Being a Gluten Free Vegan – Why I’ve Decided to Give it a Go… for a month…
I’ve set myself a challenge… This month I’ve decided to be a gluten free vegan. For now, just the one month. Mad? Maybe!
Already Coeliac and already struggling to read every label in the supermarket to check whether I may be poisoned by gluten, the prospect of checking for any and all animal products seems daunting and to many, totally bonkers. So why the heck am I doing it?
INTOLERANCE TESTING GROUND
Am I just jumping on the Veganuary band wagon? Well… actually no! For a number of months I’ve been feeling bloated and at times in pain, despite a very strict gluten free diet. I’ve considered cutting out any number of things to see what makes a difference. But my gut instincts (no pun intended) tell me it may well be dairy.
I LOVE dairy. The idea of cutting it out of my diet fills me with dread. But for months, I have tried to persuade myself that this is what I need to test. I am clearly not very persuasive… I have failed!
Veganuary is proving to be a motivator. An opportunity to enter the annual national movement that says ‘you got this’! Try it for just one month… No strings attached. You too Kate… can become a gluten free vegan AND survive!
A Bit of a Detox
Like many others, I have also been pushing the boundaries of excess over the Christmas and New Year period. Too much rich food. Perhaps a little too much alcohol. Definitely too much sugar and fat. And my body is telling me it’s time for a break. ‘Give me a bit of a detox’ it’s shouting…
Who am I to deny my body… the finely tuned machine that keeps me alive… the little bit of attention that it is demanding? And (in addition to a recent determined return to the gym), trying a gluten free vegan diet (or ‘doing’ Veganuary’) seems a fair trade-off.
Why do Other People ‘do’ Veganuary?
Is anyone else out there doing a vegan gluten free diet for January? I’m sure your reasons are many and varied. But there is no denying that we are being increasingly encouraged to consider the wisdom of a vegan diet for an array of reasons.
Some people think it will help them to lose weight. Others believe it will give them longer lives. Yet more are worried about animal welfare. The organisation ‘Veganuary’ implores us every year to ‘take the pledge’ to go vegan for one month, hoping it will be the ‘light-bulb’ experience that leads us to permanent Veganism.
There is no doubt that arguments are raging internationally about climate change and the challenges of sustainably feeding the global population. We are consistently being educated about our personal impact on the world through continuing to eat meat and animal products. The message is blatant : ‘one of the biggest contributors to climate change comes from ‘dietary greenhouse emissions”.
I’ll be honest… as a Coeliac, I am really concerned about the impact on personal health of giving up critical nutrients gained from dairy, fish and meat in the long term. I don’t want to spend my days popping supplements for things that are available to me in food. But I do get why we should be worried… And I respect that concern enough to try to reduce my personal impact, by eating plant-based on a more regular basis.
What can a Gluten Free Vegan Eat?
So let’s cut to the chase. It can’t be easy being vegan AND gluten free, right?
One week in and we’re doing fine! I say ‘we’… Miss GF has joined me enthusiastically in the gluten free vegan challenge… Mr GF is somewhat scathing about our dietary shift and has chosen to play no part.
Vegan No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream – Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
what are we eating?
As a family who cooks most meals from scratch (and who already reads every label for ingredients), shopping and adapting has felt pretty easy. Normally, most of our meals have a carbohydrate base, with an element of protein and vegetables alongside.
The Carbohydrate Base for a Gluten Free Vegan Diet
The carbohydrate base has changed very little, bar extra careful reading of labels to check for (predominantly) dairy, egg and honey. Our meals still have a base of gluten free pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bread, pastry, noodles, rice, veggie rice, corn ‘cous cous’; quinoa, lentils, etc. Many of these ingredients are naturally gluten free, and actually, there are a surprising number of vegan gluten free baked and processed products in the supermarket too.
