I am not a vegan but I have grown to love vegan food. With much negativity about social media, this is one industry that has used the platform to educate people about vegan food. Before social media, vegans and vegetarians were perceived to eat large amounts of lettuce leaves but as you will see it is so much more than that. Our family isn’t vegan but we have just cut down a lot of meat and dairy products from our diet and I use vegan receipes for meat-free and dairy-free days. I still believe in balance but I believe that the balance has got out of hand during the last 50 years. Decades ago, meat and dairy had a smaller fraction on our plates and now they can make up for 60% of our diet and in the US this can make up to 80% of a typical diet. The truth is we never hear of people becoming sick from consuming large amount of greens but on the contrary there are many diseases associated with consuming large amounts of meat in our diets. Our family has now reduced this percentage.
I have also noticed that this has helped out with our very expensive grocery bills. Buying organic and grass fed meat is expensive, and buying more greens has certainly helped.
As most of you know, I am obsessed with cookbooks but I also know they are an extremely expensive investment. Here are 10 of my favourite vegan blogs if you want to try new receipes and ideas this summer. I have picked blogs that have stood the test of time, and are genuinely creative in their cooking to show that vegan food can be satisfying and delicious. Many of you are travelling in Europe and North America this summer holiday, and I couldn’t think of a better time to try new receipes and dishes by strolling through farmers’ markets picking out freshly plucked organic ingredients to experiment with.
The blog has captured the interest of many news channels and has been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health as well as The New York Times as it has changed thoughts about the vegan diet. Rich Roll, a graduate of Stanford University and Cornell Law School , but struggled after with a battle with drugs and alcohol. Rich found himself struggling with his weight at the age of 31 and by 40 was extremely unfit. He turned his life around with a vegan diet he surprised triathlon and ultra communities by being the first vegan to compete the 320-mile uber-endurance event. At 50, he has been named one of the ’25 Fittest Men in the World.’
Amanda is a culinary nutritionist with a background in SEO for Fortune 500 companies and started her blog back in 2011. Aaron is an award winning Creative Director and Photographer of the award winning blog. Together they are Pickles and Honey. The blog is essentially a whole foods, seasonal receive blog. 99% of their receipes are vegan but she does use raw, organic honey, and most dishes are also glue tree.
Angela Liddon is probably more well-known these days for the book she has published, that is now a New York Times Bestseller, Oh She Glows Everyday, featuring over 100 plant-based receipes. She also has on social media over 1million followers. Her blog is plant-based, and has many recipes that are also free from gluten, soy and processed. To make a stab at her blog, try her most popular page which has simpler recipes and ideas for children too.
Kirsty Turner and her photographer husband Chris are vegetarians our of compassion for animals, and is also the author of best seller, ‘But My Family Would Never Eat Vegan.’ Her recipes include gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookies to kid-tested receipes.
The award winning blog also launched its first book, The First mess. Laura Wright lives in Southern Ontario and went to culinary school to learn about food. She has been featured on Huffington Post, A Cup of Jo and many more. She also features other cookbooks that inspire her as well as her own receipes that are easily printable.
These are receipes created by Margaret Chapman with stunning photography to inspire you to try her dishes. Margaret’s stance also comes from a cruelty free choice of lifestyle. She does provide some kid receipes but I don’t think she has met my kids who probably would find it difficult to eat some of her suggestions but from an adult receipe creator there are plenty of ideas to try.
One of the most beautiful blog in terms of photography and creativity, and Ashley Melilo has also launched a receipe book called Blissful Basil. Ashley is the creator, and the photographer of her work. The blog was launched in 2010, and it was strictly a hobby before turning professional in 2013. It is just worth trawling through her blog to see her stunning vegan receipes and it is easy to navigate through her website.
Richa Hingle is an award winning blogger and photographer based in Seattle who has launched several books as well. She has been featured on Oprah.com, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan and many more. Her first cookbook, Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen, is about delicious Indian Vegan Receipes and is a number 1 seller on Amazon. I am still keen to try many of her receipes including her Chana Saag and Gujarati Potatoes. Try some of her popular receipes including her Spiced Cauliflower and Tofu in Green Masala Sauce and Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookie Pie.
Again, a blog with stunning photography which typically means that Sara’s husband is a talented photographer, and the mum of two has also launched several cookbooks including the Sprouted Kitchen Bowl + Spoon and The Sprouted Kitchen: a tastier take on whole foods. Some favourite receipes to try include her Kale + Silvered Brussels Sprout Soba Noodles.
Dana is the receipe developer, content creator and food photographer behind Minimalist Baker and has been blogging since 2010. She is also the author of several books including Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking and 31 Meals Cookbook. Some receipes worth trying include their Easy Red Salsa and her 1-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake.