Whoops! That's vegan? The world of accidentally vegan food.

Welcome to VegCurious – the blog for people who are curious about plant-based eating.

In our last post we talked about some really easy ways to introduce more plant-based foods into your diet including Meatless Mondays, VB-6 and 10-Weeks to Vegan. In this post we are going to talk about what vegans call “accidentally vegan” foods, and I’m going to show you how easy it is to eat a plant-based diet because you’re probably halfway there already!

A little from column A… a little from column B

Every vegan knows that the world of food is divided into two categories – accidentally vegan foods and purposely vegan foods. Simply put, accidentally vegan foods are plant-based foods that you already eat, and have probably been eating most of your life, like peanut butter or apples. Purposely vegan foods are foods that have been developed, for the most part, to mimic their non-vegan counterparts, like chick’n nuggets or almond milk.

Now, let’s take a closer look at all the delicious food inside each of these categories – I think you’ll be very surprised!

"Accidentally vegan foods are plant-based foods that you already eat, and have probably been eating most of your life."

SHUT UP! That’s vegan???

There is nothing that warms a vegan’s heart more than finding out one of their favourite foods is “accidentally vegan”. I’ll never forgot my first encounter with that euphoric moment. It was a dark and stormy night…actually, I don’t remember the weather and it doesn’t matter because in my head it was bright, bright sunshine with lollipops and rainbows the day I found out that Fudgee-Os were vegan! The heavens opened, the angels sang and then…I found out that Dad’s Oatmeal cookies, almost every variety of Oreos AND those crunchy round pieces of peanut butter heaven, Pirate Cookies, were also vegan! Could my life get any better? It could!

Pillsbury crescent rolls are vegan. You heard that right. In fact, the list of accidentally vegan foods is seemingly endless! Craving some caramel corn…guess what? Cracker Jack is accidentally vegan! Need a hit of salt and spice? Head for a jumbo bag of Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili flavoured

Tortilla chips. Gotta have a brownie, stat? We got you covered with Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix. A simple google search will turn up all kinds of accidentally vegan foods and I've included a few links at the end of this post to get you started!

Of course, everyone knows that fruit, vegetables, grains and legumes are vegan because they’re literally plants. And a lot of non-vegans think that’s where the fun ends. But it’s really just the beginning. Take a stroll over to your pantry and have a look. I’m willing to bet it’s filled with accidentally vegan yummies like pasta, pasta sauce, rice, beans, peanut or other nut butters, bread, tortillas, pita, pickles, nuts, crackers, jams and jellies, condiments galore, not to mention snacks like chips, pretzels, and many brands of popcorn, cookies and candy! Now, over to your fridge…what can you find in there that’s “accidentally vegan”? Same with the freezer. Lots of things, right?

All you need to do now is add in some purposely vegan products and you can pretty much create any meal you desire.

The world of chick’n nuggets and fysh filets

What vegans lack in spelling, they more than make up for with incredible products that often taste just as good as their non-vegan counterparts. With the number of plant-based eaters growing exponentially year-over-year worldwide*, there is an incredible financial incentive for companies to make really delicious vegan foods. In fact, just about everyone is in the game now. From Philadelphia Cream Cheese to Campbell’s Oat Milk Cream Soups and high-end Lindt chocolate to Baskin Robbins ice cream, all of the brands you know and love are racing to put plant-based versions of their best sellers on the shelves for the ever-growing number of vegans to enjoy.

Back in the day…and by “day”, I mean just a few short years ago, pickings for plant-based options were slim and, let’s be honest here, less than delicious. Today, it’s a different world. Pretty much every animal-based protein has a vegan counterpart, and the quality of these products just keeps getting better and better. Vegans today can easily enjoy all their favourite meals from fish tacos to spaghetti and meatballs, and desserts from the most decadent whipped cream topped sundae to cream-filled donuts, made entirely from plant-based products. And there are so many brands to choose from. In my freezer right now, you’d find three different plant-based fish filets for taco night. My favourite is still Gardein, but Good Catch and Sol are family favourites so I have them all. That’s what’s great about plant-based products – there are so many to choose from, you’re sure to find at least one that you love, and probably more!

"Vegans today can easily enjoy all their favourite meals made entirely from plant-based products."

So…craving lasagna? Need a chili fix? Is a warm bowl of mac ‘n cheese calling your name? Even a bacun cheez burger is now not only possible for vegans but unbelievably delicious, too.

Between all the accidentally vegan foods you already eat, and the explosion of purposely vegan products available in supermarkets and online today, there is, quite literally, nothing that you can’t enjoy in a plant-based version.

Check out:

PETA's list of accidentally vegan foods!

More accidentally vegan foods from VegNews

This huge list of accidentally vegan foods

*https://foodrevolution.org/blog/vegan-statistics-global/

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I hope this blog has helped you find your way to plant-based eating. Remember…the goal is not to be perfect. Do the best you can and enjoy the journey!

Note: It is strongly recommended that you consult with your primary care physician before making any changes to your diet. This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to recommend or endorse any particular product, diet or eating plan.

Next post…Yoooohoooo…Protein, where are you?

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