Here’s just a handful of what I found on a quick shop in my two local supermarkets and in my larder :
Home-Made Vegan Gluten Free Wholemeal Bread Recipe
I have also been working for the last few months on developing a really delicious, easy-to-make, comparable to wheat, Vegan Gluten Free Wholemeal Bread recipe. And I’ve done it! I am now enjoying the fruits of many many hours of labour and am enjoying daily, a really healthy nutritious loaf.
I am sure many of you would like the recipe too, so keep following Gluten Free Alchemist (it’s a great idea to subscribe using the box below) to get the latest news and soon I’ll share.
Fruit and Veg
Fruit and veg needs no labels. It’s all naturally gluten free and vegan. So you can eat as much of it as you like. And it’s surprisingly filling and sustaining. Just remember to vary how you season and cook it so that it doesn’t ever become boring… Boil, bake, fry, grill, barbecue, roast, eat raw… the possibilities are endless and delicious.
Adding Protein to a Vegan Diet
This is the biggie for us at GFHQ. The need to cut out regular meat, fish, eggs and dairy from our gluten free diet is critical to doing Veganuary. What to replace it with and still ensure the vital nutrients we need requires careful consideration. Having said this, the reality is that certain nutrients (in particular the B vitamins and vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc) may quickly become deficient, so it will be important regardless, to keep a check and ensure we seek out fortified foods and supplements. Check out this article on 8 nutrients we need to watch for… And also this helpful article from Coeliac UK.
PLant-Based Protein Alternatives
Some of the best natural gluten free protein sources that we already eat lots of (some of which are complete proteins) include Tofu; Quinoa and Teff; lentils; gluten free oats; nuts/nut butters and seeds; chia; soya (including Textured Vegetable Protein TVP); chickpeas and beans (including houmous); and peas (yes… peas!). Other unprocessed ingredients that are good protein sources and naturally gluten free include Tempeh (from soy); nutritional yeast; hempseed; spirulina; amaranth and wild rice.
Processed Plant-Based Protein Alternatives that ‘Mimic’ and Provide Familiar Alternatives
There is also an ever-growing choice of processed Vegan alternatives to meat, fish and cheese available in supermarkets and whole-food shops, many of which ‘mimic’ and are named to reflect their animal counterparts. I actually find this a little weird. Why we seem to have a need to seek veggie alternatives that are named to ‘taste like meat’ seems to contradict many elements of veganism. But hey… if facon, qwrkee jerky, vegan fish, vegan chorizo, soy beef, vegan tuna, vegan chick’n, fishless fillets and free from meat burgers are what helps you feel the world is still ‘normal’, then they are all out there to be had.
And since we are doing a gluten free vegan Veganuary, it seems like a good opportunity to see what’s out there that is also safe for the Coeliacs amongst us… As always, reading labels to check for hidden gluten is crucial. BE AWARE… Not all Quorn products (even the basic ones) are gluten free.
Veganuary Ready Meals
Although cooking everything from scratch would be fantastic, in the real world, time is precious and trying a gluten free vegan diet definitely takes better planning. So just like any other ‘normal’ household, the ready meal still makes a not-infrequent appearance at GFHQ. Here’s a few options that I have found in the big supermarkets. You’ll find a few more finds over at The Gluten Free Blogger blog.
Gluten Free Vegan Snacks & Treats
Doing Veganuary doesn’t mean giving up everything… does it? I’m not sure I’d survive without a few treats in my life. And going gluten free vegan doesn’t mean being a total angel.
There are loads of dessert and sweet treat recipes which are gluten free as well as vegan if you love to make your own (I’ve given you a starter list below). But there is also an increasing range of gluten free vegan treats available to buy in the supermarket too…
As with all gluten free shopping, check labels for potential gluten-risk.
Sauces, Sundries & Sprinkles
If you want to pep up your veg, tofu, tempeh and carbs, remember to add plenty of seasoning, herbs, spices, stock and flavourings.
Tomato passata makes a good sauce base, as does vegan pesto, coconut milk in curry, sesame tahini, etc. If you don’t feel too confident about making your own sauces and seasonings, there are plenty to be found in the shops (and not always in the obvious ‘free from’ section). Usual gluten free rules apply!
