By PAGE Editor

If you are considering having a vegan diet or maybe you already have but are new to it all, it can be confusing to know what foods are vegan-friendly.

However, do not worry as you have come to the right place as this post is an easy-to-follow guide on what food is vegan and what foods are not!

What Is A Vegan Diet?

For those unfamiliar with veganism, a vegan diet is focused on plant-based foods and beverages. These foods exclude all animal products, so no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy can be consumed. This is what sets vegetarians and vegans apart, as vegetarians can still eat dairy and eggs, but vegans cannot.

To find out more, visit BetterHealth.blog.

Some people apply the principles of veganism beyond food and consider it more of a lifestyle. So any clothes, makeup, medications and other items that use animal products are also off the table. 

What Foods Can Be Eaten?

A common misconception about being a vegan is that you just eat leafy greens and that’s it. This could not be further from the truth! A lot of people wonder is chocolate vegan, and the answer is not necessarily straightforward. Milk chocolate is not vegan because it, of course, contains milk.

Whereas good quality dark chocolate is vegan as its main ingredients are pure cocoa and sugar. However, make sure you check the ingredient list as some dark chocolates will use dairy products to make the chocolate creamier. Besides ceremonial cacao au and other than good old dark chocolate, below are some examples of  other foods that can be eaten;

• Fruit and vegetables

• Grains, such as quinoa, couscous, farro, and barley.

• Legumes. These are a great source of protein. 

• Nuts and seeds. Instead of using cows milk, you can use creamy oat milk or nutty almond milk.

• Tofu 

• Natural sweeteners, including coconut sugar, maple syrup, and agave.

To make sure you are getting all the vitamins you need for your body’s health, try adding foods like kimchi, miso paste and sauerkraut into your diet. Once upon a time a vegan diet was fairly restricted, however, now you can find meat-free alternatives that taste great, with brands such as Linda McCartney and Beyond Meat paving the way for tasty vegan foods.

You can now find exclusively vegan restaurants, and so long gone are the days when there was just one pathetic dish on the menu that was vegan - which was most likely a salad.

What Foods Are Off Limits?

So, now you might be wondering what foods are off-limit. Let’s break it down below.

• Any type of animal product is off the table, these include beef, pork, poultry, and seafood.

• Eggs

• Dairy (cows milk)

• Honey. Yep - this one comes as a surprise to a lot of people, however, no bee products can be consumed in a vegan diet.

• Animal oils and fats. These ingredients are ones that you need to be cautious of as they can sneak up in the most unexpected of places, such as in Haribo sweets!

A common question non-vegans will ask vegans is how they get their protein, but don’t worry about that as there are plenty of vegan foods (legumes, nuts, tofu, quinoa, etc.) that will make sure you are getting more than enough protein in your diet. 

What Foods To Watch Out For?

It is important to pay attention to the ingredient information on food packaging as sometimes you might find a sneaky ingredient that means a food product is not vegan after all! For example, gummy candies and marshmallows tend to use gelatin, which is an ingredient that comes from boiling down the skin and bones of animals. Another one to look out for is deep-fried foods, as while it might just be an onion ring, it will have been fried in an egg batter or some kind of animal fat. Even certain types of alcohols are made with fish gelatin and so you should always air on the side of caution and check the ingredient list. Other sneaky foods to check out include;

• Certain loaves of bread - as some doughs use an egg wash and honey to create a smooth glaze on top.

• Some condiments, dressings and sauces will contain dairy and animal fats, so be mindful of what you are putting on your food! 

• Food/drinks with red coloring. This one may come as a bit of a shock to some of you but some foods achieve the red color by using the extract of crushed and boiled beetles. 

• Certain juices. Some of these drinks will advertise themselves as super smoothies or health boosters, and use ingredients such as fish oil and sheep’s wool-derived lanolin.

Checking if a food is vegan is easier these days as most products will say that are vegan friendly in bold or use the universal symbol ‘VV’ to show that the food is safe for vegan consumption. 

Is Being A Vegan Expensive?

There is a common myth surrounding veganism that it is a diet that only the well off can afford. However, this does not have to be the case, and all it takes is some smart shopping. Some brands offer expensive meat alternatives but these foods are not essential. Instead of buying a branded vegan burger for £5 per patty, look up vegan recipes to make your own at home.

This will be far cheaper and just as tasty. Any diet can be expensive if you shop for expensive things. In many ways, a vegan diet is a more affordable alternative as buying meats can be a costly affair. So if you are worried about whether or not you can afford to be a vegan, the short answer is yes you can!

The Bottom Line

There are many benefits to veganism, it shows compassion to animals, benefits the planet and improves both your physical and mental wellbeing. So, if you feel ready to transition into a vegan diet then remember to ease yourself into it and be kind to yourself. The switch might be difficult at first but you will quickly find your feet.

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