How to turn vegan: Follow this easy guide and you won’t miss meat, dairy or junk food
The vegan movement has been gaining ground across the globe. Many take to it for the love of animals — a vegan doesn’t consume any food or product derived from animals. Also, the diet is said to be better for health and skin.
Here are easy ways to adopt a vegan diet, covering everyday meals, junk food as well as dairy and meat substitutes:
SUBSTITUTES
Meat: Mock meat comes very close to replicating the taste and texture of meat. Tofu and soy are also great alternatives. Milk: Almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk and rice milk are available in India. Or you can make plant milk, almond milk, cashew milk and oat milk at home. Plant milk can be used for baking, cooking, tea/coffee. Butter: Buy or make peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter at home.
Cheese: Nutritional yeast tastes like parmesan. It can seem expensive but one pack/ bottle will last you a long time.
JUNK FOOD
Bhel puri, pani puri and sev puri are good options. At home, stock banana chips, popcorn, nuts, kurmura (puffed rice) for homemade dry/wet bhel, chana, etc. A lot of the savoury snacks we get in stores are also vegan, like bhujia sev, moong dal fry, khatta meetha mix, potato chips, etc. For a sweet treat, go for dry fruit bars or energy bars.
EVERYDAY MEALS
For breakfast: Keep fruits (fresh and frozen — for smoothies), vegan milk, vegan bread, jam, nut butter, chia seeds, flax seeds and cereal in stock. Chia seed puddings, oats/porridge and peanut butter-jelly sandwiches make great breakfast options when you’re in a hurry. For a traditional Indian breakfast you can go for - dosa, idli, poha, upma, paratha, etc.
For lunch and dinner: Popular main course dishes include rajma, dals, vegetable curries, khichdi, chana masala, pav bhaji (skip the butter!), fried rice, noodles, etc. Or, try baked/grilled dishes, salads, soups, brown rice, roti and eggless bread/pasta/noodles.