This is just a taster of some of the ‘extras’ I found…
Make Your Own – Recipes for a Gluten Free Vegan
Happy to cook and bake? Then there is loads of inspiration and plenty of gluten free vegan recipes out there. And as we are doing Veganuary here, I’ve done some of the searching for you. Here’s a list of gluten free vegan recipes that will give you a starting point from Gluten Free Alchemist and from fellow bloggers around the web…
Breakfast
- Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
- Instant Fruit & Nut Porridge Pots
- Chocolate, Cherry, Pear & Pecan Granola
- Apple Pie Granola
- Healthy Breakfast Flapjack Bars
- Banana, Melon & Strawberry Smoothie
- Quinoa Rainbow Breakfast Bowl
- Naturally Sweet Raw Green Smoothie
Savoury & Breads
Don’t forget to keep your eye on Gluten Free Alchemist for the unveiling of my very own recipe for Vegan Gluten Free Wholemeal Bread very soon!
- Spiralized Oriental Courgette-Noodle Soup
- Vegan Lentil & Vegetable Hot Pot from Peachicks Bakery
- Home Made Houmous
- Hummus with Caramelised Onion & Turmeric
- Iron-Rich Green Houmous
- Vegetable Mish-Mash Soup
- Roasted Beetroot Hummus from Nutritious Deliciousness
- Barbecued Marinated Vegetables
- Roasted Squash, Kale & Grapefruit Salad from Peachicks Bakery
- Indian Flat Breads
- Vegan Cauliflower Salad from Cooking Journey
- Roasted Pumpkin, Ramiro Pepper & Leek Soup
- Roasted Vegetable Soup
- Creamy Spinach and Tofu Curry from Yumsome
- Crispy Pizza Base
- Vegan Lentil Chilli from Curly’s Cooking
- Vegan Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Nutritious Deliciousness
- Green Beans Cooked in Tomatoes
- Spicy Pumpkin Soup
- Simple Vegan Irish Stew from Yumsome
- Vegan Meatballs with Courgetti from Nutritious Deliciousness
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce from Cooking Journey
Desserts
- Simple 4-Ingredient Apple & Strawberry Pie
- Vegan Butterscotch Pudding from Yumsome
- Vegan Mint-Chocolate Ice Cream Bites
- No-Churn Rich Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream
- Vegan Apple Meringue from Fab Food 4 All
- Tropical Sorbet
- Boozy Pina Colada Hot Barbecue Pineapple
- Cherry-Almond Coconut Milk Ice Cream
- Mango-Coconut Ice Cream from Feast Glorious Feast
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Cakes & Other Sweet Treats
- Healthier Banana-Layered Flapjack Crumble Cake
- Mini Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Cakes
- Gluten free Vegan Banana Bread from A Baking Journey
- The Best Gluten Free Maple Shortbread
- Vegan Chocolate Cake over at Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
- Raw Chocolate-Raspberry ‘Fudge’
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies from A Baking Journey
- Hazelnut-Cacao Energy Balls
- Peanut Butter Bliss Balls from A Baking Journey
- Cranberry & Apricot Seeded Vegan Flapjacks
So there you go! If you too are doing a gluten free vegan Veganuary, I’d love to hear from you. What are you eating and how are you managing? Ping me a comment below or get in touch via email or social media. #glutenfreealchemist. x
GLUTEN FREE VEGAN – SURVIVING VEGANUARY & BEYOND Shared With :
- Thinking Out Loud Thursday with Penny’s Passion
- Wellness Wednesday with Beth in a Box
- A Little Bit of Everything #84 with Family, Lifestyle & Travel Blog
- Inspire Me Monday with Anitaojeda
- Meatless Monday with Confessions of a Mother Runner and A Whisk and Two Wands
Good luck with you gluten free Veganuary. I spy a lot of the foods I give my vegetarian daughter here:-) Thank you for including my Vegan Apple Meringue:-)
Thank you Camilla. You are welcome. Thanks for the share x
Well done for giving it a go Kate and good luck. I did Veganuary for the first time last year and I’m doing it again this year. I think it’s good to be less reliant on dairy, but I wouldn’t want to give it up altogether. I’m from Cornwall where the only thing that grows well is grass. Even after watching George Monbiot’s, Apocalypse Cow the other night, I’m not entirely convinced.
