Anyone Vegan or Vegetarian?

sarahsxt

Hi,

I am looking for vegans and vegetarians to follow so I can get a better idea of what a nutritionally sound plant based diet looks like. I've been a vegetarian since I was 14 and recently went vegan. I started working out more than ever and I know I need to eat better to accompany that. My problem is I eat too much carbs and junk food and I have a poor idea of where to get my protein without excessive calories. I also lack creativity when it comes to figuring out my meals. So it would be fantastic to learn from other vegans and vegetarians out there!

Thanks,
Sarah

mollydubs

I'm a vegetarian who loves me some vegan foodstuffs too from time to time. My diary is open but it's a lot of homemade recipe stuff too so not sure how helpful it is but I'm liking what I'm eating and so is my body.

aimforhealthy

I'm mostly vegetarian (I eat fish, yogurt and the occasional egg) slowly transitioning to veganism just by making more vegan meals and dishes. I just made an awesome banana-quinoa-cashew quick bread that was only 108 calories per serving

KatyMalkin

Hey

Im vegetarian too

lilmisfit

I'm mostly vegetarian (I eat fish, yogurt and the occasional egg) slowly transitioning to veganism just by making more vegan meals and dishes. I just made an awesome banana-quinoa-cashew quick bread that was only 108 calories per serving

This would make you a pescatarian, not a "mostly vegetarian", as there is no such thing. :-)

Swopkin

Vegan here. Feel free to add me.

lilmisfit

I've been a vegetarian for 15 months and have never felt better! My husband (who is a pescatarian) and I eat a lot of stir fry with rice or rice noodles.

If you are interested in meat substitutes, for extra protein, try the Quorn products. They are delicious!!!! And there are so many varieties!

aimforhealthy

I'm mostly vegetarian (I eat fish, yogurt and the occasional egg) slowly transitioning to veganism just by making more vegan meals and dishes. I just made an awesome banana-quinoa-cashew quick bread that was only 108 calories per serving

This would make you a pescatarian, not a "mostly vegetarian", as there is no such thing. :-)

Thank you, I appreciate your opinion, but I think "mostly vegetarian" describes my diet just fine I'm actually mostly vegan. Most days, I don't consume any animal products. I'm not morally opposed to eating seafood and do so about two or three times per month, but 80+ meals per month are entirely plant-based and often free of animal products altogether.

Not everyone means "vegetarian" to describe a political identity.

I also don't recommend soy-based meat substitutes, as for the most part, they're loaded with sugar, sodium and preservatives to make them taste edible. If you're looking for extra protein, I recommend experimenting with legumes and whole soy products such as tempeh, tofu, edamame and soy nuts. Organic and GMO-free only, though! But that's just me.

marie_2454

I'm psecetarian, but I get most of my protein through dairy and protein powder. I really like tofu though, I just never have the time and energy to cook it.

lilmisfit

I'm mostly vegetarian (I eat fish, yogurt and the occasional egg) slowly transitioning to veganism just by making more vegan meals and dishes. I just made an awesome banana-quinoa-cashew quick bread that was only 108 calories per serving

This would make you a pescatarian, not a "mostly vegetarian", as there is no such thing. :-)

Thank you, I appreciate your opinion, but I think "mostly vegetarian" describes my diet just fine I'm actually mostly vegan. Most days, I don't consume any animal products. I'm not morally opposed to eating seafood and do so about two or three times per month, but 80+ meals per month are entirely plant-based and often free of animal products altogether.

Not everyone means "vegetarian" to describe a political identity.

I also don't recommend soy-based meat substitutes, as for the most part, they're loaded with sugar, sodium and preservatives to make them taste edible. If you're looking for extra protein, I recommend experimenting with legumes and whole soy products such as tempeh, tofu, edamame and soy nuts. Organic and GMO-free only, though! But that's just me.

From Webster:
veg·e·tar·i·an   [vej-i-tair-ee-uhn]
noun
a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.

pes·ca·tar·i·an \ˌpe-skə-ˈter-ē-ən\
noun
: one whose diet includes fish but no meat

And, by the way, Quorn products do not contain soy. Please do your research before you respond to a post.

UrbanRunner81

I am vegetarian.

I use some protein powders to increase my protein intake.

ashleyacee

Hey I am a vegetarian but the only dairy I eat is eggs and sometimes cottage cheese. I want to be vegan!! You can add me and look at my diary if you want

tnqnt

I am a vegetarian, too . I find I get plenty of protein, but some is with dairy (which wouldn't work for vegan). Greek Yogurt (nonfat, plain) is a GREAT way to get protein, Also, lots of legumes (beans and such), but these must be paired with a grain to get the protein fix from them. Feel free to friend me

Janet39

Hiya,

I am Vegi, Got my big bum through large portions and too much cheese.

But as I am behaving you wont see that here
(I am currently eating the bad stuff in the house but that will filter out over the next few days, lol. Waste not want not)

I use protein powder and bars, and eat chesse and eggs and Meat replacement products.

