Hello!
Being Vegetarian and Vegan can be a challenging time around the holidays, especially if you're just starting out. As a vegetarian for almost 3 years I don't get cravings anymore. However my first Christmas as a veggie didn't go very well. I ended up with a slice of Turkey on my plate.
The most important thing to remember is slipping up is natural and completely okay. A tiny bit of meat doesn't mean you have to give up this lifestyle, that's something a lot of new veggies seem to misunderstand.
In this post I'm going to give you some tips for staying veggie during the holidays.
Substitution:
Instead of turkey my grandma makes me a lovely nut roast that is always gorgeous and a perfect main. You can also spice up your nut roast with curry powder which is something my gran did one year and it was amazing!
If there's chicken on the table then have some halloumi instead! Halloumi is a life saver for me when it comes to chicken cravings as its salty and juicy and a similar texture also best served hot; a lot like chicken (and other birds) And it's a cheese. However I'm sure there are vegan versions as well.
Mince pies are the torture for me every Christmas. This festive little treat contains suet, the fat of beef or mutton. An easy slip up I did several times my first year however have managed to stay away. Alternative Christmas treats are regularly served along side mice pies such as shortbread, cookies & sometimes vegan treats too. Don't fall into the festive trap!
Cheese boards may be your craving if you're a vegan. You could try ask the host to supply vegan cheese. Often you'll find grapes or even pickles, tomatoes or nuts by a cheese plate. Try stick to what yo know is good for you.
Gravy is a simple one. Simple ask the host for a vegetarian gravy. My family always save the (vegetable) oil, the veggie juices, the water they're cooked in and make the gravy out of that, and it tastes amazing.
This leads us on to our next section.
Ask the host:
An important thing is to tell the host/cook (if it's not you) to make sure there are plenty of vegetarian/vegan options for you to eat or else you'll be starving for the whole day. If they're uneducated in the matter why not give them some ideas or preferences in the types of foods you would like to see there.
Stay away:
By this I don't mean insist you isolate yourself from family and friends whilst they're eating. I mean is the food is laid out on the table you're eating at, then sit at the end of the table where the meat isn't instead where the vegetables and your substitutions are.
If you're not in reach of it then it's unlikely you'll slip some onto your plate.
Leftovers:
Peckish the next day? You go to the fridge and there sat right in front of you is half a turkey left...
If you begin to crave it then just follow these two steps...
1) Remember why you're a veggie. You're doing this for yourself and the planet. Think about that Turkey before before it was slaughtered. However DON'T put these thoughts into actions and go have an argument with your family and friends because they ate the turkey. You have to accept their views as well.
2) Search the fridge for other leftovers like vegetables, desserts, fruit, your substitutions. You don't have to have a cold turkey sandwich on boxing day. There's nothing wrong with a lovely soup made from the left over veggies!
That's all I have for today. Good luck and have a very merry holiday!
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Showing posts with label Vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegan. Show all posts
Sunday, 4 December 2016
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Vegan & Cruelty Free Cosmetics
Hello!
Cosmetics. Something a lot of the population uses in one way or another. But so much better when they aren't tested on animals.
The majority of these are Drugstore Cosmetics rather than High-End.
I'm going to put them into genres so you can skip to make up, shower stuff, face stuff, body stuff, hair stuff, etc :)
Make Up Products:
Going by brands:
- Collection (CF & partly vegan)
- Barry M (CF & vegan)
- Sleek (CF & partly vegan)
- Lush (CF & vegan)
- e.l.f ( CF & vegan)
- Superdrug Cosmetics (CF)
- NYX (CF & partly vegan)
These are a few of the main brands.
Hair Products:
Going by products I use:
Dry shampoo - Batiste Blush
Hairspray -
Hair wax - Fudge Urban Matte Wax (CF)
Shower/Shampoo Products:
Going by products I use:
Shampoo - Vosene Original (CF)
Body Scrub - TreacleMoon My Coconut Island (CF & Vegan)
Shower Gel - Original Source Lemon (CF & Vegan)
Shower Cream - Body Shop (CF)
Face Wash/Scrubs/Cleanse/Moisturising Products:
Going by products I use:
Body Lotion - JustCoco Coconut water (CF & Vegan)
Face Scrub - SuperDrug Deep Action Blackhead Clearing
Face Scrub - Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pore & Shine
Face Moisturizer - Coconut Oil
Body Spray - Impulse Very Pink (CF)
Oils:
Tea Tree Oil - Body Shop
Coconut Oil - Coco Loco
Hope this helps :)
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Cosmetics. Something a lot of the population uses in one way or another. But so much better when they aren't tested on animals.
The majority of these are Drugstore Cosmetics rather than High-End.
