Vegan Cookies vs Regular Cookies
Vegan Cookies vs Regular Cookies
- Have you ever eaten any vegan foods?
- What do you think of them?
- Are they really tasteless?
- Do vegans have alternatives for normal foods?
- Have you ever decided to become a vegan?
- What do you think of vegans?
- Don't you think they are a bit demanding and sometimes on the nerve?
- What is the state of veganism in your country?
- Can you find vegan foods everywhere? And, if yes, are they affordable?
Usually, when it comes to vegans and veganism, people ask these questions. Then, some decide to give it a try but other stick to their regular food habits as they find veganism simply too much. However, we should know that veganism is not going to be optional in the future. I am not saying everyone should completely change their food habits.
Nevertheless, if we are reluctant to try some new lifestyle such as veganism, we will experience a very nasty future. We will be run out of water, land, energy, and finally, food to eat. It is not a nice prospect, is it? So, if you have decided to change this but you don’t know how I am here to tell you!
Veganism is one of the best ways in which we can contribute to a better future for ourselves and the next generations to come. And, amazingly, one of its best advantages is that it can be done gradually but firmly. So, even a lazy person could find his/her way to veganism, if and only if people understand the gravity of their actions.
So, my argument is that you have to become vegan. How many of you might argue differently, you might say that becoming a vegan means that you have to forget about enjoying your meals. You might say that many exciting and delicious foods in the world are non-vegan foods. Perhaps, in particular, you might name cookies, don’t you!
Sometimes, nothing better than a warm glass of milk (which is again non-vegan) with two or three delicious cookies can make you ready in the morning to start your day energetic. And, you are right! These little joys make our days and we should not give up on them.
However, I am here to tell you that you can be both a vegan and enjoy your meals every day. And, speaking of cookies, there are hundreds of different types of vegan cookies out there waiting for you to be discovered. So, in this article, first, I will briefly introduce vegans and veganism. Then, we review the pros associated with this lifestyle. Next, I will introduce amazing vegan cookies for those who cannot live without them. Let's get started.
What Is Veganism And Who Is A Vegan?
Several decades ago, a movement called vegetarianism started to get popular in many countries in the world. The idea behind vegetarianism what that animals have rights as much as humans do. Therefore, they should not suffer just because humans have picked them as their source of food. It was first a moral argument but then got many different angles. For example, scientists understood that vegan regimens could enhance people's health, avoid dangerous diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other major and minor conditions.
Also, the government found out that if humans continued exploiting their environment just for the sake of food like that, sooner or later everyone would have fought for his/her survival. In another word, the government witnessed forests and jungles getting clear cut and water resources run out. Why? Because we needed them for growing animals to feed humans.
Definitely, something was wrong. Influenced by all these miseries, some people started avoiding meat. They said it is immortal and irrational to eat meat because of moral, health-related, and environmental reasons. They called themselves vegetarians because their foods were mainly coming from vegetables, fruits, etc. However, they said it is OK to eat animal-related products such as eggs, milk, dairy products, etc. At that time, vegetarianism was a great success but not enough.
After the success of vegetarianism is adsorbing millions of people from all across the globe, another movement started to be shaped. They call themselves vegans. They claimed that it is not enough to just avoid eating meat. Everything which comes from animals should be completely forbidden.
In a way, veganism was a stricter lifestyle than vegetarianism. Although the number of vegans and vegetarians is getting higher in many countries in the world, non-vegans or non-vegetarians bring some apparently valid arguments which might make you hesitant against these new lifestyles. What are these arguments by the way?
Is Vegan Food Diverse And Healthy Enough?
One of the main reasons some people don’t join the movement is that they have false information about veganism. One of the most common mistakes is that people think with veganism, your food choices will be limited a lot and you have to eat boring foods day in and day out.
Another reason is that they think vegan foods are not healthy. In fact, they believe that vegan foods cannot supply the body with enough vitamins, nutrients, and other nutritional properties. In fact, both these reasons are false! Perhaps, they were true many years ago but definitely not right now.
Are There Enough Vegan Alternatives
Let's discuss the first reason. It is not true because, these days, for practically every normal food or drink in your home, there is a vegan alternative available. Let me give you some examples. Don’t you think we have alternatives for milk? Yes, we have. Right now, you can get vegan milk from many plant-based sources including soy, rice, coconut, spelt, oat, macadamia, etc.
Or, the most important one! Do we have any alternatives for meat to put between our burger bread? Yes, we have! Tofu, Soya protein, tempeh, Seitan, Lupin protein, green spelt, and oat flakes are among the most common sources for making meat for different purposes. The list goes on and on. What about cookies? Don’t you think we will have enough vegan alternatives for cookies when we have ones for meat and milk? A bit further, I will talk about this more specifically.
