As official partners to Veganuary – the charity that’s encouraged over 400,000 Brits to adopt a vegan diet last January – we’re proud to offer 15 fully vegan recipe options across our menu each week. And were the first recipe box on the UK to cater for vegans (and are still the only recipe box offering this much variety!) Read on to find out more about a plant-based diet, how you can stick to it and why athletes, celebrities and thousands of our customers enjoy this way of eating.
Thirteen per cent of the UK follow a meat-free diet, with ⅓ of us overall wanting to reduce our meat and dairy intakes for our health and to fight climate change.
With any major lifestyle change, getting started can seem daunting, but the biggest hurdle is having the mindset to keep it up. Eating shouldn’t be about sacrifice – that’s why diets so rarely work.
Get creative in the kitchen, discover new ingredients and experiment with flavours this new year. Always remember variety and enjoyment are the cornerstones of any successful lifestyle.
The ten fundamentals for a successful switch
1) Understand why
Lifestyle changes are personal. To be successful, understand your motivations. Are you after a health overhaul? Concerned about animal welfare? Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Or are you simply up for Veganuary?
Whatever your reason, keep in mind you’re more likely to persevere by focusing on what you’re gaining over what you’re giving up.
2) Swap resolutions for routines
Even with the best of intentions, it can be tricky to stick to a
The quicker you create a plant-based routine, the easier you will find vegan eating. Habits, once ingrained, require little thought: that’s why bad habits can be tricky to break and good habits, once established, are so easy to keep up.
The best routines contain only a few steps and as little decision-making as possible, minimising the risk of slipping up. Draw up your shopping list when you’re not hungry, and order your groceries online. Keep some vegan snacks to hand when you’re out so you’re prepared when hunger strikes.
Recipe boxes like ours are also a good way to keep on track in the week when time and patience are in short supply, plus you can choose from an incredible variety of vegan proteins and gourmet cuisines to keep you excited about mealtimes.
3) Be prepared
Before starting, stock your cupboards with everything you need, from nut milk to non-dairy butters. Be realistic about your current eating habits and what you’ll need for a smooth transition.
There’s a huge range of plant-based options on the market today, so think about what animal products you use the most and how you’re going to make up for them. We love nutritional yeast flakes for a cheesy flavour and non-dairy cream by Oatly, but it really comes down to personal taste. If you don’t like tofu now, you probably won’t when you’re vegan.
4) Try something new
From liquid smoke to gochujang, Chef Louisa uses ingredients from around the world to add complexity and
- Black garlic: Fresh garlic aged over low heat for 60 days slowly darkens to a charcoal colour and softens into jelly. It loses its bite and gains a sweet, subtle taste reminiscent of aged cheese. We use it in marinades to give a luxurious finish to vegan dishes. Try our Black garlic aubergine ‘steaks’ & truffle fries.
- Matcha: This powdered green tea has been used for centuries in Japan. Its beautiful hue comes from chlorophyll and it’s packed with antioxidants. We love the gently bitter, earthy tone it gives to Asian dressings, or in baking. Our matcha comes from Teapigs and is mixed with lemongrass, ginger, tamari, maple syrup, lime juice and sesame oil to make a marinade in this Lemongrass tofu ‘Bun Cha’ recipe.
- Seaweed: Full of beneficial minerals, each marine plant has a specific flavour profile. We use a range of seaweed from The Cornish Seaweed Company in our recipes; from grilled tofu nori wraps to our salty ramen broth with sea salad. We use dulse, a purple seaweed with a subtly smoky flavour, in our new Jackfruit ‘crab cakes’ with creamy tartare sauce (capers also work a treat for an easy marine flavour).
- Kimchi: A traditional Korean dish of fermented cabbage with a bright, briny taste, kimchi is a great source of probiotic bacteria (fab for gut health!). We use it in everything from kimchi rice to tofu burgers. Try golden kimchi from EatenAlive in our Tempeh skewers, rainbow noodles & kimchi rice recipe and our Teriyaki tempeh with kimchi fried rice.
5) Have a backup plan
Although eating vegan is easier than ever before, it’s still easy to run into roadblocks. Eating out? Check out the menu before you get there – you can always call the restaurant for special accommodations if necessary.
Craving comfort food? Research how you can make your favourite foods vegan, from katsu curry to Mac n Cheese. There’s loads of inspiration online and right here on the blog.
It may also be worth loading up the freezer with meals to have in a pinch, for times when you’d normally reach for a takeaway. Our healthy frozen ready meal range includea over 10 vegan options, all ready to eat in less than 8 minutes!
6) Cook simply – and aspirationally
Cooking doesn’t have to be hard work. Make sure you’ve mastered a few basic recipes that you actually enjoy, that you can come back to again and again. Curries tend to be a great cuisine to easily ‘veganise’ and cook up in batches.
But also push yourself: half the fun is experimenting. Don’t settle for the same Quorn recipes week after week: push yourself when you can, and make sure it’s enjoyable.
7) Make it healthy
Pur veggies centre-stage and aim for as much colour and variety on your plate as possible. From rainbow-coloured chard to the burgundy colour of beetroot and vivid citrus tones – these are the key to better health and mood.
All of our recipes are nutritionally-balanced and packed with wholesome nourishing ingredients to keep you full and feeling your best. Let someone do the hard work and order your first recipe box today with £20 off.
8) Take it easy on yourself
Any major change is bound to be challenging at times. Take it a
9) Remember the power of community
Get yourself online for inspiration, community and support on your journey. There are so many incredible vegan cooking and baking blogs out there. And don’t forget you’ve already got a whole community of vegans and flexitarians waiting to chat on the private Mindful Chef Facebook community!
10) Track the benefits
Keep a diary of your energy levels and mood as you progress. People often report that eating vegan leads to more energy, better immunity and clearer skin. If you have an eye on the good stuff you’ll be more likely to stay motivated. And, if all else fails, remember one huge benefit of veganism: you can eat all the peanut butter you want!
Our final thoughts
Of course, we won’t all be fully vegan next year. It’s not right for everyone. But at Mindful Chef, we look forward to more people experimenting with plant-based meals on a weekly basis – in 2020 80% of our customers chose to eat a plant-based meal, which we think is pretty awesome. Let’s take care of ourselves and our planet, starting with how we eat.
Why not check out our range of healthy vegan ready meals today?