What Happens When a Meat-Loving Youtuber Goes Vegan for One Week?

[@UnnaturalVegan]

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[@julieblair7472]

The message I am getting is that he wants to try new foods, not just substitutes for what he is already eating. That way he is giving vegan food a fair chance, not just eating simulated meats.

[@meladversity]

makes veganism seem way harder tho.. i know plenty of people who tried to go vegan with the same attitude but not with chef skills/interests and ended up not getting any protein and eating monotone unhealthy meals. say what you will about mockmeats but it is not only replacing meat in falvor but also in protein. most would be better of if they just replaced the meat at least for a while.

[@RaineInChaos]

well also you go through a lot of comparison that way. There's some channel that makes a bunch of videos where they serve a vegan "steak" next to a super expensive like wagyu steak and try to pass off a beyond meat steak-shaped hamburger as a wagyu competitor and the taste-testers shockingly are not fans. Like they learn nothing about how to cook vegan foods, make no effort, and then are shocked that it's not as good 🙄

[@clairbear1234]

Yeah I’m confused why seems to take issue with it

[@Hikarisati2024]

The beans were not a joke, I love watching his shorts for inspiration and he is a huge beans lover 😂

[@EnaGoba]

The Eastern European is strong 😆 what I used to do after school is I'd take a can of beans, sautee them for a bit and eat them. Beans are life

[@Kanikanihia]

Typical Romanian thing. We love our beans.:)))))

[@Adieluu]

I’m Romanian, ovo-lacto-vegetarian and I LOVE beans. I also don’t get bloated from canned/pressure cooked beans. 🫘 ❤

[@wtfkanal9997]

Beans ftw

[@Kimthecatlady]

That mushroom thing you showed that you hate... looks legit amazing.

[@summerreadingnook]

Haha I read your comment just as it popped up, and it does look delicious!

[@nevermindmyparentsimthepunk]

It does I'm craving whatever it is now.

[@briereckersley8823]

He wasn't eatting mock meats because he wanted to learn how to focus on the plants and cook with less meat. It wasn't about not eatting mock meat but learning how to focus on cooking without meat overall. I would expect he might include them more in the future, since he wants to reduce his meat consumption in the future.

[@LouisaClare]

Luckily mock meats are plants!

[@dr.tanyajay4473]

I have been vegan nearly my whole life and grew up eating Quorn, I don’t know what meat tastes like, I eat fake meat because it tastes good, I’m not trying to compare. I have heard it all over the years, some of my favourites being; “ so do you eat ham” which has been asked more than once, “ I made this delicious meal and there really isn’t much meat can’t you make an effort” this was said to me by a few parents whilst staying at friends growing up and lastly “ If you’re vegan why eat fake meat?” That is definately one I’ve heard the most often. Great video ❤

[@babysoulie]

That is amazing and beautiful you don’t remember the taste of meat. I hope more people come to live this experience. your parents or guardians sound great (diet wise) ❤

[@tilasole3252]

Only because you really do not know what you are missing. It's why the world will never be dominated by vegans, unless the meat runs out.

[@andianderson3017]

I really really don’t want to harsh your vibe and that’s super great. But Quorn is not vegan. It’s made almost entirely of egg whites.

[@Zoe-wu5zh]

they do have several vegan products including a vegan version of their basic chicken type pieces, though it's more expensive and not as nice as the one with egg :/

[@nova_supreme8390]

@andianderson3017 Their UK site says it is 89% mycoprotein on fillet pieces for example. In the worst case the egg whites total to 11% which does not contitute "almost entirely" by any means. Besides they have certain products as vegan with egg white being replaced with potato protein and other ingredients. They have stated they are trying to move away from egg but availability issues for potato protein is the biggest obstacle at the moment.

[@katelijnesommen]

I like KWOOWK, he's a really sweet dude. I'm glad he tried this in earnest, it'll be interesting to see if he actually does reduce his meat intake in the future and if he does, whether he won't rely a little more on mock meats - I think they do have a place in a long-term vegan diet because they are just so convenient and make certain dishes so much easier and satisfying. He does really love his beans!

[@BrammetjeOoms]

In the Netherlands, where he lives, we have grocery stores pretty much on walking/biking distance for everyone who doesn't live rural. As a result, most people without kids specifically, shop daily. I go to the supermarkt (grocerystore) nearly every day.

[@daenerys02]

I thoght that was the most normal thing lmao. Not having a car is a factor but also I usually buy what I'll use that day so I don't have pantries full of shit I've forgotten about. If a disaster occurs I'll survive one day lol

[@Gatita-Lau]

I heard 5 kids and I was like wait how did I miss 2 whole kids

[@adapienkowska2605]

Europeans, especially in the cities, don't usually go shopping once a week and expect to buy all the stuff. When I lived in a city, I would go to the shop on a whim to buy stuff I needed for a meal I just saw on KZbin. Now I don't go as often, but that is mostly because I am too lazy, and I work from home, so I have no need to ever leave the house.

