Your best advice for going Vegan
Replies
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My best advice for going Vegan: Don't.
Lol! I don't think I could not. I have a couple friends who think I'm crazy...but I have my mind made up and doing it. The only person who would convince me otherwise would be my doctor.0 -
Lol! I don't think I could not. I have a couple friends who think I'm crazy...but I have my mind made up and doing it. The only person who would convince me otherwise would be my doctor.
What are your reasons for changing your diet?0 -
It's pretty easy. Your body stores B12 really well so you've got a while to get to grips with that side of things. Try and stay away from vegan junk food, make some vegan friends with open diaries and be nosey! (I don't mind if you want to look through mine). Enjoy the cooking side of things, experiment. Don't bother with vegan cheese, most of it's gross though some of the grated stuff is okay on pizza. You've made a good choice. Good luck!
Thanks! i am going to try and not get bored in the kitchen. My goal is to find a few "staples" my family likes, particularly my husband . If i am making it for him because he likes it, it will definitely stick around and stay in meal rotation!
And my goal is not to force him into it, because I don't want to turn him off to it, Just want the family to be overall healthier and have a plant foundation.
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Lol! I don't think I could not. I have a couple friends who think I'm crazy...but I have my mind made up and doing it. The only person who would convince me otherwise would be my doctor.
What are your reasons for changing your diet?
Ethical, weight related.... I want to feel good. A family member started the FOK diet so I thought I would give it a look see and tumbled into boundless information about corn-fed antibiotic ridden cows, overly processed everything and the notion that we could cure illness with food. And No, I have no "reports" to back it up, it is just something I HAVE to try. I had some pre-cancerous cells on my cervix removed last month and I feel it is imperative to do something "different". When I asked my doctor what I could do to keep this from happening he replied "take a multi-vitamin, eat right and exercise " Well, I already do that and have been doing that for quite some time. I just knew I needed a change. I'm super excited....it's day two and I feel good. I am trying to keep my expectations low and my dedication level high.
Watching "Food, Inc" didn't help seeing the conditions our food is in before treated with ammonia and other chemicals.
I don't know...just something I want to do.0 -
Go vegan for ethical reasons but I don't believe it's the healthiest way to eat. lots of work to get it right.
pretty much this..0 -
There are multiple resources out there for going vegan, but I am especially impressed by 'Vegan for Life' written by Jack Norris and Virginia Messina. Page 88 of that book has a wonderful vegan food guide that provides a template for a balanced @1400 calorie diet. They also have excellent websites:
www.TheVeganRd.com
www.VeganHealth.org
For great low-calorie cookbooks with nutritonal information for each recipe, take a look at these:
'Appetite for Reduction' by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
'Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food' by Alicia Simpson
There are two ways to go about going vegan: jump in with both feet or take your time and transition bit by bit. The way you choose is up to you, and depends a lot on how your personality adjusts to change.
Ethically motivated vegans tend to go beyond diet in their lifestyle practices, but I see this more as a 'voting with your dollars' sort of thing. Another poster told you to throw out all your clothing which is animal-derived. I see no use in doing that. Why not honor the animals' sacrifice, and properly use the items completely? Not everyone will agree on this issue, but I say it's best to focus on your spending decisions now and in the future, rather than worrying about what you did yesterday.
Finally, the word 'vegan' implies a life view about the relationship between humans and animals. If you are motivated to eat plant-based for health, you might want to call what you are doing 'plant-based eating' and avoid the whole 'vegan' label. I personally don't care what reason people go plant-based because it helps the animals no matter what.
Congratulations on your decision. Friend me if you wish. My food diary is open to friends.0 -
Eat as many fruit and vegetables as you want. Fill up on beans and potatoes. Cut out processed foods. Eat fruit for dessert. If you are going from the SAD diet, you will have cravings for the things you had been eating. You may not enjoy the natural tastes of many foods at first, but if you stick to it you will begin to enjoy it. Your tastes will change! Check out vegsource.com for more information.
Also, it's really hard to overeat on fruits and vegetables... you will get full before you've had "too many calories." Beans are great because they are full of soluble fiber and digest slowly blunting your desire to snack. Also, you will be giving your body so many nutrients.
