What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 4

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 23 - Lentil Soup
My go-to homemade soup.

Day 24 - Paella
Basic vegetable paella

Day 25 - Sausage Rolls and Siracha Mash
Homemade sausage rolls made with vegan sausages and ready-to-roll pastry. 
Served with siracha and spring onion mashed potato. 

Day 26 - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
Gluten Free spaghetti, tomato sauce, sheese and garlic bread.

Day 27 - Broccoli Delight
Broccoli 'steaks' pan-fried topped with bacon and cheese. With garlic smashed potato.

Day 28 - Nuggets and Potato Pops
and marrowfat peas too!

Day 29 - Dump Bowl
Couscous, peppers, spring onion, bacon, potato and goodness knows what else.

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Again, these may look very beige, however, this is a realistic look at what we actually eat in our house. I am a fussy eater and eventually stick to the same foods over and over. If it wasn't for that we'd eat a lot differently, especially with Mr H being a chef!
Come the summer, we will have a little different variety with salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating. I'm also going through some health issues at the moment and some days I just want to eat nuggets and chips!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

[Click the image above to enlarge the whole of Veganuary 2023!]

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 3

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 15 - Nuggets and Chips
A proper lazy tea to kick off the week! Nuggets, chips and beans. 

Day 16 - Homemade Pizza
As you'll probably be able to tell, pizza is a favorite in our house and without sounding big-headed, my own homemade broccoli pizza is my favorite! 

Day 17 - Burger and Pops
It's turning out to be a particularly unhealthy week it would seem...
Quorn hot and spicy burger, potato pops and broccoli!

Day 18 - Kiev, Potatoes and Veg
Found a new vegan 'chicken' kiev in Asda while looking at new Veganuary lines!
Had it with nice 'tatoes, broccoli and peas.

Day 19 - Mash and Veg
Can't really get more basic than mashed potatoes, broccoli, sprouts, peas and gravy!

Day 20 - Quesadillas 
Quesadillas made with soy pieces with mushy peas and pan-fried potato strips.

Day 21 - Curry
It's technically curry, but also not really.
A smooth curry sauce with rice and homemade garlic naan bread.

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I'm just going to repeat exactly what I said last week - These may not be the healthiest nor the most diverse nor what you may deem appealing meals, however, these are realistic, easy meals that we actually eat in our house. It's January, therefore cold and comforting, warming meals is what we want. In the warmer weather, we do eat salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating.

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 2

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Click here to see what we ate last week!

Day 8 - Dump Bowl
In our house, a dump bowl is usually a mix of veg and something like rice or cous cous to use up things that may be nearing the end of their usability...though sometimes it's just what we fancy to eat.
This dump bowl consited of cous cous, broccoli, peas, boiled potatoes, spring onion and nuggets.

Day 9 - Homemade Chicken and Bacon cheesy bakes.
Made with quorn vegan soy pieces, vegan bacon and sheese.
Served with broccoli, peas and green beans. 

Day 10 - Pizza and Wedges
I usually make homemade pizza but we thought we'd try this new frozen pizza from Asda's new OMV! range with some potato wedges. 

Day 11 - Fried Rice
Mr H's yummy fried rice with (my obvious favorites) broccoli, peas and spring onion.

Day 12 - Creamy Broccoli Soup
Homemade creamy broccoli soup with baguette.

Day 13 - Wraps and Potatoes
Using up some of the left over fried rice, we had wraps with a little added sheese and boiled garlic potatoes.

Day 14 - Pasta
Gluten free fusilli with peas, breadcrumbed 'chicken' pieces and sheese.

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These may not be the healthiest nor the most diverse nor what you may deem appealing meals, however these are realistic, easy meals that we actually eat in our house. 
It's January, therefore cold and comforting, warming meals is what we want. In the warmer weather we do eat salads and the like but right now this is what we're eating. 

Click here to see what we ate last week!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

What We Ate This Veganuary // Week 1

 

Veganuary - try vegan in January. It's that simple. Obviously, we are already vegan but I enjoy sharing vegan food ideas on this blog and it gives me an excuse to shout about veganism to everyone even more.

I don't know how long I've been vegan. Many people seem to know the exact date they made the change, however for me, it was quite gradual. I grew up eating chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and chocolate. I went vegetarian around 2014 and in the following few years phased out milk and butter to vegan alternatives and then eventually the same happened with cheese (which was mainly only eaten on pizza anyway). Finally, after moving in with Mr H we both made the decision to finally bite the bullet and I cut out chocolate. Of course, there have been odd moments where chocolate or ice cream or a normal cheese pizza was consumed - no one is perfect - but I guess you could say I've been vegan for around 4 years. 