[@hannahc2939]

Disagree, I have lived in European cities my whole life and I have always, and only ever know people to do a big weekly shop occasionally popping out in the week to pick up one or two things you have run out of or forgotten

[@skamiikaze]

@@hannahc2939I suppose it’s easy to do if you have a car! There’s only so much I can carry I make trips multiple times a week

[@TheStoryofCharlotte]

But we do! :) once a week we buy all the groceries for the next week.

[@AlienZizi]

benefits of not living in a car centered world

[@grzegorzmierzwa2802]

It is nice to see somebody who try vegan dishes with no stiffness and such a positive vibe.

[@quel3301]

I kind of relate to wanting to eat a more "natural" vegan diet not that I think eating mock meat is bad or anything. I definitely enjoy eating mock meats but I feel like I go to a lot of restaurants and they are always trying to imitate an animal based dish. Sometimes I just want a classic vegetable dish with beans or tofu. I feel like the underlying message is that you CAN make delicious vegan dishes without needing to mimic meat dishes.

[@nevermindmyparentsimthepunk]

A lot of Asian restaurants and Mediterranean food restaurants have options other than mock meats. I do understand what you mean. I've been trying to eat more Raw Vegan and cooking un-canned foods, and juicing vegetables and fruits more often and trying to use the pulp from vegetables with coconut milk and seasoning, or fruit pulp into "pancakes"

[@danielstoker2668]

I agree with you. At first I really liked the new vegan meats and burgers that came onto the market in the past decade. But I now miss my burgers made of legumes, vegetables and tofu. And there's something so satisfying about authentic vegan Indian, Ethiopian, Greek, Turkish etc dishes.

[@thatsalt1560]

Where I live there weren't a lot of mock meats when I went vegan years ago so I never started buying them, but now when they are sold in many stores I don't like them and find them too expensive. I never buy them, but I do make seitan sausages sometimes.

[@SachinM0515]

If I'm only cooking for myself, I bite the banana off in "slices" rather than pulling out a knife to cut it 😂

[@shanecar84]

Me too, or I just cut it with the spoon I'll be using to eat the meal lol

[@vaeric]

I experimented with going vegan after working in a restaurant that made their own seitan, to my surprise I preferred it over the meat because it wasn't greasy, slimy or gristly. Eventually I realized I actually did not like meat all that much, what I liked was seasoning. My favorite meats before going vegan were all heavily seasoned sausages and deli meats. There are some people like me that think plant based meat alternatives are actually better when made correctly.

[@tilasole3252]

Not sure what meats you were eating that were "all gristly", but seasoning is key, that and texture. I can make buffalo tofu for instance, provided you are not missing the bone bit, it's good.

[@thatsalt1560]

Meat has this flavour of ... dead flesh that comes with it. I used to love meat, but I felt that taste then and I feel it far too well now. (I cook for my omnivore family and I have to taste the food. Meat is so icky.)

[@RaineInChaos]

I'm not a vegan, but I've been cutting meat out of my diet and one of the things I noticed right away is just how much nicer it is working with tofu than meat. Especially since my husband doesn't care much about food safety and will just leave out a cutting board he used with chicken, or leave the packaging dripping on the counter. When he does that with tofu I just like...wipe up whatever juices I see instead of feeling like I need to sanitize the whole kitchen because I don't know every place that might have been contaminated

[@krakowska19]

I like that guy, I didn't expect him not being open for things since his series where he tried breakfasts from around the world. And that small basket is definitely not 'no family' thing, it's European thing, we just are used to going to the store multiple times a week for fresh bread and veggies cos I've never seen a bell pepper that lasted more than 5 days in my home. I watched like the first part of that video with my partner and we were like 'that is definitely not a good approach' but turns out it got heaps better towards the end

[@jess7722]

He seriously loves beans that much 😂 I've watched a few of his videos and his fav recipes always have beans

[@amandajo340]

The way I understood what Hermann said was that people categorize vegans into "you only eat lettuce" or "you only eat mock meats, so why not eat the real thing?" I think his message is that it's important to highlight that there's much more to vegan food than just lettuce and mock meats 😅

[@skleroosis]

I think based on the recipes he features he maybe meant that there are tons of recipes that people have been doing for centuries that just happen to be vegan. So it's just normal homecooking and not just something new like fake meats and salad.

[@Metroid250]

Steamed tofu with chili oil, soy sauce, ginger, and green onion is by far the BEST way to eat it in its "purest" form IMO. I also love me some Sundubu-jjigae (meat omitted), mushroom/bean burger, and veggie fajitas with mushroom and tomato powder. They're proud of being what they are....vegan. I've an iffy feeling for vegan products trying to imitate meat with odd quirks like "bleeding" or "looking and tasting the same!!"

[@kevley26]

While I agree about not moralizing the fake meat stuff, I do agree it is a bit of a pitfall that many western vegans fall into where they think the only option to stay vegan is simply to keep their diet the same but replace all the nonvegan stuff with vegan substitutes. I think a lot of people especially when starting out miss out on the whole world of mostly non western plant based food that would make their diet a lot tastier, healthier (and probably much cheaper). Not saying you should avoid the processed fake meat completely, but it is probably better from a health and financial perspective to not have them be at the center of your diet.

[@ah57588]

I feel like flavours can come from pickled and fermented goods, herbs and spices, aromatic oils, dried goods etc. I must admit i also feel the same. Not everyone views food as just something to get through the day. Frankly I actually find food so tied to culture, that most people I know think about food, a lot. At least for a third of their day since it's such a joy and an inevitable part of life. I have absolutely nothing against mock meats. However, I'm a student. It's not financially feasibly for me to rely on meats in general, mock meats or not for my diet. So I actually really like the approach here of instead of substituting, to add more recipes that are enjoyable.

[@tofuuuluvr]

Its funny that you say, "raw tofu and salt... who would do that?" Well, I did, as my first vegan meal. Somehow, despite that rough start, I am still vegan 8 years later hahah

[@emmaponymous]

To whom it concerns: Fluffy Pancakes 🥞 3/4 cup soy milk + 1 tbsp vinegar ( let sit while you prepare the rest, and viola! vegan buttermilk) 1 tbsp flaxmeal + 3 tbsp water (flax egg, combine, let thicken) 1 tbsp neutral oil 1 cup ap flour 2 tbsp sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt Whisk together wet and dry, then make pancakes your favourite way. They cook up like traditional buttermilk pancakes. Add favourite spices, or blueberries, or chocolate chips 🤤... And if you want protein powder, sub in 1/3 cup protein powder and reduce flour to 2/3 cup.

[@kallisi7625]

you put baking powder twice in your list !! what's the correct amount ? ☺

[@emmaponymous]

@@kallisi7625 oops! I corrected it. 😅

[@anandabricker3396]

No way! I can’t believe your middle child is 5. I must’ve been following you for 8+ years or something. That does sound right. 😅

[@Metroid250]

Right???? Been following UN since 2015. Can't believe it's been almost 10 years

[@nephi1174]

i just wanted to thank you for your videos, your videos have helped me be able to have conversations with my parents about reducing my meat intake and now they are letting me try vegetarian/vegan food and even trying some themselves which is really nice! i thought it was an impossibility due to them being meat, potatoes and two veg kind of people!

[@beardoodle9835]

😅 One of my most favorite snacks is "raw" tofu marinated for an hour or so in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili crisp! And, I've eaten it as a snack for years, long before I became vegan 😂 But I just love the taste and texture of tofu. Whenever I'm making a dish with tofu, I'll sneak a few bites of the raw tofu while I'm slicing it. 😊

[@CitrianSnailBY]

Simple Beans from a can with Tomato sauce, as well as raw Tofu, are *both ABSOLUTELY YUMMY.* 😀 And spending time in the kitchen cooking is one of *the* Greatest Joys of Life. One which I now miss the most.

[@fabygoo]

No. Respectfully, no to all of this 🤣🤣🤣

[@JennyCThree]

Yeah I eat raw soft tofu with a bit of so sauce sometimes

[@marley7659]

Sorry raw tofu is only good in no bake desserts. I refuse to eat raw tofu plain. bleh Tofu needs to be heated up. I put it in wraps and ramen bowls.

[@elizabethelias1005]

​@marley7659 there's a Japanese dish called hiyayko, it's literally cold tofu. Make it without bonito flakes, and it's vegan, and delicious.

[@CitrianSnailBY]

@@marley7659 Any *particular* reason as to why _your_ personal preferences are more valid than mine? 🙃😂

[@aniloratka]

it must be Easter European thing tempeh is much more tasty to me. maybe because we eat everything fermented 😂

[@miekekuppen9275]

Tempeh is way better than tofu. Tofu is only good right out of the deepfryer.

[@growwithkersi]

I laughed out loud at "5 little kids"🤣🤣

[@Patrick-yc3tf]

I hope more people are like him, who are just culinary curious.

