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Img: Hot for Food |
Veganism is more than a diet change; it’s a lifestyle
change. While some are happy eating meat and dairy and have no wish to cut them
out of their diet, many opt for the vegan diet in the hope to gain all of the
potential health benefits it offers. As someone who isn’t aware of the
delicious dishes and flavours a vegan diet offers (and how to create them) I,
like many other burger-lovers, haven’t really considered taking the plunge.
This is where Canadian couple and YouTubers Lauren Toyota
and John Diemer come in. With their vegan recipe channel ‘Hot for Food’, they’re
changing the stereotype that veganism is tricky to stick to and full of
tasteless plant-based alternatives. Cauliflower vegan chicken
– surely it can’t be as delicious as our meaty Nandos order, right? Lauren and
John are showing that yes, it really can, with their array of tasty vegan
recipes.
Their channel has almost 290,000 subscribers at present, and
boasts an impressive 16 million views. With such popularity, it seems they’re
making a significant difference in ‘breaking all the misconceptions of what it
means to be vegan’ as their ‘About’ section promotes.
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Img: Hot for Food (Facebook) |
The couple share their recipes on YouTube and their foodie blog, where you’ll find easy
recipes for vegan barbeque food, lunches, sweet treats, snacks and dips. They
also offer advice on transitioning to the vegan diet and how to cater for your
personal tastes.
‘No one expects you to go full level 10 vegan overnight. It
would be impossible and if you attempted it you would probably fail. When
transitioning to a vegan diet start with one meal a day and replace the animal
products with plant-based alternatives such as veggie bacon, tofu, veggie
burgers, non-dairy milk(s), yogurts, and vegan cheeses.’ their blog recommends.
‘From there, work at replacing more of your favourite foods and meals with
vegan options. You'll probably notice you won't crave cheese and meat as much
over 2-3 weeks.’
In an article from the Independent,
Lauren reveals that sauces and fats are the secret to making vegan alternatives
better than the meat/dairy versions. “Fat doesn’t mean only oil either. It
could be avocado, tahini or nut butter or nuts and seeds. It’s a must. Fat is
flavour and I'm so bored of the fat-free movement. Fat is not the enemy.
“And sauce up your food. I love making sauces. They’re the
easiest thing to make at home from ingredients in your pantry and you can store
them for the week to put on everything” she tells the Independent.
The aim of the couple is to make your favourite junk food
favourites, like burgers, nachos and cakes, delicious, vegan, and most
importantly, guilt-free. On their blog’s FAQ page, Lauren and John outline
the potential health benefits of a vegan diet; ‘you could experience clearer
skin, weight loss, more energy and overall vibrancy, a clearer mind, better
sleep, healthier nail and hair growth, better digestion, easier bowel movements,
a feeling of connectedness to mother earth, and a better understanding of
universal magic!’
‘We believe in eating a balanced plant-based diet free from
negative emotions and societal standards or perceptions of what a vegan is
"supposed" to be! Sometimes we want to eat a hearty, healthy salad
and other times a big 'ol burger. It's all about balance. We also believe in
listening to your body when it comes to making food choices.’
With the promotion of healthy plant-based living, it seems
more and more people are discovering the benefits and variety a vegan diet
offers. The Telegraph reported last year that there’s been over a 360% rise in vegans
in the UK in the last decade. That’s around 542,000 over 15 year olds – more
than 1% of the population – going for veganism. The Vegan Society says that
veganism has become one of Britain’s “fastest growing lifestyle
movements”.
It’s clear to see that these figures show the on-going
popularity. Anyone for a delicious-looking vegan hotdog and some strawberry cheesecake
bites for dessert? Check out their channel, and that
cheesecake recipe below.
Laura Sewell
An
aspiring journalist, Laura is our content writer intern. Pop-punk gig-goer and drag queen enthusiast,
Laura is working her way into the industry, with an English A -Level and love
of writing about anything and everything in tow.
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