I'm also neurodivergent and grew up an extremely picky eater. Though I have gotten much better in the past 4 years (half due to veganism, the other half due to being married to a chef), I still find meal ideas and vegan recipes to be overly complicated or just downright gross. You don't have to live on tofu, chickpeas, mushrooms and cauliflower FYI!!

Anyway, just as we did in 2021 we're going to share what we eat during Veganuary this year. 

I'll only be sharing our joint evening meal as it is the main food of the day. It's nothing special and a good representation of our actual daily diets - hopefully, it will inspire you to try vegan when you see how easy and yummy it is!

Day 1 - Pumpkin Soup
Made from the Pumpkin I carved for New Year! 

Day 2 - Wraps and Potatoes
The cupboards were bare and dying for a food shop so this was a scavenged meal.
Cous Cous and black-eyed beans, seasoned, in wraps with some our staple 'nice tatoes' which are boiled potatoes with garlic and parsley.

Day 3 - Spaghetti
We'd been away for most of the day and was able to pop into a shop and grab a packet of gluten-free spaghetti, broccoli and a loaf of tiger bread so that made for a filling tea with some vegan cheese.

Day 4 - Roast Veg
Some fried potatoes rounds along with garlic roasted sprouts, broccoli and peas!

Day 6 - Burger and Chips
My favorite burgers are the Quorn hot and spicy burgers and are pretty much the only ones I will eat. Texture is a huge thing for me and many of the vegan alternatives are too like real meat which I don't like at all. 
Mr H made some homemade chips too and we had a side of mushy peas. Mine in a separate pot because I can't have them touching anything else haha!

Day 7 - Breakfast for Dinner
I had planned for a more veg-focused meal tonight but it was a rubbish day with some bad news so a comfort meal was called for in the form of breakfast for dinner.
Vegan bacon, even though it may not look appealing, is SO good and I love it crispy. 

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You may have noticed that Day 5 is missing. We actually had a Dominos as they had buy one get one free on pizzas and it actually included vegan pizzas. It was alright. I feel like the person working must have been new and had no idea how to make pizza but it filled a hole!

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Check out my Veganuary posts from 2021 here and you can find all Vegan Food Idea posts here.

Until next time...

Vegan Meal Ideas - Potato Edition!

 

I love potatoes. I'm sure many people love potatoes. In all their different forms! I'm not into all this no-carb life and cutting out entire food groups (minus animal products obviously haha) and although this post may make it seem otherwise, I do like to try and live by 'everything in moderation!
As the weather is cooling down and yet again it's been far too long between my vegan food posts, I thought it was the right time for some comforting, potato-filled, vegan inspiration.
Here are five different ways we've eaten potatoes recently... 

Potato Latkes
My take on the traditionally Jewish fried potato pancake or fritter that is often eaten over Hanukkah.
Obviously, it contains no egg and so is vegan. 

Cheesy Broccoli Mashed Potatoes
Another variation of mashed potatoes including cheese and broccoli mashed in - so good!

Cheesy Potato Bake
I wasn't sure what you'd call this but I guess it is kind of like a pasta bake but with potato rounds instead.
Thin round slices of potato layered with a homemade cheesy sauce, oven-baked, and topped with garlic & parsley.

Fried Garlic and Chive Potato Pancakes
Rather than grated potatoes like the latkes, these are essentially mashed potato versions.
Mashed potato with spring onions fried in a frying pan and topped with parsley.

Green Lentil Shepards Pie
A shocking entry on this list for anyone who knows me and probably the first 'pie' I've ever eaten.
I wanted to try this to add a quick, easy, filling meal option to our list of recipes.
Made with green lentils, peas, and onion and topped with mashed potato!

I now have a whole host of different vegan food posts here on Underland to Wonderland and countless options for many different people and their needs including fussy eaters, easy-to-cook, gluten-free, healthier options and comfort foods.
Click this link here for a lot more posts - Vegan Food Ideas!

You don't have to be vegan to try any of the foods in my posts and you don't have to go fully vegan to add more plant-based meals into your diet. It's common knowledge that a vegan diet literally helps to save our planet so without getting on my soapbox and ranting, I do implore you to try and increase your vegan intake and decrease animal-derived ingredients from your life.

Hopefully, my posts help to show that we don't just eat seeds and leaves. So many things that non-vegans eat either are also vegan or can be made vegan very easily. There are more options now than ever so try something vegan!

Until next time...

Vegan Meal Ideas - Comfort Food Edition

 
My last vegan meal idea post was the Disney Inspired Vegan Meal Ideas which I really enjoyed sharing. After that, I wanted to share some more day to day easy meals that I feel prove the narrative of 'vegans only eat rabbit food' wrong. This post is packed with not the most healthy, but very delicious, filling, comfort foods. Just because we are vegan does not mean we do or should miss out on anything, especially our favourite foods from previous years. 
We love pizza in this house and although there are more frozen options being released they still all seem to be 'veggie supreme's or covered in stuff like jack fruit. Therefore I make my own and can top them with everything from just cheese to chicken and bacon alternatives and not miss out on a tasty pizza! That is just one example of why I do these posts. You don't need to resign to the given options. Homemade is simple and easy and provides so much more variety! See below for more ideas...

