Veganism

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

Hey all,

I have tried to be a vegan in the past but failed after a week because I couldn't live without my babybell cheese wheels (so fun to eat!) and yogurt, I'm good eating meat alternatives, but I am also a sushi lover, I mean I have watched the documentary "Vegucated" which totally opened my eyes to this world and I cried throughout all the footage of the innocent animals being slaughtered. I guess what I am asking or rather, how can you go to family parties, go out to eat, or even bake/cook and not feel like you are depriving yourself or spending a bundle of money on vegan food? I'd love nothing more than to give this a try again but I am just worried that I won't be able to a) afford it and b) be able to cook and bake all that hoopla, I'm not a huge cooker and baker because I live on a busy schedule, I'm a full time student and work!

What is your input or advice?

Thanks!

stevencloser

My advice is, if you don't have huge ethical reasons for not eating any animals and/or products made by animals, or medical reasons, you really don't have to eat vegan. If you're sorry for the poor animals, google for meat and dairy companies that treat their animals well, go to a local farmer's market if you have something like that. Not every company is evil and treating animals like crap.

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

That's true! I just feel that it is a good way to eat and what not, I just want to prepare myself you know?

ironanimal

That's true! I just feel that it is a good way to eat and what not, I just want to prepare myself you know?

It's not especially. Vegetarian diets have been shown to be better for overall health.

JessieNeutronGirlGenius

Good in terms of moral reasons

kathleennf

That's true! I just feel that it is a good way to eat and what not, I just want to prepare myself you know?

It's not especially. Vegetarian diets have been shown to be better for overall health.

MMMMMKay. Well this is only partly true. Vegetarian (and even more so Vegan) diets have been shown, in good studies, to be superior to the average American diet - ie what most people eat. I have never seen any good data comparing vegetarian or vegan diets to other types of "healthy" or "clean" eating. If anyone has, please post! I suspect that most or all of the benefit is due to weight control, avoidance of too much saturated fat, etc etc.

stevencloser

If you want animals in general to be treated better, you should buy from good companies and boycott the bad ones. Cause market shares and stuff.

skywa

I think a vegan diet, rich in plant foods, is the healthiest diet someone can be on. It's about the animals too of course. I don't care if your buying 'free range', 'air chilled', or 'organic' animal products. They were raised on a factory farm, and they all get slaughtered the same way.

Maybe transitioning to a "pescatarian" diet would be a good starting point for you?

I find that giving up meat and dairy is less about 'replacement' which other fake alternatives, and more about just eating till your full of other foods. You can't 'crave' something when your full. At least in my experience.

Wenchiness

Vegans get no bacon. Argument over.

Kita328

No one is perfect. I believe you could do your best and eat the most veggies you can- try not to eat animal products, but dont beat yourself up if you make a mistake. Its super hard and I have found a bunch of things that seem like they would be Ok to eat- then they aren't.

I believe anything in life worth it- takes time and hard work.

I have had a hard time because I keep eating what is around or because someone offers something. I have to learn not to worry about offending someone. Just a simple no, but thank you for offering is enough.

Good luck

ironanimal

That's true! I just feel that it is a good way to eat and what not, I just want to prepare myself you know?

It's not especially. Vegetarian diets have been shown to be better for overall health.

MMMMMKay. Well this is only partly true. Vegetarian (and even more so Vegan) diets have been shown, in good studies, to be superior to the average American diet - ie what most people eat. I have never seen any good data comparing vegetarian or vegan diets to other types of "healthy" or "clean" eating. If anyone has, please post! I suspect that most or all of the benefit is due to weight control, avoidance of too much saturated fat, etc etc.

I can't find the study at the moment - I am looking and I'm 90% sure I didn't dream it.

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=814540 < this study concludes that a vegetarian diet is comparable on most health markers to non-vegetarian, assuming non-veg is eating 'comparably'; direct quote from the abstract:

Overall, the data suggest that the health of Western vegetarians is good and similar to that of comparable non-vegetarians.

But, as the OP is more concerned with ethics than anything else, this point is rather moot for the purpose of this discussion anyway.

zillah73

Family parties... my family is very supportive and understanding of my choices. When I visit my mom, she'll actually take me grocery shopping with her as she's preparing for meals so I can pick out things I like. She is pretty open minded so she'll try my vegan goodies for lunches and breakfasts. My meat-and-potatoes dad, not so much, so I will usually fix my own version of whatever they are eating for dinner.