I don't ever get sick anymore, I eat as much as I want, and I lost weight easily. 0 -
I started by going vegetarian, which found to be very easy to do. I did as much research on veganism as possible online and at the library while trying a new vegan food or 2 every week to find what I liked. 4 months later I became vegan and already had a good handle on the best "cheese" and mock meats. I learned to cook with beans, lentils etc by borrowing cookbooks from the library, and ended up purchasing my faves.
my fave website is vegweb for meal ideas. I just use the search feature.
I've been vegan for almost a year now and could not imagine eating any other way. I also take a vegan multivitamin and vitamin B50.0 -
There are multiple resources out there for going vegan, but I am especially impressed by 'Vegan for Life' written by Jack Norris and Virginia Messina. Page 88 of that book has a wonderful vegan food guide that provides a template for a balanced @1400 calorie diet. They also have excellent websites:
www.TheVeganRd.com
www.VeganHealth.org
For great low-calorie cookbooks with nutritonal information for each recipe, take a look at these:
'Appetite for Reduction' by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
'Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food' by Alicia Simpson
There are two ways to go about going vegan: jump in with both feet or take your time and transition bit by bit. The way you choose is up to you, and depends a lot on what your personality is like with respect to facing change.
Ethically motivated vegans tend to go beyond diet in their lifestyle practices, but I see this more as a 'voting with your dollars' sort of thing. Another poster told you to throw out all your clothing which is animal-derived. I see no use in doing that. Why not honor the animals' sacrifice, and properly use the items completely? Not everyone will agree on this issue, but I say it's best to focus on your spending decisions now and in the future, rather than worrying about what you did yesterday.
Finally, the word 'vegan' implies a life view about the relationship between humans and animals. If you are motivated to eat plant-based for health, you might want to call what you are doing 'plant-based eating' and avoid the whole 'vegan' label. I personally don't care what reason people go plant-based because it helps the animals no matter what.
Congratulations on your decision. Friend me if you wish. My food diary is open to friends.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I feel good about this. I can't explain it well to anyone. It just feels right for me. It appears this is the way we should have been eating all along. And if others don't agree that's ok ( my best friend has her snarky opinions)
I will take you up on that friend request.0 -
STAY AWAY FROM VEGAN CHEESE THAT MAY BE LABELED "RICE CHEESE"
it's so disgusting!
did you know Oreos are Vegan? <--I'd stay away from those, too. Ignoring the health reasons- what is that "cream" filling made of?!
**I was a vegan for about 7 months. I had to stop because the fresh fruits and veggies were too expensive!0 -
Go vegan for ethical reasons but I don't believe it's the healthiest way to eat. lots of work to get it right.
pretty much this..
There's a lot of evidence that vegan diets are at least as health-sustaining as any other. My personal opinion, based upon multiple scientific studies I have read, is that a natural, whole-food vegan diet is up there with the best of them. Plus, anyone concerned about farm animal treatment has the added benefit of feeling good about not supporting that industry.
I don't know that it takes 'lots of work to get it right.' I suspect tackling any new habit takes some self-education. I guess I'm strange about this: I LOVE the challenge of learning something new. Finding new information, products and recipes that fit a new lifestyle is inherently interesting to me.0 -
As others mentioned: IRON.
I'm veggie & I take a multi-vitamin a day, and then also a 200mg Ferrous Sulphate iron tablet every other day. I was at once point taking 600mg a day. If I go too many days without extra iron, I feel weak and get an odd feeling in my legs like they just have no energy at all.
I've been veggie since I was 4 (own choice and first veggie in family), and a year or so ago tried going vegan. I personally found it too hard and it wasn't for me. I basically just don't eat flesh.0 -
Several people have mentioned iron, but I think B12 is the most important vitamin to focus on. I thought I was doing fine without it but ever since I started taking it I feel even better.0
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My best advice is to tune out anybody who isn't being supportive! Ive been vegan for about 7 years, and it gets easier. Don't worry about the vegan police either...just transition slowly and have as much compassion for yourself as you do for animals. I take a b12 supplement, but other than that my advice is to eat your veggies!!!! They have iron, protein, calcium, and everything else a body needs.0
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Whenever someone asks me how to become vegan, I tell them to focus on the "whys." Why do you choose a vegan lifestyle? What appeals to you about it? Once you are able to internalize veganism (and I believe it should be an ethical decision) then it becomes so simple. You don't even have to think, you just do.
