Any other Vegan/Vegetarians out there?

KenzienST2

Hello MFP community! I'm new to this website...discovered it last night but am loving what I have found so far. I'm hoping to stick to this by tracking my food, exercise, and weight regularly, and using the community support to help!

I am a vegetarian (approximately 10 years now) and have been trying to transition to a vegan diet recently. Although traveling can make eating vegan difficult and I'm working on cutting dairy completely out. I was curious if there were any other vegetarian/vegans out there that had some good ideas/tips.

I need a new breakfast routine because I think I'm consuming way too many calories to start off the day. I usually have a cup of soy yogurt w/ a whole wheat bagel (with either apple butter or soy cream cheese) or a bowl of cereal w/ soy milk. I know I need to cut out the soy cream cheese haha! With winter coming, I might try oatmeal for breakfast. I usually need to do something somewhat easy/quick and don't have a lot of time to "cook" in the mornings before work! Any good breakfast ideas out there?? Any easy lunch suggestions would be appreciated too! Thanks everyone!

DancingDreamer

there are tons of us out here! welcome to MFP. i am personally a vegetarian since the day i was born (well i guess technically before that too since my mom is a vegetarian).

have you tried Silk Light soy milk? it has WAY less calories than the regular stuff and tastes just as good!

amelia_atlantic

Hello! Welcome!

I'm a vegetarian but try as I might, the vegan lifestyle just won't work for me! My breakfasts usually consist of tons of oatmeal, greek yogurt, eggs, toast and COFFEE!

IMO, getting a lot of calories for breakfast isn't a bad thing, it sets you up for your day with energy and keeps you full until lunch. I would try to stay within the 300-450 mark for breakfast.

Here's a great article from apartmentherapy.com about 10 vegan breakfast ideas. It doesn't list calorie content but it's a good start!
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/veganism/10-vegan-breakfast-ideas-113446

beethedreamer

I've just started my vegetarian lifestyle (2 weeks) and I find that breakfast is usually the hardest meal to get ideas for, especially ones that are low calorie. oatmeal is great because it has protein and fiber so it makes you feel full longer, just watch the add-in, calories add up fast :P if you like tofu, tofu scrambles are a good idea and you can put veggies in it to bulk it up without adding too many calories. when I'm in a hurry in the morning, I usually have a piece of wheat toast with a little almond butter on it. both the bread and the nut butter have protein which is super important when finding something that keeps you full.

I'm still learning about the vegetarian lifestyle and I'd love to add you as a friend

modernfemme

vegetarian here too!! Please feel welcome to friend me.

mizfit

Hello and welcome to MFP!!

I've been a vegetarian for a few months now and enjoying it.
Usually I have cooked cereal in the morning such as slow cooked oatmeal, kamut flakes, brown rice cereal or steel cut oats which I cook in water and almond or brown rice milk(I don't like soy). I like to add cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg for flavour as well as molasses because it has high iron content and a scoop of plain protein powder.
If I'm in a hurry I will have a smoothie which consist of Vega Protein Powder, almond or brown rice milk, 1/2 frozen banana(which helps to thicken the smoothie) and frozen berries.
There's a great site called fatfreevegan.com which has a lot of recipes including ones for breakfast meals.
Good luck.

muhshelrambow

i am a vegan, too! i usually eat whole grain oatmeal and add wheat germ to it for a breakfast total of about 150 calories.. or i will have fiber one cereal with half a cup of light organic soy milk for a total of about 100 calories for breakfast. you could also get some whole wheat flour and make pancakes and get some of the morning star sausage or bacon

catrinpersephone

Oh I'm a vegetarian (new!) and I like Quaker Oats Porridge, Golden Syrup flavoured with soy milk

Heather60

Oooh, thanks for the link Amelia_Atlantic! The Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe looks great. I've been meaning to add quinoa to a breakfast routine, this is just the ticket!