Restaurants... I choose vegan-friendly restaurants. If friends pick the restaurant, I will call ahead and see if they can make something off-menu. I have never once been told no. Some of the best vegan meals I have had have been in non-vegan restaurants when the chef prepared something special for me.

Shopping... I find it is all about planning. If I go to the store knowing what I want, what I am making to eat that week, it doesn't cost me a lot. I actually think my grocery bills are much lower now. A serving of beans from the bulk bin is far, far cheaper than a package of meat.

Baking... Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. 'Nuff said. Also Pinterest is a goldmind of vegan baking recipes.

I really don't find this lifestyle challenging. I think when you are truly passionate about something you are generally pretty happy to do whatever needs to be done to pursue it. I am passionate about animals and it is a delight for me to shop and cook vegan meals. I enjoy cooking for others and introducing them to tasty, cruelty-free treats. It may sound silly, but it brings me joy to look down at my plate – my decision comes from a place of love and compassion and it feels really good to "walk the walk." I think, perhaps, it takes time for your palette to adjust to a new way of eating just as it would take time to transition from eating processed foods to whole foods, fatty foods to healthful ones. But you get there and it becomes what you prefer and what you crave. I used to eat bacon and cheese and more bacon and more cheese... now the smell of either turns my stomach. Then again, there are some amazing recipes for homemade cashew cheese out there and they are simple to make.

Hope that helps!

kathleennf

@ironanimal- thanks for the link! "Comparable" (as opposed to a lot better) is also kind of what I remember but I am no expert on this topic. I have a cousin who is a nurse and a vegan (I am a doctor and a non-vegan fairly health eater) - and we have had this conversation as well. I think the data will come out later and will be interesting.

I'm an animal lover too and have often commented to people that I would for sure be a vegetarian were it not for supermarkets!! The good thing is that I live in Nicaragua, where all beef is grass fed, all chickens are free range (in and out of people's houses usually), and all pigs live in the front yard.
Seriously. Except for the little piggies, who get to come in the house. Ethical issues are a LOT worse up there where most of y'all live.

vegan4lyfe2012

Family parties... my family is very supportive and understanding of my choices. When I visit my mom, she'll actually take me grocery shopping with her as she's preparing for meals so I can pick out things I like. She is pretty open minded so she'll try my vegan goodies for lunches and breakfasts. My meat-and-potatoes dad, not so much, so I will usually fix my own version of whatever they are eating for dinner.

Restaurants... I choose vegan-friendly restaurants. If friends pick the restaurant, I will call ahead and see if they can make something off-menu. I have never once been told no. Some of the best vegan meals I have had have been in non-vegan restaurants when the chef prepared something special for me.

Shopping... I find it is all about planning. If I go to the store knowing what I want, what I am making to eat that week, it doesn't cost me a lot. I actually think my grocery bills are much lower now. A serving of beans from the bulk bin is far, far cheaper than a package of meat.

Baking... Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. 'Nuff said. Also Pinterest is a goldmind of vegan baking recipes.

I really don't find this lifestyle challenging. I think when you are truly passionate about something you are generally pretty happy to do whatever needs to be done to pursue it. I am passionate about animals and it is a delight for me to shop and cook vegan meals. I enjoy cooking for others and introducing them to tasty, cruelty-free treats. It may sound silly, but it brings me joy to look down at my plate – my decision comes from a place of love and compassion and it feels really good to "walk the walk." I think, perhaps, it takes time for your palette to adjust to a new way of eating just as it would take time to transition from eating processed foods to whole foods, fatty foods to healthful ones. But you get there and it becomes what you prefer and what you crave. I used to eat bacon and cheese and more bacon and more cheese... now the smell of either turns my stomach. Then again, there are some amazing recipes for homemade cashew cheese out there and they are simple to make.

Hope that helps!

I agree 100% with this If you choose something because you WANT to do it, you'll be successful. If you choose something because you THINK it's what you should do, well...it's just not going to happen.

Carnivor0us

@ironanimal- thanks for the link! "Comparable" (as opposed to a lot better) is also kind of what I remember but I am no expert on this topic. I have a cousin who is a nurse and a vegan (I am a doctor and a non-vegan fairly health eater) - and we have had this conversation as well. I think the data will come out later and will be interesting.

