6 Vegan Recipes for Veganuary

If you’re someone who’s been considering adopting a vegan lifestyle, or if you’re just looking to explore some vegan meal options to incorporate into your diet, Veganuary is the perfect time to do so! For those who may not know, Veganuary is a global campaign that encourages people to try out a vegan diet for the month of January. Whether you’re a vegan veteran or a complete newbie, finding new and exciting vegan meals to cook can be a fun and creative challenge. So, we’ve rounded up some delicious meal ideas to inspire you this Veganuary.

Banana Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

This green smoothie is an easy, delicious breakfast you can quickly whip up in the mornings.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Blend together all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
  2. Blend until smooth. Add in more nut milk or water if needed, to reach your desired consistency.
  3. Divide into two glasses and enjoy!

Recipe from Emilie Eats

Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

This simple breakfast is great, as you can prepare the night before. Plus, you can change up the flavour combinations to whatever you like!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the cacao powder (sift first to reduce clumps), maple syrup, ground cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Add a little almond milk at a time and whisk until a paste forms. Add the rest of the almond milk and whisk until smooth.
  2. Add chia seeds and whisk once more to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 3-5 hours, or until it has a pudding-like consistency.
  3. Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for 4-5 days, though best when fresh. Serve chilled with whatever toppings you like, such as fruit, nuts or granola.

Recipe from Minimalist Baker

Peanut Butter, Tahini and Chocolate Chip Cookies

These vegan cookies are super soft with a light, buttery crumb and an irresistibly nutty flavour. Packed with dark chocolate, peanut butter and tahini, they’re delicious without being overly rich.

And the best part is they’re easy to whip up and are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Makes 6 cookies

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the ground psyllium husks/ground flax seeds with the water. Set aside to thicken into your egg mixture.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the vegan butter, sugars, soy milk and psyllium/flax egg mixture until smooth and fluffy. Add the peanut butter and tahini and beat for another few minutes.
  4. Add the flour mixture and beat gently until just combined. Finally, add the chocolate chips, reserving a small handful for decorating the top of the cookies later.
  5. Cover the dough with cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 170c and line two baking trays with baking parchment.
  7. Using a cookie dough scoop or a tablespoon, place scoops of dough around the size of walnuts on the prepared baking trays with a few inches between each cookie. You should fit 10 per tray.
  8. Top each cookie with a couple of the reserved chocolate chips. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with the sesame seeds and the flaky sea salt.
  9. Gently press down each ball of dough with a fork. Don’t worry about making a pattern or design on top – this will disappear as they bake.
  10. Bake for 20 minutes, being careful not to let the cookies burn on the edges. Remove from the oven and leave to cool fully on a wire cooling rack.
  11. Once cooled, serve and enjoy!

Recipe from Veganuary.com

Vegan Meatballs & Spaghetti

A delicious savoury dish that makes a great meal option for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients – Meatballs

Ingredients – Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, very finely chopped
  • 1 large garlic clove, crushed
  • Small pinch of chilli flakes
  • 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • ½ small bunch of basil, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Add the dried porcini into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 20 mins.
  2. Meanwhile heat 1 tbsp of olive oil a frying pan. Add the onion and fry over low heat for 10 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and paprika and cook for 1 min.
  3. Add the black beans and oats into a food processor and blend until you have a chunky, textured mixture. Scoop out the beans into a mixing bowl and stir through the miso, breadcrumbs and cooked onion mix. Strain and finely chop the porcini mushrooms and add those (keep the liquid for soup or risotto). Season and roll into 12 balls and chill in the fridge while you make the sauce.
  4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and fry over low heat for 10 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for 1 min. Stir through the tomatoes and sugar and season to taste. Simmer uncovered for 20 mins.
  5. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil for the meatballs in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the balls and fry for 5 minutes until evenly brown. Transfer to a baking tray and put in the oven to cook through for 12 mins.
  6. Add the cooked meatballs to the pan of sauce and toss everything to coat, then scatter with the basil. Serve with spaghetti or soft polenta.

