Lifestyle
A Guide To Vegan Friendly Swaps For Your Household
Once upon a time labelling yourself 'vegan' might have been met with bewildered looks from friends and family, reduced you to a sad looking salad when eating out, and sorely limited your options for everything from chocolate to makeup. Now, with the vegan faction growing on the daily, the vegan lifestyle is more widely accepted than ever before, dedicated vegan restaurants and cafes are popping up on every street corner, and brands are catering to the growing demand for vegan options.
So, if you've been on the fence about transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, it's never been a better time to join the gang.
Whether you're thinking of making the switch for environmental, ethical, or health reasons, converting to a vegan lifestyle brings with it considerable changes and often, an overhaul of many essential household products. But which products make the cut for a vegan-friendly household?
Here's a guide to our pick of the best vegan products in our range to make your transition to a vegan lifestyle that much easier.
Snacks
Chips, Lollies, Crackers, and Crisps
Ape Snacks
Transforming the humble coconut into tasty morsels of crunchy goodness are what Ape Snacks do, and they certainly do it well. Using 100% natural, vegan and gluten-free ingredients with no added sugar, you're free to enjoy the delicious fusion of coconut and other satisfyingly good flavours in their Crunchy Coconut Bites range, like their dreamy Chocolate and Coconut flavour...
Ceres Organics
For irresistibly good savoury snacking you can't go past Ceres Organics' Crispy Rice Clouds. They're a light and crunchy 'chip' made from puffed organic rice and seasoned to perfection for a tasty plant-based snack you'll want to keep all to yourself.
Absolute
The yummy Seaweed Crisps from Absolute offer a crunchy and nutritious snack, with superfood nori and other wholefood ingredients, they're an excellent source of essential nutrients. Munch on their Pumpkin Seed & Sesame Seaweed Crisps for a salty snack that has all the goodness of these vitamin- and mineral-packed seeds, plus loads of flavour.
Chocolate
Loving Earth
Loving Earth chocolate needs no introduction. Their range of luscious chocolates have been a staple in most vegan's snack piles since they graced us with their ever drool-worthy range in 2007. Prioritising healthy food that's created with sustainable ingredients and fair practices, their ethos is as admirable as their chocolate making skills. While every devotee has a favourite block of Loving Earth, you can't go past their most recent creation, Organic Cashew Mylk Chocolate. It's a creamy, smooth-tasting chocolate that's made from 45 per cent raw Ashaninka cacao, organic raw cashews, and a splash of evaporated coconut nectar for sweetness, providing a ridiculously delicious dose of flavanol antioxidants and magnesium.
Sweet William
Sweet William specialise in chocolate everyone can enjoy with their range of vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free chocolates, and selection of no-added-sugar chocolates. Their yummy Chocolate Spread ticks all the right boxes, with 60% less sugar than other chocolate spreads and a rich chocolate taste that's a hit with kids and adults when spread on just about anything.
Snack Bars
So Vegan
New kid on the block, So Vegan, are fast becoming a hit for vegan snack lovers with their delectable no muss, no fuss Coconut Bites. Using all natural, organic, and gluten-free ingredients – just 4 to be exact – they're putting less than kosher vegan snacks (we're looking at you, sugar-filled snacks) to shame with their soft, chewy coconut treats that contain no nasties and actually taste really, really good. Available in Strawberry Delight and Lamington, they're a satisfying and delightfully moreish snack that sits somewhere between a raw food bar and a cookie.
Ceres
Ceres Raw Food Bars are made from only a handful of wholesome organic ingredients, cold-pressed to create a bar that's pure and simple, giving your body the energy and nutrients it needs from whole foods. They're certified organic, vegan, and paleo, and have no added sugar or preservatives. The line-up of flavours is drool-worthy, but you can't go wrong with the Coconut Cacao Rough.
Luv & Co
Luv & Co's range of Probiotic Nut Bars are deceptively healthy, providing a hit of fibre and protein along with gut-friendly live probiotics for good gut health. What's more, the simple ingredient bars are addictively appetising, with flavours like Cookies 'n Cream and Peanut Butter Jelly you'll want to indulge in their delicious goodness all day long.