I'm an animal lover too and have often commented to people that I would for sure be a vegetarian were it not for supermarkets!! The good thing is that I live in Nicaragua, where all beef is grass fed, all chickens are free range (in and out of people's houses usually), and all pigs live in the front yard.
Seriously. Except for the little piggies, who get to come in the house. Ethical issues are a LOT worse up there where most of y'all live.

No, ethical people are alive and well up here, it just that our food system is so incredibly industrialized because there is no way food production can meet demand by farming Nicaraguan-style.

Whambam087

I think the only valid reason to go vegan is for ethical reasons. It's not any healthier than an omnivore diet. Every time I tried to go vegan I always felt awful even though I was doing everything right and gave it time.

sheltony

Hmmm....lots of ways to look at a plantstrong diet. I have a medical reason for choosing a plantstrong lifestyle. I had 3 vertebra in my neck fused, which didn't fix ongoing disc issues causing the exiting nerves (down both arms) to get pinched. It only takes a small amount of swelling of thesurrounding tissues to cause symptoms. I chose to try a vegan diet to see if it really cut down on swelling/ inflammation. I realized within a few weeks that I was feeling SO much more alive and full of energy that I didn't want to go back to my prior eating habits. I grow veggies in an organic garden, which makes it a lot easier! After the first year, I began to notice less severe symptoms. As I continued to refine my diet across the last 2 years, taking out more sugar products, I:flowerforyou: saw huge changes. Now if my neck hurts, it goes away quickly and doesn't increase in intensity or start the nerve pain down my arms. No numbness! I can do more physically and am able to garden with the best of them (including digging up new plots, spreading dirt and compost by the wheelbarrow full, and generally surprising myself at this age! I think that qualifies as a different reason (beside ethics) for choosing a plantstrong life!

ausheli

Why does nobody think of the millions of defenceless vegetables being slaughtered everyday??? Lol jk, we have switched to ethical meat suppliers I feel less guilty and the meat is extra tasty, harder to get but worth the effort, we have even visited some farms to see the ethical raising and treatment of livestock, most farmers who adhere to this method are usually more than welcoming to give you a tour of their farm

Mangopickle

Shoot your own meat then there is no ethical issue. You can grant an animal a quick and merciful death and use it for your nourishment. All deer die, all deer die horribly. Eaten alive by predators, freeze or starve to death. The kindest death is from the bullet of a well trained hunter.

stronghealthywoman

I think that being a vegan should be more then just ethical reasons, but health reasons too.

Watch Forks over knives

OverDoIt

I love animals, they are delicious. Especially baby seals.

RayleciaNicolette

Transitioning helped me, pescetarian to vegetarian and then to vegan. You'll learn what to avoid and how to control yourself is those types of situations you question now. There's a lot of places that are vegan friendly, get to know your area and what reataurants are vegan friendly, since you're always on the go it'll be easier to avoid animal products but you have to educate yourself first before just jumping into it. Being vegan isn't just a diet, it's also a lifestyle, anything from material things to your food is completely animal free. Being vegan isn't expensive either, organic is expensive… so like i said just educate yourself first, the transition will be like first nature.

tennisdude2004

That's true! I just feel that it is a good way to eat and what not, I just want to prepare myself you know?

It's not especially. Vegetarian diets have been shown to be better for overall health.

MMMMMKay. Well this is only partly true. Vegetarian (and even more so Vegan) diets have been shown, in good studies, to be superior to the average American diet - ie what most people eat. I have never seen any good data comparing vegetarian or vegan diets to other types of "healthy" or "clean" eating. If anyone has, please post! I suspect that most or all of the benefit is due to weight control, avoidance of too much saturated fat, etc etc.

What's wrong with saturated fat?

angelicatoo

Hi, I went Vegan after watching a series of those films too, but I found it hard, using this app to diet and get enough protein (I was trying to be low carb for a while) so I went vegetarian instead. So I eat only happy eggs and like you love mini babybel light, but really thats all. Occassionally I try some fish but I really dont like meat, fish or cheddar any more. I think Vegan is cheaper that being a meat eater. I have had to learn to cook but am enjoying my food so much more now. Also there are a lot of tasty 'Raw' recipes out there. I collect lots of info and recipes on Pinterest. As for saturated fat, the latest thinking is that it is not bad for you and infact you need some., Most of our brain is made of fat and cholesterol. If you are vegan you can use Coconut Oil which is also said to aid weight loss.