Recipe from BBC Good Food

Amazing Lentil Soup

A slightly spicy, hearty soup that will warm you up on even the coldest nights!

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, lightly drained
  • 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup chopped fresh collard greens or kale, tough ribs removed
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (½ to 1 medium lemon), to taste

Instructions

  1. Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. One-fourth cup of olive oil may seem like a lot, but it adds a lovely richness and heartiness to this nutritious soup.
  2. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.
  4. Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
  5. Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender. Securely fasten the lid, protect your hand from steam with a tea towel placed over the lid, and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot. (Or, use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup.)
  6. Add the chopped greens and cook for 5 more minutes or until the greens have softened to your liking. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice until the flavours really sing. For a spicier soup, add another pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
  7. Serve while hot. Leftovers will keep well for about 4 days in the refrigerator, or can be frozen for several months (just defrost before serving).

Recipe from Cookie + Kate

3 Ingredient Vegan Banana Brownies

A super-simple and satisfying take on brownies – Chocolate lovers rejoice!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas until lump-free.
  3.  Mix in the nut butter and cocoa powder.
  4. Grease a baking sheet, and evenly distribute the batter into the pan.
  5. Bake for 17-20 minutes. Use the toothpick method to determine if they’re done.
  6. Let the brownies chill in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.
  7. Store in the refrigerator for best results.

Recipe by Simply Taralynn

 

Explore of full selection of vegan products for Veganuary here.

Exploring plant-based foods and products gets easier every year. Welcome to Veganuary!

The New Year is a time for starting fresh. Few resolutions can make an impact in so many ways as choosing more plant-based products.  Whether you are a committed vegan, or are just starting to find out more about it, London Drugs’ Veganuary event is for you.

What is vegan?

The word ‘vegan’ was coined in 1944, originally meaning “non-dairy vegetarian”. Since then, veganism has come to mean ‘a person who does not consume, use or eat any animal products’, and has grown to include subsets of dietary veganism, ethical veganism and environmental veganism. These describe three of the primary benefits of vegan choices:

Dietary Health: Although veganism can require careful planning, many say we can get all of our necessary nutrients outside of animal produce. Some studies show vegans are thinner, have lower total and LDL cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.1

Preventing Animal Cruelty: For some, it’s a belief that all sentient creatures have a right to life. For others, affection for animals makes the idea of harming one to put food on their own plate difficult. Whatever the reason, vegan choices are animal-friendly choices.

Reduced Environmental Footprint: Animal agriculture uses a huge amount of land, water and energy. Farmed animals also generate some 14.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. 2 Plant-based choices lessen these impacts.

Can you be ‘part’ vegan?

Generally, being ‘vegan’ is defined by completely avoiding animal products, but products that are certified as ‘vegan’ can be enjoyed by anyone. Some people decide to eat vegan once a week, others just like to work more vegan products into their lifestyle.

Check out these great Veganuary choices.

With over 100 plant-based deals in our Veganuary flyer, it’s easier than ever to choose plant-based. Here are just a few ideas:

Try vegan taco night.

Ecoideas Spicy Mexican Jackfruit Shreds have a zesty flavor and meaty texture that is a great soy and gluten free substitute for meat in numerous recipes. Pair it with Que Pasa Vegan Taco Shells and you can start a whole new trend!

Warm up with vegan soup.

Go Asian vegan with Koyo Ramen. Slurp these classic noodles in soup or break them up and eat them ‘raw’ in salads or as a fast snack.

Snack it up, vegan style!

Vegan doesn’t mean ‘no fun’! Bite into Healthy Crunch Dark Chocolate Superfoods – just 70% dark chocolate and real fruit. Vego Whole Hazelnut Chocolate Bars make a great pocket-size snack. And if you crave the savory, get a flavor and fiber blast from Solar Raw Kale Chips, in Pink Salt, Cucumber Dill or Better than Cheddar flavor.

