vegan UK

Vegan junk food in Leeds

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It has been quite a while since I visited Mog’s in Leeds, so I thought it would be the right time to remind everyone about this 100% vegan junk food joint.

Mog’s started life as a vegetarian and vegan eatery a few years back. In 2018 it became a fully vegan restaurant and then got itself some new management in 2019.

What can you expect to eat at Mog’s in 2020?

The menu is packed solid with comfort food such as burgers, chickn dinners, coleslaw, gravy, wraps, and fries.

Check out some of these images.

Reviews online show people raving about Mog’s, so I think that means you should get there as soon as possible.

You can see the exact location of Mog’s online thanks to Google Maps.

You should follow Mog’s on Instagram.

Best vegan burger in the UK

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The Oumph! Burger has won Best Vegan Burger in the 2020 Vegan Food & Living Product Awards. Up against the likes of Linda McCartney, Fry’s and Quorn, The Oumph! Burger was praised for its texture, flavour and close resemblance to a meat-based burger.

The jury’s verdict reads:

“This really tastes like a burger, with the crust and centre being pretty bang on. It has a very enjoyable taste and texture. This is a great one for anyone doing Veganuary in particular as it proves that vegans don’t have to miss out!”

Nick Jacobs, Head of Sales UK & Ireland, Oumph! Food for Progress comments:

“We’re delighted to have won vegan burger of the year and that it is testament to the incredible success the Oumph! Burger has achieved nationwide both in the retail sector but also within leading UK restaurants.”

The Oumph! Burger is available across the UK in Asda, as well as in popular, nationwide restaurant chains Café Rouge and Bella Italia, and London and South East pub chain Shepherd Neame.

Marc Saunders, Head of Brand at Bella Italia, Casual Dining Group comments:

“The Oumph! Burger makes up for more than 22% of Bella Italia’s burger sales. We offer a number of different dishes featuring Oumph! on our vegetarian and vegan menu, and they are all very popular, which contributed to Bella Italia recently being awarded Best Vegan Menu.”

In Ireland The Oumph! Burger is available at SuperValu and Centra stores.

Congratulations to Oumph! but we also wanna know which burgers came in second and third, right?

Second place (or highly commended) went to The Fry Family Quinoa and Brown Rice Protein Burger.

And third place (commended)? Quorn Ultimate Burger was recognised.

What do you think about these top three burgers? Are they the brands or products you would pick?

If you are interested in seeing the other category winners for the Vegan Food & Living Product Awards 2020, click here.

The power of saying you are vegan

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Here’s a blast from the past!

Every month I write a column for Vegan Life Magazine and sometimes I re-share the content on here.

Today I am sharing my column from way back at the end of 2017. I hope you enjoy it!

You can subscribe to Vegan Life Magazine online and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The power of saying “No, thanks. I’m vegan”

We’ve all been there. That awkward moment when you are out with friends, work colleagues, family members or even people you don’t know all too well and somebody offers you something to eat or drink that isn’t vegan.

There can be an uncomfortable silence and you can often feel a huge desire to not want to offend people or come across as a difficult vegan.

Well, I’m here to tell you it’s OK to say no to non-vegan offerings with a friendly confidence.

Actually, it’s more than just OK.

Learning to love saying “I’m vegan” gives you confidence in your beliefs, affords people a super quick insight into the type of person you are (i.e. kind!) and acts as a form of outreach to help spread your compassionate message of caring for animals.

For some people, becoming confident and comfortable with the decision of going vegan and being vocal about it takes time. One of the best ways to become assured of your own veganism is to talk about it and this can include something as simple as turning down non-vegan food.

I strongly believe a confident vegan is an attractive friend prospect to most people, not just other vegans.

When it comes to picking my friends and the people around me, there is nothing more important or admirable than a person who believes strongly in something positive and takes an unwavering stand on that topic.

You are going to look like a person of your convictions to those around you if you employ a zero-tolerance approach to non-vegan food items. I’ve been vegan for twenty years and one of the things my friends say they love about me is my commitment to the causes in which I believe.

A confident person who can be unapologetically vegan with a smile on their face is not only an admirable person, they are also the best form of activism.

When a kind and approachable vegan stands firm and friendly in their convictions, it is the best advertisement for veganism. When people see you sticking to your beliefs yet still getting on with life and enjoying the company of those around you, it can be the inspiration they need to start thinking about taking that step themselves.

It’s not being preachy to say “No, thanks. I’m vegan.” It’s being true to yourself and it is just one of the ways you are working to improve outcomes for animals.

The majority of vegans you know haven’t always been vegan, so they must have had a first time hearing about the lifestyle.