Loaded Sub 
Made with part-baked baguette, vegan cheese, vegan bacon, soy 'chicken' pieces, iceberg lettuce and cucumber.

Mac and Cheeze
Made with Macaroni pasta, homemade Béchamel sauce, vegan cheese, and vegan bacon.

Homemade Sausage Rolls

Made with Linda McCartney sausages and Jus-Rol pastry.

Potato Nacho Bowls
Made with baby potato slices, vegan cheese, Quorn hot and spicy burgers, vegan bacon, spring onions.
Tomato, avocado and jalapenos on right bowl also.

Homemade Mickey Pizza
Made with homemade dough, BBQ sauce, vegan cheese, breaded soy 'chicken', spring onion, sriracha. 

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Ice Cream
Made with vegan dough recipe, mint dairy-free chocolate and smashed vegan Magnum. 

So yeah, vegan can evidently be pretty unhealthy too! I must mention that all of these meals were not made and consumed consecutively in one week, rather over a few months and spaced out with some equally as yummy but much more nutritious foods. 
You can check out all of my Vegan Meal Idea blog posts by clicking here!

Until next time...

VEGANUARY! What We Ate This Week #4

It's the very last post of our Veganuary!!! I am aware that the month of January consists of 31 days, however after a straight 4 weeks and 28 different meals I'm sure I've gotten my point across.

Vegan food is normal food - you eat many of the same things as us regularly. Meals need not be based around a meat item but there are substitutes if that's what you're into. The misconception that it is all rabbit food has been well and truly busted, especially this week, when I've shown that it isn't all healthy. 
There is so much variety, so many options for people of all dietary requirements and levels of cooking.
Lastly, I need to reiterate yet again that it is affordable. All of the food you have seen this month came from one online food shop at the start of the month which cost around £80...what you don't see is our breakfast foods, snacks and all the other bits that also came on that shopping order. You can eat healthy, hearty, filling, comforting, unhealthy, delicious, cruelty-free food on a budget.

Check out the previous 3 weeks posts here and week 1 for more of an explanation onto what Veganuary is >>
VEGANUARY! What We Ate This Week #1
VEGANUARY! What We Ate This Week #2
VEGANUARY! What We Ate This Week #3

Day 22 - Breakfast for Tea! 
Usually it'd be toast and rashers of Cheatin', but the bacon sub we were able to get this time was small pieces and so in a roll!
Many people may also have tomatoes and mushrooms etc but it's a well-known fact that they are gross so I don't partake.

Day 23 - Basic Mash, Veg and Gravy. 
A lot of people have a 'Sunday' dinner. We don't.
But once a week we do have a basic potato and veg, occasionally with vegan sausage.

Day 24 - Enchiladas, Seasoned Chips and Mushy Peas.
Mr H knocked it out of the park with these homemade enchiladas this night.
As I've reiterated through these 4 posts so many things can be bought as kits, pre-made or frozen too.

Day 25 - Penne Pasta with Sauteed Green Pepper and Onion
At this stage in the month, we are running low on lots of ingredients, especially fresh veg.
Usually in this circumstance we'd have had courgette or some other greens mixed in.

Day 26 - Takeaway...
So the unexpected happens to everyone and although it was Broccoli Delight on the menu (see here),
we did end up having to order a quick - fully vegan - pizza takeaway due to Mr H working late.

Day 27 - Burgers, Garlic Potatoes and Peas
Another later finish equals another quick tea.
We're running out of options and are due a shop haha!

Day 28 - Fried Rice and Veg
One of our favourite meals is super easy and filling.
Frozen veg keeps us going with only being able to have one food shop per month.


Something Sweet - Chocolate Covered Cinder Toffee (Homemade 'Crunchie')
When it comes to things like cake, traybake etc we often make our own as vegan alternatives are harder to come by. 
This is a basic cinder toffee I made, cut into sections and dipped in melted dark chocolate.
Mr H then got fancy and drizzled it with some vegan white chocolate. 
 

And that's it. Our month of sharing how normal vegans eat is over. I hope you were able to get some inspiration for simple things you can make whether you are already vegan, vegetarian, in the midst of converting or just curious to the diet. I'm sure I'll be back at some point with more animal-friendly food posts but until then you can check out all of my others here - there are so many you could have a different meal each day of the month and even have plenty to spare.

Thanks so much for following along. Feel free to share!
Until next time...

[Click to see full size. Our full 4 weeks of meals]