OllyReeves

Well maybe just do your research into supply chains for things you want to continue to eat, and just be careful that you are happy with the morals and ethics of those companies that you buy from.....That's what I would do....

excusesgonowhere

I have also just recently made the decision to become a vegan for both ethical and health reasons. I'm also a full time student with a busy work schedule and I found one of the things that was a huge help to me was the salad in a jar recipes. The link below explains how to do it, but basically if you prepare a salad in a mason jar, it can stay fresh for five days. I prepare all my lunches for the week on a Sunday and it takes so little time. I just have to chop things up and throw them in the jar. Sometimes I roast pumpkin and put that in my salads. I also sprinkle nuts and seeds in them to boost my protein content. You can also do this for rolled oats and make up combinations like oats, chia seeds, almond milk, mixed berries.

http://selfavenue.com/saladinajar-for-beginners/


As far as time and cooking goes, I devoted one of my days off for scouring recipe sites on quick easy vegan recipes to cook/make and listed them all in a spreadsheet. I have lots of go to recipes that are really quick and easy, it was just to begin with it took a lot of planning as I had to educate myself on time factors etc, etc.

Vegans predominately tend to eat a lot of foods that aren't packaged, or if they are packaged they are the type of foods that require some sort of preparation. Where as when you aren't vegan, there are lot more foods to choose from that don't require preparation, you just open them and eat. So I think been a vegan will always mean spending a bit more time on meal planning but for me personally I don't find this a chore and to be honest, it really doesn't take that much time anymore. When I was a new vegan and starting from scratch it did, but now my cupboards are stocked, I have my go to recipes and I use the jar idea, I don't find living this way is a massive time drain.

At family situations / social situations, I generally always take something with me as back-up just in case the host isnt' able to accommodate for me. Normally we speak beforehand though and people over to make special salads, grilled vegetable dishes, rices, stir fry's - there's heaps of options and I find they hobby cooks quite enjoy cooking something a little bit different to what they normally prepare. Because we have spoken before hand I always offer to bring something for myself as well and/or help with whatever they are preparing for me.

I think it what it comes down too is preparation. I found in the early days spending three/four hours on a Sunday to plan, prepare made the rest of the week just flow and I didn' t have to worry about anything. But now I don't need to spend that long preparing it just comes naturally.

Hope this helps.

CardiacLioness

I work full-time and go to school full-time, I also volunteer every week, take care of my working dog (who needs at least 2 hours of exercise a day) and also ride my horse. I am a vegan. I also spend no more than $40/month on food. Being vegan is NOT an expense to either your time or your money. If you truly do care (or have enough logic and sense to see the reasons to) then it will be easy.

I don't miss cheese/bacon/etc. because I know, if I desired, I could get the dairy/meat free version of it.
Also I find my tastebud's desires to be irrelevant to the environmental & ethical impact that the exploitations of animals have.

My family is not supportive but I am literally the only family member who does not have diabetes, gout, or cancer.
As for social situations, I just tend to not eat, or find something vegan if I DO feel hungry enough. Again, I care more about sentient beings (the Earth included) than my tastebuds.

neanderthin

I work full-time and go to school full-time, I also volunteer every week, take care of my working dog (who needs at least 2 hours of exercise a day) and also ride my horse. I am a vegan. I also spend no more than $40/month on food. Being vegan is NOT an expense to either your time or your money. If you truly do care (or have enough logic and sense to see the reasons to) then it will be easy.

I don't miss cheese/bacon/etc. because I know, if I desired, I could get the dairy/meat free version of it.
Also I find my tastebud's desires to be irrelevant to the environmental & ethical impact that the exploitations of animals have.

My family is not supportive but I am literally the only family member who does not have diabetes, gout, or cancer.
As for social situations, I just tend to not eat, or find something vegan if I DO feel hungry enough. Again, I care more about sentient beings (the Earth included) than my tastebuds.

