Being vegan isn’t what it used to be. The amount of vegan options available is exploding. Most grocery stores even have a designated area for plant-based items in the refrigerated and freezer sections.
Years ago, following a vegan diet must have been quite different. I have noticed an increase in the variety and brand of items available in the grocery stores even just since we started following a vegan diet nearly 6 months ago! While some of the products listed below have been around a long time, they are starting to become more mainstream and more widely available in a number of different stores.
So here’s why I think that this year–2020–is the perfect time to start a plant-based diet.
Nut Milk
Milk is something people can’t imagine giving up. Plus there’s the massive lie by the dairy industry that we have to drink milk in order to get strong bones. Just. Not. True.
Plant-based milks have been around for hundreds of years. With the decrease in cow’s milk consumption and rise in plant milk consumption, there is a larger demand than ever.
Almond, coconut, rice, and soy milks are the most popular types. Other plant-based milks include cashew, peanut, hemp seed, oat, barley, and so many others.
Some plant-based milks are also sold fortified with various vitamins and minerals, including calcium.
Other dairy alternatives
Another growing trend among consumers are plant-based dairy alternatives. With plant-based products sold by fully vegan companies such as Daiya, Miyoko’s, JUST, Kite Hill, Silk, Califia Farms, Oatly, So Delicious, and Earth Balance, it is easier than ever to find alternatives to those dairy products you crave!
Protein alternatives
Here’s another myth: vegans are deficient in protein. If you are eating a variety of grains and produce, you’re getting enough protein.
In fact, it’s actually quite easy for a vegan diet to meet the recommendations for protein intake. Not only do beans, grains, nuts, and seeds contain protein, but almost all vegetables contain protein as well.
In addition to whole foods, there are other ways to get added protein and nutrients on a plant-based diet using seitan, tofu, tempeh, or TVP.
And with the influx of plant-based meat alternatives, such Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger hitting the market, there’s never a craving that can’t be satisfied.
Nutritional Yeast
Making your own cheese substitute at home is a cinch when you keep nutritional yeast on hand.
Nutritional yeast is similar to yeast used in baking, but it undergoes a heating and drying process which makes it inactive. It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12.
Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy flavor and can be used in a number of ways. Some of the most popular include using it to make cheese sauces and parmesan cheese, adding it to tofu scrambled eggs, and sprinkling it on fresh popcorn as a snack.
Trendy fruits and vegetables
Healthy eating has become more popular recently. You can go to any regular grocery store and find a wide variety of produce. Before transitioning to a plant-based diet, I would have rarely bought vegetables outside of my comfort zone. I had my same usual veggies I cooked with and that was that! Since expanding my “culinary skills” (I use that term loosely), I’m amazed at how easy it is to find new and exciting veggies to try.
It’s also getting easier to find canned jackfruit in supermarkets. Jackfruit is used as a vegan meat substitute, because it shreds just like chicken or pork.
The first time I used jackfruit, I was really nervous! Turns out, I was intimidated for nothing. It’s extremely easy to cook, shreds easily, and to my surprise, it had a very similar texture to other shredded meats. Even my husband was pleasantly surprised at my BBQ jackfruit sandwiches. 🤗
Specialty markets and Restaurants
Specialty markets are everywhere! Asian and Mexican specialty grocery stores are great places to find exotic produce and vegan friendly ingredients. Sometimes I go there just to find inspiration!
These days, restaurants in general have more options available. Many restaurants and cafes offer a full vegan menu or have several vegan-friendly dishes available. As food allergies become more common and people seek out more healthy options, chefs are adapting and menus are reflecting these changes. Even if there is not a vegan-specific item on the menu, the chef will likely be able to make you a plant-based dish.
Kombucha and Kimchi
OK, kombucha and kimchi have been around for a while, but they’re so yummy, they get their own mention.
Kombucha is fermented tea that contains antioxidants and is packed full of probiotics. Not only does it have a wide array of health benefits, but it tastes great too. Personally though, I just can’t stand the smell of it 😬
A traditional Korean dish, kimchi is simply salted, fermented vegetables. Cabbage is usually the main vegetable, but it may also contain cucumber, scallions, radish, celery, carrot, or bamboo shoots. Kimchi is packed with nutrients and probiotics and also provides an array of health benefits. Just make sure the kimchi you buy is vegan and does not contain fish sauce or shrimp.
