Is Bread Vegan?
‘Is bread vegan?’
It’s often a question that vegans get asked or wonder when first transitioning. In most cases, bread is usually vegan, but there are some ingredients to look out for when heading to the grocery store’s bread aisle.
When bread is made simply with whole food ingredients like water, flour, yeast and salt, it’s pretty much a no brainer, but not everyone has access to a bakery or the time to make fresh bread. You can find bread in the grocery store made with minimal ingredients, but we know that it’s not always an option. In this article, we will share everything you need to know when it comes to vegan bread.
What Makes Bread Not Vegan?
The ingredients to look out for would be any animal products like milk, butter, whey, casein, gelatin, honey and eggs. You’ll need to know a few ingredients that are usually not vegan and aren’t common terms familiar to us. For example, mono and diglycerides can be sourced from animal fat, and lecithin can be sourced from eggs. These ingredients can also be sourced from a soybean plant but can’t be guaranteed without checking with the company or looking for additional ‘vegan’ labelling.
Breads That Are Usually Always Vegan
Sprouted or Ezekiel – These breads are sprouted from their grains, which come with loads of extra nutrients and protein.
Sourdough – Fermented with minimal ingredients, sourdough bread, provides our gut with healthy bacteria.
Ciabatta – This bread has a hard crust with a fluffy inside and it’s perfect for a vegan sandwich option.
Pita bread – Pita is made with minimal ingredients and most of the time is vegan. Be on the lookout for added milk ingredients.
Focaccia – Commonly served and baked flat in a pan with toppings and rich olive oil.
Rye – Very close to the texture of regular whole wheat bread but has a more pungent taste.
Vegan Bread Brands We Recommend
All of the breads listed below you can find in a grocery store. They are Plant You approved for taste too!
Dave’s Killer Bread
Silverhill Bakery
Northern Bakehouse
Food For Life
Thomas Bagels
What about yeast? Is it vegan?
Yes, yeast is vegan! Technically, it’s fungi and does not contribute to animal exploitation.
What about whole wheat vs white? Which is best?
Always opting for a whole grain option will be your best choice. Whole wheat bread is usually more nutrient-dense and less processed. White bread has commonly gone through a process to remove bran and germ, which strips the bread from many beneficial nutrients. In most cases, white bread will be fortified with added vitamins and minerals.
Should vegan’s eat gluten free bread?
Gluten free bread is specially for anyone that has a celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. If you don’t have either of these health consideration and are vegan, you can certainly enjoy traditional bread. Most of the time people can get confused and assume that eating gluten free makes them healthier. Some gluten free breads can be high in sugar, oil and have other highly processed ingredients just as some traditional store bought breads do as well. In conclusion it’s not necessarily an overall healthier option.
Make Your Own Bread
Try out my signature UGLY no yeast bread recipe, it’s delicious and so easy to do!
Looking to make your plant-based lifestyle easier?
If you’re new here or transitioning to a plant-based diet, joining the Plant Ahead Program is the way to go. If I had this program when I first started out on my journey, it would have been so helpful! I spent a lot of time feeling rundown initially, spending tons of time researching what to cook. And when I hit the grocery store my bill would skyrocket because of the fancy ingredients I was purchasing. It made it challenging to stick with.
I knew there had to be a different way.
Then I discovered batch cooking and focused on minimal whole food ingredients. My plant-based lifestyle transformed, and now I’ve developed a meal plan program to support people like you!
When you join Plant Ahead, you receive access to our past meal plan database and a new whole food plant-based meal plan every week, including 7 recipes to prep! I also provide all instructions, macro breakdowns and a schedule to keep you on track.