That's awful.......Wouldn't know what do do if all my family had diabetes, gout and cancer...........incredible really. Not to mention the 40.00 a month..........that's also incredible.......just incredible.

3laine75

I think a vegan diet, rich in plant foods, is the healthiest diet someone can be on. It's about the animals too of course. I don't care if your buying 'free range', 'air chilled', or 'organic' animal products. They were raised on a factory farm, and they all get slaughtered the same way.

Maybe transitioning to a "pescatarian" diet would be a good starting point for you?

I find that giving up meat and dairy is less about 'replacement' which other fake alternatives, and more about just eating till your full of other foods. You can't 'crave' something when your full. At least in my experience.

Poor fish

thatpixichick

Not sure whereabouts you're from, but in the U.K. most stores do dairy free versions of yoghurts (gotta bare in mind it isn't just vegans who don't eat dairy, there's plenty of lactose intolerant folks out there so there are plenty of options in most places!). I like the Tesco Free From range of yoghurt, they do a really nice posh lemony one which is absolutely lush, and just normal yoghurts in cool flavours like raspberry & passion fruit. They do taste different to "normal" yoghurt but not bad different. Very nice! Almond soy milk is lush for substituting milk, especially on cereal or in coffee. I use coconut milk instead of cream in things like curry and pasta sauces, and it's also gorgeous whipped!

Vegan food doesn't have to be expensive nor boring, pasta, rice, rice noodles, potatoes, carrots, lentils, the massive variety of beans, chickpeas, are all yum, filling, cheap, and vegan!

Have a look at my Pinterest board for tons of vegan food ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/xxpixi/vegan-recipes-yummy-food-ideas/

I also have a board that lists vegan "junk food"

Meals out can be awkward. For example last night I went for dinner with my partner, his boss, and his bosses wife. The only thing on the menu was a vegetarian lasagne, which is obviously ladened with cheese. Not wanting to make a fuss, I simply ordered it and ate the veg inside the lasagne which only had the tomato sauce on it, the chips, and the veg on the side. If food is presented to you that isn't vegan, simply pick around it as best you can or pile your plate with veg. It's quite a difficult situation when the food is already made and put in front of you because the alternative is for it to be put in the bin. What's worse, for an animal to suffer but for your body to benefit from it, or for them to suffer and it be wasted? A tricky scenario for an ethical vegan and something you must decide on yourself when the situation arises.

All you can do is your best, you won't get kicked out of vegan club if you eat something that touched some cheese or cream and as long as you're cutting out as much as possible that's all anyone could possibly ask of you! :flowerforyou:

RoseGoldDinosaur

I am not vegan anymore, but was for 3 years and definitely feel that there are benefits to the lifestyle (I still buy vegan beauty products- they're the best!) No one can tell you what diet works best for your body so if people are trying, ignore them and find out for yourself what works for you.

Here are my beginners steps to being vegan:

The first thing you're going to need is a cookbook called "Vegan on the Cheap". Also you'll need basic cookware and tupperware. Cooking at home, packing lunch, and carrying snacks is the BEST way to eat affordably and not be tempted by non-vegan convenience food. Find what you like, and load up! Love kale chips? Put them in your purse so that you don't feel deprived when someone busts out group nachos as a snack. The goal is to feel as normal as possible while being true to your self.

The second thing you'll need is support and motivation. Being vegan is hard when everyone else is drinking non-vegan beer and eating chicken wings! You need to focus on and remember why you're choosing not to partake. Follow vegan blogs- Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Life" is a good one, also "A life less bullsh!t" from a vegan runner, "Nutritionfacts.org" is a great video blogger with study-based info on eating plant foods, "VegNews" is also great from VegNews magazine. Subscribe to VegNews magazine! Buy or check out at your library books from all the vegan greats. "Skinny *****" is a sassy classic, "The Kind Diet" was a good read with great recipes, "Diet for a new America" is a classic, and "Eating Animals" was a wonderfully thoughtful piece. Start following vegan role models on social media: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Alicia Silverstone's, Kris Carr, Ellen Degeneres... Soon you'll have created a world where you're constantly surrounded by vegans and vegan news and activism. You won't feel like such an oddball because in your world, lots of people are vegan (and hey they really are- Bill Clinton? Brad Pitt? Usher? Yep yep yep!)

Hope this helps and good luck on your journey!