My diet is varied, and I love my food

veganbaum

I am a vegetarian, too . I find I get plenty of protein, but some is with dairy (which wouldn't work for vegan). Greek Yogurt (nonfat, plain) is a GREAT way to get protein, Also, lots of legumes (beans and such), but these must be paired with a grain to get the protein fix from them. Feel free to friend me

There's no need to food combine in one meal to get the amino acids you need. (But if you mean that daily you should eat a grain and a legume, then nevermind - yes you should eat that daily unless you are eating quinoa or soy which are complete proteins).

veganbaum

Oh, and there are at least two fairly popular groups on here for veg*ns. One is Happy Herbivores, I think the other is Team Vegan.

jleach

Feel free to check out my food diary. I don't find it that difficult to get enough protein most of the time. I try all kinds of vegan products. I like trying new products as they come out without making them part of my regular diet since they are all so processed. I also use protein powders after workouts. Quorn products are very yummy but the Gruyere stuffed chicken tastes too good to be vegan. i think it's real cheese although I haven't bothered to find out for sure. Get a subscription to VegNews. Awesome vegan magazine.

tnqnt

Hi there

I always was told that beans are not a complete protein, that one should pair beans with rice, corn or grain to get the complete protein... I found a link to explain:

This is what I was referring to:
http://www.fitsugar.com/Whats-Complete-Protein-Inquiring-Vegetarians-Want-Know-165298

best regards

tnqnt

And yes, not in the same meal:):)

veganbaum

Hi there

I always was told that beans are not a complete protein, that one should pair beans with rice, corn or grain to get the complete protein... I found a link to explain:

This is what I was referring to:
http://www.fitsugar.com/Whats-Complete-Protein-Inquiring-Vegetarians-Want-Know-165298

best regards

Yes, beans are not a complete protein. I was just trying to clarify that you do not have to combine beans with a grain *in the same meal* to make a complete protein. You could have grains for breakfast and beans for dinner and have what you need in terms of essential amino acids. It just kind of sounds like when a person says "combine beans with a grain" to get a complete protein that you have to do it at one meal. Maybe that's not what you meant, I just wanted to clarify for anyone reading who might not know that.

*ha, nevermind, we just crossed posts.

tnqnt

Absolutely

aimforhealthy

From Webster:
veg·e·tar·i·an   [vej-i-tair-ee-uhn]
noun
a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.

pes·ca·tar·i·an \ˌpe-skə-ˈter-ē-ən\
noun
: one whose diet includes fish but no meat

And, by the way, Quorn products do not contain soy. Please do your research before you respond to a post.

Same dictionary has:

4. consisting solely of vegetables: (vegetarian vegetable soup.)

The vast majority of my meals ARE VEGETARIAN (vegan), but if you really cannot abide referring to me or people like me as having mostly vegetarian diets, that's fine. However, people have the right to decide how they should talk about their own diets.

And since the OP was asking about how to get enough protein, I was speaking to her, discouraging her from soy-based meat substitutes and encouraging her to try whole-soy products for soy-based protein sources. Don't really care about Quorn, I'm sorry.

lauramonster

I'm in a similar situation. I'm a vegetarian and I plan on going vegan again soon, but I wasn't the greatest at it the first time around, so I could use some help. Feel free to add me

lauramonster

From Webster:
veg·e·tar·i·an   [vej-i-tair-ee-uhn]
noun
a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.

pes·ca·tar·i·an \ˌpe-skə-ˈter-ē-ən\
noun
: one whose diet includes fish but no meat

And, by the way, Quorn products do not contain soy. Please do your research before you respond to a post.

Same dictionary has:

4. consisting solely of vegetables: (vegetarian vegetable soup.)

The vast majority of my meals ARE VEGETARIAN (vegan), but if you really cannot abide referring to me or people like me as having mostly vegetarian diets, that's fine. However, people have the right to decide how they should talk about their own diets.

And since the OP was asking about how to get enough protein, I was speaking to her, discouraging her from soy-based meat substitutes and encouraging her to try whole-soy products for soy-based protein sources. Don't really care about Quorn, I'm sorry.

Pescatarians are considered vegetarians.

anabell31

I'd like to go vegetarian. When I first moved out on my own I couldn't afford/never bought meat and I never really missed it. I can afford meat and stuff now but I think it'd be a great idea to officially go vegetarian. Mind if I add some of you to check out your meals too?

BlackmetalCoffee79

I'm also vegetarian. Been so for almost 2 years. Don't know how great my foods look every day, but feel free to add me if you wish.

kay155

hi check out sight- more apples a day . com or on Facebook...protein sources : nuts- beans- quinoi-soy-tofu...good luck kay155...
i am a flexitarian aiming for vegan choices 1st.

RiverDancer68

I've been a vegetarian for 15 months and have never felt better! My husband (who is a pescatarian) and I eat a lot of stir fry with rice or rice noodles.

If you are interested in meat substitutes, for extra protein, try the Quorn products. They are delicious!!!! And there are so many varieties!

Only quoting you because you mentioned Quorn, they have egg whites in them...so not good for Vegans. Just in case someone didn't know that

RiverDancer68

Vegetarian here...limited ovo/lacto...usually more Vegan than anything. I also have issues with going for processed "meat substitue" style foods...mainly because I have 3 kids and very little time. One of my kids is veg also...but, since I cook all of the meals, my family is also mainly veg

yourenotmine

I'm a strict vegetarian, by which I mean I rarely eat animal products, but try not to obsess over whether the bread in this or that place might have something in it I'd rather not eat. I also eat candy at work sometimes. Work in progress, if you will.

Feel free to add me if you'd like! (any of you, for that matter)

And just to weigh in on the conversation, I don't consider pescatarians vegetarians. But I'm not here to proselytize, so I'm ok with people who eat meat, as long as they're not rude to me about how I eat.

thelovelyLIZ

I eat vegetarian about 70% of the time. I don't feel any real strong conviction to eliminate meat entirely, but I definitely feel better actively limiting my meat. I generally try to eat meat only at dinner, it at all.