Veganuary

Bex953172

In the UK its Veganuary. So going vegan for the month. I thought I'd try it out, its something I considered before but I've had a read about being vegan and thought I'd try it!
So far, so good. Like really good.

But obviously I'm very new to this..

I was just wondering about the calories?

They're so much lower. So I've just had a vegan bolognese, 143g of it was only 79 calories or something. Whereas when I used to make a meat based one this could be around 200 calories.

But I'm FULL. I'm struggling to hit 1200 calories but I feel like im eating so much food lol. So I don't know how to keep my calories high enough as I don't want to be undereating calorie wise.

I hope that makes sense!

Any ideas?

JessAndreia

How do you make your bolognese? Confused how it can only be 79 calories, or even 200...
What do your meals look like?

Bex953172

Well because I'm new to it I bought a frozen bolognese mix. It was literally throw it in the pan, heat it and it was a ready made bolognese and then you just had to do your own pasta.
But i had sweet potato fries with it I stead of pasts

I just meant the bolognese by itself was only around 79 calories. When you add the fries and that obviously it was more.

200 was a guess from memory, it might have been that including pasta rather than by itself.

I think my diary's open to look at

Bex953172

I just double checked to make sure I logged it correctly, and I have. It's actually 49 calories.
The bag I bought was 350g, 2 portions in the bag. So I had slightly less than half because I always plate up my partners meal first because I don't weigh his out. So he just ended up with a bit more.

JessAndreia

I can't see your diary.

I've been vegan for 7 years. I sometimes post in the "What we're eating" thread on the Food and Nutrition forum if you want a few ideas. It's definitely more than 1200 calories. Believe there are a couple more people who post vegan meals there, too.

Bex953172

JessAndreia wrote: »

I can't see your diary.

I've been vegan for 7 years. I sometimes post in the "What we're eating" thread on the Food and Nutrition forum if you want a few ideas. It's definitely more than 1200 calories. Believe there are a couple more people who post vegan meals there, too.

Sorry I just made it public now, thought it already was.
I guess maybe the portions I make myself are small? I just get full pretty quick.
I'll definitely have a look at that thread, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

How have you found being vegan for 7 years? I'd like to think this is something I can continue

janejellyroll

Often when people have trouble meeting their calorie goal on a vegan diet, it's because they've cut out a lot of fat. In those cases, things like coconut, avocado, and nuts are great and they tend to go down pretty easy for people who are feeling full. Another issue could be fiber -- if you've suddenly ramped up your fiber (like some people do when they go vegan if they're eating more whole grains, legumes, fruit, and vegetables), reduce it a bit and it may help you feel more hungry.

I've been vegan for about thirteen years and get about 2,000 calories a day to maintain my weight, so I know it can be done!

JessAndreia

I was just looking at your diary for today. I'm assuming it's not fully completed, but yes portions so far look small.
Looks like your breakfast was only a pear. What about something like smoothies, toast or bagel with peanut butter, oatmeal (if you like it, I don't) with whatever you like for toppings, tofu breakfast wraps or tofu scramble on toast with maybe some avocado added for extra calories (plenty of recipes for that online). Do you like beans? They're very helpful on a vegan diet.

After a while, it just becomes normal. I will say, I'm not a picky eater, so I think that helps. My reason to be vegan is ethics, so I think having a reason like that makes it easier for me since the way I feel about eating a pig, cow or chicken is the way I feel about eating a dog or cat (completely aware that sounds crazy for some people).

Bex953172

janejellyroll wrote: »

Often when people have trouble meeting their calorie goal on a vegan diet, it's because they've cut out a lot of fat. In those cases, things like coconut, avocado, and nuts are great and they tend to go down pretty easy for people who are feeling full. Another issue could be fiber -- if you've suddenly ramped up your fiber (like some people do when they go vegan if they're eating more whole grains, legumes, fruit, and vegetables), reduce it a bit and it may help you feel more hungry.