[@zenleeparadise]

I just cooked for an hour before work, and then ten and a half hours at work, and now I'm home, relaxing with my beer, watching you talk about someone cooking. Can't relate to the "most of us don't want to think about it" attitude lol

[@jessicaa.1894]

Kwook is a cutie and im glad you liked him! He's a really sweet kid

[@CazAvery]

I've been vegetarian leaning towards vegan for two years now and I miss meat basically every day. I was a big meat lover, my friends and family used to joke about me being a carnivore. It's so possible to be veggie/vegan as a meat lover. We eat quite a few 'meat substitutes' because they're convenient, tasty, and a good way of making sure we have easy access to protein. I do like trying new vegan recipes sometimes, but often they're so low in protein and what I really want is bolognese or sausage and veg tray bake. May as well use the mock meat!

[@annelliott1384]

A friend made a dish with vegan “chicken” a few years ago and it hit the uncanny valley for me. If it had been real meat I would have thought it had gone bad or something and wouldn’t have eaten it, so I’ve been very leery of mock meats ever since. The ones I’ve had more recently have been better. But as someone who did actually eat beans straight out of a can for dinner last night and enjoys cooking, I’m usually fine eating tons of legumes. When they get boring I add hot sauce. (I’m an omnivore, but the majority of my cooking at home is at least vegetarian and often vegan.)

[@manderse12]

Fun video. I appreciated his willingness to experiment, and I enjoyed your commentary. I would be curious to hear more about the psychological challenges that we humans face generally, or meat and dairy eaters specifically, in facing changes brought on by the ethics of sustainability--whether those are diet-related or otherwise. For example, KWOOWK acknowledged this briefly when he discussed being raised in Romania where perceptions of what a "genuine meal" is are so pervasive. My wife, who mostly has followed by now-6-year transition into eating wholly vegan has mentioned (and many others have mentioned) the degree to which our food memories (if and when they're positive) are strongly connected to a sense of belonging, to a family or friend group, to a community, or to a culture. And many people who choose to go vegan relapse when they face the social isolation or negative feedback they encounter when their dietary choices challenge the status quo of these groups. As social animals, we seemed to be primed for these kinds of pressures, and some people seem to feel them more poignantly than others--where the counter-motivators from ethical considerations (like needless cruelty, environmental unsustainability, etc.) sometimes aren't strong enough to buffer against these pressures. I think many vegans underestimate the degree to which dietary changes (like going fully vegan) are not just difficult for the other reasons you've discussed on your channel, but for these kinds of social pressures which can lead to people feeling disconnected, or sometimes even shunned, from people in their lives who they care about. I would love to see you explore in more videos these kinds of "tribal pressures" that often are the primary motivators for new vegans relapsing into an omnivore status quo diet, as well as to hear your thoughts about this theme.

[@vegangreatlife]

Have @unnaturalvegan interview Don and I. We practically wrote the book on this! We went vegan around the same time ~ late 2011. Actually we are both in our 60s and we’re vegetarian off and on through our lives tho raised on Midwestern meat & potatoes diets. Actually we both have some Eastern European roots too! (Love sausages ~ vegan now of course!) Back when younger, the term vegan was not commonly used. So when I was vegetarian or often when not, I abstained from dairy. Eggs were minimal, often none. Around 2017 we fell away. Dipped our feet into the very low carb / keto / ‘HyperCarnivore’ spheres ~ influenced in part by the Diet Doctor, and Baker’s newly starting n=1 experiment + testimonies of people healing from conditions we were challenged with. We’ve since switched back to being vegan but realized just how old and deep the issues were that were subconsciously undermining us. As you mentioned ~ that desire to belong to a tribe is huge. And the cognitive dissonance when (especially if younger) the mind thinks it needs to decide b/w love and acceptance of parents and peers or sticking to one’s values and pull at the heart. Don’s parents especially rejected his values when he was younger. Did not like his being vegetarian nor studying Eastern spiritual traditions and Oriental medicine. They thought he was going to go to hell. So he married me and I also had a masters degree in Oriental medicine. The awkwardness during shared meals. An extended family member literally yelling at us while visiting for Don’s nephew’s wedding over vegans needing B12 + personal business stresses caused us to ‘fail to thrive.’ Thankfully we are vegan again and have learned how much the mind rationalizes to avoid suffering or convince us that the foods we are hooked into eating ~ that every one else enjoys ~ are somehow necessary to thrive. Or that a ‘vegan diet made me sick.’ It’s all the mental gymnastics. I think the pressure to be accepted was huge for us. The discomfort was definitely palpable. Now, I don’t care what anyone thinks. There’s many ways to craft a plant-based diet. Hence why I’m all in for supporting plant-based meats.

[@tamcon72]

@@vegangreatlife This was interesting to read. I am a Midwesterner of Eastern European background, and when I became a vegetarian at 21, I got some pushback, but just stuck to my guns and soon was not questioned. Even the most resistant family member changed to trying to cook my ethnic foods without primary animal proteins because seeing me still delight in the food they'd made mattered more than cultural norms. When I became vegan many years later, no one questioned it because they knew the change wouldn't mean I'd suddenly become a stranger; I was still me. It was fascinating to watch the short-circuiting of the tribal need to ostracize the violator to protect the group.

