Thursday, March 13, 2014

Make An Easy Ethical Lifestyle Choice With Vegan Frozen Meals

By Jaclyn Hurley


These days it's becoming increasingly important to think about your choices as a consumer and how these choices impact on the world around you. This is why so many people are now becoming vegans. They make the ethical choice of living a lifestyle that is friendlier to animals and the environment. Of course it's not that easy to just give up the foods that you've always enjoyed, but vegan frozen meals are a great way to ease the transition.

Vegans are not the same as vegetarians. Vegetarians avoid meat and meat products but they often eat animal-derived products if they know that nothing had to die in order to make those products. Vegans stay away from any kind of animal product, from eggs and dairy to honey.

Like most diets, one that doesn't include animal products can be boring if you don't put some thought into preparing your dishes. However, with a bit of imagination you can enjoy hearty meals full of flavor. These dishes can take some time and effort to prepare, though. Luckily things become much less complicated if you can just take a meal from the freezer and heat it up in the oven, in the microwave or on the stove.

With veganism being especially popular in countries like India, it's inevitable that there are many fragrant curries that don't contain anything that comes from animals. Chinese, Japanese and other Asian cuisines also have plenty of vegan options. Middle Eastern and Latin American cuisines are great choices too.

To be vegan you don't necessarily have to be a lover of ethnic cuisine or of dishes normally associated with hippies. These days it's easy to find your favorite comfort foods in versions that don't contain any animal products. Pop a pot pie in the oven for a quick trip back to your childhood or enjoy a macaroni and cheese made with a dairy-free cheese substitute.

You can also enjoy your favorite fast foods in animal-friendly versions. Burgers and hot dogs can be made from soy, lentils, beans or other legumes and some manufacturers have perfected recipes where you won't even realize you're not eating the real thing. Because of the many cheese substitutes available, you don't have to give up grilled cheese sandwiches or pizza either.

There are plenty of dessert options that you can store in the freezer for later use too. Egg-free cakes and baked desserts are easy to find and to make. Ice cream doesn't have to be in the form of sorbet but can have a creamy taste with the addition of avocado or coconut milk. Even chocoholics can get their fix with dairy-free chocolate as an ingredient in, for example, brownies.

With so many people opting for veganism these days, it's becoming increasingly easy to find suitable frozen meals. Most grocery stores stock a few options. If you want more choices, head to a health-food store in your area or order your meals online. When you cook, it's a good idea to make an extra batch which you can then freeze and keep for those times when you want a home-cooked meal without the work.




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