Types of Vegan Food Products You Should Know!

In Malaysia, the different and vase types of vegan food products are growing at a rapid pace. This has opened a new and diverse market segment for a lot of people and this leaves people with newer options and different products to try. The growing rate of vegans in Malaysia has also contributed to this amazing and new change towards the products that are now available in the country. These vegan products are also becoming easier to gain access to around the country.

Vegans have to and tend to limit their diets to plant-based foods, forgoing any foods that originate from animals. If you’re considering going vegan and implementing a vegan diet, the types of food restricted may seem daunting at first. But there is also a long list of foods that vegans can eat, and keeping up with the diet for even a short period of time may end up rewarding you with the benefits like weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. There are certain categories of food as well in which vegans tend to indulge. These categories comprise of a vase variety and options which can be chosen from to whichever on that suits you the best. In this article, we will be going over certain types of foods and types of food groups that are vegan, and something which you may give a try or which that can be implemented into your own personal diet.



FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Fruits tend to rank highly on the list of foods that vegans can eat. You may need to alter the way you consume them, however. On a vegan diet, all sorts of dairy foods are eliminated, including milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, buttermilk and foods which are made from them.

So, if you normally tend to slice berries and banana into Greek yogurt for breakfast, you will need to make a switch to yogurt made from coconut or soy. All types and sorts of vegetables are healthy options for a vegan diet. Keep in mind that you have to balance your choices to get all the nutrients you and your body needs. For instance, dark green veggies like kale, collards, broccoli and bok choy supply proper amounts of calcium.

Serving steamed vegetables with a light splash of sesame or sunflower oil in the place of butter, and season them instead with onion or garlic and fresh or dried herbs. All of which are readily available on the vegan menu. Top off your green salad with vinaigrette prepared with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard and herbs.



LEGUMES, NUTS & SEEDS
Ensuring that your body receives ample amounts of protein can be a worry when you decide to eliminate and remove animal products like meat and eggs from your diet, but on the flip side legumes offer plenty of low-fat, plant-based protein for vegans. Try out different products in your pantry such as chickpeas, lentils, adzuki beans, black beans, split peas, pinto beans, peanuts, navy beans and other types of variation. Make use of them in soups, stews and the like, or serve in a colder form like in salads.

Peanut butter can provide as the base for a delicious sauce for Asian flavored dishes, and hummus is a good alternative spread for veggie wraps. Soybeans are also versatile options that can be added to a vegan diet as well. Chop up some baked tofu as a base for stir fries, snack away on edamame or scramble soft tofu with peppers and onions for a traditional omelet.

Nuts and seeds are always on your vegan diet list, helping you to gain healthy fats and protein. Pick from an assortment, like almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds or pepitas. Always keep in mind that nuts and seeds are high in calories, so stick to an ounce serving, and opt for raw or roasted, avoiding added sweeteners or salt, for the best health and option.



WHOLE GRAINS
The vegan food products have a whole array of whole-grain foods that you could choose from, this is inclusive of whole wheat breads and pastas and grains such as having brown rice, bulgur, barley, millet, oats, quinoa, rye, spelt and as well as wild rice.

Again, the way the food is served however, shifts when one is preparing them from a vegans perspective. With pasta, leave out cheese-based sauces and instead go with vegetable-based ones, like a hearty puttanesca prepared with tomatoes, olives, onions, garlic and capers. Add in a dash of olive oil to your brown rice instead of butter, and let it be served as the bed for a veggie-and-tofu stir fry. Gain enjoyment out of your morning oatmeal or bran cereal with calcium-fortified soy or almond milk instead of cow’s milk.



SUBSTITUTIONS & VEGAN FOOD PRODUCTS
If you are used to and accustomed to adding honey in your tea or coffee, instead give a try to a little agave nectar, which comes from cactuses, instead. Nutritional yeast, a source of protein and B-complex vitamins, makes a good alternative option for cheese in certain recipes. And for preparing a vegan friendly dessert, indulge with a scoop of fruit sorbet after dinner. Dark chocolate may be a sweet choice, too, but check the label and pick a brand that is dairy free.

Some companies tend to manufacture vegan friendly products, such as vegan mayonnaise and whipped cream, and also offer you vegan baked goods, vegan meat patties and other types of frozen foods. As with any other diet out there, the healthiest vegan regimen is the one that focuses on whole foods rather than focusing on processed food products which most of the time tend to contain added salt and sugar. Having excessive amounts of additives can undo and ruin the benefits and the outcomes of a vegan diet or a vegan food product.

There are also certain vegan food products that are not specifically grouped into a certain category but pack a punch and are possibly crucial for a vegan diet. These products are definitely not something which you have never heard of and they should be products that you should have known about or tried by now.

One of the other well-known vegan food products which you should be aware about is seaweed. Seaweed is one of the very rare plant foods that contain DHA, an essential and important fatty acid with a number of health benefits. Algae such as spirulina and chlorella are both also good sources of complete protein.

Two tablespoons of these are able to provide you with about 8 grams of protein. In addition, what seaweed contains is magnesium, riboflavin, manganese, potassium, iodine and a decent amount of antioxidants. The mineral iodine, in particular, plays a crucial part in your metabolism and in the proper function of your thyroid gland. Besides that, nutritional yeast is prepared from a deactivated strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. It can be found in the form of a yellow powder and flakes in most of the supermarkets and healthy food stores.

An ounce of this contains approximately 14 grams of protein as well as 7 grams of fiber. In addition, nutritional yeast is most certainly fortified with zinc, magnesium, copper, manganese and B vitamins, including vitamin B12. Hence, fortified nutritional yeast can be a practical way for vegans to reach their daily vitamins requirements for their bodies. Besides that, another vegan food product is black beans.



Black beans have always been considered one of if not the richest source of antioxidants and one of the healthiest beans of all beans and legumes. Their dark color shows their strong antioxidant content and they also have lesser starch content in them than some other beans. One of the best ways to enjoy black beans is by making a black bean burrito for your own self, but that is in no way the only way to use them. Try out some delicious black bean recipes that you may be able to find online or in books to add 8 grams of protein per half a cup of these beans that you will add to your plate.

Lastly, I hope that the aforementioned vegan food products are some that you are informed about now and will definitely go ahead and give them a try. These vegan food products do not just carry around a good taste, but they also will help you and your body to a whole lot of good, once it is implemented into your diet. And, do not shy away from giving them a taste!

Thank you.