Becoming Vegan 🤯 advice/guidance anyone?!

I've also watched that documentary, and not to put it down because I really liked it too but some of the research is cherry picked, I'm not here for a debate I'm just making you aware if you're basing your change over it then be aware the documentary itself may not be entirely accurate (as with a lot of documentaries) but seeing as it was suggested to you previously then go for it!!

However, my advice, start slowly, I tried to go all out in one go and I started to find it hard to find meals, was finding I was hungry a lot and put off by cooking because I simply didn't know what to cook etc.
I think first I changed my butter, milk and cheese to vegan friendly options. Then I looked for the vegan versions of meals I know how to cook like spaghetti bolognese.

I started to look at new recipes, unfortunately It was at this point that my partner and I decided to go back to eating meat. My partner wasn't fond of the meat alternatives. I personally could have carried on without the meat alternatives apart from the mince because I liked that. But we also have kids and they weren't fond either, so a few things made us decide not to carry on any further.

I think I also downloaded an app for switching to vegan, I can't remember what it was now but worth searching through the App Store.

But long story short, transition slowly at a pace that's easy for you.

Good luck and I hope you succeed where I didn't!

Inowantobefatanymore wrote: »

Hi all, I have decided to eliminate meat and dairy from my diet and source my nutrients from plant based foods, this is a huge step for me considering I haven’t really thought about the impact that my food that I shovel into my mouth on a daily basis had on my insides, for health reason I have concluded this is probably the best thing for me and I can see why, ten years ago, my gastroenterologist advised a plant based diet. Let’s just say I was naive to it all and after watching the documentary on Netflix called What the Health, I’m more determined to feed my body food that will protect me. The truth is, I don’t really know where to start as this is not an area I’ve ever thought of delving into. Does anyone have any vegan recipe’s that they could share, that are easy to throw together to start me off? I’ve tried looking online but it’s stressing me out! If you could recommend any app or website that can sway me in the right direction I will be forever greatful! Thanks x

"What the Health" is an advocacy piece, not accurate, balanced reportage.

Think about it: What are the odds that humans can achieve optimum health by eliminating a whole class of foods that most human societies have consumed to some extent through millennia of natural selection? Low odds, I'd say. Further, there's at least one essential nutrient vegans typically must supplement, because it's not in plant foods. (No, not protein: B12.) How can veganism be an *optimal* diet for health if it *requires* supplementation?

Vegan diets can be very healthful, no question. But health IMO is not the key reason to become vegan, because omnivorous diets can also be very healthful. If the goal is health, focus on healthy eating, using foods you enjoy that contribute to that. It's not super complicated: Get enough protein, healthy fats, fiber, boatloads of varied, colorful fruits and veggies.

Adopting a vegan diet is a tangent, health-wise, a side trip. It's fine to do, but vegan diets can be unhealthful, too, and in fact it's a tiny bit more complicated/difficult to eat a healthy diet while vegan (not enough difference to be prohibitive, but that little difference does exist).

There are excellent reasons to become vegan (or a fully plant based eater, which is close but not identical). Those reasons don't include "it's the only or very best route to optimum health".

BTW: I'm not a shill for Big Meat; I've been vegetarian for almost 47 years. (Being vegetarian isn't better for health than omnivory *or* veganism, either, if you ask me.)

I can recommend this as "a website that will sway you in the right direction", or at least a more science-based direction, by providing some counterpoint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebwzk02o0IA

It's just an interview with an expert, though, not a lively and persuasive piece of entertainment.

If you choose to become vegan, the nutrition site and recipe sites recommended above are good sources for nutritional info and recipes respectively (I wouldn't necessarily trust all the recipe blogs/sites for detailed nutritional advice, because there are a lot of myths common in the world. People like to believe that their way of eating is objectively "best", and we tend to collect information to help us believe that's).

Best wishes!

I was a vegetarian for 10 years and slowly transitioned into veganism 18 months ago. I personally didn't want to support the dairy industry anymore. Additionally, I was having major digestive issues eating eggs and cheese.

Here are some things that helped me:

Researching vegan crock pot meals. There are so many!

Imperfectfoods.com has some awesome and affordable plant-based options along with produce.

Track your protein!

I've always taken multivitamins, but I added an iron supplement to my daily routine.

Like all successful lifestyle changes, veganism has roadblocks you must maneuver. You have to plan holidays and outings more closely as there aren't always a lot of vegan options.

CICO is king. Track your calories.

Be prepared for everyone's opinion and commentary on the lifestyle. I've personally never been healthier; my blood pressure and cholesterol are lower than ever and I've lost 87lbs since January, 2020. Prior to this I tried everything from Weight Watchers to the low carb lifestyle without long-term success.

Been a vegan for 8ish years- kinda lost count and a vveggie for 7more before that. No websites to suggest but I do have an open diary if you want to add me and see some meal ideas.

I try to eat plant based breakfast and lunches a lot just so I have lower calories. My easy go to breakfast is two pieces of low calorie bread with either avocado or this hummus like spread I make by blending garbanzo beans with water and seasonings. I typically make a fruit smoothie with just fruit and water too. For lunch I make a big batch of soup with whatever veggies I have on hand and a handful of pasta or rice. I have also done baked potatoes with a vegan chili on top. That's super filling, very low calorie, and cheap.

I have been vegetarian for 20+ years. Sad to say, I have not been healthy about my food choices and have overeaten for most of that time. Now I struggle with health issues, to no fault but my own. I am in the process of getting back on track and transitioning from vegetarian to whole food/ plant based. I can use some more plant based friends. Feel free to add me.

As far as recipes... I recently have become obsessed with making cashew "cheese". I use it as a dip for veggies, thin it out and use as a salad dressing, put on top of foods. It is so good!

I get most of my nutrients from fortified cereals and Vega premade shakes (not vegan but don't eat many animal products and don't believe in eating pork). I respect the vegan lifestyle but I do think it's super important to support local honey beekeepers by purchasing their products bc of colony collapse and the importance of healthy bee's to our plantbased foods 💛🐝🖤

Have a look at the Veganuary website.

They encourage people to go vegan for a month to try it, so the recipes are easy.