Depplover28

I've been a vegetarian for over three years now. Kudos to you for going vegan! I've always thought vegans have so much willpower. I would have such a hard time giving up dairy products like cheese and ice cream...For breakfast I usually just have a granola bar. I guess it's not a great breakfast, but it's the only thing I can eat in my dorm while I'm getting ready for class. For lunch you could try a whole grain wrap with a ton of veggies! Those are my favorite :]

KenzienST2

Thanks everyone for all of the GREAT ideas and suggestions!! I really appreciate the feedback and hearing from other veggies!! I'm jotting down those breakfast ideas and the website now! Again, THANK YOU! If anyone would like, feel free to "friend" me and we can swap recipes/ideas when we have the time!

I usually get into a routine and eat the same ol thing for breakfast every day (something quick and somewhat filling) but it gets boring! But good point about calorie count in the morning holding you over til lunch and getting you started for the day. I

'm trying really hard to eat a completely vegan diet, but sometimes I don't have the willpower to resist the cheese (although I regret it later b/c it doesn't like me haha)! The other major obstacle is traveling/eating with friends/family...the poor folks are always excited to have a veggie pizza to offer me because "look it's vegetarian, NO meat!" Bless their hearts, they've been so great always making sure I have something vegetarian to eat, it's hard to have the heart to tell them, sorry I don't eat pizza now either haha! I've done a lot of reading recently though about today's food production and just health/food in general, and some of that information definitely is motivating to go vegan!

Thanks SO much again everyone, we should keep a vegetarian/vegan post going on MFP! I'm definitely loving the MFP community so far!!

Sparklewolfie

Ah I feel like I'm cheating because I am a pescatarian, but my grandma doesn't care for seafood so really I've been eating mostly vegetarian And I prefer soy milk over regular milk

I have the same problem with huge breakfast calories Oatmeal seems to pack quite a punch! I do second the suggestion for tofu scramble. You can make it for pretty much any meal depending on what you scramble it with!

Niveous

I've been a vegetarian since my young teens (26 now), but only a newly transitioned vegan (within the last year). It was a difficult transition for me, to be honest, but it's getting easier as I diversify my recipes.

Unfortunately most of my breakfast ideas aren't very quick and usually require a decent amount of cooking time - so I'm not sure how helpful my suggestions will be! :P I love to cook, so I'll usually get up early enough to have a hot breakfast.

I love tofu scrambles with lots of veggies, french toast (with soy milk & apple butter), whole wheat pancakes with fruit, breakfast burritos (tofu, veggies, hot sauce), crepes with nondairy cream cheese. If I want to make something quick, I'll usually have oatmeal, granola, cereal, or a protein shake.

ctlynn

"so Delicious" Coconut milk is only 50 calories a cup. It's the kind in the shelf-stable pack, not the tin.

ctlynn

There is a new vegan cookbook out that should really inspire you. "Appetite for Reduction" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz.
If you don't want to buy it right off, please check your local library to see if they have it or ask them to order it for you.

http://www.theppk.com/books/appetite-for-reduction/

melcee

quick vitamin shakes throw in a banana, blend and you're good to go I can name a one if you'd like

wendimlee

I've been a vegan for almost nine months now. I have oatmeal a lot for breakfast, but I also make tofu scrambles on the weekends (there's a good recipe for this in Isa Chandra Moskowitz's "Vegan Brunch"). I try to bring leftovers for lunch but in a pinch I eat Asmar's Veg Tuna Salad or their Chicken Salad. It's only 105 calories per serving, which is nice. Glad to see that there are vegans on this website!

TheMaidOfAstolat

Tons of us! Welcome! Vegetarian my entire life...vegan for five years...progressing back into it. Yay!

miucifer

I make smoothies in the morning, when I have time, using a little bit of orange juice, frozen fruit and a little bit of coconut milk (so delicious brand). By a little, I mean, 1/3 cup. I use 2/3 cup of fruit. Its under 100 calories and satisfies my sweet tooth without being awful for me. Fresh fruit works too, but frozen lasts much longer, and its always on hand.
Vegan Yum Yum is a good blog, although it hasn't been updated in about a year. She put out a cookbook too. Otherwise, I use Supermarket Vegan. The recipes are really easy and really delicious.

laurynbennardo

Dude I am totally in the same boat here. I have been a vegetarian for 5 or 6 years and now I am starting to transition to veganism. I dont know terribly much about being one, I guess you could call me a baby vegan lol. I could deff use the support and advice from fellow vegans!

