Going vegan is a great way to ensure you’re eating healthier, not to mention supporting the environment and animals too. If you’re switching to a vegan diet, it can be a little daunting to figure out exactly what you can and can’t eat, and how to introduce these new foods into your diet.
We’ve put together some great ideas for easy vegan foods and cupboard staples, and have top tips from vegan bloggers about what to put on your vegan shopping list for beginners. Take a look at these below!
What Is Vegan Food
A vegan diet is one that contains no animal products whatsoever. This includes non-meat items such as butter, cheese, honey and milk. Vegan diets are commonly made up of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and meat substitutes, amongst others.
Although you may think that a vegan diet sounds limited, they are generally colourful, varied and most importantly - delicious!
Spotting Vegan Items
If you’re looking for vegan items in the supermarket or when out and about, there are a few ways that you can find what you are looking for. The first is to check whether the item says ‘suitable for vegans’ on the packet, or has the Vegan Society logo on it, both of which will confirm if an item is completely free of animal products.
If the food does not have either of these signs on it, spend some time looking through the ingredients list. Keep an eye out for meat, dairy or egg ingredients which will make a product unsuitable for vegans. Also look for E numbers which may not be vegan suitable - you can find a handy guide to these here.
Vegan Basics
There are a number of basic vegan ingredients and items that will help you to get going with a vegan diet. Take a look at our favourites here:
Store Cupboard Staples
There are many store cupboard staples that are vegan-friendly, easy to put together and form the basis of delicious and nutritious vegan meals or snacks. These include:
- Chickpeas
- Dried Pasta
- Tinned Tomatoes
- Beans And Other Legumes
- Plenty Of Herbs And Spices
- Lentils
- Nutritional Yeast (gives food a cheese flavour)
- Nuts And Seeds
- Dairy-Free Milk
- Liquid Smoke (to give food smoky, meaty flavour)
- Fresh Fruit And Vegetables
With just a few of these basic ingredients, you’ll be able to put together a range of quick, tasty and nutritious meals that are suitable for a vegan diet.
Ready Meals And Items
Many supermarkets will now carry vegan items, which can be found in the ‘free from’ sections, or along with the vegetarian food section. Keep an eye out for products such as:
- Quorn Vegan Ranges
- Cauldron Tofu And Falafel
- Dairy-Free Cheeses And Spreads
- Linda McCartney Food Ranges
- Oumph! Meat Replacements
- AlproS Yoghurt And Desserts
‘Accidentally’ Vegan Foods
Although you may not realise it, some of your favourite food items may in fact be vegan. It’s worth checking the ingredient list of your items, but some great accidentally vegan foods include:
- Oreos
- Skittles
- Many Packets Of Flavoured Noodles, Including Meat Flavours
- Some Meat Flavoured Crisps
- Certain Flavours Of Doritos Crisps
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just goes to show that you can still enjoy some of your favourite foods whilst following a vegan diet. Take a look at some more accidentally vegan foods here.
Top Vegan Tips For Beginners
We took to Twitter to ask vegans and bloggers what their favourite foods are, and what tips and advice they have for beginners. Here are some of their suggestions:
Chickpeas, coconut milk, bananas, tin toms, pasta. If you happen to go past a health food shop as well chuck a vego chocolate bar in there, you won’t regret it!! 😋 #Vegan
— Kirsty (@KirstyPennies) 5 July 2018
Ooh smoked paprika, garlic granules and onion powder. @OatlyUK milk, a box of @TofooCo smoked tofu @asda mature cheddar cheeze, @marksandspencer avo spread and a jar of @FollowYourHeart vegan mayo. Boom!
— Myroo Skincare (@myrooskincare) 5 July 2018
If say tell people not to be afraid to buy meat substitutes to ward off cravings for familiar foods. The vegan diet that is best is the one you can stick to.
— Jeremy (@Pusssboy) 9 July 2018
Linda MC burgers!! They’re the absolute best. And frozen fruits like berries and mango chunks- perfect for smoothies, in porridge, on cereal... and cheap.
— Grace (@GraceC_12) 10 July 2018
@OatlyUK Barista milk, @eat_oumph Oumph fake meats to replicate their fave meaty curries, Linda Mc sausage rolls, @VBitesFoods mock ham slices (Morrisons, H&B), Flora Freedom. Swedish Glacé ice cream. Lentils, chickpeas, Cauldron Marinated tofu pieces if adventurous enough ;)
— Sail with Sanna (@vegancruiser) 6 July 2018
@OatlyUK Barista milk, @eat_oumph Oumph fake meats to replicate their fave meaty curries, Linda Mc sausage rolls, @VBitesFoods mock ham slices (Morrisons, H&B), Flora Freedom. Swedish Glacé ice cream. Lentils, chickpeas, Cauldron Marinated tofu pieces if adventurous enough ;)
— Sail with Sanna (@vegancruiser) 6 July 2018
Although I'm not vegan I have friends that are and you definitely need to consider non-food products too! I've used Fair Squared shampoo, shaving products and love them!
— Mummy Snowy Owl (@mummysnowyowl) 5 July 2018
You need to pay attention to food groups when vegan to be sure you’re getting a balanced diet. Lentils, beans, tofu and nuts are key for proteins. Sign up to a vegbox scheme maybe? And if you’re vegan in part for sustainability, buy organic if you can.
— Katie Sutton (@katielsutton) 10 July 2018
These tips are sure to make switching to a vegan diet as seamless as possible. If you’re worried about your health and nutrition though as you make the switch, consider adding a vegan suitable supplement to your daily routine. We have a range of vegan supplements for women, including our vegan Wellwoman products which are designed specifically to help keep women healthy and on top form.
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