Many people, myself included, find it hard to consciously change their eating habits, especially if they don't really need to (in case of allergies or other health issues). If you have spent your entire life on a meat & dairy menu, going vegan can be scary. What will I eat? Will I be hungry? Will I get my nutrition?
Truth is, the change doesn't have to be so radical. You can start step by step.
Every vegan cookbook tells you in chapter 1 that you must eliminate all meat and dairy products and stock your pantry with vegan versions instead. Buy quinoa, algae, bulgur, a home flour mill and milk producers, miso, agar agar, commercial egg replacer.... whoa, hold on!
Before your head starts spinning and you spend hundreds of euros on kitchen appliances and exotic groceries you've never heard of, stop a moment to think about it.
You don't really need all that. Not in the beginning anyway. I don't need that yet and have already cooked quite a few vegan meals the past year. Surely, with time you will probably want to expand your horizons, try new meals and new combinations, but not when you start. Don't make the transition more difficult than it needs to be.
Start slowly.
Remove milk from your fridge. Where not absolutely necessary, try to omit. Buy a small package of vanilla or chocolate soy milk for taste. Your taste buds will slowly get you accustomed to the new flavor. Try a soy latte at Starbucks. I'm not a huge fan of soy milk in my coffee, but I really loved Starbucks (and they buy organic)!
But don't stick to only soy replacements. Try rice drinks, oat milk (esp. good with cereals), almond, coconut milk. The choice is unbelievable, but I find myself working best with oat & soy products.
Replace butter with a dairy free version. Provamel is a popular brand in Europe and has a really good version of soy margarine (as well as some delicious drinks & yogurt). Use olive oil and other natural oils for cold dressing (peanut oil, pumpkin oil, sesame oil,...)
Buy a vegan cookbook that doesn't have exotic combinations, but rather focuses on general meals. You can always expand your collection later on.
Veganize regular meals. Make mashed potatoes using soy milk and vegan butter (I enjoy this even more than regular mashed potatoes). Use soy cream instead of regular cream. Stuff your peppers with veggies, rice and millet, instead of meat. Make meals that you feel comfortable making.
Try baking vegan muffins, an apple strudel or some other vegan sweets. Try a vegan ice cream or better - buy an ice cream maker and make your own egg-less creamy ice cream using fresh strawberries (the "don't buy kitchen appliances" doesn't apply to fresh home-made ice cream!).
Slowly remove meat from your menu. If you've always made gnocchi with bolognese sauce, try a cream sauce or tomato sauce for change. You can even try with a soy "bolognese" base. Instead of a meat burger, try a soy, lentil or tofu burger. Make potato or zucchini steaks with a bowl of salad.
Eating vegan can be a challenge especially in a mixed household, when you need to cook for the omnivores as well. Try this trick: instead of focusing your meal around the meat centerpiece (beef steak), plan your meal on a vegan main course (like my gnocchi). Then, add some meat separately on the omnivore's plate (like grilled chicken breasts or a frankfurter). I have been cooking dairy free in a mixed household for the past year. Sometimes the omnivores might make a complaint on texture or flavor, but usually, they don't. I never had a complaint on vegan desserts with one exception - don't touch the regular tiramisu'! Although I managed to find a recipe that makes for a tasteful vegan tiramisu', it's never and never will be like the real deal. But I like it, and I make a regular extra for the omnivore when needed.
If you fail at a recipe, don't blame yourself. Not every dish will be at your taste. If you can, try fixing the recipe, otherwise don't stick to it, there is plenty of other choices.
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