Think of how many people’s first time you can be if you find a way to say no to non-vegan food. By politely but assuredly turning down non-vegan food and drink, you might just be positioning yourself as the seed that will one day sprout and take someone on their compassionate journey.

Seeds sprouting into compassionate journeys? Yes, even my metaphors are vegan.

Of course it isn’t always plain sailing when you are the only vegan in your social group. People can sometimes take your vegan stance as an attack on their choices or even come to see you as a ‘sanctimonious inconvenience’ (yes, that happened to me and still stings).

It can be a tricky balancing act to manoeuvre within certain groups of friends and family, but it is completely OK to stand your vegan ground even when some individuals will see your lifestyle choice as a challenge.

It’s completely understandable how the concept of veganism will be met with some resistance when you consider how ingrained the use of animals is in our society. Heck, they are even in our money!

But that is exactly why we are vegan. We want to help enact a change in these attitudes and practices in order to cause less harm. A little social awkwardness is surely a small price to pay as we find our vegan feet and save the planet.

You can gently yet firmly reassure people that your choice to not consume animal products is based on how you feel about the world around you (and animals!) and is not an attack on their personal consumption of ribs, rumps and legs. You can do this in a good-natured way that doesn’t have to lead to offense being taken.

It’s your decision and your life being affected, not theirs. Being self-assured and happy with your choices is one of the best parts of living vegan. Learn to enjoy it.

New vegan takeaway in Covent Garden

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YEDA just told me that they serve food that is good for you and the planet at their Covent Garden location.

The grab and go restaurant opened its doors just before Christmas, in the vibrant Seven Dials in Covent Garden, London. The full address is 55 Neal Street, London, WC2H 9PJ.

YEDA focuses on delivering good food on the go. They serve delicious satiating food that is good for you, the environment, and the planet. The place was developed by Elena, a 27-year-old UCL graduate, who felt London was missing delicious vegan food available on the go.

On the menu YEDA has loaded salads, several tasty sandwiches and wraps that can be toasted in a grill, and an already popular Breakfast Burrito. The selection of hot mains includes shakshuka, creamy mac and butternut squash, chickpea and coconut curry, and a sweet potato jackfruit waffle.

There are two elements to the YEDA space: the ground floor that is all-hands-on-deck for quick grab and the lower ground floor lounge with comfy seating and a relaxing atmosphere. The shop itself is bright and vibrant with natural woods, terrazzo tiles, and modern chic fittings.

The food is not the only passion YEDA wants to share with the city. They are trying to do their bit to be kind to the planet by using recyclable and compostable packaging that is both practical and Earth-friendly.

Follow YEDA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Top nine Instagram posts of 2019

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It’s the end of 2019 so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and highlight the most liked posts from my Instagram post from across the year.

Here is an overview of the nine most liked of the year.

Let’s break it down into individual posts.

Here are the top nine posts from my Instagram account for 2019, with the most popular at the bottom.

Enjoy… and please follow me on Instagram if you don’t already.

The ninth most popular post was a photo of me accompanied by a plea for people to not buy or breed dogs. It resonated with a lot of people and is a message for the ages!

There was a HUGE response for this photo of my Follow Your Heart pin. I never expected this to be on the end of year list, let alone come in at number eight.

This is the first of two photos of London vegan cheese shop La Fauxmagerie to make my top nine Instagram list for 2019. Having two entries is proof of how excited vegans were about this shop opening.

Vegan food in airports can be a bit uninspired so this photo of my breakfast at Wagamama at Heathrow got a lot of likes. It was a tasty treat to enjoy before a long haul flight.

I shared this message from Chapter One coffee shop in Edinburgh and it was popular enough to land at number five on my top nine list for the year. People loved reading news of this popular café switching to become a totally vegan business.

I am surprised this post took off like it did because it is kinda an ugly photo! The Wicked range in Tesco is one of the most successful product launches I have ever seen and this photo being in my top nine is evidence that people can’t get enough.

This post is not a happy read and contains a few upsetting memories of bad times from throughout my life. People who follow me on Instagram were kind and supportive, making this the third most popular post of mine for 2019.

Warning: it is a very upsetting read so do proceed with caution.

LOTS of people responded positively to this photo I took in Heathrow airport. It is exciting to see so many mainstream business be so open about their vegan options.

La Fauxmagerie took the number one slot on my Instagram account for 2019. News of this vegan cheese shop opening in London broke the Internet and more than 4,500 people liked this photo.

Much love to everyone who has helped make my blog and social media accounts viable for another year.

All of this is done to help promote veganism and independent vegan businesses. I want people to go vegan and stay vegan to help improve outcomes for animals.

New vegan white chocolate raspberry truffles

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Have you almost gotten a handle on gift buying for Christmas?

