Vegan or Vegetarian???!
Vegan or Vegetarian???
I have a few questions here so just hold in tight.
1) I want to become either a vegan or vegetarian, which one should I become? Why?
2) What are some good began/vegetarian recipes that I can make cheap?
3) I am a minor and my mother doesn't want me to become either should I still do it because it is what I believe??
Answers:
Hi.
I'm 15 and I just recently became vegan and I have been doing it for 2 months now and it has been going great. It's funny because I grew up in a family who lives for meat. I would say do a lot of research on both and find out the differences and the reasons for those. That's what I had to do. There is no better way to find out what you want to become. Try to find out as much as you can about both of them or as much as you need to know , it might take a few hours, but it is totally worth it. I would suggest finding a good recipe book on whatever you decide to become and that will really help you with some ideas of what to make. I have some really good websites that you can go to that will help you. I have websites on recipes and also on the explanation of vegan. The main reason I have been enjoying being a vegan and successfully being it is because of my recipe book and because i always do research online to find good recipes. So once you have figured out what you want to become do lots of research to find some recipes and start printing them out or once you get a recipe book go and start looking through the ingredients of these recipes and start figuring out what the key ingredients are and get them from natural food store. Start jotting down a list of ingredients that have been showing up often and get them from your natural food store. By the way, make sure you only get the ingredients that can last for awhile. Don't worry about veggies and fruits until a couple days before you make the recipe. But the first thing you should do is get your key ingredients that don't expire right away. Get what I'm saying?
Oh and yes you should totally still become a vegan or vegetarian no matter what your mom says.
Hope this helped :)
OH and here are some websites that will help get you started and by the way these aren't all vegan websites so just give them a chance:
http://www.vrg.org/index.htm
http://www.veganwolf.com/index.html...
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showt...
http://www.vegsource.com/jo/qa/qalunch.h...
http://www.vegsource.com/
http://www.theppk.com/recipes/
i sugges you become vegetarian, you are still growing and vegan is way too extreme and and can affect you negatively.
Being vegan, you cannot have any meats, fish, eggs, honey, dairy, (sometimes soy)
I suggest you become a vegetarian that can have dairy and eggs, you need the amino acids from eggs to develop, you need the protiens to grow, its better this way for your health. Im sure you dont want to live the rest of your life without basically any good food because your vegan
You should become which ever you feel is right. I would just caution you to be sure you eat the veggies in the right combination to ensure you receive all the proteins you need. A vegetarian eats no meat and a vegan eats no animal products what so ever.
You should do what you fee ll is necessary and be able to explain in a clam and rational manner why you are choosing that life style and the ways that you are going to ensure you are getting all the nutrients that you need.
why would you want to become a vegan/vegetarian?!?!?! If we weren't supposed to eat meat, God wouldn't have made it edible. Also the design of the human teeth is that of an omnivore. If we were supposed to be vegetarian, our teeth be very flat and broad, sort of like a deer.
well, im a minor, im 12, almost 13 and ive been a vegitarian since i was 4, you should become one because you cant suddenly cut out a major food group, become a vegitarian because a vegan cant eat cheese, which is the only thing stopping me from becoming a vegan
vegan- but idont care about wearing animal its not an animal rights thing
its gross
a few reasons, just to start: its gross
no other animal on the planet survives by drinking another species milk
its fattening its designed to grow a baby calf into a full cow- duh
recipes- well i use alot of grilled veggies in whatever sauces earth balance butter etc.
yes do it
be vegeitarian, i am because if you are vegan you will become to skinny.
i am young to and i did it but my mom said it was ok but you should do what you beilive!
1. I would suggest setting your goal at veganism. If you have to start out with vegetarianism to get started, please, do so. However, for me, I simply made the choice to be vegan, and the next day, I was one. : ) Either way, make a choice and stick with it; no matter what.
2. As for recipes, there are TONS of websites (as well as cookbooks) for vegans. Just try searching on the internet once, and you'll find countless resources for all of your vegan needs. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be rich to be vegan.
3. I ran into the same problem when I decided to go vegan. None of my family really backed my choice at the begining. My mom kept telling herself (and others) that it was just a phase I was going through...she really thought it was something that I wouldn't stick to and would just "grow" out of. I, however, proved them all wrong and have continued my veganism.
