The very beginning of a new chapter

It wasnt one thing that made me want to try to be a vegan for 30 days, it was definitely a combination.

Firstly the long days of lockdown which found me flicking in a meaningless way through Instagram, having deleted all other social media as it was far too disturbing. I don't "know" many vegan's but enough to stumble across some videos and advertising which made me think eating animals is not so good!

Secondly having spent almost a year following slimming world and losing over two stone, I'd got into a habit of eating more veggies, fruit, pulses and grains and was starting to thing I could easily go vegetarian as there were so many alternatives out there.

Lastly the whole Covid-19, global pandemic, eating the wrong animals probably got us in this mess. This made me think a lot about if it's really necessary to be eating animal problems and what else are we are risk of getting?

Having missed veganuary I thought I'd do my own little vegan May and I sent for some information from Viva (a vegan starter pack) and once it arrived settled down with some baked oat porridge to plan my first weeks meals.

I planned to have a Vegan start date of Monday, but having seen the HORRIFIC leaflets, that was it for me, no more meat!

I have 2 sons (age 10 & 12) and a husband and I dont want to force them to do anything, so I'll be cooking a weeks full vegan and taking it from there with what the rest of the family do! There seems to be concerns from a lot of people that being a Vegan will make me ill, but I'm pretty sure it's a better diet than I eat now, but have ordered some vegan supplements just to tick that box!

Food shopping was planned for Monday, I shop in Aldi and I know from a quick look last week a lot of things I need they dont sell so off I went to Sainsburys to get some essentials.

It turned out my nearest Sainsburys doesn't sell a lot of what I wanted and I was at a bit of a loss, so I made myself a pitta bread with Vivera Shawarma kebab with salad and courgette and mushrooms. This was amazing, nicer than any meat I've ever had!

Whilst looking through Instagram I happened to find on a local Vegan shop where you can order online and go and collect, they're called Friendly Foods and they definitely are! I ordered and collected within an hour.

So after I've gone to Aldi I'll be all set for week one! I am a little bit apprehensive now, theres no going back after I've read all the awful things, but I have to say I didn't enjoy my dinner at all tonight! We had Aldi Plant Menu, No Beef burgers with Violife cheese slices. It was awful, just not a nice taste at all, still I dont like every non-vegan meal!! I think it might have been the beetroot in it, I do not like beetroot!

Should anyone stumble across this blog I'd love to hear any must have recipes, products, places to shop! I think it's going to take a while to get used to what's what and where to get it from.