World Vegan Day - my vegan journey so far

So I've been vegan since January now (I know still a noob!). Well, maybe it was a bit after January as we were using up things like Quorn mince (has eggs in it) and egg noodles etc as it seemed rather silly to throw good food away!

My transition was made easier by the fact I'd been (mostly) pescatarian for a few months first, and was already using plant based milks. Though it was still a bit of a challenge/ learning curve to start off with as with any change in life. Mainly because when I was eating pescatarian I'd started to eat a lot more eggs and cheese! However, it is a lot easier to be vegan now than it used to be. I've learned there are so many products out there as well as the fruit, veggies and beans. You can get supermarket own brand soy mince to do your bolognese or chilli, no bull burgers from Iceland are really meat like (which is great if that's what you want), some Quorn products are being made vegan and a lot of vegetarian sausages are vegan. There are even some really good vegan 'cheeses' (Gary) out there. Violife do some lovely ones, and the Tesco Jalapeño cheddar is lovely! 

There's also plenty ready meals, crisps, chocolate, ice cream, sweets and all sorts of other goodies too at the main supermarkets – many of which are 'accidentally vegan'. Oh, and tofu is amazing once you know what to do with it! (Marinade it!!) Most supermarkets are extending their vegan ranges as more people are cutting down on meat and veganism is on the rise. Restaurants and cafes are also introducing more vegan items onto their menus with some of them having whole vegan menus. The choice is growing and growing!!
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I've had some amazing meals and found new food items I would have never tried before – as well as having a ton of houmous and falafel, which thankfully I love! One of my favs is the ginger-sesame marinaded tofu (kebabs below) from the Thug Kitchen book. It's sooooo good! I've also had vegan brownies in Manchester that were the best brownies I've ever had! As with any diet there are some delicious foods and some that are just average. It's all down to what you choose to eat from the many choices.

I have had some 'slip-ups' – sometimes accidentally - like only just realising a lot of naan bread has milk in it! Sometimes because I was exhausted and it would have taken more energy to find a vegan alternative, so I had the veggie one. Sometimes just because I felt I needed to lighten up, because if I didn't I might 'fall off the wagon' altogether. Drunk me is also much more likely to cave in and have that biscuit!! (Mainly because a lot of places don't have an alternative!) I've often felt guilty for these 'slip-ups'. Though I've tried to be kind to myself at these times. I try to remember the mindful self-compassion training I've had. To try and talk to myself as I would a friend. I have CFS and the fatigue can make it difficult to make decisions, and to make sure I'm eating well at times. I'm doing the best I can but sometimes it's difficult and that's ok. ​