Going from a vegetarian to a vegan? Is it a big switch or not?!
Anyway I want to be vegan and I want to know if this is really worth it and if someone can give me some great tips on food or supplements or something. I would at least like to give it a try. thanks!
Answers: I have been a vegetarian for 3 years. I want to be a vegan, but I know it's hard and you have to take supplements and stuff. First I want to say to non vegetarians that if you are not a vegetarian you should try it. I did when I was 13 because I was a little chubby and ate junk all the time. The moment I started it felt great! I just felt so good inside my body just felt normal. I dropped the 20 lbs I needed instantly and began exercising. Now I'm 16 and live a healthy lifestyle.
Anyway I want to be vegan and I want to know if this is really worth it and if someone can give me some great tips on food or supplements or something. I would at least like to give it a try. thanks!
I wouldn't say it's that big of a switch. The brand 'Tofutti' makes vegan cream cheese, EXCELLENT ice 'cream' and even sour cream. It's great stuff. Silk makes a soy yogurt [blueberry is the best!] and I'm partial to Nayonaise and Veganaise as mayo replacements. Nayo even makes a great "ranch" dressing.
The biggest hurdle for me was baking without eggs but after a few months I figured it out. It depends upon what you're exactly baking.
Cheese was VERY hard to replace at first. "Follow Your Heart" makes a great cheese for melting on pizza. It's a little stringy and very melty but not heavy or greasy. Cubed and baked tofu replaced cubed cheese pretty well [especially if marinated first]. Mac & cheese is about the only irreplaceable thing. Scrambled tofu is a GREAT replacement for scrambled eggs.
All in all, it's not hard if you know where to buy and what to buy.
EDIT : for those who are suggesting that you could no longer eat bread or pasta, you should know that that only applies to bread/pasta made with egg or whey. As for Caesar Salad mentioned by someone... caesar dressing is not even vegetarian.. it's made with fish.
Yes it is a big change to do that switch!
You might feel weak for 3 days since there isnt any animal byproducts. I asked my grandma just now, shes vegan for 50 years and shes only 70
Well, since you are already looking at ingredients it probably won't be too hard to cut out dairy and eggs as well. There is soy milk, soy cheese, and fake egg and fake mayonaise too.
Good luck! Take calcium, vitamins, and B-12!!!
I was watching a show with vegans and they do not wear or have anything leather or suede or anything that comes from animal whatsoever.
You should take supplements. amino acid complex would be a good start.
You should definitely do it.Take flax everyday and make sure you get your B vitamins.
well....im been a vegetarian for 4 years and lately i have been thinking of making the switch ut then i thought of all the things that i could not eat...
bread....which makes up a whole bunch of food
sandwiches
pizza
pasta
some protien shakes that are very important
ceasar salad
but on the other hand you can get many altertnatives to these foods at a health food store.
honestly I was only vegetarian for a year and a half before I decided to become vegan. I feel like it was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made.
The first week was difficult but once I got it into my head that animals shouldn't be used food in ANY way, it was down hill from there.
If anything I find the clothing selection to be difficult. I have a hard time still adjusting to that.
As far as food, I just cook everything myself most of the time, and put soymilk and veggie oil in everything that I can get away with putting it in...
Granolla bars are awesome, and fruit cups are nice when your feeling low on energy...