Feast logo

How To Cook Vegan: The Easiest, Most Delicious Recipes To Try

The vegan diet is everywhere right now. Celebrities, athletes, and even your local butcher are all talking about it.

By Christina KimPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
Like
How To Cook Vegan: The Easiest, Most Delicious Recipes To Try
Photo by Anna Pelzer on Unsplash

Even if you’re not ready to fully commit to eating no meat or animal products at all, perhaps you might be willing to try a few new recipes with less of them in them. It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to eat a vegan diet. You probably already know that plants like kale, spinach, and lettuce are all excellent sources of iron, vitamin A, and other nutrients that people typically get from meat. Eating a plant-based diet can reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes while also helping you lose weight. There are many different ways you can make your food more vegan friendly — you don’t need to cut out everything! Try replacing eggs with flax seeds, ditch cow’s milk for almond or soy milk, swap out honey for maple syrup, etc. There are lots of hidden animal ingredients in foods that may surprise you! Keep reading to discover more…

What Is A Vegan Diet?

A vegan diet is a diet that consists only of plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds. Vegans do not consume any animal products, including meat (including fish, shellfish, and insects), dairy products, eggs, or honey. A vegan diet is rich in vitamins and minerals, and it provides fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. A plant-based diet is one that focuses on whole plant foods and is free of animal products. Some people use “vegan” and “plant-based” interchangeably, while others make a distinction between the two. A plant-based diet is not necessarily fully vegan, and veganism is not just about what you eat: It’s also about how you live your life.

The Pros And Cons Of Being Vegan

The Pros Of Being Vegan - A wide selection of plant-based foods. You’ll be able to eat lots of different foods and experiment with new recipes. - Increased energy. People often report feeling less tired and having more energy when they eat a vegan diet. - Less risk of disease. A vegan diet can help reduce the risk of certain diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. - Improved skin and hair. Eating a vegan diet may improve your skin and hair, especially if you’re not eating lots of fatty, unhealthy foods. - Fewer allergies. People who have allergies to eggs, dairy, and nuts might be able to avoid them if they’re vegan. - Reduced carbon footprint. Eating vegan has a much smaller carbon footprint than eating meat. The Cons Of Being Vegan - Tends to be more expensive. Vegans often need to buy lots of specialty foods, and eating vegan can also be more expensive. - Can be difficult to get all of your daily nutrients. Vegans need to make sure to get enough protein and vitamin B12, and they need to pay special attention to their iron intake. - Can be time consuming. It can take longer to prep and cook all your vegan meals compared to just microwaving a frozen meal or going out to a restaurant.

How To Start A Vegan Diet

- Pick a date. Make a commitment to yourself that you’ll start being vegan on a certain day. This will give you more motivation to stick to it! - Buy vegan cookbooks. You’ll probably already know that there are lots of specialty ingredients and products you’ll need to buy, so make a shopping list. - Pick a menu for the week. You don’t need to cook a new vegan meal every night — just pick a few recipes to make during the week. - Stock up on vegan snacks. Veggies and fruits are great, but you’ll probably also want to stock up on vegan snacks like nuts, nut butter, and granola bars.

10 Easy Plant-Based Recipes For Beginners

- Quinoa Salad With Almonds And Carrots - This salad is packed with protein and fiber, and it’s the perfect way to start the day. - Chickpea And Sweet Potato Salad - Add some roasted chickpeas to this salad for a tasty, crunchy topping! - Avocado Toast With Chickpea Salad - This is a great, hearty breakfast that’s packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. - Vegetable Stir Fry - A basic stir fry is a great, easy way to incorporate lots of veggies into your diet. - Hummus - One of the easiest snacks you can make is a big bowl of hummus with veggies and crackers. - Vegan Tacos - Tacos are a great choice for a vegan meal or snack because you can easily swap out the meat for beans or vegetables. - Vegan Overnight Oats - Overnight oats are a great make-ahead breakfast option for busy mornings. - Brown Rice And Black Bean Salad - This salad makes a great lunch or side dish. - 7 Tips For Eating A Healthy Vegan Diet - Experiment with new recipes. You don’t want to get bored eating the same thing all the time, so try lots of different recipes. - Learn new cooking techniques. There are lots of easy ways to make vegan foods, and different techniques can make healthy foods even healthier. - Stock up on vegan snacks. It’s important to make sure you eat enough throughout the day, especially if you’re on a vegan diet. - Don’t rely on processed vegan foods. These items are often high in sodium and low in nutrients. - Be mindful of your health. Just because you’re eating vegan doesn’t mean you can forget about what’s going on inside your body. - Stay positive. Going vegan can be a challenge, but it’s worth it! Stay positive, and you’ll be able to make it through.

Conclusion

Going vegan is an excellent way to improve your health and the environment, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Start by replacing some of the meat in your diet with beans, nuts, or tofu. Keep reading to learn more about how to cook vegan, and try a few of these easy recipes for beginners.

vegan
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.