“I’d love to eat vegan more often, but I really couldn’t miss cheese, croissants, or pizza!”

Sound familiar? Many people think that eating vegan means saying goodbye to all your favorite dishes. But is that really true? We asked our food tour guides what they found hardest when switching to a plant-based diet, and more importantly, how they found a solution for it!

“I missed cheese… but not for long”

“For the first two weeks, I missed cheese immensely. But after that? Not anymore. I now love eating toast with peanut butter, sriracha, and banana—a weird combo, but delicious!”
“Blue cheese, I still miss that. But luckily, vegan cheeses are getting better and better! Those Vegan Cowboys and other brands are already getting close.”

For many people, cheese is the ‘hardest’ step. But nowadays, there are increasingly better alternatives. Besides, it’s also a lot of fun to get into the kitchen yourself and experiment. Recently, Sanne from the Vegan Food Tour made her own plant-based version of Parmesan cheese by grinding cashews, salt, and nutritional yeast in a food processor. Super nutritious, simple, and it tasted great in a Caesar Salad and as a topping on pasta.

“Lasagna and pizza without cheese? No way!”

“For a long time, I thought vegan lasagna was mediocre… until I tasted the version from various restaurants like Healthful and the Vegan Pizza Bar. At home, I now make it with plant-based mince and SimplyV cheese (which also melts perfectly on pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches!).”

Many comfort foods now have vegan versions that are just as tasty (or tastier!). It’s often about the right ingredients and seasonings.

“Salami and French cheeses”

“Those hard sausages, salami and such… I missed that. Until I found a vegan version in London and thought: this is fantastic! Now we just need it in the Netherlands!”
“French cheeses, that remains tricky. I eat a vegan cheese every now and then, but a truly good alternative isn’t quite there yet.”

Meat alternatives are getting better and better, but some products remain challenging. Fortunately, there are more and more innovative brands working on this. Curious to see what’s coming in the next few years!

“Milk chocolate, help, I couldn’t live without it!”

“All those types of milk chocolate… but honestly? Nowadays there is so much choice! From Tony’s to Lindt, and a big favorite Hands Off My Chocolate—almost every brand has a vegan version, and yes, milk versions too!”

Milk chocolate used to be a difficult point, but now there are more and more plant-based options in the supermarket. And bonus: dark chocolate was always vegan anyway!

“Where are the cookies and cake?!”

Sweet treats like cookies and cake were hard to find in the beginning. But now? I bake them myself! And recently, vegan chocolate chip cookies have also appeared at Jumbo and Lidl.”

Many bakers and supermarkets are responding to the demand for vegan pastries. And if you bake them yourself, they’re often even tastier! Or join us on a tour in Utrecht, Amsterdam, or Rotterdam and our guides will be happy to tell you where to get the best vegan cookies and cake!

So… do you really miss anything if you eat vegan more often?

Not at all, not in the Netherlands! Okay, to be perfectly honest: maybe a little bit in the beginning. But as our guides discovered: just about everything has a tasty alternative nowadays. And the great thing is: that selection is growing by the day! New flavors, creative brands, and surprising finds are popping up everywhere. Living plant-based isn’t just a conscious choice, it’s also an adventure. Tasting something new every time, trying something different, and being surprised every time by how delicious and fun it can be!

Are you ready to discover this plant-based adventure for yourself?

Are you ready to discover this plant-based adventure for yourself? Join us on the Vegan Food Tour and be surprised by the most insanely delicious dishes and inspiring stories the city has to offer. An absolute must for an unforgettable experience is our Vegan Food & More Tour in Utrecht! Book your spot now and taste, hear, and see everything that’s possible when you choose plant-based. We can’t wait to welcome you!