There was a time when vegans were very much an after thought. Being a vegetarian was bad enough, but if you had the audacity to be a vegan, well then you only had yourself to blame. Going out for a vegan friendly meal would often include the following:
- In-depth research into the menu before daring to book a table
- Lengthy conversation with a waiter who will need to ‘check with the chef’
- Foraging through your meal (often a salad) only to find out that it contains Parmesan
- A new Parmesan-free meal, so bland that it is almost unpalatable
Times have changed – whilst some of the general public may be slower to notice the shift – vegans and vegan brands have joined forces to promote a new type of veganism, one which appeals to a young, ethically ‘woke’ new following – mostly via the use of social media.
Those businesses who choose to ignore this crowd will ultimately regret it. Most have not and as a result the average vegan can now find alternatives on anything from food to clothing.
For those of you who are keen to try veganism, but still feel you might be missing out, there are a few ways to make it easier on yourself. Check out some vegan indulgences that won’t leave you hankering after your old diet…
Vegan Chocolate: Love Cocoa
Eating chocolate can be a guilt free experience if you do it right. Love Cocoa is a premium chocolate start-up developed by James Cadbury (the great-great-great grandson of the original Mr John Cadbury). Their gourmet bars are vegan, palm oil free and an absolute must for chocolate cravings. The best bit is that they offer next-day delivery through your letterbox – that’s right, beautifully packaged, guilt free chocolate delivered by your postman:
Oh wow, just wow! These chocolate bars are hands down the best I have had…and I mean ever. had. Every bar has such great flavour, but after trying the Sweet ‘n’ Salty Almond bar…let’s just say, I had to take a minute to compose myself (btw: that particular bar won a Great Taste Star Award). High in fibre, gluten free, organic, vegan and 45% less sugar – that’s great, but did I mention THEY ARE DELICIOUS!?
Wine:
What’s that? You didn’t realise that wine wasn’t vegan friendly? Join the club. Award winning wine producers, Proudly Vegan are said to be the only wine on the high street which is 100% vegan, right down to the ink and glue on the label. They are on a mission to prove delicious wine does not require any type of animal product to be used in the production process.’The Sauvignon Blanc is as good as the Merlot – which is to say they are both very drinkable. They really don’t lose anything at all by being vegan wines. Proudly Vegan is registered with The Vegan Society.
Lager:
Celia is a refreshing, sandy-hued lager, great even for the most seasoned drinker. Gluten-free and vegan friendly, Celia is also an organic brand too so another (almost) guilt free option.
They say Botonique is a satisfying alternative to wine, but to be honest it tastes more like a health drink. It may be a good option to have on the table with a bottle of actual wine as it replaces the nutrients alcohol depletes – it contains botanical extracts and is enriched with Prelixir vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The flavour is very light and has a touch of pear juice, so quite fruity too. The bottle is absolutely beautiful, put one on your table for a fancy dinner party to impress your guests.
Snacks:
Boundless activated nuts and seeds are vegan-friendly snack bags that are a real taste explosion. They use ancient Aztec and Aborigine techniques of soaking and baking nuts and seeds to unlock their nutrients for better digestion. Boundless have found a way of cracking the dense shells and fusing fun and flavour together in a nutrient-dense, high-fibre, and perfectly portioned treat that tastes delicious. They’re perfect for snacking on their own, or adding to your porridge or yoghurt.
The Goodness Project have the ultimate in subscription boxes – I mean, seriously good value for money. You will be surprised by just how much you get in each box, even the cheaper boxes are pretty darn good. You will discover the best vegan, natural and gluten-free products on the market and will have enough from each box to last you until your next delivery. An absolutely brilliant gift for your vegan friend or just a treat for yourself, this box has everything from snacks to drinks to toiletries in every box.
We have voted The Goodness Project subscription boxes our product of the month.
