WaiYt. YOU CAN STILL EAT THIS? Vegan Playbook

… Wait, they don’t love you like I love you. O wait (Yeah Yeah Yeah, “Maps”). If you’ve been on TikTok this past month like I have, you’d agree that this riveting melody has not left our heads, which leads me to dwell on what I am perpetually preoccupied with—food.

Hold while I chew down my Oreos. I love Oreos by the way. Wait. Can Vegans eat Oreos? Can they love Oreos like I love Oreos? Surely, they don’t love it like I do.. hehe

When you first go vegan, it can feel daunting having to say goodbye to a lot of your favorite foods. No more cheese, no more eggs, no more meat – how will you ever be the same? Truth is, tons of foods you never thought of as vegan-friendly are already vegan secretly. From sweet treats to savory staples, discover some unexpected foods that pass as vegan, on accident.

Oreos – Classic

To answer my own question: that’s right, the classic black-and-white indulgence is vegan! Fact-checked by their official website and Vegansociety, many Oreo products are suitable for Vegans. Their cookie is made with wheat flour, while its iconic creamy filling is a combo of sugar, oils and flavoring: no eggs, no milk, no animal products. So, feel free to dunk them in your almond or milk of choice.

Ritz Crackers – Crunchy Savouriness

Buttery-flaky crackers? Vegan? Believe it! Ritz Crackers contain no animal products, despite their buttery taste. They’re originally made with enriched flour, vegetable oil, salt and a few other simple, vegan-friendly components, which means they can be a delicious addition to a vegan charcuterie board or a quick savoury snack on the go.

However, be advised some varieties of Ritz contain dairy products; all but one of the Ritz Cracker Originals flavors are vegan-friendly. Check here, for the full list on which are safe to eat; sadly my personal favorite ‘Cracker Sandwiches’ didn’t make the list (harsh truth, I’ll stop my delusion). Other savory treats you can treat yourself to are Pringles – Original Flavour, or Doritos – Lightly salted, Chilli Heatwave.

Lotus Biscoff: the bisc-off the best cookie

Another coffee partner that is a-vegan-friendly surprise! These caramelized biscuits are widely available in supermarkets worldwide, taking pride in using natural ingredients with no artificial colors or flavorings (as mentioned in their website).

Skittles – rainbow of flavours & Sour-y Sour Patch Kids

Both of these easy-to-find multi-coloured candies and gelatin-free gummies are vegan! Skittles uses plant-based ingredients including sugar, corn syrup and artificial flavors, whereas Sour Patch Kids get its flavor from fruit juice and citric acid. It’s important to check whether some flavors are vegan, considering the Blue Moon skittles and Sour Patch Kids manufactured in Europe are found to have gelatin in them. 

Some other sweet treats you may re-enjoy include haribos, cereals like Cap’n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and even Froot Loops are all actually vegan (though sugary).

Yet again, do your research people. The above-mentioned treats may be ‘accidentally vegan’, but they are still not labelled as such. Polish your label-reading know-how, and understand that there may be a hundred different factors that can prove they are non-vegan, like cross-contamination within factories, possible use of non-vegan sugars, differing regions, and changed recipes. It’s processed food after all, so please check allergen advice. Don’t just take my word for it, I’m not a dietician, only a newbie writer at most 😉

Celebrities’ Favorites – a hack

Celebrity health tips? Not to be overlooked. With their luxe lifestyles, they have the time—and money—to throw into wellness routines that we could only dream of. And while we may not be doing daily cryo-sessions or sipping diamond-infused water, who says we can’t take a few cues from their wellness playbook? “Work Smart” as they say, well this is my version of that – hearing advice from famous strangers.

Natalie portman has been eating tempeh bacons since 2011. Alicia Silverstone, the actress, always keeps a jar of cashew parmesan in her fridge for unlimited extra flavorings in meals. When baking, Miley Cyrus recommends using mashed avocado while actor Woody Harrelson cleverly uses unsweetened applesauce to replace eggs. Actress Rooney Mara suggested using tahini (sesame-based condiment) as a replacement for dairy-based sauces and dressings, whereas Ariana Grande uses cashews to make creamy vegan sauces and dips. Speaking of vegan dips, if you ever want to make hummus (a popular choice btw), Ryan Gosling suggests putting ice when blending – instead of just water, to make it “creamier”. I certainly won’t argue with that.