Healthy Vegan Recipes

Eating vegan is one fo the healthiest food options you can make - with countless medical professionals backing the health benefits of a plant based diet, it's proven to increase weight loss, vanquish chronic health conditions and create an overwhelming feeling of wellbeing.

A vegan diet is not a diet 'craze' - it's been around for many centuries in different countries around the world. It's not all beans and grains either - there's a wealth of wonderful and incredibly tasty recipes that you will enjoy eating, as well as being nutritionally balanced to benefit your body and being environmentally responsible.

It's very important as a vegan to make sure you get a good balance of protein, wholegrains and vegetables. That way you can be sure that you are including a wide variety of vitamins and minerals into your diet. It's certainly not necessary to include dairy into your diet (no matter what milk companies might claim about calcium), but it's important to take B12 supplements as a vegan, because that particular nutrient is found only in animal meat.

Nowadays, most supermarkets stock specially created and labelled Vegan produce. It might be a little harder to eat out - though many chefs would be happy to prepare a simple salad to your specification, if you are a little stuck for choice. Restaurants are often very happy to accomodate different dietary requirements, so don't be too concerned - ring up before and ask what's on the menu so you are prepared.

If you're interested in moving towards a more vegan diet, there's plenty of literature you can read, and many blogs packed full of scrumptious recipes and ideas. Here are a few to get you going:

♥ Cook Easy Vegan - plenty of recipes inspired by global cuisine, with lots of vegetable dishes and exciting desserts
♥ Show Me Vegan - a wealth of delicious seasonal recipes, from warming winter stews to sizzling summer barbecue treats (we love the baked beans recipe!)
♥ Happy Go Lucky Vegan - innovative cooking methods and brilliant ideas for new ways to cook your favorite fruits and vegetables

And now for the books:

• Healthy at 100  by John Robbins - a very interesting look at the medical studies pointing towards a plant based diet, and tips on living a more eco friendly lifestyle
• The Kind Diet  by Alicia Silverstone - this really sums up why a vegan diet could work for your health and your conscience, and it includes delicious recipes!
• Veganomicon  - a fantastic cookbook, very practical and delicious, yet easy to make and originally interesting

And now for some of our favorite healthy vegan recipes, that you can include into your weekly menu plan:

- Vegan Tortelloni with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce by Vegan Dad
-  Very Yummy Vegan Spelt Chocolate Cake by High on Health
- Vegan Cream Cheese Pancakes by No Thanks I'm A Vegan

So, if you still aren't convinced about turning vegan, or even trying to include more good vegan recipes into your diet, then just consider how much you've got to lose by going 100% veg once a week, and just how many health benefits you could gain. It's worth a try, surely. And it's a cheaper way to eat too!