I'm a terrible vegan.
My preference is to eat vegan food but I don't eat it 100% of the time. Sometimes I find it socially problematic to insist on vegan food. Sometimes when travelling I find my options are limited or I want to try the unique food of that ares. Sometimes I'm drunk or hungover and desperately desire any availably carby, greasy food. This decision works for me because I know I'm still causing 98% less suffering to animals.
I know some people are interested in vegan food but are worried about the hassle and stigma and deprivation of being perfectly vegan. This stress gets in the way of them reducing animal exploitation and environmental damage. They would be better off embracing the idea of being a terrible vegan.
There's all kinds of people who are in similar situations. People in the process of increasing the amount of vegan food they cook. People who want to eat vegan but live with family members who insist on some non-vegan meals. People who want to eat vegan food but are worried about the impact on their social life. People who love vegan food but still can't resist bacon and egg rolls when the opportunity presents itself.
So this site is for the terrible vegans. Tasty healthy plant based food that you won't be ashamed to take to work or serve to your friends. Food for people who are happy to take on the dubious title of being a 'terrible vegan' and turn it into a positive thing.
When I began eating a vegan diet I had to start all over again in the kitchen. I'd never really appreciated legumes, and vegetables were always a side dish supporting a meat based main act. Previously when I cooked without meat I relied heavily on eggs and cheese and cream. And while I built up new knowledge and skills to address this over time, I found it hard to make sure the food was nutritious and kid-friendly and didn't take an eternity to cook.
I started this website as a way to document my learning process so that others in the same situation could benefit.
These recipes are vegan - plant based meals are good for animals, good for the environment and good for my family. Vegan food makes up the core of what my family eats, however my wife and children still eat non-vegan food, and these recipes can be planned to complement servings of meat, eggs, and dairy products that are cooked separately for families with a mixture of eating preferences. I don't have access to off-the-shelf vegan ingredients like plant based cheeses or non dairy yoghurts, so you won't find them used here.
I am not a registed dietician - only you and your health care providers know what is best for you and your family. Recommmended Daily Intakes are recommendations only, and you need a health professional and the results of blood tests to determine areas of your nutritional intake that you need to address. I also don't know what ingredients you're using to make these recipes, and there can be a big range in the nutritional content of seemingly similar foodstuffs. The nutritional data I provide is a guide to what you can expect, but you're responsible for crunching the numbers based on what is available in your local area.
This website has helped me to focus on developing and documenting the best ways to eat good vegan food. I hope it can help you too.