Where are all the vegans/vegetarians?

iWillGetCrowSomeday

Adreanna:
You can get an abundance of calcium and iron from dark, leafy greens like Kale, Spinach, and Collard greens. Try adding Green Juice as breakfast into your regime. You'll be full of all the nutrients you need! Dr. Oz has a nice starter green juice, and you can find a ton of additional options online.

While this is true, you do have to be careful what you pair your greens with. If it's iron you're after, stay away from dairy/calcium fortified drinks. Calcium blocks the uptake of iron. So spinach dip or a yogurt based green smoothie will do nothing for your iron. Eat your iron rich foods with vitamin C for absorption, so squeeze lemon juice on your collards, spinach or kale (it softens the kale, so bonus!). You don't need a lot, just a lemon wedge will do.

But the bioavailability of iron in vegetables is much less than it is in meats. So even though the labels say spinach will give you 7% of your DRI of iron, you'll only absorb about 2%.

Black strap molasses is also a terrific source of iron, 21% of your daily recommended intake in 1 Tbsp. But again, dairy renders it useless. I like to use it on my sweet potatoes with coconut butter (dairy free) instead of brown sugar and butter. It's got a different taste from brown sugar, but still has that maltiness that brown sugar has, and I don't recommend eating it by itself by the Tbsp because that was AWFUL.

There's a lot of useful info here about iron absorption of non-heme iron (iron that is not bound to hemoglobin, as in the iron that comes from plant sources) versus heme iron (from animal sources where it is bound the the animal's hemoglobin).

http://www.parentingscience.com/iron-absorption.html

To be honest, I take an iron supplement because I just couldn't get enough from my diet. I was eating as much dark leafy greens as I could, and was barely permitted to donate blood. My hemoglobin was 11.8 when I went to donate, they turned me away and said go home and eat black strap molasses and spinach and come back in 2 days. When I came back it was 12.6, and you have to be 12.5 to donate. (Normal hemoglobin for women is 11-17) I took 65mg iron supplement for 3 weeks leading up to my last donation and my hgb was the highest it's ever been as an adult, a whopping 13.8. But again, you have to not take it with your calcium.

Before you take any iron supplement, be sure to get bloodwork done to be sure you are actually anemic. Iron is toxic in high amounts, and some people naturally produce more iron or store it better than others, even vegetarians.

cyrena13

I've been a vegetarian for 13 years. Growing up I used to always push the meat aside on my plate or had to use ton of sauce to hide the flavor. I just really never liked it, so when I decided to become vegetarian, I didn't look back and I don't miss it. I couldn't be vegan though because I love cheese and Greek yogurt too much.

RaeLB

hollaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Papayamaya5

VEGAN + MOSTLY GF GAL HERE! feel free to add me and check out my recipe blog at teenyteacakes.tumblr.com

grimendale

There are a lot of us on here, scattered about, and several groups dedicated to it. Feel free to add me (vegetarian seven years or so).

splitdog79

Hey there, I'm a Lacto-Ovo veg. I started about 10 years ago when my now ex-wife presented such a compelling argument for the immorality of eating animal products that I couldn't think of a suitable way to refute her points. I figured that if I couldn't refute her points that perhaps I should consider her argument. I did, and I've been a vegetarian ever since.

On a funny note, she's been eating meat for years now so I guess the morality of it all wasn't such a pressing matter for her

Rena42

I was vegetarian for a bunch of years, and went vegan about 3 years ago. I'm always looking for new friends, especially veg ones. Anyone should fee free to add me.

michelewobbe

I am a new vegetarian. I still eat eggs (rarely), cheese and other milk products. I occasionally eat salmon or shrimp at this time but hoping to end that soon as well. My current problem is that I am new at this and not entirely sure what to eat/cook. I have found a lot of recipes in Gwyneth Paltrow's new cookbook very helpful! I too am disgusted with the poor menu choices out there for those of us veggies that would enjoy going out to eat once in a while. I live in a small town and this makes it even more difficult! Looking forward to getting to know other vegetarians out there as well. Any good and healthy recipes would be welcome! (I am also working on the paleo diet!)

carolynh7

Hi feel free to add me I love new friends.

I've been vegetarian since I was 14 - my parents frowned on it and didn't think it would stick but here I am at 38 and still a Vegi.
At times I have gone vegan, but I love eggs and cheese too much to cut them out completely.
I do have a tendency to eat too much cheese and carbs so I am trying to watch my intake of those.

I don't miss meat or fish but sometimes find it difficult to remember a time before quorn

I do agree that eating out can be really restrictive if you don't go to a dedicated vegi restaurant - I remember a visit to a mitchelin star restaurant only 5 years ago and having to get them to make me a omelette as there was no vegi option. which I found pretty embarrassing at the time and insulting when I got the bill :noway:

theblueladybird

Vegan here and need new friends :-)

cliente

add me if you want
I'm 19 and I am vegetarian for 4 years and half

potatocar

I've been vegan for 7-8 years and a vegetarian before that. Anyone can add me

sweetstarlet

I'm a pescatarian (I eat seafood, dairy, & eggs.)

stefi2107

I'm a vegetarian who doesn't eat eggs or dairy. Anyone is more than welcome to add me

