It's funny, people assume that if you're vegan you must just eat fruit and veg- 'rabbit food' as many meat enthusiasts would call it. But the thing about going vegan is that if you ate a lot of junk food before you made the change, you will probably continue these habits once vegan. There are healthy vegans and there are unhealthy vegans, it's all about what YOU chose to eat.
I try to eat a healthy diet, but like most people enjoy occasional treats- chips are a bit of a weakness personally!
I think what discourages many people from going vegan is that they focus on all of the things that they will have to give up and this makes them anxious about whether or not they can sustain it.
A more positive way I think is to focus on things, especially treats, that you can still enjoy! This way if you are having a low moment and considering giving up you can remind yourself of the great 'accidentally vegan' things you can keep eating, and banish those negative thoughts!
So with that in mind I have compiled a list of my top '10 Accidentally Vegan Treats':
1.) Oreos!
That's right! The world's favourite biscuit is vegan! Golden and Original are fine for vegans to eat.
That is, it contains no animal products. However, some vegans chose not to eat it as there may be some cross contamination of dairy in the manufacturing process.
2.) Doritos
Yep, certain flavours of Doritos are vegan friendly. In the UK these are Chili Heatwave (the best one!) and Lightly Salted flavours but other countries may have other vegan varieties.
3.) Pringles
The world's most moreish snack is also (mostly) vegan! There are lots of flavours suitable for vegans such as Original, BBQ, Texas BBQ, Paprika and Smoky Bacon.
4.) Skittles
The long standing non- vegan ingredient , E120/carmine/cochineal has now been removed from its ingredients in the UK. So if marked ‘Suitable for vegetarians’ it is vegan! Hurray!
5.) Lotus Original Biscuits
Yes, Lotus biscuits are vegan! Not only that, the most naughty and delicious Lotus spread is too! Amazing on toast or secretly eaten by the spoonful 😋
6.) Jelly Tots!
This one I couldn't believe but it's true- Jelly Tots are vegan, no nasty gelatine here!
7.) Ritz Crackers
Yeah baby! Ritz crackers are also fine for vegans in the following forms: Original, Crisp and Thin (Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sweet Red Chilli, Sea Salt & Black Pepper)
8.) Co-op Fresh Doughnuts
This is one just for those in the UK, you'll be surprised to learn that Co-op fresh custard and jam doughnuts are vegan!
9.) Bourbon Biscuits
Another classic biscuit- vegan! This might be another UK find, the humble Bourbon biscuit. Most supermarket varieties are vegan but check the ingredients to be sure as some do contain milk.
10.) Jus- Roll Pastry
That's right, going vegan doesn't mean you'll never get to have a croissant again. Jus- roll pastry has a load of varieties that are vegan including; Gluten-free Puff Pastry, Pan Au Chocolat, Croissants and Cinnamon Swirls. Amazing!
Now I'm not advocating an unhealthy diet at all, and of course when going vegan you need to make sure you are eating well and getting sufficient nutrition, but I think the occasional treat of something indulgent can help you during moments of weakness! It is encouraging to focus on things that you used to eat that you can still enjoy.
I also want to note that some vegans choose not to eat some of the foods in this list due to ethical reasons- either because they disagree with the ethics of the companies that make them, or because they contain unsustainable ingredients (the harvesting of which they believe is detrimental to the environment).
It is entirely your choice where you stand on these issues!
If you want to discover the MANY other 'accidentally vegan' foods available to you, check out:
The Veganuary Official Website - www.veganuary.com
AND
Follow 'Accidentally Vegan' on Instagram