How do I become vegan?!
I did research about dairy and stuff, and it seems to me that the flaws outweigh the benefits, healthwise. How can I at least cut back on dairy/egg consumption? I dont eat any honey already, and I don't directly eat/drink eggs, but its in a lot of the food I eat.
Answers: I feel so guilty when I eat foods with eggs and milk, etc. But living with my parents, it seems so unrealistic to me.
I did research about dairy and stuff, and it seems to me that the flaws outweigh the benefits, healthwise. How can I at least cut back on dairy/egg consumption? I dont eat any honey already, and I don't directly eat/drink eggs, but its in a lot of the food I eat.
Uh, no dairy does not cause acne. No food does, unless you rub pizza on your face... Acne is caused by genetics and clogged pores.
There are a lot of alternatives to the dairy and egg filled foods you're eating. You can buy Squirrely bread (it's found at most super markets here) instead of bread that contains dairy or eggs; soy, rice, or almond milk in place of cow or goat milk; and so on. You can buy a good vegan cook book and learn how to cook your own healthy vegan meals (all you have to do is follow the directions). You can make substitutions with regular recipes too, like using apple sauce or Ener-G egg replacer in cookies, cakes, etc to replace the eggs.
There are tons of great vegan foods available, though you may have to shop around for them. Like I said, there's Squirrely bread, Ener-G egg replacer (it's a powder you mix for baking). There's also vegan cheeses, yoghurt, milk, chocolates and other sweets, and a lot more.
As for nutrition, you should be able to get enough of everything by eating a balanced diet. Remember to eat lots of vegetables and fruit - and vary it. Nuts and soy are great for protein, but you should not rely heavily on soy as it has been linked to breast cancer when ingested in large quantities and most people get sick if they eat too much. You can get vitamin B 12 from nutritional yeast flakes - this vitamin comes from cow products in a non-veg diet. Braggs is a great source of amino acids, too. You can also get calcium fortified orange juice.
You should talk to your doctor and your parents, though, to make sure you get all your required vitamins and nutrients.
Maybe you could just cut back on junk foods, like cakes and candy. Also ask your parents if they would use more soy milk in things. and Maybe you could drink spy milk versus the calves milk!
Thats what I am going to call it from now on, I am going tio say "calves milk". Like breast milk, soy milk, almond milk. calves milk!
Go to goveg.com. There is alot of helpful info on this site.
One thing you can do is straight out stop eating cheese, and milk. Start eating soy products. I know these things because my dad aha been a vegan/vegetarian since age 14 and he is over 42 now.
Hey, I'm 13 too and I'm not vegan but my uncle is, but careful with the dairy because kids going through pubety and in adolsescence tend to need calcium because their bones have to grow, so you have to find another source of it as well as protein from beans because meat and fish are not an option. Many biscuits and candies are also not an option so turn to things like malt beverages and stuff for sugar, as well as plently of fruit.
I purchased the book "Becoming Vegan" and it breaks down everything you need to eat to have a balanced and complete diet, complete with meal plan ideas. It also had some alarming statistics about the dairy and egg producing industry.
It is a very informative book, you should check it out.
Yes, it's true dairy causes acne.
Don't get too upset about what you can and can't do. Don't try to live up to the label - as it were.
Just do what you can.
It's easy to cut back. When mom asks if you want scrambled eggs for brekkie, say you'd prefer scrambled tofu - for it's nutritional benefits.
Since you are just a kid, it will help your parents if you read up. A lot! Check the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine and print articles to help your parents know you are seeking good nutrition and aren't just indulging in a fad.
Start munching on some yummy carrots.
stop eating eggs and dairy.
I second the recommendation of "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. It's like the bible of vegan nutrition and contains a section specifically geared to the needs of teen vegans.
Another book that is a great jumping-off point for new vegans is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living." Sounds silly, but it has a lot of great info from nutrition to reading labels and avoiding hidden animal ingredients to dealing with skeptical friends and family to further reading.
The biggest thing that makes veganism really easy for me is cooking. If you don't already know how to cook, you're old enough to learn. A good cookbook for newer cooks is "Veganomicon" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. The recipes are wonderful and they have a lot of good general information about cooking with vegan ingredients. And you'll be able to wow your friends with vegan cookies (try the chocolate chocolate chip - I replace the walnuts with dried blackberries and they may be the best cookies I've ever had.)