Try vegan cleaning power.

Food isn’t the only way to go vegan. Attitude Cleaning Products can take care of all sorts of surfaces, from bathroom to kitchen and beyond. Ecomax Laundry Detergent lets you wash clothes efficiently, effectively and animal-free. And for the purist, Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap and Bar Soap bring the power of castile with certified fair trade ingredients and organic hemp oil.

Choose Animal-Free Beauty

There are more and more choices for vegan beauty products. Mad Hippie Skin Care is free from cruelty, parabens, petrochemicals, GMOs and more. Herbatint Hair Colour gives you 100% grey coverage with no ammonia, alcohol or parabens. Province Apothecary is made in Canada, with organic botanicals sourced from all 10 provinces.

This is just the tip of the vegan iceberg. See for yourself just how many choices you have to join the Veganuary movement. It may just become a whole way of life.

1 Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – Health effects of vegan diets
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/89/5/1627S/4596952

2 Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock: https://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/197623/icode/

 

Breakup with Breakouts: 4 Tips to Better Looking Skin with Emani Cosmetics

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Skin breaks out when it’s out of balance. Everything you eat, stress, hormones, medications, smog, the makeup and skincare you use, even the household products you clean with can throw skin off its game.

Considering that your body absorbs 60% of what you put on it, it’s important to know what you’re applying to your skin and how it triggers breakouts.

These tips can get you back on track:

  1. Know your ingredients.Products that are non-comedogenic are key to preventing pore clogging and breakouts. If you’re prone to breakouts, look for a brand like Emani Cosmetics that are labelled as non-comedogenic. In fact, Emani products are composed of soothing non-comedogenic ingredients that balance the skin rather than irritate it, which make them ideal for oily, acneic skin.
  2. Acne or not?All skin with acne (a medical condition) experiences breakouts, but not all breakouts are acne-related. You can have breakouts from stress, hormones, diet, medications, skin care products, hair care products, makeup, perfume, laundry detergent—none of which are an indication of acne. Non-acne breakouts are triggered by or managed through lifestyle choices. If you treat breakouts as if they are acne, you can actually make damage your skin and cause premature aging. Only a doctor or esthetician can tell you for sure whether you have acne or are simply experiencing product- or lifestyle-related breakouts.
  3. Oil is your friend.Skin naturally produces oil, which is essential to healthy skin. Take it away, and skin can produce even more oil, which can lead to breakouts. We know how backwards that sounds: oily skin needs more oil, not stripping away of the oil it keeps trying to make. Dry skin needs even more oil so it can look fresh and hydrated; there are good oils to look for like jojoba, marula, argan, coconut, olive and avocado oil, among others.
  4. Wear a makeup primer!They not only help makeup last longer, but they can provide a protective barrier to the skin. Dimethicone is a popular ingredient in most makeup primers because it offers a smoothing effect, but it can also aggravate acne and sensitive skin. If you want a makeup primer that won’t trigger breakouts, try Emani’s Perfect 10 Primer Serum.

 

Bonus tip!

  1. Wash your brushesAccording to Women’s Health magazine, the build-up of cosmetics, bacteria and yeast in makeup brushes can contribute to breakouts. It’s recommended to wash them once a week to ensure they stay clean and fresh. Here’s how pro makeup artists do it:
  • Rinse the brushes in warm water and add a drop of very mild hand-soap.
  • Massage into a lather, then rinse until water is clear.
  • Repeat as needed for brushes that are extra dirty or used for darker pigments (such as eye shadow, brows and blush).
  • Gently squeeze out excess water, then lay flat to dry on a towel, preferably overnight.

Use products with clean formulas and you’ll most likely see an improvement in your skin. There may be a transition period as your skin detoxes as its natural balance is restored, but it’s temporary…and worth it!