Entering the vegan world can lead you to discover many things you've never noticed before. From food labels you might have overlooked to unexpected plant-based alternatives, it's all about exploring both food and life. Today, let's share some fun facts about vegan life with a seasoned vegan for five years!
1. Vegan does not mean vegan?
In Taiwan, we often confuse vegan and vegetarian, but in fact there are subtle differences between the two.
Veganism is a lifestyle that involves not only avoiding the consumption of animal products but also the use of animal-related products, such as honey, leather, and wool. Veganism, on the other hand, is limited to diet, often based on religious fasting, and avoids the five pungent vegetables, but does not necessarily avoid products like honey.
Therefore, products labeled as vegan may contain ingredients that vegans cannot touch, so you need to pay special attention to the ingredient list.
Image credit: unsplash - Meggyn Pomerleau
2. Can vegans eat OREO?
You might be surprised to learn this, but OREO is a vegan cookie!
The soft and sweet cream filling in the middle of OREO is actually not made from milk. OREO does not contain any egg or dairy products. The two ingredients with the highest content are sugar and flour. In addition, it also contains many artificial ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup, a common sweetener in processed foods, and soy lecithin, which is often used as an emulsifier.
Although vegans can eat OREO, it doesn’t mean it is healthy. It is not recommended to eat high-sugar or processed foods too often!
3. Watch out for red processed foods
Carmine is a common natural food coloring used in foods such as candy, jam, lipstick, ham and sausage. It is labeled as carmine, coloring No. 6 and coloring No. 40 in Taiwan .
It is extracted from the blood of female cochineal insects. Cochineal has good light stability and antioxidant properties. This may sound a bit scary, but cochineal is considered a legal food coloring. Although cochineal has been used less and less due to public reaction, it is still a point that vegans need to pay attention to.
4. Vegans can also eat cheese
Choosing a vegetarian diet doesn't mean giving up delicious food! By adjusting your traditional recipes and finding similar substitutes, you can enjoy the same dishes. It can be said to be a process of understanding and discovering the potential of ingredients.
For example, cheese and white sauce can be made with nuts, soybeans or corn; grilled king oyster mushrooms can replace grilled scallops; avocado dipped in soy sauce can have the taste of salmon sashimi; bean curd can replace eggs to make scrambled eggs or egg drop eggs.
5. Are vegans prone to nutritional imbalance?
Concerns about nutritional deficiencies stem from our existing notions about nutritional intake, such as that we need to eat meat and eggs to supplement protein. However , soybeans are actually the number one high-protein food, with a protein content of 30-40%. Furthermore, there are many types of soybean products, from soy milk for drinking to tofu, dried tofu, tofu pudding, etc., providing a wide variety of dietary options.
Some people say that drinking milk is the way to get calcium, but in fact beans, nuts, and vegetables like kale and red amaranth are richer in calcium, and can also provide magnesium, vitamin B, folic acid, and other nutrients that are important for bone health. Foods like black sesame, red amaranth, and spinach all contain more iron per 100 grams than beef .
Therefore, it is important to know where various nutrients can be obtained. As long as you are willing to try a more diversified diet, you can enjoy a healthy vegan life.
Image source: unsplash - Quin Engle
Becoming a vegan may be challenging in the early stages, but it will also bring many unexpected surprises and make you more aware of the habits you have developed in your daily life.
Vegan life is actually full of infinite possibilities, and I invite you to join me in enjoying this delicious and healthy lifestyle!