Transitioning to a plant-based diet can be incredibly rewarding, offering numerous health benefits and a more sustainable lifestyle. However, many people find certain animal products particularly challenging to give up. This blog post explores some of the most commonly missed animal products and provides delicious plant-based alternatives. Whether you’re just starting your vegan journey or looking for new ideas, this guide has got you covered.

Why Are Certain Animal Products Are Hard to Give Up?

When you first switch to a vegan or plant-based diet, it’s entirely normal to experience cravings for some of your old favourites. This can be due to a combination of many factors including;

• Your taste preferences
• Your dietary habits
• Your social environment
• Your emotional connection with certain foods

Here, I’ll give you a breakdown of some of the most commonly missed animal products and suggest satisfying plant-based alternatives that can help you keep on track with your plant-based journey. 

Evolving Taste Buds and Adjustments Over Time

Transitioning to a vegan diet often changes taste preferences and taste bud sensitivity. Research shows that removing animal products and processed foods can reset taste buds, making plant-based foods more enjoyable. For example, a study published in Foods found that long-term vegans had heightened sensitivity to sweet and salty tastes compared to omnivores, suggesting that cutting out high-salt, fat, and sugar foods can enhance flavour appreciation for natural foods. Read more about this fascinating topic in this article on Health.com.

Initially, switching to a vegan diet can be challenging, but many find their cravings for animal products reduce over time as they adjust to new flavours and their taste buds adapt. This adjustment can happen within a few weeks, making the transition easier.

When I first switched to a vegan diet, I was surprised by how quickly my taste buds adapted. I found myself exploring a new variety of tastes and ingredients, which made the process exciting rather than difficult. The hardest thing for me to give up was cheese. However, after a few months, I found that when I tried cheese again, it tasted too salty, and I didn’t enjoy it at all. Read more about what happens to your body when you switch to a vegan diet. This experience taught me that although giving up animal products might seem tough initially, it becomes easier over time, and you develop a greater appreciation for plant-based foods. So, stick with it, and you’ll likely find your cravings diminish as your palate evolves.

Creamy and Savoury Substitutes for Cheese

The Challenge of Giving Up Cheese

Cheese is often cited as one of the hardest animal products to give up. Its creamy texture and savoury taste can be tough to replace, but fear not! There are plenty of plant-based alternatives that can satisfy your cheese cravings.

Delicious Cheese Alternatives

1. Cashew Cheese: Blend soaked cashews with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to create a creamy, cheesy spread. Check out my easy cashew cream cheese recipe.
2. Nutritional Yeast: Sprinkle this on dishes for a cheesy flavour without any dairy.
3. Hummus: Use as a spread or dip for a creamy, savoury taste that pairs well with many dishes.

Community Tips

What’s your favourite cheese alternative? Comment below to share your tips and recipes.

Nutritious and Versatile Replacements for Eggs

Why Eggs Are Missed

Eggs are a breakfast staple for many, offering versatility and a quick source of protein. However, you can still enjoy hearty and delicious breakfasts or tasty cakes with these plant-based egg alternatives.

Nutritious Egg Replacements

1. Tofu Scramble: Crumble firm tofu and season with turmeric, black salt (Kala Namak), dried herbs, and nutritional yeast for a perfect scramble. Add a splash of water to help bind the mixture together. Check out my Mexican-style scrambled tofu recipe.
2. Chickpea Flour Omelette: Mix chickpea flour with water and spices, then cook like an omelette for a savoury breakfast treat.
3. Flaxseed or Chia Seed “Egg”: Combine 1 tbsp ground flax or chia seeds with 3 tbsp water as an egg replacement for baking. I use a chia egg in my easy vegan banana bread recipe.

Sharing Ideas

How do you replace eggs in your diet? Let’s share our ideas in the comments!