I was quite concerned last year how I’d manage without butter and cheese, but it wasn’t a problem at all. I just went without cheese and found that almond butter on toast with marmite was pretty damn good. I’ve always cooked a lot of vegan food, but doing Veganuary last year has kickstarted into doing more and being more adventurous. I was really looking forward to doing it again this year, but I’m not planning on taking it further.
Thank you Choclette. I’m actually really enjoying the challenge and so far haven’t found it too difficult to cook and eat the right nutrition. It just requires a bit more planning. I think as a Coeliac I am so used to reading labels and thinking about exactly to the n’th degree what is in our food, that excluding and checking for other stuff almost seems normal!
I have to question whether there would be enough food to sustain the planet if we all stopped eating all forms of animal protein though. I certainly wont be going full time permanent vegan and there was no intention to continue after Veganuary. But I am actually really quite worried that I may have to give up or significantly cut back dairy if it turns out to be another intolerance issue. It is really important to our diets here at GFHQ and whilst the nutrition can be bridged in other ways, I rely on it quite heavily in cooking and for flavour. Vegan cheese is much better than it used to be, but still doesn’t cut the mustard!
Hopefully I’ll gain enough wisdom through Veganuary to give me the skills I need should it be needed…. Either way, I will be eating more plant-based for the future whatever else I am eating xxx
Good luck with veganuary. While I have never been vegan I have go up and down in how much vegan cooking I do and right now while in a low energy period haven’t done as much vegan cooking as usual. I would love to try and do some more. Vegan cooking has been a great way to feel creative in the kitchen as well as healthy. So I love seeing your ideas and will look forward to any recipes.
It is amazing how much more vegan food is available these days. My biggest complaint is that there is some great processed vegan cheese out there but it is mainly coconut oil without a lot of the nutrients you usually get from cheese so it is not like for like in nutrients if you substitute. I think this is one things to look out for with processed foods. Faux meats are generally not for me but I love buying vegetarian sausages because I worked out that I missed them even though I don’t miss other meat – so I understand that some people have a desire for faux meats.
And good luck with sorting out what works and doesn’t work for you in your diet.
Thank you Johanna. So far I am enjoying the ‘experiment’ and like you, it is a great opportunity to be more creative and also to find more new ingredients.
The vegan cheese thing is a tricky one. They are better than they used to be, but still not like cheese really…. and the nutrition is an important factor. Finding enough and varied vegan protein for interest, flavour, versatility and that will actually sustain hunger is perhaps the most difficult part. I am hoping that Veganuary will push me to explore more widely and find exciting ways to prepare what’s out there.
Either way… It’s not for the long haul, although I will definitely be having more plant-based and vegetarian days going forward. REALLY hoping I don’t have to give up dairy.
Happy New Year to you xxx
I hope this month brings you many insights into the effects of your diet on your health and lifestyle! Although I’ve never tried a completely vegan diet, I’ve been eating many more vegan meals since my partner and I gave up meat for Lent in 2002–making a change for 6 weeks led to a permanent reduction in how much meat we eat and an enthusiasm for meatless recipes that has led to our reducing other animal-based foods as well. The temporary restriction helped us see how little we needed meat, so now we’re much less inclined to choose meat without having to maintain a rule that we’ll *never* eat it.
Thank you Becca.
I suspect that after Veganuary, we may well take the same line. I think we are too reliant on meat and fish at GFHQ and Veganuary is giving me the opportunity to create new recipes and discover new ingredients, which can only be a good thing.
It’s also a great opportunity and motivator to do a ‘less imposed’ elimination detox to discover if anything particular is affecting me, or whether I just need to eat less of certain things. xx