Practically Vegan
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dedakada
Posts: 8 Member
My husband and I have made the decision to go “practically vegan.” Anyone else trying to make the same dietary change, or already vegan? Can you share some tips? I say “practically vegan” because we are still learning how to be vegan. We are first focused on how many of our meals are vegan. We started doing this January 2020. Our focus is reduced animal protein, wellness, and life longevity. We already feel the difference, and we are loving this journey, and are proud of ourselves for making this life giving change. The scientific evidence is compelling. If you have been on the fence about being vegan, do it!
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Replies
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You might like this group: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/45-happy-herbivores0
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I would argue that, like being pregnant, you either are vegan or you are not, and that "mostly plant based" would be a more accurate term to use while you are learning to practice veganism
Your library system likely has many vegan cookbooks, and here are 3K vegan recipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipes/1227/everyday-cooking/vegan/10 -
Anyone telling you the scientific consensus is overwhelming that fully plant-based eating is healthier, is ignoring the message of millennia of human evolution, and most of the body of current relevant research. They're probably watching the Netflix so-called "documentaries" and reading extreme-fringe vegan advocacy sites.
There are plenty of reasons to eat more plants (and doing that would probably be healthier for most first-world people, because stats suggest most don't even hit government-recommended minimums). It's entirely possible to get good nutrition without eating meat, it just takes a tiny bit more knowledge and attention. There may be good animal-welfare or environmental reasons to reduce or eliminate your meat consumption.
But it's not inherently healthier.
I've been vegetarian for 45+ years now, so not a shill for Big Meat. But it makes those of us who do pursue a mostly- or entirely-plants diet look bad when the case for doing so is misrepresented.
IMO, good nutrition with plant based eating is aided by re-thinking how meals are constructed.
Many meat eaters think of meat as the meal ("what's for dinner? chicken."), and side dishes as an afterthought.
When eating mainly/entirely plants, I think it works better to think of including some major protein sources (of course), but also weaving foods with additional protein through the meal in other ways. Those small amounts add up. There are veggies with more protein, grains and grain substitutes (like quinoa) that have more protein than others, even fruits with protein. There are also products like chickpea and soy pasta or "rice" that can be helpful.
I'm talking about easy and tasty strategies like using nuts or seeds on salad for crunch, rather than croutons; including pureed white beans in sauces or creamy soups; and that sort of thing.
Don't fall for any information source that says vegans require less protein than other people. There's no scientific basis for that. (The footnotes they don't include are more important than the ones they do.) Nutritional requirements are the same for everyone (absent health problems). The difference is in how we fulfill them.
You will need to supplement B12, when you reach the point of no animal product intake. One good source is a supplemented nutritional yeast product, which also has a pleasant, somewhat cheese-like flavor, and is a key ingredient in many recipes for things like vegan gravy. Certain other essential nutrients are more difficult to get without animal products, but can be gotten through foods.
This is a good science-based site about vegan nutrition: https://veganhealth.org/
Best wishes!18 -
Thanks for your comments, and I will check out the link you recommended. It is encouraging to hear you have been a vegetarian for 45+ years. I have been learning from the Food Revolution Network, from John and Ocean Robbins, Dr Kristi Funk, Dr Joel Fuhrman, and Dr Neil Bernard primarily. It’s a learning experience, and so a transition but I’m committed. Thanks for reaching out to support me.3
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KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.2 -
Thanks to all for the useful links! I appreciate the interaction.0
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I’ve reaped too many benefits from increasing my meat consumption to give up my omnivorous ways. With that said, veggies are yum too! I was introduced to Oh She Glows last fall and finally picked up the first cookbook earlier this month and have been happy with what we’ve tried so far. Even accidentally found a replacement for my maple lattes (steamed almond milk with some maple syrup. OMG!!! 🤤 )
One thing I learned quickly is to be mindful of plant-based alternatives. Many protein sources are pretty calorie-dense, and most ready products like veggie burgers are loaded with sodium. That’s not to say don’t eat them (loooove Yves’ mexican ground round in chili) just make sure you’re aware of what you’re eating.2 -
KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I don't think anybody is offended by the term "practically vegan," it's just that veganism is an ethical position you either hold or you don't. Using "plant-based" or "mostly plant-based" eliminates the confusion if you're planning on continuing to use animals for "practicality."
That said, welcome to your explorations with reducing animal exploitation. I've been vegan for about thirteen years now. My best advice is to explore different cookbooks (as @kshama2001 suggested, the local library can be a great resource). Pinterest also has lots of vegan recipes of all different types, including many that are health-focused. If you're not already eating them regularly, beans are a fantastic resource for the plant-based diet -- they can be used in so many different ways and they're cheap and easy to prepare. If you don't already have a B12 supplement picked out, start researching that now. I use a spray three times a week, as well as eat some fortified foods.