I absolutely love kimchi. I prefer to buy the spicy kind, but it’s a matter of taste. I’ve made a number of recipes using kimchi, but I’ve also been known to just eat it straight out of the jar as a snack 😳 Remember, this is a judgement-free zone! 😂
Allergy-friendly options
With the number of food allergies growing, allergy-friendly products are becoming more prominent and easier to find, not just in speciality stores. Even some vegan products are gluten free, nut free, and soy free. Always read labels and double check that it’s not made in a facility that also produces known allergy triggers.
Fast food options
Too tired to cook after a long day of work? Kids fought all day and you didn’t have time to fix dinner? Or just don’t like cooking at all?
Our favorite “fast food” meal is Chipotle. Not only is it delicious, but it’s a healthy option as well. Sofritas (shredded tofu) is the meat alternative or you can get grilled vegetables.
Refried beans at Taco Bell are vegan, and ordering just got easier with this guide.
It’s been everywhere in the news, so not knowing about Burger King is almost impossible (see what I did there?! 🤣) Just be sure to order the Impossible Whopper without mayo. And bonus, their fries are vegan!
Ironically, McDonald’s, the largest fast food chain in the world, does not currently have a plant-based burger on their menu. And strike number two, their fries are not vegan. So if it’s McDonald’s for dinner, you’ll be ordering a salad with balsamic dressing and no chicken or cheese.
Here are the available vegan options at Wendy’s.
Available vegan options at Panera.
If you don’t feel like leaving the house, check Uber Eats or other food delivery services in your area, such as GrubHub or DoorDash. You may be pleasantly surprised what vegan friendly options are available.
While I certainly don’t recommend a plant-based diet centered solely on fast food, I’m realistic and know we all need something quick to eat from time to time, so once in a while is fine.
Keep in mind, a lot of fast food restaurants do not have a separate work space or fryer when preparing vegan food, so some cross contamination with meat may occur.
More options when traveling
Disney World now has vegan options.
Vegan cruise lines exist.
Even Cedar Point has vegan options listed on their website.
Wherever you’re traveling, pack some non perishable vegan snacks. If you are traveling out of the country, make sure you know what the customs rules are regarding food. Once you arrive at your destination, find the closest grocery store and see what they have available, just in case you can’t find any other options.
If you’re like me and prefer to plan ahead, spend some time before your trip figuring out what restaurants have vegan options or what menu items you could tweak to make vegan. Or find natural health food stores or local farmers markets if you prefer cooking in.
Personally, I think Tripadvisor is more trouble than it should be. Adding “vegan” into the filter option doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the restaurant has vegan options. The menu may only have a salad available, so I find Tripadvisor’s search engine to require a bit more work reading through each menu.
We haven’t taken a big trip yet since switching to a plant-based diet, so I’m eager to try out these websites:
HappyCow.net to find vegan restaurants near you and
VeganTravel.com for travel tips and vegan travel guides to over 80 countries.
Information availability
The sheer amount of information at our fingertips is astounding. We can have multiple articles, research results, and study findings in front of us in seconds. Finding the information you want has never been easier.
I can’t imagine a world without Pinterest. I use it all. the. time. The vast majority of recipes I cook? Found on Pinterest. Cruelty free products? Found the list on Pinterest. Information on how to cook the new foods in my diet? Yep. Pinterest.
If you don’t have a Pinterest account, get one. Get one now. I used it before, but since starting a plant-based diet and converting to a vegan lifestyle, I use Pinterest all the time. It’s an amazing resource and tool, even if those picture-perfect vegan dishes put my humble plates to shame! 🤷♀️
If you still need more reasons why 2020 is the year to start a plant-based diet, here’s a good place to start.
Let me also just say: I do not normally have this many processed foods in the house (such as dairy and meat alternatives.) I try to stick to a mostly whole foods plant based diet. However, with COVID-19 spreading and making the decision early on to self-quarantine and isolate ourselves for the foreseeable future, I had to stock up on freezer items and non perishables. For the healthiest option, I do not recommend processed foods on a consistent basis. 😊
Have you ever used happycow.net or vegantravel.com? What did you like about them? I’m excited to try them out!