I've been vegan for about thirteen years and get about 2,000 calories a day to maintain my weight, so I know it can be done!

Thanks for this, I just did my first vegan shop. I've never tried anything vegan before so I went for easy stuff to make to start me off. I'm sure when I get into the swing of it I'll find a lot more I can make. I'm not the best at cooking lol
I also have 3 kids,. I've not switched them to vegan, only a couple of things like the butter, cheese and I think we tried them on vegan chicken nuggets but everything else they can eat. I feel like that's a choice they should make themselves when they're older. But obviously I have to fit all that into my food budget still!

I'll definitely look at getting some nuts and I love avocados! Can't believe I didn't think of that lol

Bex953172

JessAndreia wrote: »

I was just looking at your diary for today. I'm assuming it's not fully completed, but yes portions so far look small.
Looks like your breakfast was only a pear. What about something like smoothies, toast or bagel with peanut butter, oatmeal (if you like it, I don't) with whatever you like for toppings, tofu breakfast wraps or tofu scramble on toast with maybe some avocado added for extra calories (plenty of recipes for that online). Do you like beans? They're very helpful on a vegan diet.

After a while, it just becomes normal. I will say, I'm not a picky eater, so I think that helps. My reason to be vegan is ethics, so I think having a reason like that makes it easier for me since the way I feel about eating a pig, cow or chicken is the way I feel about eating a dog or cat (completely aware that sounds crazy for some people).

Yeah breakfast was pretty small. I'm not much of a breakfast eater. A few months ago I was stress-starving (rather than stress-eating - not anything to do with eating disorders) so I'm guess I haven't got my portions up to size yet either. Probably another reason I get full quick because for about 8 weeks I ate very very little. But now I'm not stressed I just started eating as quickly as I stopped but I definitely can't eat as much as I used to.

JessAndreia

Well, whatever I suggested for breakfast can be eaten for an evening "snack" or whenever. Fats, grains, higher calorie legumes, and mock meats are your friends in trying to make higher calorie meals (of course portion still needs to be a decent size). Include your veggies and fruit too, but don't make them a central portion of your meals since they're very low calorie and you already struggle with eating much. Rice cake... probably not a great idea for a snack for someone who struggles with eating for the same reason - high volume for low calories.

Redordeadhead

Bex953172 wrote: »

I just double checked to make sure I logged it correctly, and I have. It's actually 49 calories.
The bag I bought was 350g, 2 portions in the bag. So I had slightly less than half because I always plate up my partners meal first because I don't weigh his out. So he just ended up with a bit more.

Is it this one? https://www.birdseye.co.uk/range/meat-free-mealtimes/green-cuisine/meat-free-bolognese-mix#undefined

If I'm reading it right, on their site it says 2 servings in a packet and one serving (175g) is 121 calories.

Bex953172

Redordeadhead wrote: »

Bex953172 wrote: »

I just double checked to make sure I logged it correctly, and I have. It's actually 49 calories.
The bag I bought was 350g, 2 portions in the bag. So I had slightly less than half because I always plate up my partners meal first because I don't weigh his out. So he just ended up with a bit more.

Is it this one? https://www.birdseye.co.uk/range/meat-free-mealtimes/green-cuisine/meat-free-bolognese-mix#undefined

If I'm reading it right, on their site it says 2 servings in a packet and one serving (175g) is 121 calories.

Yeah that is the one! And you're right, I'm seriously confused because I scanned the packet using the barcode. I didn't even think to check the packet. Maybe I just got a dodgy one that someones inputted.

Right well that solves that then. I just look like a right idiot now lol!

Redordeadhead

No need to feel like an idiot, we have all been there! That's why many of us know what to look for ;-)

Scanning the packaging is essentially the same as typing into the search box- it is still worth checking that the result it brings up is accurate and matches the calories on the label. Weighing your portion is also very helpful as the weight on the packaging can legally be off by up to 20% in some countries. In my experience, if you're getting a calorie count so low it seems too good to be true, it probably is.