Has Veganuary inspired your son or daughter to be a bit more vegan-curious? Be More Vegan by Niki Webster could be the perfect cookbook to guide him or her towards a more plant-based diet.
Following the success of her first book Rebel Recipes: Maximum Flavour, Minimum Fuss, published in 2019, acclaimed vegan blogger and health coach Niki Webster has just published this guide on how to embrace more of a vegan lifestyle. Aimed at young people, this cookbook is packed with over fifty simple, plant-based recipes and a wealth of tips and information. Each dish is beautifully photographed and I love the compact format. This book contains enough recipes to inspire even the most novice cooks without being overwhelming.
Non-preachy and informative, Be More Vegan explains some of the reasons why one might choose to go vegan, whether it is a concern for the environment or animal welfare. Niki Webster also talks briefly about other aspects of adhering to a vegan lifestyle, such as finding cruelty-free fashion, cosmetics and skincare as well as everyday home products.
As with any other diet, the key to staying healthy is balanced nutrition and Be More Vegan highlights the importance of Vitamin B12, Iron, Protein, Calcium, Omega 3s, Zinc, Selenium, Iodine and Vitamin D. Getting the right amount of key nutrients is paramount with young people as their body is developing and growing fast. Sometimes this requires a bit of planning. Personally, I feel this can be the tricky part, so if your child decides to embark on a vegan journey and you are concerned that they are not getting the right nutritional balance you should not hesitate to talk to your doctor or to a qualified nutritionist.
Compared to a few years ago, it has become much easier to find vegan products in supermarkets, restaurants and even fast-food chains. While it is relatively simple to grab a plant-based ready meal anywhere, it does not make up for a homecooked, unprocessed meal.
My kids could happily live on vegan burgers and pizzas but I am old school when it comes to food. While I am happy to dig in into meat, fish or dairy substitutes from time to time, I still aim to cook most of our family meals from scratch, using fresh and wholesome ingredients. Cooking is one of those essential lifeskills I hope to pass on to my children. It not only is the key to health but also connects you to others. A happy mind in a healthy body. What else can you ask for?
Browsing through the brilliant Be More Vegan, I could not help noticing how Niki’s recipes were perfectly designed for young cooks. Deliciously simple and uncomplicated, they are ideal to help build kitchen confidence. Combining a few straightforward ingredients, most of the dishes require little preparation or cooking time. This is, for me, what makes this cookbook so special and appealing to young people whether they live at home or are already at university. Be More Vegan is also suited to older adults who want to embark on a vegan journey without really knowing where to start.
From tasty breakfasts and plant-packed lunches to healthy snacks and delicious vegan desserts, there is something for everyone. This cookbook encompasses a good range of world cuisine favourites such as curries, fajitas, nachos, burgers, lentil bakes, summer rolls, millionaire’s shortbread, peanut butter banana ‘nice cream’ and toasties. I have bookmarked quite a few recipes to inspire my two kids to surprise us! Who knows, we might be lucky enough to be treated to one of Be More Vegan’s tasty main meals soon!

One quick and easy recipe from Be More Vegan that caught my eyes is this Creamy Sweet Potato Soup. This is a really easy recipe to make, deliciously fragranced with some Indian spices. You can make a small batch ahead to enjoy during the week. A comforting and nutritious meal to relish for lunch or dinner with a slice of crusty bread. You can find the recipe here.
Be More Vegan: The Young Person’s Guide to Going (a Bit More) Plant-Based! by Niki Webster (£14.99, Welbeck Children’s) is available now in bookstores.
Niki was kind enough to offer a copy of Be More Vegan to one lucky reader. This competition is on Instagram only. Head to the link below to enter.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
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