I'm thinking of becoming vegan?!
Answers: What are some vitamins/alternative foods that I can use to make up for what I'm not eating? Any other tips would be grand! Thanks!
Quinoa is a great source of protein and fiber, Soy/Rice Milk have B12 and protein. It really isn't that hard to supplement or get all that you need.
I haven't been a vegan for long (was vegetarian for about 5 years) and I was SO sure that I would be really unhappy without cheese,. One day I bought some soy cheese, I left it in my fridge for about 1 week and that night I decided to have a vegan pizza made on a pita, I liked it. I never went back. It wasn't even a conscience decision but I am glad that I am here.
At first, when I would want say a sandwich, I would think, Man I really want Mayo on that, but I would make it without and found that I really didn't miss any of it. I know some people have a hard time and get tired but it wasn't like that for me.
You should try it and see how you feel. Give it at least 3 weeks.
Good luck!
I'm vegetarian, but the kind where you eat dairy products and all that but no meat. So yea, meat is a good source of B12 and iron, which is necessary to live a healthy life. Also calcium I think, but there are pills for all of that. Or you can take a multivitamin to cover it all, like I do, and I feel great!
The main thing is to eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 (or take a B12 supplement) and eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Good luck and see the links below for more info.
Vegan sources of protein, iron, and calcium
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...
Optimal vegan nutrition:
http://www.goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutri...
Vegan food groups:
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/f...
Faux meats:
http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp
http://www.goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutri...
Check out www.vegweb.com for recipes and resources.
www.happycow.net and www.vegdining.com will help you find restaurants and health food stores in your area.
Deva makes vegan multivitamins--you can even buy them at Amazon.com or www.veganessentials.com.
Eat a good variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and beans, and you should be fine.
And read labels scrupulously. If you have a question about an ingredient, put it back on the shelf and make a note to find out what that is, whether by contacting the company or Googling it. Best to buy stuff where you don't need a chemistry degree to decipher what it is you're eating.
You can be vegan and eat fish it's called pescogan
You know, those big ol' molars--the "grinding teeth"--were put there for eating MEAT!!