Becoming Vegan. What do I Eat?

So you have just become vegan, pinned on your "I am Vegan" badge, thrown out a few leather bags and suddenly wondered "What do I eat?". This is the first thing you may ask yourself and the answer is "So many things!". I don't want you to worry as you have such a crazily delicious food-filled future ahead of you! Read below for some exciting ideas to add to your new amazing food regime.

Breakfast:

• The good ol' toast or bagel... try a thick slice of wholemeal toasted bread with mashed avocado and tomato or the basic vegemite with dairy-free spread. Yum!
• Chia puddings - My favourite! See our recipe section.
• Overnight oats or morning oats. Oatmeal is yummy and easy! Try the following versions to keep it interesting: berry, apples and cinnamon, and chocolate.
• Big breakfast! Saute some tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and onions with a side of scrambled tofu!
• Baked beans on toast. Easy and simple.
• Vegan cereal... yes many vegan cereal products are vegan!
• Granola - make your own or buy it!
• Breakfast burritos or wraps - Saute some tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, onions and all of your favourite food.
• Pancakes, waffles, pikelets and crepes!
• Smoothies... so many variations and so easy!
• Fruit salads.
• Breakfast muffins.
• Vegan yoghurt - make your own or buy from the supermarket!
• A banana. Easy when you are on the run!

Lunch:

• Salads - Salads are so underrated. Try a middle-eastern style salad with falafel, a salad with some pan-fried tofu, beans, a roasted veggie salad or a cold noodle salad!
• Salad wraps, sandwiches or burgers.
• Veggie burgers - Buy store-bought burgers or make your own. Or just pan fry a slice of tofu or eggplant and throw it on a bun. Yum yum!
• Kebabs - Add falafel, salad, hummus, onions, tabouli etc... onto some pita bread. Roll it up, put it in the fry pan or in a sandwich press and voila! A kebab!
• Baked potato. Yummy and simple! 
• Potato Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Couscous or quinoa salads are nice and easy and taste delicious!

Dinner:

• Pasta - Make your famous spaghetti bolognese but swap the meat for beans, tofu, lentils, mushrooms, veggies, commercial meat substitutes etc... For creamy pastas, you could try our recipes for a vegan non-cream based version. Try our vegan parmesan cheese too... you will be amazed!
• Lasagne - Make your famous lasagne but swap the meat for beans, tofu, lentils, mushrooms, veggies, commercial meat substitutes etc...  make a vegan marinara sauce and our vegan bechamel sauce. Yum!
• Pizza - Make your delicious pizzas but try it veggie based! Throw on your favourite veggies, olives, onion and even purchase a vegan cheese alternative as a treat! Check our our vegan pizza recipes for more ideas! We even have a tandoori tofu pizza and a vegan hawaiian pizza! Oh yes. 
• Mexican - You can still eat your favourite tacos, burritos and fajitas... just sub some beans, refried beans, tofu, rice or veggies to replace the meat. Make a cashew based sour cream or purchase a vegan sour cream if you need it! Don't forget the guacamole! Yum yum yum. 
• Soups - Make your normal pumpkin soup or other soup and use veggie stock and skip the cream. Oh, and don't forget some delicious garlic bread! Yes yes yes.
• Salads - Salads are so underrated. Try a middle-eastern style salad with falafel, a salad with some pan-fried tofu, beans, a roasted veggie salad or a cold noodle salad!
• Burgers - Yes you can still have a burger! Try a veggie patty burger, a falafel style burger, an eggplant schnitzel burger or buy some veggie patties or schnitzels from the supermarket for an easy quick option. Oh, and we also have a vegan big mac burger recipe on here... I am not joking. 
• Noodles - There is nothing better than a big bowl of noodles. Make a chinese style noodle with sesame oil, broccoli, chinese greens and tofu. How about a vegan style pad thai but replace the egg with tofu and veggies? Yum yum yum! Or make a veggie and black bean noodle dish without the beef! It is so easy :)
• Curries - Make a vegan style curry without the cream by using coconut milk. Sub in some veggies, cashews and other deliciousness instead of the meat. Buy a vegan red curry paste and add veggies and coconut milk for a vegan red curry. Or make our vegan korma or tikka masala for a tasty Indian dish!
• Steamed veggies or roast veggies. Sometimes I just want a nice clean bowl of veggies. You could even make a vegan gravy for that extra something special! 
• BBQ - throw some vegan sausages, tofu, corn cobs and onions on the barbecue. Yummy!

Snacks:

• Veggie sticks or crackers with dip. Hummus is amazing! Most supermarkets have a good range of vegan dips. Or make your own!
• Smoothies. Delicious, easy and so filling!
• Fresh fruit.
• Fruit and nut balls. Check out our recipe section!
• Make some healthy muffins in advance and freeze them.
• Crackers with tomato, avocado and cucumber.
• Trail mix.
• Toast.
• Tofu sticks.
• Baked potato.

Once you are confident with your vegan cooking, start to experiment! Have a go at our vegan recipes, check out some other vegan blogs and websites, buy a vegan cookbook or make up your own! Have fun with it. Enjoy!

The meal ideas above are simply 'ideas' and 'suggestions'. This list is not a meal plan and does not take into account health factors or other circumstances. This list has been created to provide ideas for newbies on what types of things are easy and quick to make.