I'm going to put them into genres so you can skip to make up, shower stuff, face stuff, body stuff, hair stuff, etc :)
Make Up Products:
Going by brands:
- Collection (CF & partly vegan)
- Barry M (CF & vegan)
- Sleek (CF & partly vegan)
- Lush (CF & vegan)
- e.l.f ( CF & vegan)
- Superdrug Cosmetics (CF)
- NYX (CF & partly vegan)
These are a few of the main brands.
Hair Products:
Going by products I use:
Dry shampoo - Batiste Blush
Hairspray -
Hair wax - Fudge Urban Matte Wax (CF)
Shower/Shampoo Products:
Going by products I use:
Shampoo - Vosene Original (CF)
Body Scrub - TreacleMoon My Coconut Island (CF & Vegan)
Shower Gel - Original Source Lemon (CF & Vegan)
Shower Cream - Body Shop (CF)
Face Wash/Scrubs/Cleanse/Moisturising Products:
Going by products I use:
Body Lotion - JustCoco Coconut water (CF & Vegan)
Face Scrub - SuperDrug Deep Action Blackhead Clearing
Face Scrub - Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pore & Shine
Face Moisturizer - Coconut Oil
Body Spray - Impulse Very Pink (CF)
Oils:
Tea Tree Oil - Body Shop
Coconut Oil - Coco Loco
Hope this helps :)
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake!
Hello and welcome!
Today I want to share with you a recipe I recently found on how to make a Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake!
Now that its October and the weather is getting colder, wouldn't love to cozy up on a dark and chilly night with a lovely warm mug of chocolate cake. I know I would! And you vegans can too.
What you'll need:
4 tbsp s.f. flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp oil
4 tbsp almond milk (or soya, cocount, or whatever other substitute)
optional: lightly crushed nuts or (dairy free) chocolate chips
Put all ingredients into your favourite mug and stir it up
Bake in the microwave for about a minute. You can make it for a minutes longer if you want it really "cakey"
And there you go! A super easy vegan mug cake :D
See you next time <3
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Today I want to share with you a recipe I recently found on how to make a Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake!
Now that its October and the weather is getting colder, wouldn't love to cozy up on a dark and chilly night with a lovely warm mug of chocolate cake. I know I would! And you vegans can too.
What you'll need:
4 tbsp s.f. flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp oil
4 tbsp almond milk (or soya, cocount, or whatever other substitute)
optional: lightly crushed nuts or (dairy free) chocolate chips
Put all ingredients into your favourite mug and stir it up
Bake in the microwave for about a minute. You can make it for a minutes longer if you want it really "cakey"
And there you go! A super easy vegan mug cake :D
See you next time <3
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Sunday, 25 September 2016
6 Snacks for Students - Healthy, Quick & Easy
Hello!
So being a busy student can make you hungry, especially if you're under a lot of stress and exams. It's very easy to start stress eating and binging on unhealthy food that doesn't give you the energy that you need. I'm going to give you 6 different ideas on things that are going to keep you satisfied whilst you study hard!
1. Apples with Cinnamon
This is a very simple one yet I only found out about it not so long ago.
Chop the apple up into 8ths or thinner/thicker slices if you like and sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on them. To spice it up a bit more, why not sprinkle a little brown sugar on top as well.
Apple's are great for keeping the mind focused and memory and the cinnamon simply gives it a slight alternative taste to normal apples.
2. Frozen Grapes
This one is for all you sweetie fans out there.
I like to think this is the healthier alternative for boiled candy. So if you've got a bit of sweet tooth when it comes to your stress eating. Keeping a bunch a grapes in the freeze is the best way to go.
3. Roasted Chickpeas
This again is very simple but does take longer than the others... But completely worth it of course!
Start of with rinsing, draining and drying your chickpeas. Toss them with some salt and olive oil and roast them at 200 degrees C or 400 degrees F. Tossing them every 10 minutes, leave them to crisp for 20 to 30 minutes. Don't forget the spices! Why not try combinations of cumin and chilli, salt and vinegar, lemon zest and rosemary, paprika. It's completely up to you. These are just like popcorn, crispy and flavoursome. A great snack for when you've got the munchies.
4. Banana Toast
This one is actually what I have as a breakfast regularly.
It's very quick however looks and tastes amazing. Simply slice a banana up, say 1cm to 3cm thick depending on how you like it. Pop some bread in the toaster and once its ready just create a layer of banana on the toast. You can then spice it up with some toppings I like to use cinnamon/nutmeg or honey/maple syrup but you could add oats, nuts, sugar, hummus even.
5. Veggie Boats
These are something I like to call veggie boats. The combinations are completely up to you.