Hearty and Flavorful Alternatives to Chicken

The Craving for Chicken

Chicken is another commonly missed animal product for many, especially for it’s convenience and versatility in various dishes. Fortunately, there are many plant-based options that can mimic its texture and flavour. 

Note that there are more and more chicken-style “meats” that mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of traditional chicken. You may have heard them referred to as plant-based meat, fake meats, alternative meat protein. These products are available in major supermarkets. Although they can satisfy chicken cravings, I do not recommend you consume these products too often because they are highly processed and contain high amounts of salt and other chemical additives. Check out the whole food alternatives below instead which are not only ‘meaty’ but also nutritious and healthy protein sources.

Tasty Chicken Alternatives

1. Chickpea Nuggets: Mash chickpeas with spices, form into nugget shapes, and bake for a delicious and protein-packed snack.
2. Jackfruit: Use young green jackfruit for a shredded chicken texture in tacos or sandwiches.
3. Mushrooms: Portobello or oyster mushrooms have a meaty texture perfect for stir-fries and soups.

Favorite Recipes

What’s your go-to chicken alternative? Share your favorite recipes with us!

Creamy and Versatile Plant-Based Options to Replace Milk

The Necessity of Milk

From cereal to coffee, milk is a daily necessity for many people. Luckily, there are so many plant-based options available in supermarkets today, that are just as creamy and versatile. Try out a plant-based milk breakfast smoothie yourself, like my Red Delight Smoothie recipe.

Plant-Based Milk Options

1. Almond Milk: Blend soaked almonds with water and strain for homemade almond milk.
2. Oat Milk: Blend oats with water, then strain for creamy, versatile milk.
3. Soya Milk: A classic plant-based milk that’s low fat and high protein.

Tips and Recipes

How do you enjoy plant-based milk? Let’s swap tips and recipes in the comments!

Hearty and Satisfying Plant-Based Substitutes for Steak

The Love for Steak

Anyone who used to be a heavy meat eater is bound to miss the flavour and texture of a juicy steak. Those transitioning to a vegan diet may experience strong cravings for meat prepared in this way. Luckily, some hearty plant-based alternatives can go some way to satisfying those cravings.

Hearty Steak Alternatives

1. Portobello Mushrooms: Grill or roast for a meaty, umami flavour.
2. Cauliflower Steaks: Slice cauliflower, season, and roast or grill for a satisfying main dish.
3. Lentil Loaf: Combine lentils with veggies and spices, then bake for a hearty, meatloaf-like dish.

Best Recipes

What’s your favourite steak alternative? Share your best recipes with us in the comments!

Tips for New Vegans

1. Experiment with different plant-based alternatives to find your favourites.
2. Focus on whole foods and discovering new flavours and textures, rather than trying to replicate every animal product.
3. Be patient with yourself and remember why you chose to go plant-based.
4. Seek support from supportive plant-based communities online like this one!

Remember, everyone’s journey to veganism is different. What matters most is making progress towards a healthier and more compassionate lifestyle. With the steady rise in popularity of plant-based eating, it’s becoming easier than ever to enjoy a diverse and delicious plant-based diet.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Giving up certain animal products can be challenging, but experimenting with different plant-based alternatives can help you enjoy a satisfying and delicious vegan diet. 

If you’re still struggling to stay on track, remember the reasons you chose a vegan diet in the first place. Perhaps you want or need to eat better for health reasons. You might be motivated to eat plant-based because you don’t want to harm animals. Or maybe you are concerned about the climate and want to cut down on food products that are harmful to the planet. Whatever your motivation, think mindfully about this whenever your cravings crop up and maybe that helps you stay on track. Every step in the right direction is a win but it’s also ok to slip up every once in a while. 

If you give in to your cravings, be kind to yourself and remember that it’s a journey. By exploring these options and sharing your experiences, you can support yourself and others on this journey. Try out these substitutes, share your tips, and continue to experiment with new recipes. Your story could inspire someone else to make healthier, more compassionate choices.