I would like to transition to eating vegan and have tried to find substitutes for some of the things I’d miss the most. (Mostly cheese and maybe honey) But both buying and making these substitutes appears to be rather pricey. I figure there must be a way to go vegan without spending everything I have, so does that mean I just have to forgo the substitutes and completely change my diet? That’ll be tough, but I want to try. Any advice for getting away from animal products?
You must log in or # to comment.
I pretty much live off of beans, pasta, and tacos. I’m not the biggest rice enjoyer, but sometimes I’ll have rice.
Tacos are especially good because they’re so customizable, delicious, nutritious, and ultimately filling. Of course, you don’t need a lot of money to make tacos either. Usually, I go with either refried beans (check and make sure they don’t have lard when you’re buying them), pinto beans, or black beans, and I’ll put it in a tortilla with pico, lettuce, taco sauce, and maybe some rice and corn. It gets the job done, and all of the ingredients are definitely low in price.
Also, a bonus tip: if you’re ever craving something with a “meaty” texture but do not want to dish out cash on expensive mock products, mushrooms will be your best friend, especially those portabellas.
Heh. I usually am not craving the meaty texture. I really don’t actually like meat that much, but I’ve grown up with it, so it’s hard thinking of something else I might like without it.
Homemade seitan is extremely cheap per gram of protein. Takes maybe 15-20 mins to make.
I haven’t personally found a (good) cheap/easy enough to make at home substitute for mozzarella cheese but a good way to get used to not have my favorite cravings is to indulge in something else
Like “fine I’m not having that, but I’m gonna drown in fries”
That makes sense. I can work at that some.
You’ll stop craving carnist ‘food’ over time, I promise! I think the best bet is to find recipes you like that are not trying to replicate something but are delicious as their own thing.
Plant milks are the only thing I buy regularly, but I’m not sure I would really consider that a substitute. People make their own for very cheap but I don’t use enough that it feels worth it to me. I go through a small container a week for two people, just to splash in our coffee.
Honey replacement = Agave syrup / agave nectar.
There are a lot of branded cheese alternatives, and recipes online to turn silken tofu into a cheese imitation.
i’m still working at becoming a vegan; but beans (black, pinto & peruvian) have been doing a lot of heavy lifting for me and they’re versatile.
deleted by creator
Start saving your aquafaba. Chickpeas are cheap and you can make an amazing variety with it
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
smoked tofu has worked great for me as a cheese substitute
instant pot + dried legumes
curries, chilis, rice and beans. Beans beans beans.