Cookies
Start Me Up
More than just cookies, Start Me Up use wholesome plant-based ingredients enriched with vegan vitamins to create a supplementary food that's packed full of prebiotics and dietary fibre. Each cookie provides a decent 12g of protein along with essential vitamins and minerals. The Buckinis Cranberry Vegan Cookie is a yummy mix of sweet-tart cranberries and creamy almond butter with a smattering of activated buckinis thrown in for added crunch and nutrients.
Byron Bay Cookies
The newest addition to Byron Bay Cookies' indulgent range of delectable treats is their Vegan Maple & Pecan Cookie. With crunchy pecans, sweet-tart cranberries, and a generous dousing of maple syrup, they're a luxurious treat that just so happens to pair perfectly with a cuppa.
Kitchen & Pantry
Food Wraps
Wrappa
If you're still wrapping your leftovers in cling wrap, we need to introduce you to Wrappa's Plant Based Vegan Food Wraps. These environmentally friendly wraps are possibly the prettiest way to keep food fresh, made from decorative Certified Organic cotton, natural plant-based waxes, and oils for easy self-adhesive wrapping that helps keep your fruit and veg crisp, sandwiches wrapped, and leftovers covered. Wrappa use sustainable, eco-friendly materials with no palm oil or pine resin in sight, and because the Food Wraps are easy to clean and naturally antibacterial, they can be used again and again.
Plant Milks
Good Hemp
Good Hemp know the health and environmental benefits of hemp, and they know that less is more, using just 3 simple ingredients to create their popular Creamy Hemp Seed Milk. Hemp is one of nature's most healthful options for a plant-based milk, abundant in vitamins and minerals, high in protein and rich in omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids.
Ecomil
Specialising in plant-based milks that are healthy and kind to the environment, Ecomil have created a range of vegan milks made with premium ingredients for a superior taste and an impressive nutrition profile. Their flagship Almond Milk is made with organic Spanish almonds, supplying an impressive dose of healthy fats, dietary fibre, protein, minerals, and vitamin E with each cup of creamy goodness.
Pure Harvest
Made in Australia from GMO free, Certified Organic ingredients, Pure Harvest's range of plant-based milks include Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, and Oat Milk, all made with simple, premium grade ingredients. For something a little different try their Golden Quench Turmeric Coconut Milk for a hit of bioavailable turmeric, healthy fats, and a delicious spiced kick from ginger, pepper, and cinnamon, based on an age-old Ayurvedic recipe.
Plant-Based Meals
Ceres
Ceres Organic's plant-based mixes have to be the easiest, most nutritious way to whip up a mid-week meal the whole family can enjoy. Choose from their Organic Fritter Herbalicious Mix, Organic Lentil & Black Sesame Burger Mix, and Organic Eggless Omelette Mix for a wholefood vegan-friendly meal that's tasty, super filling, and very economical.
Well & Good
Well & Good's vegan version of the classic comfort food, macaroni and cheese, has to be the most convincing Cheesy Mac out there. Decadently creamy with an authentic cheesy taste, this all-natural gluten-free pasta is a saucy, soul-satisfying meal that just so happens to be good for your health.
Bathroom
Toothpastes
Grants of Australia
Grants of Australia proudly carry the Certified Vegan label on eight toothpastes in their oral care range. Adults will love their deservedly popular Mild Mint flavour with its refreshing kick and all-natural ingredients, using aloe vera as a natural alternative to fluoride. As for the littles who aren't huge fans of that minty fresh taste, they'll love brushing with Strawberry Surprise, with its sweet natural strawberry taste. Grant's toothpastes are all-natural, contain no GMOs, are SLS, paraben, sugar, and fluoride free, and are never tested on animals.
Dr Bronner's
Made with 70% organic ingredients, Dr Bronner's toothpastes are free from synthetic ingredients, fluoride, sweeteners, and artificial colours and flavours. With three no-fuss flavours (Peppermint, Cinnamon, and Anise) and highly efficient ingredients, they'll help keep your teeth sparkling clean and your breath fresh. The tube and box are also 100% recyclable.
Body Wash
Blessed By Nature
Made with select Australian sourced botanicals, Blessed By Nature's Beauty Elixir Botanical Body Wash is a sweet smelling, highly hydrating body wash. Using sweet orange, bergamot, petitgrain, and ylang ylang essential oils, its refreshing scent and deep clean will leave you moisturised and fresh.
