Celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay by trying out some easy plant-based ingredient swaps

You'll already know that one of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact is to adjust your diet to less carbon-intensive produce. The prospect of removing all meat & dairy from your diet can seem like a daunting task and the additional challenge of providing vegan food that your kids will enjoy can seem like all too much. NOURYSH believes the best way to explore plant-based meals is to make swaps here and there, add new recipes to your family’s repertoire and explore new ingredients.

Below, we outline 4 essential swaps to help make trying out plant-based meals more enjoyable and stress-free.

1. Tofu or Tempeh

Tofu and Tempeh are both made from soybeans and can be considered a staple in a vegan diet. Tofu is an excellent source of protein for growing kids so learning to cook with it regularly is an excellent way to gently move away from a carbon-heavy meat based diet.

Both slightly differ in taste and texture – tofu is considered softer, creamier, and more dense in texture whereas tempeh has a tangy, nutty taste and can be described as more crumbly.

2. Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives

Dairy-free milk and yoghurt have made leaps and bounds in recent years, both in regards to taste and nutrition. Soy and cow’s milk have similar protein content. Oat is creamier and often a favourite to a child’s tastebuds. Many are fortified with calcium but it’s important to understand how it’s absorbed for a growing child.

There’s still an awful lot of sweetened junk out there so we’d always recommend checking the sugar content and selecting an unsweetened option.

Adding a plant-based yogurt to your smoothies, overnight oats or favourite curries is a great way to add a creamy, delicious taste without missing the dairy.

We'll be honest and say we’ve not yet encountered a dairy-free cheese worthy of an easy swap.

3. More Veg!

Most of us should be eating more veg. Eating local and seasonal is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint and getting excited about the incredible produce coming through with the change of the seasons is budget-friendly too when supply is plentiful. NOURYSH recipes are carefully curated each week to keep the inspiration rolling with the seasons, adding essential variety to your diet.

4. Plant-Based Alternatives To Meat

Processed vegan foods are the new frontier of opportunity for the food industry, and there are plenty of convenience options on supermarket shelves of varying nutritional claim.

At NOURYSH, we exist to counter junk food culture, to make cooking enjoyable and for food to nourish families well. We’ll be producing inspiration to explore the many incredible legumes, grains and vegetables that add a hearty, meaty texture to your meals without consuming unnecessary additives or empty calories that are simply a more sustainable choice!

Let us know what you’d like to hear more about on our insta @nouryshofficial