Vegan group

Do you get the eye-rolling, sighing thing? :laugh:

No not yet. But I've had some unfortunate circumstances happen.

There are a few deer hunters that I work with. Eventually it came out that I started eating vegan. Well, my company sometimes provides us with free lunch or barb-b-ques for something special. They do very well to ask what I would like and provide substitutes. A couple of those times the food that was intended for me to eat was eaten by others. Was it on purpose? maybe but what it came down to is that those that ate the vegan food ended up eating less or no animal products. Since I always bring my lunch I did not go with out. I try not to think they did it on purpose. In the end it didn't hurt me any and they ate healthier.

I have had tempeh twice and have not been impressed with it either. I much prefer hard tofu over tempeh. You can find tofu pre seasoned at some health food stores and "natural" grocery stores.

Try smoked tofu in a stir-fry or something...oh gosh it is soo good! I started eating it raw when I was cooking other things first...(it sounds gross I know, but it is so good!)

18 years ago when i became a vegetarian, my mother was so upset and constantly telling me that it was not a healthy lifestyle and would be harmful to my health....well, all those years i have been healthy...(overweight, but healthy...now i am working on the weight issue..gaining the weight was my own fault, way too many carbs)...i recently went to the doctor and had a colonoscopy...i hadn't had to go to a doctor in many years...they were totally amazed that i was 62 and on no medications...i mean totally amazed like it was a strange thing...i think a vegetarian lifestyle is a healthy one...i went through menopause naturally with vitamin e preventlng the hot flashes...i take a b complex, multi-vit, e, c, and digestive enzymes daily...i would love to eventually become vegan but haven't been able to go that route yet...i know, morally, i would be happier if i did...i do use soy milk and free range eggs and i do eat cheese...i applaud those of you who have embraced the vegan way of life...am so glad to see this thread started...blessings and good luck to those of you on your weight loss journey...

I'm glad someone brought this topic up!

I'm not vegan/vegetarian, but my mother is. We're Hindu, but my mother allowed us (me and my brother) to eat meat because she didn't want to limit us too much in a society that tends to be big on meat, especially when you go outside the home. In 5th/6th grade, we chose to stop eating beef and then as a freshman in high school, I stopped eating any pig products. The only meat I eat is chicken, turkey, fish, and shrimp. I rarely eat meat because I grew up in a household that never cooked meat more than once or twice a month. We always ate vegetarian Indian food. Because of that, I never found it difficult to go months at a time without meat. I almost never crave it. I'm considering going completely vegetarian...i'm almost there.

Indian food is great for vegetarians worried about getting all their nutrients. We go to the grocery store and literally fill up our shopping cart with fruits and vegetables. My mother also likes to buy tofu and mix it with curry and other vegetables. It picks up the flavor quickly and I enjoy it. You get a great deal of protein from lentils and beans.

The Morning Star brand of frozen food is great. Unlike the stereotypical fake meat food, these foods have a really good taste. I love eating their "sausage links" and chick'n nuggets and buy them quite often among other things.

I've seen a few posts on how other people seem concerned about your health when you go vegan/vegetarian. Many times, I find that people are not informed enough about the range of nutrition you can get from a vegetarian lifestyle. I've met lots of people that think being vegetarian is bad and it means you eat salads all day, which isn't completely true. They argue a point they don't know much about.

prerana

I choose not to use honey. For one it is higher on the glycemic index than table sugar and I've heard that the harvesting of honey is pretty inhumane. I'm sure you can probably find more on the internet. Raw agave nectar is a good alternative to honey. Again, good luck eating raw, let me know if you feel better on a raw diet.

Unfortunately there is no agave nectar where I live (Bulgaria)... Of all the sugars/glucose/fructose offered here honey is the best option as it's all natural product... I have some homemade honey and bought different kinds from a local bee-keeper, I wouldn't buy from a regular store as they are usually not natural honey... When I was younger I had to go to my father's village very often and had to assist by the killing of animals many times (had to help my grandfather wash it and such), which is probably why I quit eating meat so early... One day you hug the little lambs, then you can't really eat them... On the other hand, I have also assisted by collecting the honey and it has not had this effect on me... It doesn't kill the bees and we would always leave part of the honey so they have food for the winter... Actually it didn't even occur my mind before that honey is an animal product... I now frequent a Bulgarian vegan raw foodism blog and the author is really into it, she explains so fine about all the benefits and go me decided to follow her lifestyle... so she prepares all food herself, won't even buy the ready raw nut milks to be sure everything is raw and didn't come from animals... On the other hand, she has so many articles about the benefits of bee products and I started eating them exactly because of reading her comments... It wasn't before someone left a comment about it that I realized bees are actually animals... I have been a bit confused since... It's not like eggs or milk that comes from inside the hen/cow, it's rather pollen from blossom bees collect and they use their saliva to stick it together as far as I know... I don't really have a sweet tooth, so I can do pretty well without sweeteners of any kind... I was trying to get a teaspoon of honey in the morning just because she had recommended it... :ohwell:

I still haven't found seaweed to add to my menu, they didn't have it at the healthshops and the healthy food departments of the big stores, which is where I found most of the things... Finally found me quinoa today that you also say you like, looks just like millet but not as popular. Any suggestions what to 'cook' with it without cooking it? The blog girl recommends it too but there are no recipes other than sprouts and one recipe for a vegan sushi that I still have to find me nori for...

Are bees animals or insects?

I use 100% maple syrup for something sweet.

well, they aren't a plant, that's for sure... pure maple syrup is not that easy to find and it's darn expensive... :ohwell:

Are bees animals or insects?

I use 100% maple syrup for something sweet.

well, they aren't a plant, that's for sure... pure maple syrup is not that easy to find and it's darn expensive... :ohwell:

At this point I don't have an opinion on the bee or honey thing one way or another :indifferent: I just like maple syrup. Yea, it can be expensive. Since I've been on this site I've cut back on it and only use a teaspoon in my oatmeal in the morning. It's lasting longer that's for sure.

I get mine at Kroger grocery store by the other syrup's if someday your interested. or not, I don't want to come off pushy. just trying to help