Twenty Something Vegan: Vegan Life Savers: Products You Need

When I decided to become a vegan, I really wanted to stick mostly to natural organic foods rather than load up on tons of meat substitutes. The downfall of other diets I have done in the past is that I would just eat tons of "diet"--or fat free--products, which were completely synthetic and not good for my body in the long run. So far, I think I have been doing a pretty good job of eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies, but I am definitely not someone who can be satiated by a few leaves of lettuce. I have found a few extra add-ins that really spice up delicious organic food and are still healthy and use natural ingredients. Here are my favorites so far:

Dressing: I used to imagine that vegans only ate dry salads but I have learned that this is certainly not the case. However, big salads have been a great lunch option for me, and I have become really creative with what I put in them. For me, I feel that the dressing really makes the salad but a lot of dressings can be very unhealthy and full of terrible processed ingredients. My favorite brand is Amy's Organic and they have a ton of delicious dressings with natural organic ingredients. They have "light" options as well, but all of their dressings are reasonably healthy in small portions. Not all are vegan, so it's important to check the ingredients. My favorites so far are roasted red pepper vinaigrette and balsamic vinaigrette. I also love just classic balsamic vinegar with a little bit of oil.
Sauce: Stir fries are one of my favorite things to make because they are simple, healthy, and delicious. However, globbing on tons of sauce can turn stir fry from a healthy organic meal to a fat and calorie fest. I have found a few sauces that really diversify the stir fry, while still keeping it healthy and natural. I love sweet chili sauce from Trader Joe's with tofu and vegetables and a little curry powder. It provides a really unique flavor, and transforms a more boring stir fry into something special. The combination of red chili pasta (can be found at most grocery stores) and coconut milk creates a delicious Indian flavor, and I like to spice it up with hot sauce and red pepper flakes. Trader Joe's also has an array of curry sauces that I have found to be very delicious, and, in small portions, pretty healthy. I have also been making different variations of healthy pesto with lots of basil, pine nuts, and a little olive oil. It tastes delicious on sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and just about anything!
Cheese: The non-vegan food that I miss the most is definitely cheese. I love every and any kind of cheese...feta, goat, muenster, you name it (ugh, I want cheese immediately!). I have tried to stay away from vegan cheese, because, as I mentioned, I don't want to become too reliant on vegan replacements for non-vegan foods. However, I recently tried Daiya vegan cheese (can be found at Whole Foods), and I was very impressed. I used some of the pepper-jack cheese in my tofu scramble this morning, and it was wonderful! And 1/4 cup is about equal in calories and fat to reduced fat cheese, but uses much more natural ingredients and less preservatives. This is something that I will try to use sparingly, but it is great to know that it is there for a special treat.
Pasta: Carbs are definitely something that should be eaten in moderation, but vegan pasta has been really great for making some creative meals. I have made pesto, puttanesca, and primavera pasta, and all have been just as good as their non-vegan versions. I have tried a few different types of vegan pasta, and so far my favorites are vegetable and semolina based (available in many grocery stores, such as Trader Joe's and Wegman's). I have also used corn pasta, which is good when served hot but becomes fairly hard when served cold in a pasta salad. I also LOVE the potato gnocchi from Trader Joe's--they are great with pesto and veggies!