Vegan Alternatives Have Enough Materials To Keep Us Safe And Healthy
Earlier, I told you that scientists believe vegan foods are valuable food sources and contain all our body needs? Yes, it is true! There are different kinds of vitamins and nutrients you can get from plant-based food. Also, if a plant-based material doesn’t have enough of a specific material, it will be added to it artificially or in the combination with other plant-based sources.
So, as you saw, it seems that both critics' arguments are not facts. Vegan foods are diverse and healthy and that is a fact right now. At least, they are much healthier than eating meat with all those unhealthy fatty acids, and other dangerous substances.
Now, what about cookies? Can we have vegan cookies? Yes, we can. Fortunately, even non-vegan cookies don’t have meat in them. So, it is already a good start. Cookies are considered non-vegan foods because too many animal-related products such as oil, milk, eggs, etc. are being used when making them.
So, basically, for having vegan cookies you have to find a way to replace eggs, milk, etc. with their vegan counterparts. When reviewing the variation of vegan cookies out there, you will realize how progressive this area has gone.
Basic Ingredients Of Normal Cookies
OK, let me ask you this question. What are the basic ingredients of a non-vegan cookie? Well, if you ask your mother she would definitely say flour, butter, chocolate chip, chocolate, sugar, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, salt, and finally unsalted butter.
So, answer this question. Which of these ingredients make normal cookies completely uneatable for vegans? Well, eggs, butter, and unsalted butter, right? However, there are more! We have some plant-based ingredients too such as chocolate, sugar, and vanilla, right? They shouldn’t be non-vegan too. They are definitely coming from plants. So, how can they be non-vegan?
Here is the thing. Some plants are genetically modified organisms or GMOs for short. What does it mean? It means that those plants have been received genes from other living creatures such as bacteria or fungi to have more grains or better quality at the end.
According to the definition of veganism, eating foods that are coming from GMO plants is also prohibited. I am saying that you have to consider all these ingredients! They have to be vegan 100%. So, here is the most important question. Do we have such cookies? Have they been made without breaking the veganism laws? Yes, we have, and yes, they have been!
Are Vegan Cookies Healthier Than Regular Cookies?
So, so far, we understood that vegan cookies are definitely possible. Later in this article, I will introduce some of the most popular vegan cookies brands and their products. However, the more important question is that whether vegan cookies are healthier than regular cookies. The experience suggests that they are both very delicious. However, we don’t know whether any of them could be dangerous for our health. Now, we want to compare vegan cookies and regular cookies.
Eggs
There are many different types of plant-based eggs you can use to replace normal eggs in your cookies. They include flaxseed egg, chia egg, applesauce, pumpkin puree, mashed banana, baking soda & apple cider vinegar, silken tofu, plant-based yogurt (which is unsweetened) are among the many eggs that can be used in your cookies. In terms of health-related issues, they are much healthier than normal eggs. Here are some of the cons associated with normal eggs in your cookies:
- One of the biggest health issues with eggs is the high amount of cholesterol in them. You can find this cholesterol in trans fats and saturated fats which are very damaging to your body.
- Diabetes is another disease that could be the result of using dairy products and eggs. Also, people who already have type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk because of heart disease. So, eating too much each even in cookies is not recommended.
Milk
Just like eggs, there are too many concerns about the relationship between type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease and drinking milk as it has saturated fat in it. Also, some studies have shown that milk might be influential in increasing the risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Also, many people are lactose intolerant which means they cannot process milk even when it is in cookies.
So, for them, vegan cookies are the only option. You are thinking that milk is at least very good for your bone health, don’t you? If you think that way, I should stop you. There is no link between dairy intake and broken bones or fractures. Another dangerous disease is breast cancer. Studies have shown that a high amount of fat and hormones in milk and other dairy products could increase the chance of breast cancer.
Vegan Milk
We have a variety of sources for making vegan milk. As I told you before, you can get milk from coconut, rice, and many other sources. They are healthier than normal milk too. Let me give you an answer.
- First of all, they have an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals required for your body.
- Second of all, in contrast to non-vegan milk, the fat content is very low in them.
- More importantly, cholesterol is not available in vegan milk. Fats can be found in both forms mono and polyunsaturated.
- Finally, vegan milk is a great option for people who have a slow digestive system.
- Other advantages of vegan milk are that they are much easier to be made at home than non-vegan milk.
- Almond,
- Cashew,
- Hazelnut, and
- Hemp
are other sources for making vegan milk.
Oil
This is another important ingredient for making cookies. People sometimes use animal oils to make cookies tastier. However, there are some negative aspects associated with animal or non-vegan oils too. Now, we are going to highlight the pros of vegan oils where you can learn what non-vegan oils don’t have. First of all, saturated fat can be found in vegan oils in a very low amount (definitely more than animal oils). Oh, don’t get me wrong! I am not saying saturated fat is bad.