[@TotallyForkable]

I did a video about this too! PS you need to steam tempeh first to get rid of the “bitter” flavor 😊

[@georgecooper9766]

To be fair a lot of us that shop with just the hand basket usually do a more than weekly shop. Obvs when you're feeding a large family that may not be possible even with multiple shops but usually those of us that do it are walking to the supermarket a few times a week and just buying what we can carry in a trip. Also from personal experience when living in a sharehouse its not always the best to buy groceries too far ahead cos inevitably someone ends up using your green onions you were planning to use for dinner in two days or whatever 😅

[@andianderson3017]

I love in person grocery shopping, but the family weekly trip I have converted completely to ordering online and picking up. It’s life changing. I’ll do small trips in person, but I just could not otherwise (I also have 3 kids-but I’m a few years ahead of you. I waited way too long to just pick up).

[@kimberlyf4888]

Me too! I meal plan with PlanToEat and then use that shopping list to populate my store chopping cart and then pick up. It's a total game changer. I used to shop almost daily, deciding each day what was for dinner - so changing that has been a bit of an effort. But, it's so nice having everything on hand for a full week and no extras that might go to waste.

[@katarzynaj.3630]

I used to be the biggest fan of red kidney beans straight from the can. My bro 🤘

[@ginparadise]

"Five little kids" 😂😂😂 do you have some secret you want to tell us UV? 😅😅😅❤❤❤

[@janemims7987]

Sichuan peppercorns give me an endorphin rush--I'm always in such a good mood afterwards. In my kitchen I go through several ounces a month.

[@Dan_Tasty]

Grocery shopping with only a motorcycle and a backpack is difficult 😅 can't even fill up one of those little carts before it's too much, but thankfully I can get them delivered for like $5 when I need a big trip

[@rachelelaine7094]

I eat a mix between whole food plants and mock meats. Mock meats and things like Just Egg (though it is a bit pricey where I live so only eat when on sale) are easy and a great way to get protein especially when I get off of work and don’t want to put effort in.

[@martyh7771]

I'd like you to know, if you see this, that your content has given me a lot to think about re veganism and parenting (i was going much more plant based before pregnancy nausea and gestational diabetes took over my diet choices a fair bit). The idea that veganism can be acheived by folks who arent into mushrooms and slimy things has given me a fair bit of motivation to keep adding vegan dishes into my normal rotation, and the mock meats are getting pretty damn delicious (turns out i love pea protein). Thanks for standing up for evidence based thought in this space, makes it seem way more inviting.

[@suzanchristiaanse8972]

Hahaha, dude lives in the Netherlands. I recognize all the stuff. I have a family and we do small shops like this regularly cause shops are usually really close. I sometimes go with the kids. Usually on foot or bike

[@madelineosborne2672]

Love the DC Vegetarian shout out! I just tried it for the first time about 3 weeks ago and had the BLT with tempeh “bacon.” Best tempeh I’ve ever had lol I don’t even try to eat it at home anymore because I hate how they all taste from the package 😅

[@oliviaceletti1875]

Honestly I feel like my ability to eat beans out of the can is why I’ve stayed vegan so long but as always to each their own

[@carstenaltena]

7:07 “kwark” is basically yoghurt cheese/soft cheese/junket. Dutch person here. He’s either in Flemish Belgium or the Netherlands, because the labels are in Dutch.

[@bearclaire]

Easier way to describe it would be it's thick like Greek yogurt

[@BrammetjeOoms]

​@@bearclairetrue, but I think it is technically a cheese where yoghurt is something different. It is just an unaged cheese AFAIK.

[@SEAHawaii]

I’m watching a video of you watching a video of a guy watching a video 😂 Love it!

[@msjkramey]

I just saw this video! It got a pretty positive response from all sides, so that was cool to see

[@frosty_brandon]

I didn't like tempeh at first, but if you steam it beforehand, then marinate, and then do whatever you were going to do (like pan-fry for tempeh bacon) it's pretty good

[@Lauren_veggiesaurus]

Your face while he was mixing that protein powder in a coffee cup 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 I agree... you gotta blend that shit up or it's gonna be clumpy af and half of it will be stuck to the cup and also, why on earth is he making it in a coffee mug and making a huge mess?!

[@simona_ab]

As a native Romanian, currently living in Italy, and a vegan, I get that face 😂

[@simoneconde5564]

He's totally right about the snacking. Dairy products do provide a lot of protein (e.g. 1/2 cup of cottage cheese has 12 grams of protein!!!), and yes you can eat nuts or edamame but they don't have the same density of protein. Plus, if you're on a low-carb diet, you're limited in how much of that plant-based snack food you can eat, which limits how much protein you get from that serving size of snack. Not saying this is justification for eating the dairy, I just mean that there's definitely a gap between vegan and omni diets in terms of high-protein, lower-volume foods/snacks. Yes there are vegan yogurts but they're generally higher in carbs and lower in protein to their non-vegan counterparts.

