7 Ingenious Ways To Eat Healthy Vegan Treats Without Sacrificing Flavour
Chopped and fried cauliflower. Frozen banana. Avocado and cacao pudding. Sweet potato semolina fries… just a few ideas for healthy vegan treats.
Mookychick is not here to police your food, but what if you have some eating habits you want to change? Do you love a sneaky soda, or get the whole tub of ice-cream out for one scoop? You can enjoy your treats if you want them. You can also replace some staple treats with healthy vegan alternatives.
Have you ever tried frozen banana in the blender? It’s a game changer, and tastes exactly like ice-cream, all creamy and full of banana goodness. You just have to be a little inventive and make small changes here and there…
Healthy Fried Rice That Still Tastes like Rice
What is it? Cauliflower rice
Rice can be good in moderation. However, if you cook enough for a whole village (and manage to eat it all yourself) it might be time to find an alternative.
All you need to do is roughly chop your cauliflower and throw it in a food processor for a minute. You will find that the texture is very similar to rice. Use this ‘faux’ rice in any dish where you would have normally used white rice and it tastes just the same. One of our favourites is cauliflower fried rice – the family didn’t even blink an eyelid when I served this one up.
We Scream for Healthy Ice Cream
What is it? Frozen banana
Everyone loves ice cream and since more and more people are cutting out dairy, alternatives may be readily available in your local grocery store. If you would like to make your own ice cream, then trying frozen banana nice cream is very fast and easy.
To make banana nice cream, all you need to do is freeze 3 to 4 bananas and blend them in your blender. The result is a healthy version of ice cream. Use your favourite toppings – nuts and dark chocolate work well – to make this even more of a special treat.
DIY Pizza
What is it: home-made pizza where you work your own toppings
You have two good options when it comes to pizza. Firstly, you can make a pizza bread crust with cauliflower. But what if it’s that classic pizza dough you crave? You can make it from scratch at home, and just switch out what’s on top of the pizza instead.
To really add some flavour to your pizza, whip up some smoked veggies. Putting the veggies in a propane smoker will ensure you don’t have to load up on cheese to add flavour. Try using aubergine (eggplant) or mushroom as they hold a lot of flavour and texture.
So how do you get started? Have your homemade pizza dough ready and spread it out on a baking pan that has been properly floured. Brush the pizza dough with some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle on your smoked veggies, as well as a moderate amount of your favourite vegan cheese. If you’re feeling a little fancy, mix some black pepper, garlic powder and some of your favourite spices in with your veggies beforehand…
Don’t Step Away from The French Fries
What is it: baked sweet potato fries
The next time you want fries, try baking them instead of deep frying them in litres of oil. When at home try tossing your sweet potato wedges in a bag with olive oil and semolina. This coating will ensure you get a crispy oven chip every time. You can also try using oils like coconut oil to help reduce your cholesterol levels.
Totally Tasty Pudding
What is it: blended avocado and cacao powder mousse
Chocolate pudding is great for when you want something decadent and sweet. If you want that chocolate pudding taste but aren’t so keen on the ingredients you’d find in a shop-bought version, try this pudding instead.
First, use an avocado base instead of cream. That’s right, you can make your pudding with avocados. Blend some cacao powder, non-dairy milk, avocado, and sweetener in your heavy-duty blender. Let the mixture chill in your fridge for a few hours. The result is a creamy chocolatey pudding which is also really good for you.
Boost Your Breakfast
What is it: dried fruits and maple syrup make porridge and cereals sing
Healthy breakfast options such as cereals and oatmeal can be pretty boring, especially if you’re trying to avoid anything too sugary. If you can’t do without adding something sweet, go for a spoonful of maple syrup instead of your usual sugar. Need something salty? Try adding your favourite nut butter before heating.
Dried fruits are another excellent way of adding some extra sweetness to your breakfast cereals and oats, without adding refined sugars. Along with nuts and seeds, they’re a brilliant way to add some texture to your breakfast. If you need some more exciting ideas, have you tried date sweetened apple pie oatmeal?
Up Your Pancake Game
What is it: gluten-free pancakes
Pancakes are a super tasty breakfast treat, but they certainly aren’t the healthiest. Pancakes can be made with bananas and oats for a much healthier alternative and you hardly notice the difference. They are nice and sweet because of the banana, so you won’t be tempted to drown them in syrup.
Now you know how to make a few small tweaks and make some some flavour-filled dishes. You just need to put it into practice. Positive new habits will quickly evolve and it’s so rewarding and fun to come up with tasty tricks and alternatives all on your own.