LovelyVeggies

Hi,

I just started, or restarted actually. I'm a long-time vegetarian. I try to be vegan too, but slip on that sometimes. I'm really interested in vegan cooking and nutrition.

storknursekelly

Hi, Feel free to add me & view my diary. I am a vegan & eat at least 40 grams fiber daily. I do supplement with Vitamin B-12. I feel so much better eating plant based & do it morally as well as for the health benefits. I was becoming insulin resistant & my fasting blood sugars were starting to rise so I did my research. Being a nurse I knew our Standard American Diet (SAD) wasn't helping anyone.
I eat plant based because all the newest research has found diabetes as well as insulin resistance is an epidemic and it can actually be reversed by eating plant based. Dr. Neil Barnard from the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine recently did a lecture for the American Diabetic Association & they have seen such amazing results of A1C levels & FBS levels fall quickly & remain down eating plant based. As well as the biggest and best news ever is most of their clients are now getting off their medications even insulin. This is for Type 2, but Type 1 are also lowering their insulin needs with this new way of eating. It really isn't new it's just now being brought into the drs offices after the research has been concluded over the years. If you are interested in his information, recipes, go to www.pcrm.org. Being a Registered Nurse I was always taught eat a well-balanced diet, took nutrition classes but like all things after years of research things change. Best wishes to everyone in their journey. Kelly

perrinjoshua

I am a 61 year old vegan - three years in. Was a vegetarian for about seven. I am currently following the 5:2 fast diet by Dr. Michael Mosley. The only actual supplements I am taking right now is Aloe Vera juice. My blood pressure is considered amazing by my doctor and any nurse who happens to take it. I don't think this has anything to do with either my current diet or supplement because it has always been pretty good. Likewise for cholesterol. My arthritis seems to be more under control with what I am following now so that's a bonus. It's nice to meet you. Friend me if you would like to.

optimisticShark

I am here. A vegetarian since birth.

Feel free to add me. Even I am looking for more friends.

jem302

Vegetarian since I was 8!

Laurenmp16

I'll send a request. I was vegetarian for over ten years, and have started adding in some fish for more protein but still eat mostly vegetarian

Jenniferanne6

I'm a seven-year vegetarian, slowing transitioning away from dairy. I'll never go back to meat! I'd like to be a vegan someday, but due to allergies and sensitivities it might be difficult.

Feel free to friend me!

grimendale

I've been vegetarian for seven years (and I tend to keep my dairy intake fairly low). Feel free to add me.

Infamous624

I've been a vegetarian for alittle over a year. I love animals and really want to be vegan, but haven't gotten that far yet. Feel free to add me

9chickenlady

24 yrs old---Vegetarian for 16 years, Vegan for 7 years, and gluten free for 3!!!

wnjohnson1

I just decided yesterday to return to vegetarianism! I was a pescatarian for a while, but I got way too busy to keep up with it. Hopefully this time it sticks.

Raeontherun

I'm vegan.

ppdes

I am a vegetarian. By birth. I want to transition to veganism, but I suppose it will happen gradually and slowly... not very soon...
Feel free to add me. Always great to come across a fellow vegetarian / vegan. We can learn a lot from each other...

godds6

I have been a vegetarian my whole life (I am 33). I was a pescatarian until about the age of 19/20 when I started eating chicken. So I am a pesco pollo vegetarian. It is difficult sometimes especially at cookouts with friends... I have to take my own "meat" a lot of times I keep Morning Star Grillers in my freezer at all times! LOL

It is especially difficult when your husband and children are carnivores

magneticcat

I'm a vegetarian and have been for 3.5 years. It was a moral/guilt thing. I was lactose intolerant in the past (following a virus) so I became used to eating dairy-free. I occasionally eat dairy now, but mostly eat a fairly vegan-friendly diet.
I am strict about not eating several additives that many of my vegetarian friends overlook, e.g.: gelatine and rennet.

I'm trying to become stricter about certain colour additives like carmine/cochineal and shine additives like shellac (although this is produced by the bug and doesn't involve its death, I've read that often they get caught up in the resin collection process and end up being killed inadvertently.) The whole list of emulsifiers, humectants etc. is still so overwhelming - I try to purchase certified "vegan" food wherever possible (mainly to avoid byproducts of animal death) and when if I buy cow's milk or eggs I try to get organic brands... but this is not always easy.

I've recently gotten into vegan icecream made by So Delicious (a brand of Turtle Mountain), and these are not very friendly for the waistline...but are DELICIOUS!!! I also have been getting into Sheese - the nicest vegan cheeses I've encountered!!

PS Feel free to add me!!

SteelySunshine

Recent Vegetarian. Started on a whim of my youngest daughter. She quit, I didn't. Staying in to avoid eating factory farmed meat, eggs, and dairy. I do have some eggs and dairy in my diet in small amounts. It's not always easy getting a vegan option without breaking the bank or having to go on a very long trip to Whole Foods, which is about the only vegetarian friendly grocery in town and even so it's not all that friendly, it's more like a truce than actual friendship. I don't think meat is unethical people can make their own decisions about that, but I do think that the current way meat, eggs, and dairy is produced is wrong and it feels a lot to me like those things are tainted with hormones and antibiotics to a degree that makes me uncomfortable. Yet, I have to remain a bit flexible because there are so many situations where food choices are limited and I absolutely can't have my blood sugars fluxing madly.