Ikea To Roll Out Vegan Meatballs After Years Of Petitioning (You Can Still Get Normal Ones Though) | HuffPost Life

Chin Up Vegans, You Can Now Eat The Meatballs At Ikea

Poorna Bell— The Huffington Post UK

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Katya_Bratova via Getty Images

Vegans around the world (or at least those that shop in Ikea) have had a victory after the furniture retailer announced they would be serving vegan meatballs across all stores.

Peta US have been petitioning the kings of flat-pack for three years, and has received petitions from supporters asking for a meat-free option.

"Peta hears every day from shoppers calling for animal-friendly on-the-go options", says PETA Director Mimi Bekhechi. "Vegan snacks spare animals suffering and benefit human health, which earns IKEA a round of applause."

The meatballs will be in store from April onwards, and reflects the growing trend for all things vegan.

There are now enough good, vegan restaurants in the capital that warrants a Best of Vegan Restaurants in the Evening Standard, and an increasing number of celebrities from J-Lo to Kim Kardashian are trying it as a diet option.

SEE ALSO:

Veganuary: An Omnivore's Attempt at Going Vegan for January

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Impressive Vegan Hacks

Chickpea Flour = Omelet Possibilities(01 of09)

Vegans have found a way to enjoy a hearty breakfast staple -- the omelet -- despite the fact that eggs are not included in their diets.

Chickpea flour is a great substitute because, like eggs, it's high in protein and is gluten-free. Its subtle flavor means it can be paired with just about anything.

Start out with this simple Chickpea Flour Omelet recipe by Fat Free Vegan. (credit:Fat Free Vegan)

Boxed Cake Mix + Soda = Real Cake(02 of09)

Many boxed cake mixes are vegan on their own (just check the ingredient list), but lose the title when eggs or butter are added in. Vegans don't have to make their desserts from scratch (though they certainly could -- delicious ones at that!).

Vegans and lazy people alike can skip the ingredients listed on the cake box and opt to use a carbonated beverage instead. The two ingredient cake is lower in calories, fat and is exquisitely simple to prepare. Check out all the cakes you can make with just a box of cake mix and a bottle of soda here. (credit:HuffPost)

Banana + Freezer = Soft Serve Ice Cream(03 of09)

Ice cream is fantastic and should be consumed year-round. Vegans are not excused from this rule. There are plenty of dairy alternatives to make the cool treat happen for any diet, but bananas take the cake when it comes to making ice cream in a snap.

Plus, the method saves overripe bananas from being tossed in the trash. When a banana's gone mushy, peel it and store it in your freezer. When you've accumulated enough, you have pretty much everything you need to make the delicious banana soft serve: Just blend, and voila!

Check out this handy guide to making vegan ice cream, and if you're drooling over the banana split pictured, get the recipe from Peachy Palate here. (credit:Peachy Palate)

Canned Pumpkin + Everything = Veganlicious(04 of09)

Same story here, folks. Canned pumpkin (or pumpkin puree) can be used as a substitute for typical baking ingredients like eggs and butter. It supplies a moistness to recipes without altering the flavor much. Plus, it boasts a nice amount of fiber. Genius.

Get the recipe for these Pumpkin Spice Latte Waffles from Minimalist Baker here. And, be sure to check out all the things you can make with a can of pureed pumpkin (not all are vegan, but you can tweak to make them so). (credit:Minimalist Baker)

Avocado = A Creamy, Dreamy Substitute (05 of09)

Like pumpkin, avocado adds a creaminess to recipes without stealing the flavor show. And its nutritional benefit is stellar.

Vegans have gotten particularly inventive with avocado, transforming the typically savory ingredient into a dessert superstar. Just contemplate the Chocolate Avocado Pudding pictured (get the recipe here) and try not to salivate.

Find more clever ways to cook and bake with avocado here. (credit:Noms For The Poor)

Applesauce = A Butter/Oil/Egg Replacement(06 of09)

This is an age-old, reliable trick. Vegans (and health-conscious folks) have discovered that the easily-found snack can work the same jobs as butter, oil or eggs in a recipe, while oftentimes cutting fat and calories. Of course, the measurements will vary from recipe to recipe, but here is the standard, via PopSugar:

1 cup oil = 1 cup applesauce
1 cup butter = 1 cup applesauce
1 large egg = 1/4 cup applesauce

Get the recipe for the Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Trail cookies pictured from Healthy, Happy Life here. (credit:Healthy, Happy Life)

Coconut + Liquid Smoke = Vegan Bacon(07 of09)

Vegan bacon may sound like an oxymoron, but replicating the popular flavor of the pig product without using any actual pig is possible.

"It's pretty amazing that you can replicate a baconish flavor and crispness with coconut flakes," write The Simple Veganista. Yeah, it is pretty incredible. Find the recipe here. (credit:The Simple Veganista)

Magic Vegan Bacon Grease = Bacon Grease(08 of09)

There are plenty of weird vegan products on the market, from scallops to "leather" skirts. Magic Vegan Bacon Grease (MVBG) is as weird as it is impressive. The stuff is made of coconut oil, non-GMO soy protein, sea salt, pure maple syrup, black pepper, onion, garlic, Torula yeast, and natural smoke flavor, and it lets vegans have their bacon grease and eat it, too.

Some argue certain recipes are just better cooked in bacon fat, and this product invites herbivores to join in on the taste experience.

Get more information about MVBG by visiting the product website here.

Oreos + Nondairy Milk = Vegan-Approved(09 of09)

Vegan "hacks" tend to make things a little bit more nutritionally sound, but "healthy" isn't a requirement for a food to be vegan. It is both surprising and delightful to find out that Oreos, the quintessential lunchbox cookie, are in fact vegan. Nabisco probably didn't intentionally craft these cookies as cruelty-free, but that doesn't really matter. Dunked delicately into some dairy-free milk, the perfect vegan treat is born. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)

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