MsSaturday

I have been a vegetarian for 15 years and I am new to this site.
In response to your breakfast q. I like a whole wheat english muffin with a poached egg. I know its not vegan but thats what I eat when i have it. lol. When Iived in a bigger city I was able to find a vegan product called ener-g egg I believe and it was a great egg substitute, you can also do a tofu scramble for the eggs
feel free to add me as a friend : )

tarazena

I have been a vegetarian for 20 years now...and I love it!
I personally don't have alot of time in the morning for breakfast so I set things up at night or the weekend.
An idea I do- I cook a good amount of quinoa.
Then in the morning, take what you need (like 1/2 cup cooked) then I might add a few walnuts, a couple raisins, couple dashes of cinnamon or even 1/2 of a chopped apple. You can add a bit of almond or soy milk and nuke it warm. IT is so good..and the raisins are your sugar (don't put in too many either). Quinoa is an amazing food- complete protein etc. I also do this with oatmeal and add apple and cinnamon (the apple is the sweetness).
Other times I drink a morning shake which is almond milk, frozen sliced strawberries or blueberries, 1/2 banana only (don' t have alot of sugar in the morning)..sometimes I add protein powder and sometimes I add flax seed oil..whir it up..and easy to go!
Good luck!

danniwhit

I have been a vegetarian for about 2 years, and have recently went mostly vegan. My husband and I are trying to do full vegan but its a little bit of a transition for us...
For breakfast we have been having green smoothies. We mix leafy greens (about 2-3cups) with water (2-3cups) and berries/fruit(1 apple, 1c berries, 1/2-1c pears, etc. My husband is allergic to banana but I use them in mine sometimes) and we add in flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, sometimes silken tofu and usually some almond milk.
Some other things I made are oatmeal, pita w/ natural nut butters, whole wheat english muffins, multi grain cheerios. We blend our smoothie the night before and in the morning just give it a quick blend before pouring it into cups. We have hard plastic reusable cups (like what a starbucks cold coffee comes in, only harder plastic) so we can just pour the smoothie into cups and take them with us.
I am always looking for more people who are vegetarian/vegan so I might add some people from this thread, and anyone please feel free to add me!

wish2bsmall

I'm newly vegan like some of you in this thread, and it's been taking a lot of dedication to stick with it. I was a happy vegetarian for a little while at 16 (about 2 years or so), but stopped when I turned anemic. now at 20, I'm taking the leap from omnivore to vegan and hoping for the best. I've always liked tofu and quinoa, which I've taken as a sign that I was meant to be a veghead. =] Next stop, seitan :happy: I'm pretty new to the forum and looking for friends, so you may add me if you like!

efahey

I've been a vegetarian for over three years now. Kudos to you for going vegan! I've always thought vegans have so much willpower. I would have such a hard time giving up dairy products like cheese and ice cream...For breakfast I usually just have a granola bar. I guess it's not a great breakfast, but it's the only thing I can eat in my dorm while I'm getting ready for class. For lunch you could try a whole grain wrap with a ton of veggies! Those are my favorite :]

sounds like me... i am just too attached to my dairy products to give them up! i usually have yogurt with benefibre and granola in the mornings... keeps me full til lunch no problem!

green83eyes

Hey! I'm a veggie too! My favorite quick breakfast is a fruit/yogurt/protein powder smoothie. It takes about 5 minutes to make and leaves me satisfied through my morning workout and well into the first couple of hours at work. I find adding a vanilla protein powder to the fruit and yogurt smoothie keeps me full longer. I also love oat bran in the morning sweetend with Agave Nectar. However, that takes a little longer than the smoothie. The smoothie has become a staple for me and is only around 200 calories.