Dr Bronner's
The soap that started it all, Dr Bronner's Pure Castile Liquid Soaps are a truly magical brew. Boasting 18 uses around the house, they're more than just a body wash. You won't find any of the fillers in these bottles, with 3 x more cleaning power than ordinary body washes these all-natural soaps can clean from your head to right down to your toes with just a few drops. Made with skin-loving organic oils, like coconut, olive, and jojoba, and other certified fair-trade ingredients, they'll leave your skin soft and supple too.
Shampoo & Conditioner
Avalon Organics
Using a specialised combination of natural botanicals, certified organic lavender, and nourishing vitamins, Avalon Organics' Nourishing Lavender Shampoo & Conditioner gently cleanses and moisturises for a healthy scalp and silky-smooth hair.
Wild
A divine combination of herbs and essential oils work to cleanse, moisturise hair, and tone the scalp to promote growth and shine thanks to nourishing ingredients nettle, raspberry, and yarrow in Wild's Herbs & Honey Shampoo and Conditioners. They're free from harmful chemicals, perfumes, and detergents too for a gentle, all-natural good hair day.
Beauty
Makeup
Scout Cosmetics
Scout uses powerful natural emollients to deliver a long-lasting range of premium natural lipsticks in a selection of vibrant shades. Your lips will stay soft with nourishing ingredients like jojoba, shea butter, and vitamin E, while your lipstick stays glossy and won't dry out.
Zuii Organic
One of the leaders in ethical beauty products, Zuii prides themselves on their extensive range of vegan-friendly cosmetics and beauty products. Zuii lovingly crafts their makeup from a unique blend of flowers, essential oils, vitamins, and minerals to create a range of luxurious products you're more than happy to slather on your face. From their Lux Foundations to their wildly popular Lip & Cheek Cremes, their all-natural flora-based makeup is a dream for the delicate skin on your face. For stand-out eyes try their Flora Mascara and for glowing skin you can't go paste the hydrating Gradual Tan Body Lotion for a summery look year-round.
Nails
Scout Cosmetics
Scout's innovative Eco-Luxe 5 Free Nail Polishes aren't just vegan and cruelty free, they're water permeable and breathable too, fortified with beneficial superfood ingredients, vitamins, and botanicals to help improve your nails' health not impede it. And they're quick drying and long-lasting, so you can slick on a glam shade and head out the door in just minutes.
Moisturisers
Cocolife
Made from 100% pure virgin coconut oil, Cocolife's Fractioned Liquid Coconut Oil is one of the most natural ways you can hydrate and nourish your skin. It's easily absorbed, fragrance free and non-greasy, and because it's fractionated it never solidifies.
Vegan Made
Using an ultra-moisturising combination of hempseed oil, candelilla wax, and other plant oils, Vegan Made's Hemp Lip Balms hydrate and nourish your lips sans the harsh chemicals, because who wants to eat parabens? Available in citrusy Lemon & Lime and fresh Peppermint, they're naturally flavoured with essential oils instead of artificial flavouring, so they taste great too.
Cleaning
Counter Culture
Using 13 live probiotic cultures and essential oils, Counter Culture's All Purpose Organic Cleaners help keep the entire house clean in the most natural way possible, controlling the microbiological environment with probiotic microbes. Their highly effective sprays help prevent and control bad bacteria, break down dirt, and sanitise, all without the use of harsh toxic chemicals.
Enviro
A natural mould killer that actually works, EnviroClean's Plant Based Mould Remover & Tile Cleaner uses natural biological organic acids to work magic on hard to remove mould, calcium, and limescale while eliminating germs and preventing regrowth as a natural antimicrobial agent. Like all EnviroCare products, it's Australian made and environmentally responsible with no phosphates, chlorine, or sodium lauryl sulphate polluting the home.
Dr Bronner's
The ideal all-round multipurpose household cleaner, Dr Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner is an effective concentrated cleaner that's perfect for everything from the dishes to your laundry. Made from plant-based surfactants and all-natural fir needle and spruce essential oils, it's ideal for hot or cold cleaning, rinses easily and biodegrades quickly.
Have you made the switch to a vegan-friendly lifestyle? Share your favourite household products in the comments below…
Article by Sarah Vercoe
Sarah is a freelance writer and award-winning photographer with a special interest in health, travel, and fitness. Based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, she can be found hiking the trails of Noosa National Park, or, more likely, chasing after her one year old daughter, Illyana.
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