudding (serving tomorrow with strawberries)


...and vegan salted popcorn for a little cinema trip after work tomorrow




Productive evening

 

[lickthelid]

That looks goooood! The choc and strawberries in particular!

 

[bobcat_x]

Another veggie here .. I hate mushrooms, tend to live on tinned tomatoes, and love cheese!! Fab thread! Great to get some new ideas and discussion xx

 

[Sunflower1981]

Wow do you have the recipe for the chilli and the pud please opal Lilly thanks