The scientific evidence is compelling that we should eat plenty of plant foods. It's less clear that we need to eliminate animal products to get the benefits of that, so I'd be thoughtful about how you present this. When vegans and plant-based eaters make claims that aren't fully supported by evidence, it's a net loss for animal advocacy, as we look either misinformed, dishonest, or manipulative.16 -
I'm also practically vegan - why'd I have to buy so much whey protein in bulk!? It should be gone in a month though.
It has been healthier for me because of food restriction, when I go out I can't eat desserts or a steak soaked in butter. It also creeps me out to eat vegan food that looks like meats or other foods so my diet is mainly plant based whole foods. My food is more nutritionally dense since I choose it carefully, and based on my eating habits I believe I get better nutrition and am healthier. YMMV.
For me veganism is mainly religious (Christian) which causes me to consider my health, the environment, animals (life), feminism and masculinity.
One thing to keep in mind is the term vegan applies to things outside of animal protein. Maybe start researching what it is and isn't. I'm not even sure I'm using it correctly in my life!
Here are a few links I follow regarding food and exercise...
https://www.instagram.com/veganbodybuildingfood/
https://www.instagram.com/veganfitnesscom/
https://www.instagram.com/nimai_delgado/
Yes, great point. Vegans avoid not just animal protein, but all animal ingredients in foods . . . as well as clothing, health & beauty products, home cleaning items, candles, and even animal entertainment, which is another reason why "plant-based" is a useful term for those who are focusing on diet.
Most of us don't realize *everything* we're using that involves animal exploitation when we begin as vegans, it's pretty common for most of us to have one (or several) episodes where we find out something we thought was vegan really wasn't (did you know dryer sheets can have animal ingredients? I didn't, for years!). Fortunately, the advent of cell phones with easy internet access has made it much easier to research while shopping. I used to carry a little notebook where I'd write down ingredients I had questions about so I could research them when I got home. Now they've even got apps where you can just scan the barcode and it'll tell you immediately if it's vegan or not!5 -
KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I wasn't offended, just a stickler for using terms correctly so we are all on the same page in conversations. We had a new poster who described herself as...something I don't quite remember, but confusion followed many of her posts, and once she started calling her way of eating pescatarian, that noise was eliminated
Jane's post explains why “practically vegan” isn't accurate:janejellyroll wrote: »KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I don't think anybody is offended by the term "practically vegan," it's just that veganism is an ethical position you either hold or you don't. Using "plant-based" or "mostly plant-based" eliminates the confusion if you're planning on continuing to use animals for "practicality."
That said, welcome to your explorations with reducing animal exploitation. I've been vegan for about thirteen years now. My best advice is to explore different cookbooks (as @kshama2001 suggested, the local library can be a great resource). Pinterest also has lots of vegan recipes of all different types, including many that are health-focused. If you're not already eating them regularly, beans are a fantastic resource for the plant-based diet -- they can be used in so many different ways and they're cheap and easy to prepare. If you don't already have a B12 supplement picked out, start researching that now. I use a spray three times a week, as well as eat some fortified foods.
The scientific evidence is compelling that we should eat plenty of plant foods. It's less clear that we need to eliminate animal products to get the benefits of that, so I'd be thoughtful about how you present this. When vegans and plant-based eaters make claims that aren't fully supported by evidence, it's a net loss for animal advocacy, as we look either misinformed, dishonest, or manipulative.4 -
Hello, vegan for 14 years here!
First tip: don't believe anyone who says you won't get enough protein, there are plenty of ways to get protein from a vegan/ plant based diet. I am currently upping my protein intake to about twice the RDA as I have started lifting weights again, and I am finding it quite simple.
Keep going at your own pace on your journey. If you know this feels good for you, pay no attention to meat and dairy industry scare-mongering, or defensive comments from meat eaters! I have never looked back since going vegan and have never wanted for anything. You're on a great path 🙂
Don't beat yourself up when you make mistakes, just learn from them and keep going. Remember why you are making this step and this lifestyle will continue to become simpler and more intuitive.