So celery would work best because of their curved/spoon like shape but carrots and cucumbers would work just as great if you scoop a little of the middle out. And there you have your boats. For the filling in the boats you could have peanut/almond butter, salsa, avocado, hummus, vegan dip, or something similar. Next why not top them off with something. I'd recommend dates, nuts, diced pepper/tomatoes, chopped olives. Of course making sure the flavour fits with the boat and the boat filling.
6. Fruit Popsicles
Do you like smoothies? Well have you ever tried them frozen?
My mum and I made these all the time throughout summer. My favourite was frozen strawberries, frozen banana and melon with a splash of almond milk. Blend, then pour into ice lolly moulders and leave to freeze. Then take them out when you're ready for a refreshing fruity ice lolly. Perfect for cooling down those overheating student brains.
Again sorry for the lack of pictures. I do aim to start adding images as soon as I get the time!
I hope this has inspired you to stay energised whilst being a student. Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these because I'd love to hear your opinion! Again sorry about the lack pictures. I do aim to start uploading my own images just haven the got anytime at the moment :)
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
So being a busy student can make you hungry, especially if you're under a lot of stress and exams. It's very easy to start stress eating and binging on unhealthy food that doesn't give you the energy that you need. I'm going to give you 6 different ideas on things that are going to keep you satisfied whilst you study hard!
1. Apples with Cinnamon
This is a very simple one yet I only found out about it not so long ago.
Chop the apple up into 8ths or thinner/thicker slices if you like and sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on them. To spice it up a bit more, why not sprinkle a little brown sugar on top as well.
Apple's are great for keeping the mind focused and memory and the cinnamon simply gives it a slight alternative taste to normal apples.
2. Frozen Grapes
This one is for all you sweetie fans out there.
I like to think this is the healthier alternative for boiled candy. So if you've got a bit of sweet tooth when it comes to your stress eating. Keeping a bunch a grapes in the freeze is the best way to go.
3. Roasted Chickpeas
This again is very simple but does take longer than the others... But completely worth it of course!
Start of with rinsing, draining and drying your chickpeas. Toss them with some salt and olive oil and roast them at 200 degrees C or 400 degrees F. Tossing them every 10 minutes, leave them to crisp for 20 to 30 minutes. Don't forget the spices! Why not try combinations of cumin and chilli, salt and vinegar, lemon zest and rosemary, paprika. It's completely up to you. These are just like popcorn, crispy and flavoursome. A great snack for when you've got the munchies.
4. Banana Toast
This one is actually what I have as a breakfast regularly.
It's very quick however looks and tastes amazing. Simply slice a banana up, say 1cm to 3cm thick depending on how you like it. Pop some bread in the toaster and once its ready just create a layer of banana on the toast. You can then spice it up with some toppings I like to use cinnamon/nutmeg or honey/maple syrup but you could add oats, nuts, sugar, hummus even.
5. Veggie Boats
These are something I like to call veggie boats. The combinations are completely up to you.
So celery would work best because of their curved/spoon like shape but carrots and cucumbers would work just as great if you scoop a little of the middle out. And there you have your boats. For the filling in the boats you could have peanut/almond butter, salsa, avocado, hummus, vegan dip, or something similar. Next why not top them off with something. I'd recommend dates, nuts, diced pepper/tomatoes, chopped olives. Of course making sure the flavour fits with the boat and the boat filling.
6. Fruit Popsicles
Do you like smoothies? Well have you ever tried them frozen?
My mum and I made these all the time throughout summer. My favourite was frozen strawberries, frozen banana and melon with a splash of almond milk. Blend, then pour into ice lolly moulders and leave to freeze. Then take them out when you're ready for a refreshing fruity ice lolly. Perfect for cooling down those overheating student brains.
Again sorry for the lack of pictures. I do aim to start adding images as soon as I get the time!
I hope this has inspired you to stay energised whilst being a student. Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these because I'd love to hear your opinion! Again sorry about the lack pictures. I do aim to start uploading my own images just haven the got anytime at the moment :)
~ Happy Lil' Plant Life
Monday, 22 August 2016
Buddha Bowl Inspiration
Hello again!
Today I wanna show you a Buddah Bowl recipe. This one is vegetarian but can easily be modified to be Vegan so don't worry!
Take a look at this beauty!
Ok so a Buddah bowl is basically veg and pulses and rice and all sorts of yummy random stuff in a bowl and usually laid out quiet aesthetically. The one above has in:
Spinach
Wild Rice
Mashed Sweet Potato (mashed with no butter or milk)
Green Pepper
Tomato
Halloumi (vegan option could be beans)
Jalapeños
Salsa
Olives
It sounds like a lot but adding the amount of each thing you want it does end up being quite filling! There isn't really a recipe I can give you for this as it's based on what you want and how much you want.
