Vegan Pledge - Advice/Support

TheLittleKittie
TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
in Food and Nutrition
Hello,

In August I signed up to the Vegan Society's Vegan Pledge, to start on 1st October. I gave myself time to plan food and prepare. My motivation is more environmental really and I already eat organic wherever I can afford it ideally and preferably look for products where animal welfare are important. I went vegetarian for a few months earlier in the year and this was fine, but quit because I found it really hard eating at other's homes (I actually heard the words "chicken isn't a real meat") but am willing to give this another go and figured I may as well try full on vegan.

The Vegan Society put me in touch with a mentor (great idea) and I've just emailed her the following questions but any support or ideas from here would really help:

'I'm not wealthy and am going to be living on student support so Im planning my shopping list carefully and Im hoping you could advise me of some of what you consider 'essentials' and perhaps a list of a few good quality items where spending the money on that really make a difference to dishes.

Some 'safe treats' would also really help!

Products wise I buy Original Source at the moment Fairtrade/Vegan, so I'll just buy their Vegan from now on - but what about other products?

Do you mind if I ask how you became vegan? By your choice or parents, and how long have you been vegan?

I don't drink much alcohol but have heard some drinks use animal products in processing is this true?

Can I expect any side effects?'

So sorry for all the questions!!

TLK

Replies

  • TheLittleKittie
    TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
    BTW - my pledge duration is 4 weeks. Obviously, the idea is you stick with it.
  • TheLittleKittie
    TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
    Sorry!!!! And supplements. Any I should definitely buy?

    Thanks, and again, sorry!!!!

    TLK x
  • VeganBex
    VeganBex Posts: 6 Member
    Hi,

    I began vegan a year ago after being Veggie for 5 years -it all started after I watched the video "Earthlings". If you ever need motivation you can watch it online but it can be quite graphic. I also follow PETA.

    I never thought I would EVER become vegan but I know now that I will never again (knowingly) eat or use any animal by product.

    It has also helped me lose weight as I can not snack so easily etc. If I want a treat it usually involves making them or going to a shop which is a 15 min drive out of the way.

    Are you in the UK? If so look at Redwood Foods which are sold in Holland and Barretts but also do home delivery online.

    It is hard when eating out or with friends and family but I am used to it now and either order a pizza with no cheese / eat before I go out and have a salad or chips or I suggest a restaurant I know serves vegan food such as Wagamama's. Sometimes I take a few bits of "my food" to families houses and ask them what they are making beforehand and do something similar I can re-heat.

    Yes some drinks contain isinglas (spelling?) whereby they filter the drinks through pigs or fish bladders or somethings -these include fanta, some wines etc -I do not drink alcohol but if you do Marks and spencer. waitrose and sainsburys own wines are all marked veggie / vegan on the back.

    Let me know if you have any other questions -it can be very hard but good luck
  • VeganBex
    VeganBex Posts: 6 Member
    Also it was very hard at first to eat meat substitutes as I knew what real meat tasted like but after a few years I re-tried it and now I can enjoy it!
  • TheLittleKittie
    TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
    Hi Beckie,

    Thank you so much for the advice regarding drinks and Redwood foods. Really helpful!!!

    I actually prefer Tofu over most meat - it's just gorgeous but I wish I could make it as tasty as my local thai does!!! I can't though :( and probably wouldn't bother with meat substitutes as a vegan friend once told me some of them are cultured on eggs or something like that so possibly wouldn't be 'safe'.

    Hmmm... I'm compiling a long list of bits and bobs to go out and buy - encouraged as it's growing, not shortening!!!

    I have health problems too - interested to see how they change.


    L xx
  • VeganBex
    VeganBex Posts: 6 Member
    With tofu I drain it and press it (put it in clingfilm and put heavy books on it to drain the excess moisture out) then I either;
    marinade it in a sauce and grill it with vegetables,
    batter it using a self raising flour and water paste then deep fry them and cook them in a sweet and sour sauce etc
    The already marinated tofu from Cauldron I heat and use in a salad.
    My local-ish chinese does amazing things with tofu too and I can never get it quite how they do but now I do almost as good as them ;)

    Once you start looking up "simple" recipes that don't use too many hard to find or expensive ingredients then you will get the hang of it.
    Just google your favourite dishes and add vegan at the end and you will find a good dish somewhere.

    I now have my own recipe book that I add all my favourites in -I then give copies to friends and family to show them how easy it can be.

    With regards to vitamins -I used to take a vegan supplement they sell in my large tesco's made by seven seas until I knew I was eating the right things -lots of beans and pulses
  • TheLittleKittie
    TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
    You're actually amazing :) thank you. My boyfriends mum gave me a beautiful binder to write my own recipies in and I'm going through the boards snaffling up yummy sounding recipies! The battered tofu sounds awesome!!!
  • pickyourking
    pickyourking Posts: 2 Member
    Eat high carb. Lots of unprocessed carbs like fruits, potatos, millet, rice, barley, quinoa, etc. Eat very little fat. Eat very fresh. You'll be fine. :)
  • VeganBex
    VeganBex Posts: 6 Member
    Some of my favourite recipes

    Cookies =
    100g Marg (I use Vitalite)
    100g caster sugar
    125g plain flour
    25g cocoa powder
    dark choc chips (silverspoon make -sains / tesco)
    1-3 tbsp soya milk
    1 tsp vanilla essence
    1tsp baking powder

    Beat the marg and sugar, then mix in theflour, cocoa & baking powder
    Then add vanilla essence and milk (may need to add more milk if too thick)

    Then dollop them on some greaseproof paper and cook 10-15 mins at 180

    P.S. This is probably not the best recipe considering we are on a fitness website!!! -These are probably the reason I am here now

    Potato and lentil hotpot=
    Layer potatoes, red lentils, onions and mixed herbs in a casserole dish then add some stock -cook for approx 45 mins or until all cooked -this is very cheap and easy sorry the recipe is vague but adapt it and I am sure it will be yum.

    Just a yummy dinner=

    2tbsp olive oil
    1 onion
    1 tsp paprika
    sprinkle oregano
    400g cannellini beans
    1 litre veg stock
    750g butternut squash cut into chunks
    200g french beans
    sweetcorn kernels

    saute the onion in a pan, add the paprika and oregano
    add stock, squash and cannellini beans then simmer until squash is tender (approx 10-15 min) then add the green beans and sweetcorn and simmer for another 5-10 mins
    Season to taste

    I never weigh my ingredients really -I just chuck things in and hope for the best!!

    good luck
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    I'm a student, it's not expensive to be vegan unless you buy lots and lots of prepackaged vegan food. I keep some around for when I'm pressed for time, but beans and rice and quinoa are cheap and easy to make and very versatile. I have a pot of pinto beans cooking now and I cooked a big batch of quinoa the other day.

    I choose to go vegan for both health and ethical reasons as well as environmental reasons. There is no need to eat animals, we do not have the right to take their lives for such a stupid reason, and it's killing our planet, and the only bad sources of cholesterol are from animal sources which leads to high blood pressure and heart attacks.

    I take a daily multivitamin, but then again I did before I was vegan too.
  • TheLittleKittie
    TheLittleKittie Posts: 32
    Thanks RedRaiderGirls (and Beckie again for the recipies!!!)


    I'm sorry for the delay - been working and the MFP app keeps crashing on my phone *shakes head... still its free so can't complain!!!!

    Thanks again, and those who've added me ****hugs****

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