Vegans do eat food from plants:​

We are herbivore animals.  Here are some examples:

Raw ingredients:   Any beans and pulses (lentils), peas, nuts, seeds, sweetcorn, all vegetables and fruit, grains, seaweed, mushrooms, yeast, algae, flour.

Processed ingredients:   Tofu (my child loves tofu, it can be cooked in many ways, comes in many varieties, and quickly absorbs whatever flavour you add while cooking), dried soya or pea mince or chunks, beancurd, tempeh, noodles, sauerkraut, oil, nut and seed butters, vegan pasta, noodles.

Ready made foods:   Hummus, rice cakes, oat cakes, bread, vegan pasta sauce.

Alternatives to non vegan food:   Plant- based dairy, eggs, fish and meat alternatives, vegan kimchi, vegan pesto, vegan margarine.

Dishes we can make with this:   Curry, stir fry, pasta, pizza, tofu fish and chips, and an endless list of adapted 'normal' food, and many Asian meals which are naturally vegan anyway.

Vegans do not eat food from animals:​

• Meat:  Including processed meat

• Fish and shellfish

• Dairy:  Milk (of any animal, such as sheep and goats as well as cows; and also including lactose free animal milk), yoghurt, cheese, cream, butter

• Eggs:  Animal animal eggs, omelettes

• Honey. 

The principle still applies where ingredients are hidden in a cake or biscuit, or at parties.

To work out if food is vegan...

• Many products nowadays have 'vegan' or 'plant based' written on the packaging, or carry the sunflower trademark.  

• If buying 'Free From' foods, choose ones which are 'egg and dairy free', not just 'dairy free'.

• First, think about whether the item or recipe would be mainly made from plants or animals. 

• Next, think about if there are likely to be any hidden animal ingredients.

• Then, check the ingredients list.  Allergens such as: dairy, eggs, molluscs and shellfish are often written in bold.  It is unusual for meat to be a minor ingredient, so that will probably be at the start of the list.

• Where you are unsure, either look online, or ask the parents.  

Things to watch out for:

Eggs and milk can pop up in funny places, such as: flavoured nuts, pasta, gluten free bread, crisps and noodles.  Just check the ingredients.

Is Quorn vegan?​

Quorn tends to include egg.  However, there is a new vegan range, which is always labelled as such.   The same goes for Linda McCartney.

Other meat protein alternatives​

There are many new plant based meat substitutes.  Veganuary have shopping guide which lists brands of meat and dairy alternatives.  Dried soya or pea mince and chunks could be a compact, long lasting option. 

Veganising traditional meals

Try swapping one or two ingredients in recipes you already use.  For example, put lentils in a bolognese, or tofu in a 'fish' cake.

Veganising baking​

This website links to blogs about vegan cake recipes and baking kits.  Also read about vegan egg alternatives on ProVeg, and various vegan baking substitutes from the Vegan Society.

Is 'gluten free' or 'sugar free' the same as vegan?​

No, only 'vegan' or 'plant based' mean vegan. 

Work with parents​

Parents are likely to be happy to discuss your plans and answer questions.