[@fionamb83]

I started doing a few days vegan/vegetarian and my go to are stir frys and like a spicy stew. I love them lol. And I use up all the veggies that haven't been eaten that week. It's great. There's a lot of meat substitutes I'm not mad about though, I think it's the texture. When I do something that usually has mince, I use lentils etc. I'm not opposed to trying them though. I like a couple of the sausages.

[@snowranger19]

The juice in the can of beans is where the flavor is!!!

[@Alexisk273]

Vegan recipe pages on Facebook will have me feeling very us vs them hahah. I have to use so much self control to not fight with middle aged men every single day hahaha. It's really refreshing when someone who isn't vegan has a neutral or positive view of veganism. Although, the mock meat hate/ questioning why vegan recreate non vegan food always frustrates me

[@keepXonXrockin]

7:45 I had a phase of eating chickpeas straight outta the tin.

[@jolienvanhelvoort1407]

It's like you said, the mock meats are processed while a chicken filet or a steak is not. It's nice to adapt in a way in which you don't just eat alot more processed food by going vegan.

[@justine8387]

I am Australian and I was raised on a sheep farm with a cottage garden. A lot of my parents cultural influences were Eastern European. I understand the hospitality to faje meats. Meat is such an important part of culture and the meat alternatives seem almost to be mocking that. Of course it is not rational but I understand the hesitancy. I think for people who feel this way things like African Peanut stew and bean based dishes are a good place to start. Also tempeh is 100% better than tofu.

[@zepzour7391]

I've been struggling with being fully vegan the past few months. I find being 90-95% vegan very easy, but some things about being 100% vegan are just so annoying, such as sometimes having very little options when eating out or visiting friends/family, or having to sacrifice health and/or enjoyment when it's not convenient. I agree 100% that vegan is the best way and I admire those who can do it fully, but if I have to refuse another bag of chips that came on the side of an otherwise fully vegan meal, and this bag of chips has 2% whey powder in it, i feel like imma blow my brains out lol. It's definitely a slippery slope though. Once I allow myself to have my dad's fish entree that I grew up loving once a year at the holidays, or xmas cookies made by my family that could obviously be deliciously made vegan but weren't b/c I wasn't the one who made them; it becomes so much easier to let myself cheat more and more on my vegan diet. I've even bought sushi at the grocery store in he past few weeks. It's not that I couldn't make a delicious vegan dish that is very similar and very delicious, but the convenience factor is just taking its toll on me I guess. One thing that gives me hope is how I am genuinely repulsed by non-vegan foods now (after being mostly vegan for around 3 years). I even went to the store today craving pizza, was genuinely contemplating buying anythinmg that wasn't even vegan or vegetarian. And even though I could sadly put my morals aside to do that, I genuinely couldn't bring myself to buy anything with meat or dairy or eggs, cause it was genuinely so unnapealing to me. I left the store with 3 gardein products and a vegan pizza, content as could be. Even for fish which was the hardest thing for me to give up, I like genuinely prefer vegan fish to real fish. The vegan salmon burgers from Good Catch are delicious. It's just the struggle of convenicne for me I think, and a small aspect of health sinmce id imagine real fish is at least a little healthier than a super processed vegan fish. It's also so easy to eat food that is already prepared for you when visiting family, and not to mention it's free. Especially when I cook so much for myself all the time since premade vegan products are still expensive, it's nice to have food that I didn't have to make myself. Idk why I made this long ass post, but just sharing my experience i guess. I will continue to strive to be as vegan as I can, or i guess "95% vegan" now. Damn it sucks not to be able to just have that "fully vegan" title and personify a clear message to others, living by example. But this is where I'm at right now. I don't wanna hurt animals, but it's definitely difficult to be fully vegan at this age in society. Hopefully I can get back to doing it all the way in the future.

[@lunchmoneylux]

the way I see it, it's better to be 90-95% vegan for life than 100% vegan and dreading it or feeling like you won't last. challenge yourself to always do better, but don't sweat the small stuff!

[@daleely05]

​@@lunchmoneyluxcame here to say exactly the same thing! If 95% is sustainable for you then that's better than giving up. We should always aim to be better tomorrow then today, but remember to also take stock of the positive choices you've already made. Also, veganism is likely only going to become more convenient as time goes on, so hopefully that'll make it easier for you!

