Healthy vegan?!
thanks
Answers: i was vegan for about a year and then went back to being vegetarian..now i want to go back to being a vegan. the first time though, i don't think i was a very healthy one, but i want to do it right this time. can anyone suggest ways to be a healthy vegan. what kinda foods should i have in my cupboard. also..i go to school and i am supported by my mother. she doesn't like the fact i wanna be vegan again..so she doesn't really try to buy vegan products for me..how can i get her to understand that vegan is something i really want to be?
thanks
A healthy vegan diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Check out these links for more info:
Good vegan sources of protein, iron, and calcium:
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...
The four vegan food groups:
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/f...
Optimal vegan nutrition:
http://www.goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutri...
Vegan faux meat and non-dairy products:
http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp
It can be hard dealing with parents... try sitting down with your mom when she's not hassled or distracted, and explain that you've really done your research this time around. Tell her you understand what you need to eat in order to be healthy - you could show her some of the sites above. Ask what her concerns are and try to address them (calmly and without criticizing her). Maybe you could offer to accompany her when she goes shopping and pick out your own foods, and help with cooking / cleaning up. Also, the faux meat and non-dairy products make it more convenient to be vegan, but they're not necessary... you'll be fine if you stick with fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Good luck!
Vegan specialty foods are luxuries not necessities. A healthy vegan (and omnivorous) diet is packed with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, and whole grains.
As a vegetarian you should still be eating everything a healthy vegan would be eating. Otherwise you aren't a healthy vegetarian (or omnivore.) Fruits, vegetables, and greens are requirements in ANY healthy diet.
Vegan Nutrition: Vegan Food: How to be a Healthy Vegan.
http://www.downbound.com/Vegan_Human_Nut...
http://vegannutrition.net/
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/vegan-nutriti...
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/
http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info
for free and easy recipes go to:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com
Your parents can buy most things at your local large food store. buy the ingredience for the meals.
make dinner, and save some for the next day's lunch.
good luck.
Books are your best advocate. Books show your mother that you are working hard to ensure your nutrition and not just doing something silly.
Sarah Kramer's books, Isa Chandra Moskowitz's books. Vegan Planet, the Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living.
Check your library.
Stick with fresh foods and less ready made vegan items. If you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's you can live pretty high on the Vegan Hog for a modest budget.
Take a daily multivitamin. GNC makes a vegan-specific supplement.
Educate your mom and yourself on how not only is veganism not bad for you, it can actually be good for you. Tell her to rest assured that there is no chance of a protein deficiency, there's tons of protein in vegan things. As far as B12, you get plenty of that in your multivitamin and you can also get it through enriched cereals and tofu.
This link has a ton of sources : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd...
If at all possible, get a part time job at a grocery or health food store. You'll have some of your own spending money to buy your own interesting vegan stuff and you'll have a discount on top of that.
If not, go shopping with her and prove that it can be possible for even omnivores to be satisfied eating vegan foods, which they inadvertently do anyway.
Good luck!