Please check out the book "The 30-day Vegan Challenge" by Colleen Patrick-Godreau. She provides a step-by-step guide for transitioning to veganism. She is also a cook book author with a ton of fantastic recipes.
I would also recommend you download some of her podcasts - "Vegetarian Food For Thought." They will answer a lot of the most commonly asked vegan questions in a very friendly and straight-forward manner.
For recipes themselves, my go-to is "OhSheGlows.com" -- I have never made anything from her that has turned out poorly. I am snacking on some baked goods from her website right now.
I'd also suggest a physical (and blood test) once per year to make sure you're eating nutritionally. But eating a variety of plants, nuts, seeds, and legumes will keep you nutritionally balanced.
Good luck.0 -
My best advice is to tune out anybody who isn't being supportive! Ive been vegan for about 7 years, and it gets easier. Don't worry about the vegan police either...just transition slowly and have as much compassion for yourself as you do for animals. I take a b12 supplement, but other than that my advice is to eat your veggies!!!! They have iron, protein, calcium, and everything else a body needs.
Love this! Thank you.0 -
Another vote for "Vegan for Life", it's full of good nutritional info and very reassuring. Also check out all sorts of cookbooks from the library and skim them, you never know what you'll find. Two of my favorite-ever recipes are easily veganized but came from the decidedly non-vegan Dom DeLuise cookbooks. Things like chicken broth are easily subbed out by vegetable broth.
Definitely a B12 supplement, you don't want to mess with that deficiency, some of the damage can be irreversible.
I'm also switching over to plant-based after many years of near-vegetarianism. I've just never been very fond of meat or eggs. Now I'm cutting out dairy, which I love. I'm also trying to lose weight at the same time so I have extra motivation. So far, I think I'm eating better than I ever have, thanks to all the research I did beforehand.0 -
You have some great advice already! I second looking into anything by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau...she even has a 30-day vegan challenge that you can sign up for right now on her website, I'm already vegan but I'm doing it anyway, and so far there is just a TON of information - audio clips, videos, recipes, meal plans, etc. She is just awesome.
She has a cookbook called Color Me Vegan and I LOVE the concept...it's divided into chapters by the colorful vegetables or fruits that dominate the dish, it's a very whole foods based cookbook. I also recommend any cookbook by Dreena Burton, she is really committed to creating healthy recipes.
I found that when I went vegetarian, and then later went vegan, I loved reading anything on the subject I could get my hands on. There are so many resources out there, just head to your library and study up! Embrace and enjoy the change, it's a wonderful way to live. 0 -
I'm no authority, but stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods will definitely have more vegan options.
I would also advise you to ease into it very slowly, otherwise you run the risk of being deficient in a lot of different nutrients you took for granted in your old diet, especially in the short term.0 -
I'm no vegan but this is how I would do: Explore and research your food options well. A vegan lifestyle is not hard as you can substitute most nutrients from animal sources with plant ones. Read the food labels carefully for any animal products. Watch your iron and B12 intake closely as without proper choices you may face a deficiency in long term.
Thank you! Yes, I have been researching plant strong food lists and recipes . I will definitely look into a good B12 supplement. thanks!
Nutritional yeast if something lots of veges use for b12 if you don't want to take a vitamin. You can use it for anything really to give it a cheesy/nutty flavor0 -
Go vegan for ethical reasons but I don't believe it's the healthiest way to eat. lots of work to get it right.
Isn't it lots of work for any diet to be healthy? js0 -
I thought I would give it a look see and tumbled into boundless information about corn-fed antibiotic ridden cows, overly processed everything and the notion that we could cure illness with food.
If you do some research into paleo, it has a huge emphasis on grass fed, pastured animals.
