Veganary — InTheEyesOfLiz

I bet you didn’t expect this to be a thing! Years ago when the vegan hype was not so popular, you’d hear people joke - myself included- with those who decided to cut out the dairy and meat. When my best friend was transitioning all those years ago I thought she was mad. She started off as a pescatarian, which was fine, then vegetarian. I remember she came to visit me at university and I was so proud of the vegetarian-friendly mac ‘n cheese I had created only to discover that she had gone the whole big V! I’m pretty sure I tried to convince her to have the meal as a one-off but she wouldn’t budge (I gave her water instead because that’s all vegans deserve, right!?) All jokes aside, as we fast-forward a few years, more and more people are embarking on the Vegan journey. Documentaries such as "What the health” and recent literature (read more here) have also exposed the meat market and food industry and has sparked many people to actually care about where their food is sourced.

Even if ethics isn’t your reason for the switch to veganism, people commonly want to improve their general health with the many benefits the vegan diet offers. Whatever the reason, we cannot ignore the fact that veganism is definitely on the rise, and your favourite supermarkets are also jumping on the bandwagon! Eating out has become easier too! Greg’s released their first vegan sausage roll this month (although I’ve heard calories are still higher than some fast-food burgers) but this isn’t a discussion on what’s new in the vegan market, we’re here to talk about Veganary! You know… January, but vegan.

Now I think I should make it clear and say that I am not a vegan. As my friend would always correct, I am plant-based when I feel like jumping off the meat and dairy. As we pass the mid-January mark, I reckon now is a good time for check-in and re-motivation if needed. I already know a few drop-outs (tut tut!) and I might have slipped up a few times myself (let’s not talk about those dairy treats!) For those who don’t know, I’m a Michelin star Chef (self-proclaimed) so naturally I like playing around with flavours. I’ll share with you some new recipes and food combos which not only taste good but also hit those all-important macro-nutrients! Many of you may have gone plant-based for a “detox” or chosen it as your method of weight-loss (if done right) to kick off the year. Personally, I just wanted to cut it all out and I haven’t given myself a time period yet. If I decided to stop in a month or two, I will, but right now I’m quite happy with how it is… When your food bangs like mine, you’ll start to understand what I mean! Maybe you’re weeks into your avocado toast and you’re counting down the days until it’s all over; it doesn't have to be torture and you can certainly play around with your meals without having to break a sweat in the kitchen! Personally, I get more flavour when I am forced to cook without meats and dairy; things like chickpeas, beans, coconut milk and sweet potato become your best friend!

If this is your first veganary, or first time going plant-based (well done!), you’ll know that the initial switch can be quite tricky. All of a sudden you’re obsessively looking at the ingredients on the back of the box, you become THAT person at restaurants and the cravings you might get will make it difficult to stay committed. Stick to it though! The first few days-to-a-week can be difficult (especially if you’re going straight vegan) and when there isn't food available it can be easy to slip back into old habits. The first thing that will help you stay focused is to CLEAR OUT YOUR NON-VEGAN FOOD! There’s nothing worse than having a craving only to open your fridge/cupboard to find something that you really shouldn’t be eating. Do yourself a favour and stock your home with loads of vegan-friendly goodies (that doesn't mean “junk”) to avoid the temptation. FOOD PREPPING is a great way to keep you disciplined whilst also accommodating a busy schedule (eg. every weekend, prep for the week ahead). Carry nuts/fruits/seeds with you to snack on or make some smoothies, that way you’ll be prepared for the hunger in-between meals!

THE VEGAN DISHES TO TRY:

If you’re like me, you won’t be a fan of these vegan wanna-meats! They’re great for getting in that extra protein but you can certainly eat fine without it. Below I’ll list some examples of good fat’s, Carbs and Proteins to give you get an idea.

Fats: Protein: Carbs:

- Avocado - Lentils - Quinoa

- Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Brazil nuts) - Tofu - Buckwheat

- Peanut butter - Beans (Black-eyed, Red Kidney, Cannellini) - Wild rice

- Coconut - Chickpeas - Sweet Potato

- Chia seeds - Greens! - Fruits

The rule of thumb is to up your fruit and vegetables! I personally try and stick to fruits only in the mornings and have my biggest meal at lunch. The list above is only an example of some foods you can eat, but there are plenty that you can explore further! I often try and eat the higher protein sources such as beans and lentils and play around with the combinations often so as not to get bored!

*** See photo gallery below for ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like the full recipe!

Breakfast examples: A fruit bowl * Vegan yoghurt with chia seeds and nuts * Oats with oat/almond/soy milk * Avocado toast.

Lunch examples: Burrito (Black bean, avocado, rice, hummus and salad) * Sweet potato and lentil cooked in coconut milk with rice and veg * Pasta lentil Bolognese with greens (yum!) * Spicy chickpeas cooked in coconut milk with wild rice, beans and veg * Sweet potato mash with veg and beans.

Dinner examples: Fresh vegetable soup with vegan dumplings * Quinoa, avocado and bean salad * Vegetable and tofu stir fry.

Snacks: Fruit, Nuts, Vegan yoghurt, Sweet potato crackers, plantain and seeds.

It's easy to lose track of your intake sometimes, so I would recommend an app like MyFitnessPal to help you track your food.

For those of you that are on social media, people like @chakabars, @holisticbaddie, @tishwonders and @thechocolatevegan are great people to follow on Instagram. If you would like to follow more vegan-friendly content/ Personal trainers, hit me up!