Veganism has come a long way from being a hipster fad to a full-fledged lifestyle. For the unaware, veganism is a lifestyle in which no animals or animal by-products are consumed or used. This is what separates its followers from vegetarians and non-vegetarians and in India especially, it can be a fairly expensive and sometimes tedious lifestyle change. Since diet is the primary part of veganism, swapping foods for certain vegan-friendly alternatives can help along the way. If you're a vegan, try these 6 plant-based foods that are perfectly safe to add to your diet.
1. Swap Milk For Nut Milk
While milk is only thought of in tea and coffee, it is actually used in a number of ways in the kitchen; be it in curries, milkshakes or puddings. A vegan alternative to cow, goat or buffalo milk is nut milk. Made from soy, almonds, rice and even hemp, they may not be as creamy but are tasty and nutty in flavour.
2. Swap Butter For Olive Oil
Instead of slathering toast with butter, vegans can sprinkle theirs with olive oil. The oil is extracted from olives and is filled with anti-oxidants and good fats. It tastes great when garnished over salads and used in cooking too. Oils of almond, coconut and canola are also vegan-friendly choices when cooking.
3. Swap Ice Cream For Frozen Bananas
If it's ice cream that is holding you back from switching to the vegan side, this will make you change your mind. When a few frozen bananas are blended to a thick paste, they have the texture and consistency of ice cream. Add fresh fruit to the mix and you've got yourself a real dessert, commonly called 'nice cream'.
4. Swap Meat For Vegetables, Tofu, Tempeh
The most obvious vegan change is that of white and red meat. They called be swapped for lentils, vegetables, tofu and tempeh. While vegetables can be grilled, roasted and curried, lentils and tempeh can be used to make patties. Tofu also works well as a plant-based addition in dishes.
5. Swap Cheese For Cashew Cheese
One of the most difficult food items that vegans have to leave is cheese. Luckily, there's an alternative in cashew nuts. Just as milk is made from these nuts, it's possible to make or purchase cheese from them as well. It may not taste the same as cheddar or swiss, but it's a good substitute in a vegan diet. Other vegan cheeses made from almonds, potatoes, chickpeas and tofu are also available.
6. Swap Cream For Avocado
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When it comes to baking pies and cakes, switching over to the vegan side can leave you grasping at straws. In place of dairy cream, you can use avocado. Although a savoury vegetable, it has a neutral flavour and a buttery rich consistency which works well when used in baking.