Being vegan is more than just what you eat. You're going to have to check everything you buy. You know that pair of shoes in the store you loooove and need, they're probably glued with an animal based glue. Or those gummy vitamins that are so awesome...more tha likely its animal gelatin. The purses, the belts, the cashmere/angora/wool clothing, nope..off limits. I dated a vegan for a long time and besides the fact he gave off a weird, I dunno..almost composty smell from his pores, he was far from being lean and healthy. I think you should do a little more research about paleo if thats the only other option you're considering vs.vegan0 -
There's a group here for vegans and vegetarians. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/45-happy-herbivores
Make sure you're getting enough iron; that's the problem I had when I went vegetarian. You will have to work to get enough protein, so you might look into protein powders and learn to love lentils if you don't already. There are some good vegan websites out there, as well, like post punk kitchen, ohsheglows.com, vegan stoner, etc... Also, you really need to mean it. I think it's more of a lifestyle than a diet and there are plenty of vegan cupcakes, cookies and other treats out there that will make it difficult to be healthy if you overindulge.
Would I need to take an iron supplement or just google iron rich foods?
No you shouldn't need an iron supplement because iron is found in plant foods well, such as beans. Beans are a great source of iron. If you get a starter vegan book it will list great sources of protein, iron ect...I liked "vegan lifestyle for dummies" it's a great starter book0 -
I thought I would give it a look see and tumbled into boundless information about corn-fed antibiotic ridden cows, overly processed everything and the notion that we could cure illness with food.
If you do some research into paleo, it has a huge emphasis on grass fed, pastured animals.
Being vegan is more than just what you eat. You're going to have to check everything you buy. You know that pair of shoes in the store you loooove and need, they're probably glued with an animal based glue. Or those gummy vitamins that are so awesome...more tha likely its animal gelatin. The purses, the belts, the cashmere/angora/wool clothing, nope..off limits. I dated a vegan for a long time and besides the fact he gave off a weird, I dunno..almost composty smell from his pores, he was far from being lean and healthy. I think you should do a little more research about paleo if thats the only other option you're considering vs.vegan
I don't smell. :P0 -
I don't smell. :P
Or you don't think you do :P hehe
Its really hard to even explain, he showered a ton, but it was like an overly earthy smell..like walking in a rainforest. Same with his vegan friends. Maybe I have an overly sensitive nose0 -
I don't smell. :P
Or you don't think you do :P hehe
Its really hard to even explain, he showered a ton, but it was like an overly earthy smell..like walking in a rainforest. Same with his vegan friends. Maybe I have an overly sensitive nose
some people just stink maybe. I knew this one guy that always smelled like wet dog...and he didn't own a dog. But I certainly don't smell unless I break wind.0 -
I do think that foods can make you smell differently. I don't know if maybe a legume diet would change the way a person smells but it's possible.
By the way, I don't necessarily think an earthy smell is bad...just very different.0 -
No, it wasn't a bad smell at all...just different. People who eat huge amounts of greasy fast food smell different too...but the bad kind of different.0
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Ok look, don't be intimidated by all of these people on here saying that just b/c you adopt a vegan diet that you have to be vegan in every aspect of your life. Not true. How you live your life is your decision, and doesn't have to be based on some kind of standard. The vegan community really doesn't care too much anymore if your shoes aren't 100% vegan, or if your face wash is tested on animals, they are just happy that you are doing something to help the animals. Every medication you take has been tested on animals, but does that mean that all vegans don't take medicine?? No way! So yeah, when someone would ask me if I was vegan, I would just tell them that I "mostly" was. Labels really don't matter.
And just to add, when me and my husband were vegan we didn't smell. I've also never noticed that any vegans I know have smelled any different. Maybe your friends didn't wash their clothes much? Or spent a lot of time in the garden or outside?0 -
Ok look, don't be intimidated by all of these people on here saying that just b/c you adopt a vegan diet that you have to be vegan in every aspect of your life. Not true. How you live your life is your decision, and doesn't have to be based on some kind of standard. The vegan community really doesn't care too much anymore if your shoes aren't 100% vegan, or if your face wash is tested on animals, they are just happy that you are doing something to help the animals. Every medication you take has been tested on animals, but does that mean that all vegans don't take medicine?? No way! So yeah, when someone would ask me if I was vegan, I would just tell them that I "mostly" was. Labels really don't matter.
This. Every little helps, and whilst I prefer to be as vegan as possible, I fail lots of times. As far as smelling goes, I don't think I smell and I haven't been told I smell earthy. Though I do use more organic products, so maybe I smell less chemically!0
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