If you have started walking the path towards going vegan, you may have noticed that it can be a little bit overwhelming at first. It was not the case in the past, but nowadays there is so much data, so much marketed products and brands, which is absolutely great but it can be a lot! And you may have also noticed already as well that getting quality vegan sweet treats or desserts can be particularly an adventure. Let's dive into: Vegan Desserts and Sweet Treats: Easy DIY Recipes
In case you have already read our article Vegan Recipes For Beginners. An Easy and Complete Guide, you probably have some notions then about what going vegan implies. Veganism is not just about not eating meat -this is everybody's first step, and it's great! - but veganism is a way much more serious decision to commit yourself to the world around you and every living element in it. In this article, we''ll be sharing some tips for you to start walking towards veganism little by little.
We'll also recommend what food you can include and what food not to include in your vegan diet. And... as everybody loves a sweet treat from time to time -and that can be really an issue when you are vegan- we'll also share some easy vegan dessert recipes for you to try at home!
What was the first thing that made you feel that it was right for you to go vegan, in the first place? In my case, it was a mixture of both a complete physical rejection of meat -whether beef, chicken or pork-, my body couldn't process no more of this and some subsequent digestive issues showed up. But it was not only that. It just didn't feel right either to keep animals in pain for human advantage. That's the way I saw it when I decided to start my path towards vegetarianism and veganism, eventually.
Veganism is lifestyle that promotes not using products -whether food, cosmetics or clothes- that are the result of exploitation, torture and cruelty of any kind of animals from cows to snakes or crocodiles. At the same time veganism is a very active and prepositive movement that -luckily- has gained more popularity over the last decade.
A vegan way of life will not only exclude certain type of food but it will always seek for a balanced and healthy plant-based diet. Luckily nowadays, there in the market a lot of cruelty-free alternatives that not only seek to protect animals but also to promote consciousness on the need to take care of our natural resources because they are beyond valuable!
We are going to focus on this article mostly on a vegan dietary plan. So what does it imply, in practical terms, to have a vegan diet? A vegan diet is an eating program that will not include any animal product: no meat, no fish, no chicken, no eggs, no dairy nor honey.
At first sight it might look to you extremely poor in nutrients but it is not if you learn to find the right nutrients for your body in plant-based alternatives. Remember you need proteins not meat, you need calcium not milk. The more informed you are, the safer and more nutritious your choices will be.
As having a vegan diet requires that you choose your food more carefully, a wide variety of new food items and plant-based alternatives will open to you. The more you explore, the more you find. That's what is so exciting about going vegan... it will definitely change your body functions as you are taking new habits but most importantly it will also mean a shake up in all your system of values (hopefully).
Considering you are casting meat and any animal-derived product out of your diet, you'll necessarily be relying on other types of food.
What should I include? Try to choose more raw vegetables and fruits and try to but less processed food. As we always say, do not start any new health habits without consulting with your healthcare provider first. Remember you are forging new habits so take this easy. As your body adjusts, you will find what is better for you.
You will also learn to read food labels more carefully. Try to include anything that contains the following nutrients:
In case you're seriously considering veganism, you might like our post on How to go Vegan With No Setbacks For Beginners.
Something really worth mentioning at this point is that more and more people concerned with the wellbeing of our Planet Earth are choosing to go vegan because it has a lesser impact on the environment. That's correct!
As you get rid of animal products, you'll be directly reducing your individual food carbon footprint by up to 73%. It's been widely proven that plants produce a greater lesser impact to the world's carbon footprint than animals. Eventually, you'll be contributing also to the drop in greenhouse gas emissions, and the recovery of land lost to agriculture, which is one of the main causes of massive extinction of different animal species globally.
Scientific research demonstrates that living on a vegan diet is greatly beneficial to your health:
If you are a person that really enjoys a sweet treat, you may find it interesting to know that vegans didn't have many "sweet alternatives" in the past. But with the greater spread of veganism culture and a subsequent greater variety of vegan food in the market, that is no longer a problem. Nowadays, it's not very hard to find vegan ice-creams, vegan cakes and even vegan gummies!
But if you are a person that likes cooking at home, we'll share with you now a couple of delicious, easy-to-prepare vegan recipes for classic desserts.
(nonstick cooking spray)
all-purpose flour(125 g)> 1 cup
baking powder > 1 teaspoon
salt (a pinch)
no sugar applesauce: ½ cup
almond milk (any plant-based milk works): ½ cup
maple syrup: ¼ cup
vanilla extract > 2 teaspoons
apple cider vinegar > 1 teaspoon
for the chocolate cover:
powdered sugar > ½ cup
cocoa powder (dairy-free)> ½ cup
almond milk> ½ cup
vegan sprinkle > optional
Chocolate glaze: add the powdered sugar and the cocoa to a medium bowl and little by little pour the 2 tablespoons of milk until you get a smooth glaze.
Cover your donuts with the glaze, drop some vegan sprinkles (if you please) and that's it! Enjoy your vegan donuts!
Put this in the fridge and leave it there overnight!
For an even more delicious dessert, you can dip the strawberry pops into yogurt and then roll them in the granola and freeze them again for 30 minutes. Yummy!
So, going vegan might not look as a bad option at all! We encourage you to keep yourself informed and to go to your doctor or nutritionist before you introduce any changes in your diet. Going vegan is a win win for you, the animals and the planet! It's not necessary -however- that you make a decision right away to enjoy these delicious and easy recipes. I'm now craving for a delicious vegan strawberry pop! What about you?
You can find more options here: 6 Healthy Vegan Candies That You Can't Stop Trying