Lastly, get creative! Any foods you may miss you can almost certainly recreate using plants.5 -
I really appreciate the discussion everyone, and for helping me find my way and the proper title for my new eating habit. That's part of it, right? That it becomes a habit? It seems my husband and I eat a "plant-based" diet, and we are not vegan at all (at least not yet). Plant-based eating has been an adventure for us. I have these beautiful wide-mouth glass jars that are about 3" tall and round. I fill the jars with colorful and aromatic spices that make make our meals so exciting. Beautiful turmeric, curry, paprika, cumin, nutmeg, allspice, and garam masala, to name a few. My husband and I are really enjoying the meals. We had a meal last night, a Carribean Fusion stew from the Whole Life Club (Ocean Robbins) with purple potatoes and purple rice. We were overcome with how delicious everything on our table tasted. I think we have a good habit started, which is not to mindlessly eat a meal but truly enjoy a well done, thoughtful plant-based meal. We have been plant-based since December 19, 2019, and we think we are getting better at it! Thanks for all of the support. What a lovely and encouraging community.8
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I think vegan is a very strict term. Like, if you eat a dairy product once a year on your birthday, you aren’t vegan. So I use plant based also. I still eat fish once in a while but 99% of the time I’m plant based.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I don't think anybody is offended by the term "practically vegan," it's just that veganism is an ethical position you either hold or you don't. Using "plant-based" or "mostly plant-based" eliminates the confusion if you're planning on continuing to use animals for "practicality."
The mission for the vegan society (founded by the person who created the term) includes the phrase "as far as is possible and practicable."
A lot of people are vegan for non-ethical reasons.
If someone says they eat plant based and you find out they also eat mushrooms would that confuse people? Everyone knows what OP means, so it's not necessary to debate what the definition of a particular term is.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I don't think anybody is offended by the term "practically vegan," it's just that veganism is an ethical position you either hold or you don't. Using "plant-based" or "mostly plant-based" eliminates the confusion if you're planning on continuing to use animals for "practicality."
The mission for the vegan society (founded by the person who created the term) includes the phrase "as far as is possible and practicable."
Sure, but occasionally eating fish or cheese because you like it isn't as far as practicable in a country like the US, according to most. That's more about things like medications that you may need for health reasons.A lot of people are vegan for non-ethical reasons.
No, vegan is an inherently ethics-based term. Some people eat mostly or entirely plant-based (or are strict vegetarians, not the ovo-lacto sort, in the more old-fashioned use of the term) for non-ethical reasons. Personally, as someone who eats plant-based a lot but is not a vegan, I appreciate the distinction.
Usually people like to know if they are using a term in a way that would be confusing to others or taken wrongly by others, and no one was mean to OP. If I were OP, I'd appreciate it, and it seems like OP was cool with it.9 -
janejellyroll wrote: »KShama2001,
Even pregnant women get 9 months to prepare and learn about the new status they are transitioning to, “mother,” I am okay with taking some time to figure out my vegan journey. Sorry if my choice of words “practically vegan” offended you. I went with “practically” because there might be some times or circumstances that wholly plant based foods might be impractical. Not sure; still learning, and I will give your comment some thought.
I don't think anybody is offended by the term "practically vegan," it's just that veganism is an ethical position you either hold or you don't. Using "plant-based" or "mostly plant-based" eliminates the confusion if you're planning on continuing to use animals for "practicality."
The mission for the vegan society (founded by the person who created the term) includes the phrase "as far as is possible and practicable."
A lot of people are vegan for non-ethical reasons.
If someone says they eat plant based and you find out they also eat mushrooms would that confuse people? Everyone knows what OP means, so it's not necessary to debate what the definition of a particular term is.
What is a non-ethical reason to avoid fur or visits to SeaWorld or a beeswax candle?
Veganism is an ethical position as the definition from the Vegan Society makes clear: "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose."
Someone who is choosing to still eat animal products sometimes or is choosing to use animals for non-food purposes isn't meeting the "practicable" portion of the definition. There are lots of people in that category and this isn't meant as an attack, but words have meanings. It's important to have a word that expresses the philosophy of rejecting unnecessary participation in animal exploitation.8 -
I've never encountered someone who is a vegan whose reasons for adopting the way of life did not include either concern about harm to animals, or (less commonly as a sole reason) concern about the effect of animal agriculture on the world (environmental impact, for instance.
I've met people who were strict vegetarian for more abstract religious reasons or for health; and some who are ovo or lacto or both for health; but even among those less strict than actual vegans, it's pretty common to have ethical issues as at least one reason for their choice.
Some people make the mistake of believing that if there is an ethical reason, it's always and only a concern about the well-being of animals, but that's not necessarily the case. Adopting a way of eating for (say) environmental reasons is also an ethical position. There are other potential ethical reasons for these choices, as well as varying senses among individuals about how strict they need to be with their own personal rules.
