{"id":1636,"date":"2020-12-13T14:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T14:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.mindfulchef.com\/?p=1636"},"modified":"2021-02-24T17:26:24","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T17:26:24","slug":"10-tips-to-keep-veganuary-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mindfulchef.com\/blog\/10-tips-to-keep-veganuary-going\/","title":{"rendered":"10 tips to keep #veganuary going | Mindful Chef"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As official partners to Veganuary<\/a> – the charity that’s encouraged over 400,000 Brits to adopt a vegan diet last January – we\u2019re proud to offer 15 fully vegan recipe<\/a> options across our menu each week. And were the first recipe box on the UK to cater for vegans (and are still the only recipe box offering this much variety!) Read on to find out more about a plant-based diet<\/a>, how you can stick to it and why athletes, celebrities and thousands of our customers enjoy this way of eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thirteen per cent of the UK follow a meat-free diet<\/a>, with \u2153 of us overall wanting to reduce our meat and dairy intakes for our health and to fight climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With any major lifestyle change, getting started can seem daunting, but the biggest hurdle is having the mindset to keep it up. Eating shouldn\u2019t be about sacrifice – that\u2019s why diets so rarely work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get creative in the kitchen, discover new ingredients and experiment with flavours this new year. Always remember variety and enjoyment are the cornerstones of any successful lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ten fundamentals for a successful switch<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1) Understand why<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle changes are personal. To be successful, understand your motivations. Are you after a health overhaul? Concerned about animal welfare? Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Or are you simply up for Veganuary<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your reason, keep in mind you\u2019re more likely to persevere by focusing on what you\u2019re gaining over what you\u2019re giving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Black garlic aubergine ‘steaks’ & truffle fries<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2) Swap resolutions for routines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Even with the best of intentions, it can be tricky to stick to a plan<\/g>. Especially as we’re increasingly busy with a high mental overload<\/g>, which can trigger impulsive decision-making once you reach the supermarket. That, along with an \u201call or nothing\u201d approach, is why resolutions so often fly out the window by the third week of January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quicker you create a plant-based routine, the easier you will find vegan eating. Habits, once ingrained, require little thought: that\u2019s why bad habits can be tricky to break and good habits, once established, are so easy to keep up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best routines contain only a few steps and as little decision-making as possible, minimising the risk of slipping up. Draw up your shopping list when you\u2019re not hungry, and order your groceries online. Keep some vegan<\/a> snacks to hand when you\u2019re out so you\u2019re prepared when hunger strikes.
Recipe boxes<\/a> like ours are also a good way to keep on track in the week when time and patience are in short supply, plus you can choose from an incredible variety of vegan proteins and gourmet cuisines to keep you excited about mealtimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lemongrass tofu ‘Bun Cha’ & matcha dressing\ufeff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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3) Be prepared<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Before starting, stock your cupboards with everything you need, from nut milk to non-dairy butters. Be realistic about your current eating habits and what you\u2019ll need for a smooth transition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a huge range of plant-based options<\/a> on the market today, so think about what animal products you use the most and how you\u2019re going to make up for them. We love nutritional yeast flakes for a cheesy flavour and non-dairy cream by Oatly<\/a>, but it really comes down to personal taste. If you don\u2019t like tofu now, you probably won\u2019t when you\u2019re vegan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sesame tofu & avocado nori wrap, spicy salad\ufeff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4) Try something new<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

From liquid smoke to gochujang, Chef Louisa uses ingredients from around the world to add complexity and moreishness<\/g> to our vegan dishes<\/a>. Here are some bold flavours you may want to experiment with yourself! <\/p>\n\n\n\n