Did you start off your 2022 with a plant-based diet? Great thinking as January is Veganuary! Veganuary is  an annual challenge that was founded in 2014 by Jane Land and Matthew Glover. The organisation's aim is to promote and educate people about veganism by encouraging individuals to aim to follow a vegan lifestyle through the month of January. If you’re considering taking part it’s never too late to start your plant-based journey. But if you are worried that you won’t be able to survive a meat, egg and dairy free diet, we’ve put together a few tips to help you get started on your journey. 

What is a vegan in simple terms?

It is important that you are not misled by the “ideal” vegan meals you may see across social media. The clean eating and other food trends shared are often not realistic and maintainable. A vegan is simply an individual who does not use or eat any products of an animal. They are committed to a meat, dairy and egg free diet and do not consume honey. 

Quick and easy vegan pancake

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Makes 16 pancakes

Ingredients

300g self-raising flour

1tsp baking powder

1tbsp sugar (of your choice)

1tbsp vanilla extract

400ml plant-based milk

1tbsp vegetable oil

Salt

Toppings (optional)

Sliced banana, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, plant based yoghurt, honey

Method

Step 1

Add the flour, baking powder, sugar, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Mix the ingredients together with a whisk and gradually add in the milk until the mixture becomes a thick and smooth batter.

Step 2

Heat a small amount of oil in a nonstick frying pan on a medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of batter into the pan at a time to form your pancake. Allow the pancake to cook on one side for 3-4 minutes until bubbles begin forming on the surface of the pancake. Next, flip the pancake over for an additional 2-3 minutes until each side of the pancake is golden and the pancake is cooked thoroughly. Repeat this step until you finish the batter.

Step 3

Serve your pancakes stacked with healthy toppings of your choice and enjoy!  (See suggestions provided in ingredients).