Trishkit

Hey there! I've been vegan for a little over a year, now (started Jan. 3, 2010) and absolutely love it. My favorite breakfast is oatmeal made with steel cut oats, from the FatFree Vegan blog. I like to cook up a batch the night before, so all I have to do is reheat it in the morning. As far as pizzas go, my in-laws like to order Papa Murphy's, so I always have them get a veggie-covered pizza with no cheese for me (the dough is vegan), and I doctor it up with Daiya mozzarella and sometimes I crumble up some Field Roast smoked apple sage "sausage" on top. SO GOOD!

I just picked up a copy of Isa Chandra Moskowitz's "Appetite for Reduction," but haven't had a chance to try out any of the recipes, yet. I'm in love with her "Veganomicon" and "Vegan with a Vengeance" cookbooks.

I'm a big fan of almond milk, since 8oz has 60 calories, whereas most other non-dairy milks seem to have around 120. And as far as giving up ice cream -- psh, I'd never give that up! Let's see, my favorites include TEMPT Chocolate Fudge, Coconut Bliss Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge, Purely Decadent Praline Pecan, and of course there are a ton of delicious sorbets. I like to make my own sorbet, too -- just toss some frozen strawberries, a bit of non-dairy milk (just a bit) and maybe a touch of agave or maple syrup into a food processor, and you have an almost-instant, delicious dessert.

Feel free to add me as a friend. Whether losing weight or going/staying vegan, support is key, and it's great to make new friends.

alibaba0310

hey guys! iv been a vegetarian for about three years now, and since i'm still in school, i need some good packable lunch ideas. I had PB+J for soo many years now i'm so sick of it. i usually eat in class because my schedule is packed. any ideas?

bespatter

I've been vegan for three years, and before that I was a vegetarian for a solid four years. I've never really ate meat.

For me, I didn't miss cheese or ice cream, because I found that once I didn't eat them, I didn't miss them! Also, vegan ice cream is pretty badass. It's just like the regular thing! I've never ate vegan cheese, cause I just really haven't missed it! I think that once you come of the dairy and stuff after about two weeks it'll be an old hat.

I'm pretty busy as well, so I take a lot of snacks with me. Clif Bars are great, full of protein and nutrients. The also keep me full for awhile. I also take a lot of fruit with me, such as apples, bananas, and apricots. They can travel pretty well. I occasionally bring nuts to snack on, but they don't keep me as full.

Anywho, I'm a big believer in breakfast. Mine usually ranges from 200 to 400 calories. A great (moderate?) calorie breakfast is some Arrowhead Mills Bear Mush (basically Cream of Wheat), unsweetened silk almond milk (45% of your daily calcium), a half tablespoon of peanut butter for some flavor and a few drops of vanilla stevia. This totals about 220 calories and it's warm and filling and from microwave to belly in just a couple of minutes. Another idea is a serving of Gimmie Lean sausage, with a couple slices sprouted Ezekiel-style bread (it's a complete protein. I love Alvarado St. Bakery's California Style bread) and some Smart Balance Light butter. Add a little leftover chopped mushrooms, onions, and peppers in there and you're good to go for about 300 super-filling calories. Lol. I love breakfast.

I also have a vegan cooking blog if you'd like to check it out. Most of the recipes are quick and easy because I'm a busy girl! It's at: www.sharetheveganlove.blogspot.com, and I can give you a calorie count of any recipe there (even if I don't always post it). GOOD LUCK on your vegan transition!!

lilfoo

Hi!
I'm a vegetarian (started in 2007). A good breakfast that I recently discovered is waffles! Vans makes some great waffles, just toss them in the toaster, top with fruit (1/2 a banana) add some light whipped topping (there are vegan ones out there too!) and drizzle on some agave. Perfect delicious! The waffles are under 200 cals for two- which is great. Plus they are high fiber (6g).
Who can say no to waffles?

hellokittyhorror

Hi,
I am a vegetarian who aspires to be vegan most of the time. Blueberries are relatively low in calories. I try to throw in those for breakfast. I try to stay away from processed soy foods in general. I have unsweetened coconut milk with my morning coffee/ tea. Have you tried stevia for a sweetener? But I do often end up eating an early lunch. For a lot of the time during the rest of the day try to get in those recommended 5-7 (or is it 7-9?) anyway, I try to eat a lot of vegetables. They help fill me up.