Good. I’m here to tell you about your next vegan gift giving opportunity.

Valentine’s Day!

Moo Free are one of my favourite sweet treats companies on the planet and I’m thrilled to hear about this new product they are launching in 2020.

Inspired by their Hazelnut Truffles that hit the shelves recently, Moo Free has now created the perfect self-indulgent treat or thoughtful gift.

The heart-shaped truffles are filled with a soft raspberry centre which uses a unique raspberry concentrate mixture to achieve its mouthwateringly wonderful flavour.

Made from a white chocolate alternative recipe, these tasty new truffles are created using UTZ certified cocoa in association with the Rainforest Alliance, which helps support sustainable farming and provides better opportunities for farmers, their families, and our planet.

Produced in Devon, these new Moo Free truffles are certified vegan and are gluten and soya free.

Moo Free‘s White Raspberry Truffles will be available to buy from their online factory store (you can pre order now) and in a select number of Waitrose stores at the RRP of £4.99.

Follow Moo Free on Instagram.

Christmas themed vegan syrups

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I love Sweet Freedom.

The company has been around for a number of years now and I adore how they keep expanding their range, sometimes even releasing limited edition vegan sweeteners and syrups.

Speaking of limited edition releases, the brand has just a few days ago released four Christmas products which are available in Aldi stores around the UK.

So, what have we got in the range?

  • Gingerbread Syrup
  • Cinnamon Syrup
  • Choc Shot Winter Spice
  • Choc Shot Mint

All of the Sweet Freedom products are perfect for adding to coffee, frappes, cocktails or drizzling over pancakes and porridge.

Follow Sweet Freedom on Instagram and get your Christmas supplies from Aldi stores.

Vegan Ethiopian food in South London

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Do you all remember that Ethiopian restaurant located at Art Works shipping container village at Elephant and Castle?

It used to have a lot of vegan options and the owner was super passionate about the food.

Well, guess what? It isn’t there anymore.

But also guess what?!

Beza has moved to another location in Elephant and Castle and has turned 100% vegan. Yay!

Both the food and interior of the restaurant look sensational.

Beza describes the restaurant as an “Ethiopian restaurant in London that specialises in traditional Ethiopian vegan food.”

Their menu is alive with truly delicious and nutritious seasonal food, all served in a beautiful setting. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan. The restaurant is proud to serve the local community with inspiring exotic dishes.

Eat with them ASAP and then often.

You can follow Beza on Instagram and Facebook.

See the exact location of the restaurant thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan snack bars for the UK

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Eat Natural are those snack bars that vegans always get harassed by in supermarkets.

You know when you are looking for something quick and easy to grab when you are at the checkout or running out the door quickly? Eat Natural bars are ALWAYS there, in every store.

If you are anything like me, your brain gets excited for a millisecond before you remember that they contain honey.

It’s not the worst thing to happen to humanity, but it is a little bit annoying.

Eat Natural must have gotten tired of vegans like me complaining (nagging works!) because they have now released three products suitable for vegans and one of them is even called Simply Vegan.

The new products include:

  • Simply Vegan – a gorgeously coconut-ty bar with a lovely swoosh of proper dark chocolate underneath, packed with nuts and dried fruit
  • Maple syrup, pecan and peanut bar – part of their ‘bars with benefits’ range. It carries extra protein thanks to all the nuts and seeds
  • Low Sugar Granola – a stunning granola made with coconut blossom nectar

I would recommend a store in which to look for these however I do believe they are sold almost everywhere in the UK.

Vegan Christmas pizza in London

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Vegan pizza is everywhere.

I’m in no way saying that is a bad thing, I’m just commenting on how it seems to be popping up everywhere in London.

One of the most-loved vegan pizza joints in the UK capital is Good Belly which is located inside The Railway Tavern just a few steps from Dalston Kingsland Overground station.

The pizzas at Good Belly get rave reviews from those in the know, so I can only imagine how delicious these two Christmas-themed specials will taste.

The first seasonal special I want to tell you about is their Christmas Day Pizza. It is constructed from a cranberry & merlot tomato base, mushrooms, red onion, stuffing crumbs, bacon bits, parsnip puree, and shredded sprouts.

That is one dreamy Christmas pizza!

Another special they have is their flaky (and delicious) Santa’s Sausage Roll. Good Belly assure me it is one of the best sausage rolls on the planet.

Check it out.

Both of these specials from Good Belly will be on their menu until December 22, 2019 so hop along rapidly if you want some seasonal treats.

You can see the full regular menu from Good Belly online here, follow the restaurant on Instagram, and check out the exact location of The Railway Tavern thanks to Google Maps.