How to Go Vegan: 16 Tips for Success During Veganuary

Doing Veganuary this year? You’re in good company. In 2021, 580,000 people signed up! The number of people trying it out has been increasing every year, so if you’re thinking of joining their ranks, we’re here to help you with some top tips on how to go vegan. That includes how to start a vegan diet and also some general lifestyle choices to help you reduce your impact on the environment even more. 

Read on for some delicious plant-based dishes you can rustle up, complete with super-handy kitchenware that’ll help you make those tasty new meals. Whether you’re a keen cook or a novice in the kitchen, there’ll always be some items that’ll make your life easier when it comes to culinary creations, and help you on the way to Veganuary success!

1) Make best use of your pots and pans by cooking food in batches to freeze for later on (easy soups with leafy veg, white beans and quinoa are ideal as they contain plenty of protein, calcium and other nutrients). That way, you’ll have more time to get used to all the new recipes you’ll be experimenting with, instead of having to think about what to make every night. 

2) Remember you don’t need to replace all your meat or fish with pre-packed vegan substitutes — it’s much cheaper to use pulses and lentils for the ‘meaty’ part of your meal.

3) Start with dishes you know and make adaptations, such as removing cheese and adding nutritional yeast instead for that cheesy flavour.

4) Invest in a food processor. This is your must-have item as a vegan cook (especially the Tower model as it’s a two-in-one to save space!) because you can make all sorts of meals, from falafels to add to wraps, to vegan cheese for some cheese on toast.

5) Don’t have room for a food processor? Use a mini chopper instead to save space and cut down the time you spend chopping veg. 

6) If you’re feeling adventurous, make your own dairy substitutes, such as cashew cheese, creamy banana yoghurt and homemade almond milk.

7) As you’ll be off dairy, you’ll need to get your calcium from rich plant sources instead. Use a wok to batch-cook a stir-fry with calcium-set tofu, kale, broccoli and other veg, and drizzle it in calcium-rich tahini before adding the soy sauce. Snacking on almonds is another great way to boost your calcium intake.

8) Swap milk chocolate for dark if you can but if you’re not keen on its bitter taste, it’s easy to make some vegan desserts. Use a food processor to make delicious date and nut protein balls, or a blender to make vegan mousse with avocado, cacao and agave nectar (a tasty alternative to honey).

9) If you’re worried about missing out on nutrients, invest in a nutrient extractor like the Salter Nutri Pro 1200W Blender or blender like the Salter 4-in-1 Juicer and Blender and make smoothies. It’s an easy way to add extra veg like nutrient-dense kale or healthy nuts into your daily diet. You can also use your blender for speedy pasta sauces with a creamy coconut base, or soups made from veg, herbs and stock, lightly heated afterwards on the hob.

10) Think you’ll miss ice cream? Make heavenly homemade sorbet with chopped frozen bananas and berries — simply wait for them to defrost a touch, and then blend together with a hand blender.

11) Use this Kitchen Craft Melon Baller to scoop out perfect spheres of melon for an appetising healthy dessert. 

12) Love baking? Use aquafaba (the liquid in cans of chickpeas) as a substitute for eggs in meringues and pavlovas. A stand mixer will help you out.

13) Make the most of your new plant-based diet by maximising the amount of nutrients you get from your veg. Using a steamer will help retain nutrients which are often lost when boiling.

14) Lentils are an incredible source of nutrients, so create some dishes in which they’re a key ingredient. Lentil dhals are delicious — make these in a pressure cooker for the best results.

15) Don’t forget other areas of your lifestyle if you’re doing Veganuary to help the planet. These Tala Vegan Food Wax Wraps are perfect for wrapping up leftover foods, and you can clean up your kitchen afterwards with eco-friendly vegan cleaners from brands like Ecover and Bio-D. We even stock refills like this 5L Washing Up Liquid to help you help the planet further by cutting your plastic footprint.

16) Most of all, if you find yourself missing meat and dairy, one of our best Veganuary tips is to be creative and enjoy capturing similar flavours and textures with new ingredients and recipes. While you may find certain foods don’t replicate animal produce, you can enjoy all sorts of different dishes that you’d never have discovered without going vegan.