[@AwkwardPain]

I spent around 3-4 years being 90% plant based. I would cook 99% of my meals without meat would use a bit of cheese or butter sometimes... But then Ordering out was such a pain that I never even tried. Where I lived had like 2 places around me where you could get more than a salad if you wanted to order. I have now been nearly a full year 100% plant based, but I do still get really annoyed about ordering/going out or having to check ANYTHING that isn't a whole food.

[@kate-miawhite5633]

😂 I think the basket thing is a European thing. That’s what we do in the uk 😅

[@cookinglivewithlala]

Someone eating beans outta a jar reminds me of my spouse who eats baked potatoes like an apple -- he just bites right into them like a snack.

[@daypsiequartz]

I want to like tempeh so bad. I've definitely had some pretty good dishes with it, but every time I make it I'm like "this is alright, but it would be better with tofu"

[@marlyd]

I love the texture of vegan meats, sometimes I just want sth of that texture to go in my gob, who cares if it's a meat substitute?

[@BartBVanBockstaele]

Magere kwark is essentially creamed low-fat cottage cheese.

[@madisonsnellings8501]

I do sometimes feel bad about one thing. I was one of those kids that would try anything and could eat anything in a menu. So going vegan was kinda easy to do. I just needed that conditioning to be broken. I already loved a wide range of fruits and vegetables and black beans, hummus, oats, avocados. And yes I do love black beans out the can 😂

[@shanecar84]

Yeah, fresh tempeh is really good. Packaged tempeh is really wierd. Also, in my experience traveling, mapo tofu is usually super spicy lol, one of the spicier Chinese dishes I've had. I love it too, and have tried it in quite a few different places. Once or twice it's been more mild like you described though.

[@anothernorwegianvegan]

Make it Dairy Free has an awesome recipe for fluffy protein pancakes, and they're really good.

[@missloly824]

If you like that soup with all the whole garlic cloves, I'd recommend Foodie Takes Flight's Adobo recipe. So good!

[@AllmostLucy]

Not vegan, but I love canned beans😂 Last weak bought 3 types, white, red and in tomato souce. Ate them straight out of the can.

[@j.lahtinen7525]

I've been mostly vegetarian, with fish added to my diet every now and then for a several years - recently I wanted to make my diet healthier, and did a lot of research. I added legumes to my diet, so that on at least one meal a day, I'd have some sort of legume. That started a kind of a chain reaction of changing my diet to be a lot healthier, and more plant based, step by step. I found that I really love lentils! Spicy lentil soup is so good! I started feeling a lot better, got more energy, and kind of naturally, without me trying, most of my dairy consumption just fell away. I don't put cheese on (whole grain, rye) bread anymore, but chili hummus. I also don't crave fish that much anymore - I've had a very small amount of fish during the five weeks or so I've been doing this, and some dairy (maybe a tenth of what I had before). Maybe 90 - 95% of what I've been eating has been vegan. And maybe 95% of what I've eaten has been very healthy. I'm feeling great! Helps that I don't really have many food dislikes. I like pretty much all vegies, and love mushrooms. Not that into avocados (when it's not in the form of guacamole) , but that's about it. Oh, and started taking a B12 supplement - my dairy/fish consumption is so low, that I don't think I'm getting enough from just that.

[@trovey02]

So that Rumanian guy lives in the Netherlands.😁

[@dainasworldnumbers88]

Ps, your orchid is stunning!

[@Darmok_onthe_ocean]

I’m a tempeh addict. Now I have a goal of making my own to reach the next level of tempeh adoration.

[@neishpot]

Me watching this with 9 grain bread...... With mock ham lol

[@TangoMasterclassCom]

Totally agree with you on the vegan alternatives of meat, chicken, dairy, etc.! Why should it be a transition food??? It makes no sense to me. I am vegetarian my whole life, vegan since 7 years, and I have always eaten these vegan products, and I am not planning on stopping. Nobody says Oreos are a transition food, right? Why do omnivores eat all the processed food they want, and vegans should be some kind of saints eating only whole foods? Makes no sense to me at all. I eat sugar and mockmeats, I bake with white flour and I also eat a lot of whole foods.

[@Mandy-dy7nj]

I don't call so called 'fake meats', meat substitutes, I call them protein substitutes.

[@Andre-qo5ek]

"Beyond Meat launches new, healthier version of burger in bid to bring back customers" 1) beyond meat got attacked by a hit piece after hit piece about "not being healthy" .. and for some reason people fell for that. sure its probably mostly junk food... but still "healthier" than animal meat. 2) its great that they are making it healthier.. but that's not going to get the nah sayers to eat it. i am excited if it is healthier.. but that's not why i am not buying it. 3) what beyond meat needs to do is drop the price.

