With the Christmas season over and Veganuary fast approaching, we here at Innermost pride ourselves on the vegan ingredients we use in our protein powders to ensure everyone can get the most out of their workout.
As such we thought there was no better time to share our top Veganuary recipes with you. From delicious breakfasts and cult-favourite meat substitutes to our classic vegan protein shakes (made with The Health Protein, of course), we’re here to give you the lowdown on our favourite vegan recipes this Veganuary .
Before we get into the swing of these recipes though, for those of you that aren’t familiar with Veganuary, let’s talk about why people do Veganuary, the benefits of Veganuary, and pretty much everything how to do Veganuary related.
So, what is Veganuary?
Let’s do this.
What is Veganuary? Everything you need to know
If you’ve spent the last year toying with a vegan protein diet then January might just be the month for you to start.
Launched in 2014 by a UK non-profit charity of the same name, Veganuary is an annual month-long push to encourage people to try out a vegan diet throughout the month of January.
As January has long-been a month famed for its opportunity for a fresh start, with new years’ resolutions, the creation of new habits and for many of us, an attempt to stop or cut back on potentially bad or unhealthy habits.
With famous ambassadors such as Paul McCartney, Evanna Lynch and Sara Pascoe, Veganuary is participated in by people from over 209 countries and territories. What’s more, over 25 million people signed up for Veganuary in 2024 and that number grows year on year - just 580,00 people signed up in 2021.
People participate in Veganuary for several reasons, but generally, most are interested in doing their bit for the planet and making healthy swaps from meat and dairy to plant-based alternatives like oat milk and sunflower mince.
Anyone can try Veganuary for the month so don’t fret if this is your first time or you are a seasoned diner of vegan cuisine.
Why do people participate in Veganuary?
There are a handful of reasons why you might decide to participate in Veganuary this year - some people note the benefits of saving money (as we all know how pricey meat and cheese can be), but the major benefits of Veganuary are health-related. Just some of the overall benefits include:
- Animal Welfare
- Environmental Concerns
- Health Benefits
- Community & Support
- Financial Benefits
What are the health benefits of Veganuary?
Studies show Vegan diet can have several health benefits for an individual such as:
- Greater energy levels.
- A reduced chance of cancer development.
- A Decrease in the likelihood of developing diabetes.
- A healthier gut biome – a vegan diet has a positive effect on “metabolic measures in health and disease”. (Check out our guide on improving your gut biome here.)
- Helps you lose weight – healthy and non-processed vegan diets have been evidenced to aid in weight loss.
- Enhances your immune system
Your Innermost Veganuary inspiration
It was pretty hard to widdle down a month of delicious Veganuary recipes here at Innermost, but the team have succeeded. Here are our top three…
Vegan Cheat Day Mac-n-Cheese
For this delicious cheesy-but-not-cheesy treat, you’ll need a few delicious ingredients. We’ve made it nice and easy for you by listing them below…
- 350g dried macaroni pasta
- 1 onion
- 85g plain flour (for the sauce, of course)
- 1 teaspoon of English mustard
- 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
- 50g vegan cheese
- 3 cloves of garlic
- Salt, pepper, and thyme (to season)
- Breadcrumbs
Step-by-step:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees and cook your macaroni
- Peel and chop your onion and garlic gloves into chunks and heat in a pan of oil over a medium heat
- Slowly heat and add the milk to the pan, stir consistently
- Remove the onion from the pan and set in a bowl to the side
- Create a roux sauce and stir continuously to form a paste
- Stir in the mustard and yeast flakes with the cheese and then season with the salt and pepper
- Drain and add the macaroni to the roux sauce and stir
- Transfer this mix into an ovenproof dish, top with breadcrumbs and pop in the oven
- Cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the breadcrumbs are brown
Voila!
Innermost’s Peanut Butter and Banana Vegan Protein Shake
Delicious, refreshing, filling and packed to the brim with protein. What more could you need? Perfect for a mid-morning snack, a quick lunch or for a tasty treat after your evening gym class, this vegan peanut butter shake is one of our favourite Veganuary recipes ever.
You’re going to love it.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 300ml Soy milk
- The Health Protein (one scoop)
- 2 scoops of peanut butter
- 1 fresh banana
- 1 scoop of cocoa powder
- Rolled oats
- Chia seeds
- Dates
Vegan Pasta Salad
Great for on-the-go lunches and tasty dinner times, this easy to whip-up pasta salad is one that we discovered in Veganuary but are taking through with us throughout the year.
This twist on a classic Caesar Salad is one that will go down a treat for this year’s summer BBQ parties too, so write this recipe down ASAP.
We’ll leave the portioning up to you (depending on how many you’re feeding), but you will need:
- A dried pasta shape of your choice
- Vegan caesar dressing
- Romaine lettuce (iceberg would work well here too)
- Chickpeas
- An avocado, sliced
- Nutritional yeast (parmesan alternative)
- Salt and pepper (to season, of course)
Prep for this delicious protein fuelled Veganuary dish is simple. Bring water to the boil and cook your dried pasta. Whilst this is boiling, prep the salad by cutting the lettuce and halving the tomatoes. Then, when your pasta is ready (we recommend al dente for this dish), rinse and drain and set to the side.
Finally, add the remaining ingredients and drizzle (or coat) with Caesar dressing depending on your preference… and bingo!
Vegan Protein Pancakes
Looking for a protein-packed breakfast for Veganuary? Vegan protein pancakes are just the thing you need.
Mix Innermost vanilla-flavoured protein powder (consider the strong or the lean protein) with plant-based milk, banana, and a touch of cinnamon. Cook on a griddle or frying pan until golden brown. Top with fresh berries, maple syrup, or nut butter.
Ingredients:
- 40g Innermost Protein Powder (Vanilla flavour)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 large banana, mashed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 135ml plant-based milk (such as almond milk)
Step by step
- In a large bowl, whisk together the Innermost Protein Powder you have chosen with baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the mashed banana, egg, vanilla extract, and plant-based milk to the bowl. Mix well until a smooth batter forms.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Pour ¼ cup of batter onto the hot griddle for each pancake.
- Cook until bubbles form on the surface of the pancakes and the edges look set. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove the pancakes from the heat and serve immediately with your favourite toppings.
Vegan Protein Brownies
Satisfy your sweet tooth with our healthier vegan twist on the classic brownie.
Mix any one of our Innermost protein powders (that come in chocolate flavour) with cocoa powder, almond flour, and other ingredients to create a fudgy and protein-packed vegan treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup Innermost Protein Powder (Chocolate flavour)
Step by step
- In a medium bowl, combine the mashed banana, almond butter, cocoa powder, and Innermost Protein Powder. Mix thoroughly until a smooth and consistent batter is formed.
- Pour the batter into a small baking dish lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.
Enjoy a Vegan diet with Innermost
And you’re ready to go!
With improved health benefits such as weight loss, cancer reduction and more, there has never been a better time than now to try out a protein-fuelled vegan diet this Veganuary.
You’ll also find all our innermost products are vegan, making them the perfect companion to your Veganuary diet.
References
- Dinu, M., Abbate, R., Gensini, G et al.(2017). Vegetarian, vegan diets and multiple health outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 57, 17. Click here.
- Medawar, E., Huhn, S., Witte, V. (2019). The effects of plant-based diets on the body and the brain: a systematic review. Translational Psychiatry. 9, 226. Click here.
- Najjar, S. Feresin, R. (2019). Plant-Based Diets in the Reduction of Body Fat: Physiological Effects and Biochemical Insights. Nutrients. 8,11. Click here
