By Lucy Yanckello, Ph.D.
Wildgrain is the first bake-from-frozen subscription box for sourdough breads, fresh pastas, and artisanal pastries.
A vegan diet, just like any diet, is not one size fits all. Some people are vegan for dietary purposes, some for ethical reasons. No matter the motivation behind it, a vegan diet always excludes animal products, but to what extent is up to you!
Which are vegan-friendly foods? What foods are 100% vegan?
Vegan friendly foods are those that exclude animal products or animal by-products. Foods that are 100% vegan include grains, nuts, seeds, and of course, fruits and vegetables. Other foods you can eat on a vegan diet include plant-based proteins such as tofu, tempeh, beans, and lentils. Many breads, pastas, and pastries can be vegan too. Vegans tend to eat more fruits and vegetables than those who include meat in their diets, leading to a diet rich in fiber, plant protein, and some minerals. However, if adopting veganism one must be cautious to eat enough protein, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, all of which we typically get from meat.
What’s the best vegan side dish? What can I bring to a vegan dinner party? What are good vegan side dishes for potluck?
Due to the rise in popularity of the plant-based diet, there are many substitutions available to make almost any dish into a tasty vegan version including plant based butter, milk, and cheese.
There are many vegan dishes that are great shareables for a dinner party or potluck – stews or curries made with lentils or beans as the protein, salads with fresh vegetables and fruits, or even a plant-based soup. You can always ‘veganize’ dishes with plant-based proteins, too – think crumbled tofu instead of ground beef for tacos or chili, or charred tempeh as a substitute for grilled chicken breast. Many common side dishes are often already vegan - like many pastas or even potato gnocchi.
What are easy, good vegan side dishes for a BBQ? What can vegans eat made on the grill?
There are many good vegan side dishes for a BBQ – including veganized versions of the classics. Coleslaw can be made vegan by subbing the mayonnaise for vegan mayo. Mac and cheese can be vegan too, substitute the milk for a creamy plant based version such as oat or cashew, use dairy-free cheese (you’ll find lots of options at any grocery store!), and make sure to use vegan pasta like corkscrew shaped avatappi. Baked beans are easy to make vegan, just exclude the pork and corn bread can be made vegan too by subbing the butter for a plant-based version. And don’t forget about plant-based biscuits or sourdough dinner rolls!
On the grill, vegans have many options. Vegans can eat grilled vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and other plant-based foods such as black bean burgers or mushrooms.
What do I serve a vegan?
Vegans do not eat animal products, or any food derived from animals. It is important to not serve vegans anything derived from animals, and only products that are plant-based including vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, whole grains, and plant-based breads or pastas. If you are buying pre-made dishes or pre-packaged foods, be sure to read the ingredient list closely.
What is a good vegan side dish for tofu?
There are many good options for vegan side dishes to accompany tofu. Deciding on what side dish to make mostly depends on how you cook your tofu, just as with any other protein source. If you are grilling your tofu, opt for a fresh salad to top with your tofu. If you are baking your tofu, maybe you choose your favorite noodle, vegetable, and stir fry sauce to enjoy it with. Because of the rise in popularity of the plant based diet, there are many vegan recipes to choose from!
Can vegans eat pasta?
Vegans can eat pasta! Regular pasta is a great option to beef up the carbohydrate content of a meal, but be careful to choose a pasta that does not contain egg like plant-based cavatappi or plant-based pappardelle. However, a great option for vegans are the protein packed versions made with chickpea flour, lentil flour, or whole wheat flour. This helps increase protein content of a meal which is especially important for vegans, who get all of their protein from plant-based sources.
Can vegans eat bread?
Vegans can eat some bread, but not all bread because some bread includes animal by-products, like milk, butter, or eggs. It is important to check the ingredients of bread for milk, butter, or eggs. It is also important to check the ingredients for honey as some vegans do not eat honey. Breads that vegans can eat include plant-based sourdough bread and plant-based baguettes.
Are vegetable side dishes good for vegans? What vegetables can a vegan eat? Which vegetables are not vegan?
Vegetable side dishes are perfect for vegans. Vegans can eat all vegetables, there are no vegetables that are not vegan because vegetables are all plants. Vegetable focused side dishes are a great way to add in extra protein to a meal by using protein rich veggies such as broccoli, edamame, or peas.
Can vegans eat desserts? What is the best vegan dessert?
Vegans can eat dessert as long as it does not contain animal products or derivatives. Most desserts can be made vegan if making them at home, such as cake, cookies, mousse, waffles, and even brownies. If you are buying pre-made dessert, be sure to check for animal products, as most have butter, milk or eggs. Most grocery stores carry vegan dessert options such as ice cream, cookie dough, and other choices. There are often “plant-based” sections of the grocery store now that have these options.
Where can I buy the best vegan side dishes online?
At Wildgrain, we specialize in making high-quality, fresh baked goods that are delivered directly to your door. Wildgrain is the first bake-from-frozen delivery subscription service for breads, pastries, and fresh pastas. Some of our popular vegan items include sourdough rolls, plant-based blueberry biscuits, mini layer cakes, and potato gnocchi. Learn more about Wildgrain and our artisanal baking and cooking methods.
About the Author
Lucy Yanckello received her Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. She currently works as a medical writer and enjoys being able to help people better understand nutrition and science.
This content is for informational use only and does not replace professional nutrition and/or medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for and should not be relied upon for specific nutrition and/or medical recommendations. Please talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns.
