Would you...cheat on meat?

In line with our sustainability drive, here's some helpful Veganuary tips to support a vegan lifestyle.

Have you considered going vegan but don't know where to start?

With what sometimes feels like an influx of information, it can be overbearing to understand how to achieve a fully balanced diet without meat and dairy.

Our Communications, Events and Staffing Administrator (and in-house vegan), Skyla Morrison, has cultivated a special beginners guide with everything you need to know, from commonly used substitutes to protein-rich alternatives - and just as tasty as non-vegan counterparts!

For the essential alternatives

• Milk: Soy, oat, almond, coconut and the list goes on
• Eggs: Tofu, mung beans
• Butter: Dairy-free alternative made from vegetable oil, nuts, soy, coconut
• Cheese: Vegan cheeses made from soy, coconut, nuts
• Cream: Dairy-free coconut cream 

For the meat lovers

Here are some delicious alternatives to your favourite meat delicacies. These can be cooked (with a helping of spices, herbs etc) to imitate the meat both in terms of flavour and texture:

• Steak: Cauliflower, aubergine
• Chicken: Mushrooms
• Burgers: Mushrooms, beetroot
• Bacon: Carrots, aubergine
• Sausages: Mushrooms
• Meatballs: Mushrooms, beetroot
• Pulled Pork: Mushrooms, jackfruit
• Salmon: Carrots
• Chicken Wings: cauliflower
• Mince: Cauliflower, aubergine
• Pepperoni: Jackfruit
• Tuna: Jackfruit
• Duck: Jackfruit
• Crab: Jackfruit
• Corned Beef: Beetroot
• Jerky: Aubergine 

For the Great British Bake-Off enthusiasts

For the following delicious treats, replace 1 egg with either:

• Cakes: 1 ripe banana, 4 Tbsp apple puree, 4 Tbsp vegan yoghurt, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp baking soda
• Cupcakes: 4 Tbsp vegan yoghurt
• Bread: 1 ripe banana, 4 Tbsp apple puree, 1 Tbsp chia seeds and 2.5 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp milled flaxseed and 3 Tbsp water, 4 Tbsp silken tofu, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp baking soda
• Muffins: 1 ripe banana, 4 Tbsp silken tofu, 4 Tbsp vegan yoghurt, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp baking soda
• Brownies: 1 ripe banana
• Cookies: 4 Tbsp apple puree, 1 Tbsp chia seeds and 2.5 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp milled flaxseed and 3 Tbsp water
• Biscuits: 1 Tbsp chia seeds and 2.5 Tbsp water
• Pancakes: 1 Tbsp chia seeds and 2.5 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp milled flaxseed and 3 Tbsp water
• Waffles: 1 Tbsp milled flaxseed and 3 Tbsp water
• Cheesecake: 4 Tbsp silken tofu
• Macarons: 3 Tbsp aquafaba
• Meringue: 3 Tbsp aquafaba
• Mousse: 4 Tbsp silken tofu, 3 Tbsp aquafaba
• Marshmallows: 3 Tbsp aquafaba

Where can I get my protein and nutrients if not from meat?

• Protein: Tofu, beans, lentils, nuts, peas, hemp, flax seeds, chia seeds, sweet potato
• Fibre: Beans, lentils, nuts, peas, garlic, brussel sprouts, beetroot, sweet potato, cauliflower
• Folate: Brussels sprouts, beetroot, cauliflower
• Iron: Beans, lentils, nuts, chia, hemp, flax, chickpeas, spinach, oats, seeds
• Vitamin A: Spinach, carrots, brussels sprouts, kale, peas
• Vitamin C: Carrots, garlic, brussels sprouts, kale, peas, sweet potato, cauliflower
• Vitamin K: Spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, peas, asparagus, cauliflower
• Vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, plant oils
• Magnesium: Nuts, seeds, spinach, hemp, flax, chia seeds, spinach, beans, quinoa
• Folate: Broccoli, peas, spinach, asparagus, brussels sprouts
• Potassium: Broccoli, kale, sweet potato, spinach, lentils, avocados, beans
• Omega-3 Fatty Acid: Flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts, canola oil
• Zinc: Lentils, nuts, beans, oats 

Meet Skyla 

Skyla Morrison recently joined the Department of Chemical Engineering as a Communications, Events and Staffing Administrator.

Skyla has been vegan for almost four years and wanted to share tips picked up along her personal journey. 

What I’ve learned is that to make a difference, it doesn’t require a complete and utter sacrifice but rather a compromise. Skyla Morrison Communication, Staffing & Events Administrator

As Skyla says: “I chose this path as being vegan is the biggest impact I can make as an individual in support of causes I care about – the environment and animal welfare. What I’ve learned is that to make a difference, it doesn’t require a complete and utter sacrifice but rather a compromise, such as trading in that beef burger for a plant-based patty every once in a while. After all, a little goes a long way”.

Find out more about Veganuary. 

Header image: © [Beniamin] / Adobe Stock