Here are some other examples of Buddah Bowls from the Internet ...
Hope this has given you some inspiration to try a Buddah Bowl :)
~ Happy Lil Plant Life
Today I wanna show you a Buddah Bowl recipe. This one is vegetarian but can easily be modified to be Vegan so don't worry!
Take a look at this beauty!
Ok so a Buddah bowl is basically veg and pulses and rice and all sorts of yummy random stuff in a bowl and usually laid out quiet aesthetically. The one above has in:
Spinach
Wild Rice
Mashed Sweet Potato (mashed with no butter or milk)
Green Pepper
Tomato
Halloumi (vegan option could be beans)
Jalapeños
Salsa
Olives
It sounds like a lot but adding the amount of each thing you want it does end up being quite filling! There isn't really a recipe I can give you for this as it's based on what you want and how much you want.
Here are some other examples of Buddah Bowls from the Internet ...
Hope this has given you some inspiration to try a Buddah Bowl :)
~ Happy Lil Plant Life
Monday, 2 May 2016
3 Vegan Super Smoothies!
Hello!
Here are 3 of my favourite vegan smoothies! Full of flavour, iron, protein, carbs, vitamins & minerals, the whole lot!
You can substitute things to your preference these are just some smoothies I made up and make all the time. Feel free to use frozen fruits, but fresh are so much more tastier!
(Just a heads up, these photos aren't mine because I haven't had time to take quality photos. So these are just ones of the internet that look really similar. I will be using my own photos in the future!)
1) "Green As Grass!"
- 2 kiwis
- 1 large banana
- small handful of oats
- large handful of spinach
- big splash of almond milk
Blend it all up and drink away!
This one is so refreshing and gives you that boost of energy you need during the day. Great for lunch or breakfast. You can't taste the spinach so don't worry if you're not a fan. All you can taste is the kiwi!
2) "I'm So Berry Happy!"
- handful of strawberries
- handful of raspberries
- handful of blueberries
- add any other berries if you like
- 1 banana
- large splash of almond milk
- handful of almonds and cashews (or any nuts of your choice)
Blend time!
This isn't just a burst of freshness its got that hint of nutty taste too! Kuz why not? Very refreshing, great for breakfast or a snack on a sunny day!
3) "It's so red!"
- 1/2 a watermelon (make sure to remove seeds)
- handful of strawberries
- 1 banana
- squeeze 1/2 a lime in
- small handful of chia seeds
- large splash of almond milk
Blend away and ta daa!
This should be a beautiful, fresh cup of colour. It's quite a sour and zingy one, great for a sunny day and you just need that refreshing boost! The chia seeds just give it a bit more texture and contrast in appearance giving it that faux watermelon seed look too.
I hope this has given you some inspiration for you to make some vegan super smoothies!
~ Happy Lil Plant Life ^.^
Here are 3 of my favourite vegan smoothies! Full of flavour, iron, protein, carbs, vitamins & minerals, the whole lot!
You can substitute things to your preference these are just some smoothies I made up and make all the time. Feel free to use frozen fruits, but fresh are so much more tastier!
(Just a heads up, these photos aren't mine because I haven't had time to take quality photos. So these are just ones of the internet that look really similar. I will be using my own photos in the future!)
1) "Green As Grass!"
- 2 kiwis
- 1 large banana
- small handful of oats
- large handful of spinach
- big splash of almond milk
Blend it all up and drink away!
This one is so refreshing and gives you that boost of energy you need during the day. Great for lunch or breakfast. You can't taste the spinach so don't worry if you're not a fan. All you can taste is the kiwi!
2) "I'm So Berry Happy!"
- handful of strawberries
- handful of raspberries
- handful of blueberries
- add any other berries if you like
- 1 banana
- large splash of almond milk
- handful of almonds and cashews (or any nuts of your choice)
Blend time!
This isn't just a burst of freshness its got that hint of nutty taste too! Kuz why not? Very refreshing, great for breakfast or a snack on a sunny day!
3) "It's so red!"
- 1/2 a watermelon (make sure to remove seeds)
- handful of strawberries
- 1 banana
- squeeze 1/2 a lime in
- small handful of chia seeds
- large splash of almond milk
Blend away and ta daa!
This should be a beautiful, fresh cup of colour. It's quite a sour and zingy one, great for a sunny day and you just need that refreshing boost! The chia seeds just give it a bit more texture and contrast in appearance giving it that faux watermelon seed look too.
I hope this has given you some inspiration for you to make some vegan super smoothies!
~ Happy Lil Plant Life ^.^
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