Fellow Vegan/Vegetarian/Pescetarians

I've watched a few documentaries in the past few months that all make a really strong case for a whole-food, plant-based diet. I'm definitely at the omnivore stage now, but both my husband and I (I didn't even have to work at convincing him, since he saw the documentaries with me!) want to move to a vegan diet.

Any tips for those of us just getting started?

I have been following a mostly vegan diet (I had cheese today and dark chocolate earlier in the week) since the New Year. I have a feeling I will end up a selective omnivore (free-range, grass fed, organic) on special occasions, but I'm really digging my plant-based diet right now. I feel lighter and more energetic.

I decided to make this switch because, while I had been successfully controlling my Type II diabetes by eating low-carb, all the meat and dairy I was eating has caught up to me in the form of high-cholesterol.

The only drawback for me is that my husband and kids are not veggie/bean lovers. Luckily my husband is very understanding and doesn't expect me to cook for him. The kids, not so much.

I've been vegan for 2 years now. I haven't found it to be difficult at all. Before I did eat meat, but didn't "love" it - I did love fish and dairy, but haven't craved it even the first time, which was surprising to me. I totally avoided all vegan alternatives to meat and dairy (with the exception of almond milk replacing skim in my oatmeal) for the first three or four months and even now use them VERY seldom. I have always been a more "whole foods" type eater, so a soy based "cheese" just doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather just not eat it.

My family is not vegan, but they eat vegan the majority of the time at home. I will cook meat for them if they ask. Initially I was cooking a vegan meal one night, meat meal the next until I discovered the vegan meals were disappearing and the meat meals had leftovers that sat uneaten in the fridge.

Vegetarian for 10 years...with some vegan habits (no eggs very little dairy) feel free to add me

I eat mostly vegan now (except for honey) and I blogged about the transition at http://sneakytofu.blogspot.com. feel free to add me and search for the veggie groups on here for yummy recipes and support.

Hiya, long time veggie here. And I'm trying to go (mostly) vegan. Fav cook book ATM is Appetite of Reduction. The receipes are all pretty easy & the Sweet Potato & Sprout Chilli is so good it's even got my sprout hating husband asking for more! His Mum wouldn't believe me till I showed her a picture.:laugh:

Count me in! My diet sounds quite similar to yours!

I'm a pescetarian, generally trying to be healthy and not just eat under a calorie goal. I love fruit and vegetables!

I've been vegetarian for 18 years (vegan for some of them but alas I'm just vegetarian at the moment). I'm also not eating gluten now as it helps decrease my migraines and I'm hoping it will eventually help my ibs.

Im definitely always trying to eat healthier -may. Of always succeed though (like the past several days as I had to put my doggy to sleep ); and so in comes the need for emotional eating-but at least I didn't go overboard) but anyway-always working to do better and would live to help others on their journey and have help on mine!

Feel free to friend me anyone that wants to help each other/share recipes!

I guess technically I'm a pescetarian I follow a mainly vegetarian diet but do have fish once or twice a week, I have found it has really helped with the joint pain I was experiencing. Feel free to add me.

I discovered Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Eat To Live book. He was on PBS late one sleepless night. Got me interested in health reasons to be 90% vegan. It's a goal. The book was extremely compelling talking about how the standard American diet leads to Heart disease, cancer, strokes, high blood pressure, and all sorts of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, lupus, type 2 diabetes, MS to name a few. It isn't about calorie control. It is about eating plants - not pasta, not potato chips, or processed foods. He calls it a "nutritarian" diet where you eat the most nutritious foods on the planet, namely the green ones.

I admit it was a difficult sounding process, but since October I've been working on my last 10 pounds and they are coming off easier than my first 10! Of course getting derailed by the massive holiday food parties didn't help. And not doing the "diet" perfectly yet but by adding so many veggies to my diet I discovered that I felt just horrible after eating regular party food! Felt like I had eaten lead and was just exhausted, plus my innards had come to a screeching halt! Feel so much better on his diet approach towards getting healthy. My fingers were stiff and very painful first thing in the morning (perhaps new arthritis?) and following his diet the pain is completely gone. The typical American diet causes lots of inflammatory processes in your body that over time create these diseases. Damage can be reversed over time by following this diet. I believe it!

My diet is open if you want to browse through and see what I eat. If you want to friend me, you can. I eat a bit of fish and chicken or a few bites of steak now and then. Hubby isn't pleased with me, but he can eat what he wants to, too! I am interested in living a very healthy and long life in the best shape possible. Getting old is not an option! = D

My husband is a Vegan here are some of the receipe's I have found that he will eat

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Kym1610/view/my-tried-and-true-reciepes-119373

I'm THAT vegetarian, the one who is reaching for the ranch dressing and is anything but healthy. I gave up red meat at age 12 and went close to vegan at 16 (no animals, gelatin, eggs). I have added eggs back into my life during my first pregnancy. I also occasionally take fish oil supplements, which completely weirds me out...but it has really helped cut my triglycerides down quickly.

I need whatever help I can get to cut down on processed junk (cheese pizza and breakfast sandwiches are my vices). I really want to cut back on sugars, fats and all the naughty stuff b/c I've been spinning out of control and don't want a diabetes diagnosis.

I've just started to cook seriously. I want to add items like quinoa into our diet, since veggie burgers and such aren't exactly a fresh diet. I'm also enjoying using seasonal produce.
I would be happy to be friends with anyone else who could use someone to cheer for them and help me remain accountable.

Vegetarian for 26 years ... Vegan for 15. Best decision my family and I ever made.

I WANT to be Veggie, if not full-blown Vegan, but the chaos of daily life keeps getting in my way! Lame excuse, I know, but I am trying to do more planning ahead, precooking, or slow-cooker type things so that laziness, exhaustion, or outside-demands don't keep getting in the way of making healthy choices. I know in my head and heart that I will feel and BE healthier on a clean diet, I just have to get my rear in gear! Any suggestions, tips, pointers (like the books already suggested) are greatly appreciated!!!