Quick Guide to Veganism: Which Foods Work and How to Learn More
Let’s be honest, a vegan lifestyle might sound challenging if you are new to it. Even our vegan friends that have been doing this for a while, can probably attest to having a hard time finding vegan friendly items. Figuring out which foods are allowed, and which ones aren’t, can seem like an insurmountable task.
The easiest way to get started is to eliminate animal products from your diet. This means cut out meat, dairy, and eggs -which can sound daunting but is fairly easy. Just make some simple swaps. It might take some trial and error, but it’s possible! In the meantime, we’ve compiled a short list of some vegan-friendly foods, where you can look for them and how you can find out more.
Products:
o Nutritional Yeast Flakes. A great cheese substitute in vegan grilled cheeses.
o Soy Curls. This is a meat alternative that is often a staple for many vegans.
o Tofu. Another good substitute for meat – it can be used in everything from burritos to lasagna to paninis.
o Beans. Maybe cooking them with the juice of one lemon, a clove or two garlic, onion salt and black pepper for an easy side dish. They’re also great in soups and chili.
o Dairy. Soy, almond, coconut, or rice milk from the grocery store are all great alternatives to dairy. Also, give vegan parmesan style grated cheese, vegan gourmet shreds a go.
o Dessert. Tofutti Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Bars, Rice Dream Coconut Milk Ice Cream or Coconut Bliss Vegan Ice Cream Rounds...there's lots to choose from!
o Convenient Frozen Meals: If this still sounds like a lot of work, or you’re just craving something delicious and quick, try a vegan meal like our Yaya’s Garden Gemista or Melitzana. These are great for when you're in a pinch without needing to make substitutions or go out of your way to purchase various vegan alternatives.
Places to find these foods:
o Check out your local farmer’s market to purchase fruits and vegetables.
o Whole Foods Market has a wide variety of vegan products like frozen meals, snacks, dairy alternatives, as well as a variety of packaged products and we're excited tosay that you can even find Yaya's Garden meals now at select stores!
Helpful apps:
o Use a tool like the HappyCow app ($3.99) which lists vegan, vegetarian restaurants, along with grocery stores carrying vegan products.
o Checkout Shopwell to create a profile tailored to your food options. Another one is Veggie Alternatives that helps you find animal friendly substitutes.
o Of course store apps, like the Whole Foods Market app, will often times provide you with helpful information like whether an item is gluten-free or vegetarian.
Getting the foods you need for your vegan diet is not difficult nor complicated. A well thought out plan will have you well on your way to getting the process moving smoothly. Some planning ahead and a bit of effort to ensure a well-balanced menu is all it will take to ensure you are still able to eat delicious meals that do not require extensive cooking or shopping.
We hope you found this helpful and don't forget to follow us on social media to let us know what your favorite vegan products are!