I'm ovo-lacto veg. I think clear use of the terms is helpful, partly because I try to be respectful of others' beliefs. As a simple example, I recent went to a potluck party where I knew there would be a small number of strict vegans. I made it a point to buy vegan sugar (yup, a thing) for a vinaigrette, and vet other ingredients I was using in the dish I brought, in order to have reasonable chance that mine would be among the small number of things at the party that they could eat.
In that sense, terminology matters. I'm a laid-back person, but if someone told me they were vegan, and I made it a point to get special ingredients or do extra work to accommodate that, I'd be mildly irritated to see that person eat cheese, for example.6 -
I've never encountered someone who is a vegan whose reasons for adopting the way of life did not include either concern about harm to animals, or (less commonly as a sole reason) concern about the effect of animal agriculture on the world (environmental impact, for instance.
I've met people who were strict vegetarian for more abstract religious reasons or for health; and some who are ovo or lacto or both for health; but even among those less strict than actual vegans, it's pretty common to have ethical issues as at least one reason for their choice.
Some people make the mistake of believing that if there is an ethical reason, it's always and only a concern about the well-being of animals, but that's not necessarily the case. Adopting a way of eating for (say) environmental reasons is also an ethical position. There are other potential ethical reasons for these choices, as well as varying senses among individuals about how strict they need to be with their own personal rules.
I'm ovo-lacto veg. I think clear use of the terms is helpful, partly because I try to be respectful of others' beliefs. As a simple example, I recent went to a potluck party where I knew there would be a small number of strict vegans. I made it a point to buy vegan sugar (yup, a thing) for a vinaigrette, and vet other ingredients I was using in the dish I brought, in order to have reasonable chance that mine would be among the small number of things at the party that they could eat.
In that sense, terminology matters. I'm a laid-back person, but if someone told me they were vegan, and I made it a point to get special ingredients or do extra work to accommodate that, I'd be mildly irritated to see that person eat cheese, for example.
Yes, if I was a non-vegan and was having a vegan house guest I would consider things like do I have vegan soap for them to use. If someone told me they were a plant-based eater, I wouldn't consider that, I'd just consider what kind of dinner to make them.
As a vegan, I'd also probably cook differently for someone who identified as plant-based. I'd cook them something minimally processed and without added oil or sugar because I know those are considerations for many people who describe their diets that way. If I'm hosting another vegan for dinner, you might be getting Tater Tot nachos or fried cauliflower tacos.5 -
I've never encountered someone who is a vegan whose reasons for adopting the way of life did not include either concern about harm to animals, or (less commonly as a sole reason) concern about the effect of animal agriculture on the world (environmental impact, for instance.
I've met people who were strict vegetarian for more abstract religious reasons or for health; and some who are ovo or lacto or both for health; but even among those less strict than actual vegans, it's pretty common to have ethical issues as at least one reason for their choice.
Some people make the mistake of believing that if there is an ethical reason, it's always and only a concern about the well-being of animals, but that's not necessarily the case. Adopting a way of eating for (say) environmental reasons is also an ethical position. There are other potential ethical reasons for these choices, as well as varying senses among individuals about how strict they need to be with their own personal rules.
I'm ovo-lacto veg. I think clear use of the terms is helpful, partly because I try to be respectful of others' beliefs. As a simple example, I recent went to a potluck party where I knew there would be a small number of strict vegans. I made it a point to buy vegan sugar (yup, a thing) for a vinaigrette, and vet other ingredients I was using in the dish I brought, in order to have reasonable chance that mine would be among the small number of things at the party that they could eat.
In that sense, terminology matters. I'm a laid-back person, but if someone told me they were vegan, and I made it a point to get special ingredients or do extra work to accommodate that, I'd be mildly irritated to see that person eat cheese, for example.
Yes, I'm an omnivore, but when cooking for vegans make a point of using egg substitutes and sugar that was not whitened with bone char (which is most sugar sold.)
When I cooked at a yoga retreat center in Costa Rico and accommodated dietary requests, I was mildly irritated when I saw a man who had claimed to be vegan eating a sausage down at the beach.2 -
My husband and I have made the decision to go “practically vegan.” Anyone else trying to make the same dietary change, or already vegan? Can you share some tips? I say “practically vegan” because we are still learning how to be vegan. We are first focused on how many of our meals are vegan. We started doing this January 2020. Our focus is reduced animal protein, wellness, and life longevity. We already feel the difference, and we are loving this journey, and are proud of ourselves for making this life giving change. The scientific evidence is compelling. If you have been on the fence about being vegan, do it!
What is wrong with your wellness now? Perhaps if you state your health problems people can tell you if going more plant based will help.0
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