Vegan group

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

I'm really interested in this and have been doing
some research, trying to make the change. So,
what would a day be like for you as far as menus go?
I mean, breakfast, lunch and dinner?
I bought a steamer and love vegetables anyway.
I'm concerned about getting complete protein
and having variety when traveling or just eating for one,
which is what I usually do.

Thanks for the thread.

oh, also, this means no eggs, dairy and fish, correct?
That would be hard for me I think. But still, at 58,
I think I am more concerned about health.

mego, i know it is sick, but i can't help laughing about the deer jerky and your comments....low in fat but high in deer meat...i guess we have to laugh sometimes to keep our sanity...i remember once my mom invited me to dinner when they were having rock shrimp...i said thanks but no thanks mom because remember i am very allergic to shellfish and besides i am a vegetarian and don't eat it anyway...so, she said, well can you come cook it for us?..you gotta love your families...and your boyfriend's family!!!...thank you for giving me a good laugh even though you weren't trying to be funny...blessings to all...this is a great thread...

Can you cook anyway...lol.. sounds like something my family would say. But I'm glad you got a laugh from my story- I laugh most things off myself so glad to share the joke :laugh:

Here ya go veggies!

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/04/wasabi-roasted-asparagus.html

Two of my favorite things: Wasabi, and asparagus. I mean really. Why not??

yummy....

I agree with you on MD and nutrition.

I recently had a discussion with my doctor on calcium.

I said broccoli has calcium.
he says no
I said soy has calcium
He says no.

Good one, doc! :laugh: You know, actually studies (several of them) have shown that calcium depletion occurs when one consumes too much dietary (specifically animal) protein. Also, countries who consume more milk products have a higher rate of osteoporosis. Go figure!

Here's a neat article. Don't take it for face value, but it's a collection of ideas and it give a couple good items to research:

http://milk.elehost.com/html/osteoporosis.html

Item 10 in particular, the Harvard study, was a very definitive study I think. If you go find more on it, you'll find it very interesting.

And honestly, I trust schooled nutritionists over doctors any day

my problem is cheese and yogurt. I don't eat a lot of either, but they are good. any good substitutes?

OOH! I hadn't heard about Skinny *kitten*! :happy: :happy: :happy:

But I have been trying to get my dad to read the E2 Diet. We come from a family of brisket, sausage, and steaks. We're Czech! I've been suggesting it to him constantly, but I think I might actually just *buy* the book myself and have it mailed directly to him.

And I might get Skinny *kitten* for my brother! He's so opposed to vegetarian or vegan, but I think it's mostly because it started with his littlest sister, and now his other sister and his mother are going vegan, and it's like caving in all around him. But he is interested in being healthy-*looking*, so maybe if someone *else* tells him (the Skinny B's, as my mother and I call them when around her little ones), he'll at least understand me, and stop bothering me and telling me I'm not getting enough protein and that God made animals for us to eat. (Actually he didn't, read Gen 1:28-30, and Isaiah 11:6-9- he calls us to "lead them"- as an owner leads a dog, a horse- a beloved friend and companion. The Bible often uses children to illustrate how we are supposed to be)


Fun fact:
Did you know that on the Standard American Diet (SAD- hahah!), men get an average of 175% too much protein and women 144%?? Crazy huh?

Fairly new vegetarian here. No meat in 4 months now, and still going strong. About the only thing I miss is bacon

Welcome msarro!

I am so with you. I was quite the carnivore. I could seriously put it away. I raised goats and sold them for slaughter in FFA, I ate steaks regularly, I lived in TEXAS... I mean, I was the T-Rex of meat-eaters. Then one day I thought, now wait just a darn minute... I've got some inconsistencies in my life. I love animals, but I obviously don't love ALL animals, if I can choose which ones to pet and which ones to eat. So I went vegetarian.

I missed bacon for the longest time, but now it grosses me out. It's greasy and dead! And then when I went vegan, I missed cheese. But then about 6 months into it, someone gave me a tiny bit of really high quality gouda or something, and it was so freaking salty and cheesy it was gross! So don't worry, you'll get there :happy: Your tastes adjust to appreciate more complex flavors than charred, salty, greasy meat.

hiya guys, the thread was dead for a whole month... is everyone ok

thanks for the link, Educated, here is one from me in case you still haven't watched Earthlings... i couldn't even watch the first 2 parts of it, so so sad...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142

Ooh, I'm going to watch it today. It's been on the list of things to do. Have you seen "A Cow At My Table"? It really makes you think about some kind of existential stuff.

And I hadn't realized we'd been dead for a month! Hah that's really funny!