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Lerato Bokako
February 14, 2023
Few things in life feel sweeter than realising you’re actually doing more good than you thought you were. A big reason many people are intimidated by going vegan or vegetarian is because they feel their food options will diminish substantially and the FOMO just gets too much to bear. So, they go back to eating the animal products they have grown up with because it’s mostly all they know – or so they think!
What if we told you that you have been eating plant-based food more often than you thought? We’ve compiled a list of all the surprisingly vegan and vegetarian treats that are available to you in hopes that this will give you hope for finally making that change into eating less animal products every now and then.
No animals were harmed during the making of this list.
The Mugg ‘n Bean chain has a pretty decent vegetarian and vegan selection on offer. The latest addition to their menu is the muggachino – a cold coffee drink made with vegan milk. If you’re searching the menu for something delicious and filling, their Moroccan butternut and chickpea salad is your guy. If you swap out the feta and honey mustard dressing you’ve got a vegan salad.
The McDonald’s veggie burger is actually completely vegan. Just make sure to ask that the burger has no cheese added. There are no animal products in the patty, however, be warned: because Mc Donald’s has a mostly meat menu, there may be some cross contamination with where the patties are prepared. Other vegetarian options at McDonald’s include their hash browns, cup of corn and green salad.
Spur’s brand is basically just: meat! So, the thought of them having more than one vegan or vegetarian option is surprising. The crumbed veggie burger in particular is a really tasty chicken style burger that’s served with sweet chilli sauce, chips and those famous onion rings. On top of that, they now also serve a Beyond Burger with vegan cheese, and they have a whole hot veg section for you to serve yourself. Their creamed spinach is vegetarian with dairy.
If you’re thinking of adopting a more vegan or plant-based diet, one cuisine that you can almost always rely on is Thai food! This noodle dish from Simply Asia is made up of a delicious, spicy broth filled with fried rice, garlic and bean sprouts. This is a vegetarian dish but if you ask for it without egg, it’s suitable for those on a plant-based diet.
This is a great option for when you want something that’s simple, delicious and pretty economical (at just R40 a plate). It comes with pita bread, hummus, salad and falafel balls. If you’re vegetarian, you can also add coleslaw at no extra cost.
Col’Cocacchio has a wide and impressive selection of vegan and vegetarian pizzas and pastas to choose from. The Green Genie pizza is a delicious vegetarian option that’s covered with parmesan, feta, mushrooms, balsamic glaze (yum!), avo, and more! For vegans, choose the Zucca pizza (you also have the option of having this as a salad) or the vegan Margherita. If you’re in the mood for pasta, try their Pomodoro – a tomato and basil pasta.
If you have a sweet tooth, this is amazing news for you! Jelly Tots contain no gelatine or animal products of any kind.
Specifically, the ones sold at Woolworths. These are surprisingly vegetarian. The prawn flavour is a delicious scam!
Jungle Oats Dark Chocolate Energy Bar
Don’t get it twisted, this is still basically a chocolate bar disguised as a healthy snack – the bar contains plenty of sugar. It is however still a delicious treat that does not include any animal products.
Yes, you read that right. Just because it says beef on that the pack, does not mean that it is, in fact, beef in the pack. This is a great option for when you’re craving a meat-like taste without having to actually eat meat.
Rusks are a classic South African snack that do not discriminate over dietary preferences. If you’re grabbing the muesli flavoured bad boys, you’re actually eating a vegan treat. Dunk them in your favourite dairy free hot drink, knowing that your snack was cruelty free.
The biscuit part is basically cocoa, flour and sugar while the filling is a slightly creamy tasting icing sugar.
You know those boxes you get at the store for when you want to make your own cake but don’t want to have to go through the hassle of making it from scratch? Simply replace the animal products with vegan egg replacement and a dairy alternative. Rumour has it you can even leave out the eggs and replace milk with water, but try that one at your own risk.
There isn’t any dairy in this product. Just pure, delicious sugar and chocolate.
Most dark chocolate is vegan, but you do always have to double-check specific brands to make sure. The Lindt bars are vegan. If you’re looking to support local, try the De Villiers range of dark chocolates (their Nib & Salt 70% Dark Chocolate is especially good).
Woolworths has been touting a new Mediterranean range at their stores and it has a really great vegan and vegetarian selection. Besides the usual suspects like hummus, falafel and pita breads, they now also have a new range of vegan sauces like Romesco sauce – a tomato-based sauce that you can add to grilled veggies, as a pizza base or a pasta sauce.
Yes, having the word “cream” on their packaging is very misleading but this product contains no dairy or eggs. It is completely vegan! Assuming, of course, that the toppings you choose thereafter are vegan as well.
This breakfast cereal is completely vegan as it contains no dairy or eggs in the ingredients. Enjoy it with your favourite plant-based milk alternative!
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