[@russianvegangirl]

I don't eat fake meat because it's too expensive and I can make similarly tasty things from lentils and soya chunks 10 times cheaper

[@daenerystargaryen]

Beans are happiness. Also, you know you are a real vegan when you can eat (rinsed!) beans from the can and (rinsed!) tofu straight from the package (ok on a slice of bread with vegan mayo or mustard or vegan pesto - red or green). 😅

[@BetaniaAllen]

Always love her! Of course, it helps that I am a scientist. Totally identified when she said “I have issues with leftovers”. I’m the same. I just dislike eating the same thing three times in a row, or even twice.

[@Perroet]

I love eating lentils straight out of the can haha

[@Chietcom]

i find him so confusing and at first when he talk about his country I was really annoyed by him. Romania is a Country with a HUGE plant based Industry. But then I considered that he maybe just not religious. My Husband is Romanian and before Easter a few weeks, almost complete november and december until christmas and in summer for a week or so, you are suppose to eat vegan (honey is ok though but not popular dunno why) and preffered Oil free. And many traditional dishes have vegan varients because of that. From what I saw myself, during that time they eat so much fermented and bean heavy food. In 2022 I worked/lived in romania for some time and it was like being in a plant based heaven. (I know he currently lives in the Neatherlands, but even that is known as one of the best countrys in the EU to be Vegan in)

[@AdinaHappy]

Ikr? I am Romanian and I was so surprised to see only one inspired traditional vegan meal when we have soooo many. I agree though that, outside of lent periods, people tend to eat meat every day nowadays. Not necessarily every meal, but every day. However, lent periods are long, so the people got creative with veggies and so many delicious recipes were created over centuries of orthodoxy and decades of communism. I don't get it why he found it so hard to cook vegan, considering his Romanian background.

[@stellaw3682]

Honestly, i think there might be regional differences, or maybe even socioeconomic differences. When I was visiting my boyfriends family, they really struggled to even make us vegetarian food. And most of the traditional romanian dishes that i got to know, there ist usually at least some dairy? But I admit I probably don‘t know anywhere near as many as you!

[@scienceislove2014]

This video needs to go viral!

[@wil.ottosson]

2,29 for a Barebells vegan bar HAH I regularly buy them for around 3,50 in swedish grocery stores and subway shops 💔😭 The blue chocolate chip one, can't resist it

[@marlyd]

Quark/kwark/kvark/... is a dairy product that to me falls somewhere between Greek yogurt and cottage cheese in terms of texture and taste.

[@gardenfaerie9903]

This was a fun video to watch!

[@UskInaTE]

8:06 it looks like he is living in the Netherlands and it’s really common to just do your grocery shopping on a daily basis while you’re on your way home from work. Doing weekly grocery shopping is pretty uncommon here because most kitchens aren’t very big and most people live within walking distance from a grocery store.

[@Rechtauch]

No fake meat but tofu, tempeh and protein bars. How is it different? Nowhere in Europe are temphe or tofu part of the traditional cooking. These are convenience protein. And luckily they are there! Fellow mother of 3 here, and things get even tougher with teens!

[@jenniferlavoie2548]

I love his videos. He loves to make bean dishes :)

[@beety8]

Could you make a video on how you make the tempeh?

[@therabbithat]

I think super tasters often hate leftovers

[@heatherhammers]

My daughter eats raw tofu with salt on it. 😂 Her idea, not mine.

[@AstraZenecaResearchersAMS]

Kwark is similar to Skyr, it’s some type of Greek yogurt that is very popular here in the Netherlands (which is where I think he leaves, I recognize the brands he uses)

[@discursion]

When people say "fake meat" what they don't realize is that it isn't fake meat. It's not meat and it's not fake. It's proteinated food that happens to be similar to meat in some respects (whether that's intentional or not). It's its own separate thing and the association you make between that food and meat is only happening in your head (or as an advertisement tool).

[@vanessagrace6127]

I wasn’t watching the screen and the “5 kids” really threw me at first 😂

[@nastjaangelova3671]

I've been eating kidney beans like that since before I was vegan but I do rinse them.

[@larashore1000]

I did a double take when you said five kids. I was like "fuck, did she have twins and I just didn't notice?!"

[@lauraruiz7237]

I hate mock meats.... I don't know ...they all taste awful to me, I love legumes and tofu. (10 year vegan here :) )

[@annan.3283]

I'm a vegetarian and google new recipes each week to make my meal plan. I can't imagine only eating the same 10 meals on rotation. My tofu is drained, seasoned, marinated, and either baked or fried. I want all my meals to be interesting and exciting. I used to add frozen broccoli to my pasta water but then I learned how to roast broccoli and the taste is completely different so I have been spending more time bringing out the flavors in my vegetables. I love mushrooms! I rarely drink protein shakes, I'd rather eat real food. I appreciate this man's effort into a new diet.

[@Lady_Clare4]

Thanks for the information!