Now, those around me have accepted the fact that I am a vegan and that's how it's going to stay. They are actually very helpful now that they are used to the idea. Just give her time. If it's important to you, I'm sure your mother will see that and try to help you as much as possible.
First of all, you have to study up on being a vegatarian or vegan, don't just cut out meat all together. You have to substitute the nutrients you will no longer be getting from meat.
1) I think that you should be a vegetarian first, just to get a feel of giving up meat. If you think you wanna go straight to being a vegan then don't let me stop you, but it may be a little overwhelming at first. Becoming an Ovo- lacto vegetarian first may be a little more welcoming.
2) beans and rice is awesome.
Cook some brown rice, add it to some sauted onions and garlic and black beans, maybe some cumin, salt, pepper. easy as that, and I'm sure you could find some recipes for it on the internet.
also my favorite food is brown rice with peas, and some lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Soooo good.
3) You should do research about being a vegatarian. And show her the info you gathered. Support vegetarianism from a health point of view(not ethical) You want your mom to see that you will be perfectly healthy being a vegatarian. because thats what moms usually worry about. Now I'm not saying this will convince her, When I told my parents I wanted to be a vegan, my dad accepted it, my mom still tries to sneak cheese in my food when I eat at thier house. So there is only so much you can do. Good luck.
Kristine,
You should strive to be a vegan. Some people switch right to vegan. I became vegetarian at age 13 and vegan at age 20. Now I am 26 and still vegan. Gradual change is okay! Veganism is the only way that animals can be freed from the inevitable abuse that humans inflict on them. I assume that you are disturbed by animal abuse and that for this reason you ask about veganism/vegetarianism.
The cheapest recipe you can make is beans & rice with veggies. I typically use corn or spinach, but whatever is around the house will work. Cook brown rice fully in a pot of water per the instructions on the package. Put oil in a pan with some garlic powder. Put the cooked rice, a can of beans, and whatever veggies you want to use in the pan with beans (black or other). Frozen veggies are nice to keep on hand and work fine in this recipe. stir the food around while cooking. I'm not sure how long, experiment with it.
Another cheap and easy recipe is pasta with vegan meat balls (whole foods and trader joe's sell them for $4/frozen bag) and red sauce.
Veggie burgers are great options too. Pretty cheap. Most brands have a vegan one and a bunch of non-vegan ones. Try a few brands and see what you like best.
Do the best you can as a minor. My mom was reluctant to permit it, but actually my pediatrician told her that I would be healthier as a vegetarian.
Good luck!
I would suggest that you go vegetarian first, simply because switching from a standard diet to a vegan one might be a little hard all at once. Most people actually become vegetarian before they go vegan.
However, veganism has many merits. First of all, eggs are debatably far more cruel than beef and possibly even chicken. (My honest suggestion would be that if you are concerned about animal welfare, you could give eggs up first and be making quite a difference.) Check out the link I've posted as a source and see why. "...more than 15,000 spent laying hens were tossed alive into a wood-chipping machine to dispose of them. Despite tremendous outcry from a horrified public, the district attorney declined to prosecute the owners of the egg farm, calling the use of a wood-chipper to kill hens a 'common industry practice.'"
And as far as dairy goes, if you don't want to eat veal, you probably shouldn't drink milk, either. Cows are kept constantly pregnant in order to make them produce milk (like humans, they don't lactate unless they have babies to feed) and all those calves have to go somewhere. The females generally become dairy cows like their mothers, and the males--well, they become veal.
Anyway, regarding whether you should go vegetarian or vegan, I'd still suggest going vegetarian first. The issue of how tough it might be to adjust suddenly to a new diet comes into play here, as well as the fact that your parents are making it difficult for you. Check out www.vegetarianteen.com for help on that matter. I hope things work out for you! Sorry this answer was so long!
do it anyways get some books from your library on either Vegetarianism or Veganism and read them also leave them laying around.. Your Mom if she is fair she'll see your doing it wisely and let you become one but don't be surprised if You have to cook your own food!
im a veggitarian cuz i cant give up ice cream just yet, u should try being a veggitarian first, cuz it will be easier then a vegan, expecialy if ur parents dont want u 2 be 1.