Many people want to change their patterns because they have become aware of the impact we have on the planet. One way to do that, is by eating less meat.

Vegetarian Monday

Recently, a movement started called "Vegetarian Monday". Their objective: to convince people to eat less meat. Read more about Vegetarian Monday here.  

Vegan Wednesday

But now it is so easy to add a Vegan Wednesday to your schedule. Vegan meat substitutes have become really competitive as far as taste goes - and price as well.

You could make your own vegan hamburger, or just buy them ready-made. My favorite brand is Beyond Meat. McDonald's actually did a try-out with their burgers; unfortunately, this was not successful in the United States. Burger King had a similar experiment with the Impossible Whopper. However, in the Netherlands the Beyond Meat hamburger has now become a permanent item on the menu as the McPlant! 

Store-bought vegan hamburgers are usually made with soy or pea protein. But there are mushroom, seaweed and beetroot varieties available as well. Making your own vegan burger would be the next step up; no preservatives, no emulgators, stabilizers, colorants. Though probably harmless, it just feels good to make your own with a minimum number of healthy ingredients.  

Panfrying your vegan burger is the best way to prepare it; but barbequing works as well and adds this nice smoky flavor. When panfrying, cook at a moderate temperature in order to avoid blackening the surfaces. Seasoning your burger is a matter of taste; pepper is a definite must. 

If you want your whole meal to be vegan, make sure to use vegan mayonaise. This is now a common product in supermarkets; most brands have a vegan variety, including Hellman's and Heinz.

The best way to test the quality of your vegan hamburger is to serve it to an unsuspecting meat lover. So if he or she will notice!