It is good but it is the right amount. Animal oils have more than we need which causes a problem. Too much-saturated fat might increase the level of cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Another benefit associated with vegan oils is that they contain Omega-3 and Omega-6. You probably know that these two types of fatty acids are very beneficial for human health.
For example, Omega-3 has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides, slow the development of plaque in the arteries, reduce the chance of abnormal heart rhythm, etc. Also, HDL levels in your body will be optimized. Sunflower, soy, sesame, and corn oils are among the most popular vegan oils in the world.
The same is true with other ingredients of normal cookies. We have alternatives for all of them. Even for sugar and other plant-based ingredients. You have to make sure that the original plants are not GMO. They should also receive the lowest amount of chemical control agents.
Now, I guess you agree with me that vegan cookies are possible. You have to just learn the recipe and then it is done. Before introducing some of the commercial vegan cookies and explaining their features I like to show you how you can make vegan cookies at home. This is one of the most famous recipes on the internet.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe has been brought to you by TASTY which is a website for introducing vegan recipes. First things first. We need to know the recipe. The recipe for this vegan cookie is
- ½ cup sugar (100 g),
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar (165 g), packed,
- 1 teaspoon salt,
- ½ cup refined coconut oil (120 g), melted,
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk (60 mL),
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract,
- 1 ½ cups flour (185 g), (we use gluten-free flour)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda,
- 4 oz vegan semi-sweet chocolate (115 g), chunks, and
- 4 oz vegan dark chocolate (115 g), chunks.
How To Prepare?
You just need to follow 10 easy steps and then your delicious guilt-free vegan cookies are ready.
- Firstly, add sugar, brown sugar, salt, and coconut oil to a bowl and start mixing them so that they are combined.
- Secondly, add vanilla or vegan milk and mix again so that you end up having a smooth product.
- Thirdly, add the flour and baking soda after sifting and then mix the product with a spatula.
- Fourthly, add chocolate chunks gently and evenly.
- Fifthly, heat the obtained product for nearly half an hour.
- Sixthly, make the oven ready (180C).
- Seventhly, put the dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet with an ice cream scoop.
- Eighthly, bake the scope for 15 minutes.
- Ninthly, let it cool.
- Finally, grab a bite and enjoy.
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Cookies, chocolate-filled banana muffins, banana bread chocolate cheesecake Swiss roll, and brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies are some other famous recipes you can find online. Don’t waste your time! Go and make them! However, in addition to cookies that you can make at home, there are many commercial cookies available in the market too. Let's check some of them out and see what is what.
Commercial Vegan Cookies
Here is a shortlist of several famous products you can find on Amazon and order easily.
This is one of the most delicious products on the internet. it is from the brand Partake Foods Store. The price is 26.99 dollars for this product. The good thing about the product is that if you buy 5 box cookies variety pack, you will get all five flavours including chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, ginger snap cookies, and birthday cake cookies. There is no gluten or allergen is involved. It is a perfect choice for children's snack time at school.
This is another popular vegan cookie from the brand Lenny & Larry's store. A pack of 12 costs 15.29 dollars. The ingredients are wheat flour which is enriched with niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, etc. GMO, gluten, and animal proteins are all on the table. Although the product doesn’t use unhealthy sugar it can keep your mouth sweet for a while and doesn’t encourage you to eat a lot.
This product is sponsored by Amazon but a bit more expensive than the previous product. For a pack of 12, you have to pay 39.99 dollars. It is from the brand Rule Breaker. Like other products, it is gluten, allergen, and GMO-free.
The diversity of products in online stores is crazy. So, go and check them out by yourself. I am sure you will find more appealing options.
Conclusion
Although veganism is a popular lifestyle, many people have some doubts about it. They are not sure vegan foods are diverse enough so they will be bored of them quickly. Also, they suspect that we don’t have good and healthy alternatives for non-vegan products. However, in this article, we argued differently.
We take vegan cookies as an example and prove to you that vegan cookies can be even healthier and more diverse than normal ones. We also introduced some commercial vegan cookies from the Amazon website. I hope you are convinced now that vegan cookies are worth a shot, right? We will come back again with more content! Don’t forget to follow us! Take care and go vegan.
I trust you enjoyed reading the article about Vegan Cookies vs Regular Cookies. Please stay tuned. There are more blog posts to come very shortly.
JeannetteZ
Your Opinion Is Important To Me
Ideas? Thoughts? Questions? I would love to hear from you. Would you please leave me your questions, experience, and remarks about Vegan Cookies vs Regular Cookies in the comments section below? You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@LivingTheVeganLifestyle.org.
>>>Please click here to read on PETA why we should be vegans<<<
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