Tips on going vegan?!
Near the end of last month I started thinking about going vegan and now I'm sure I want to do it, but I need some tips!. ie: what to eat, vitamins, dairy alternatives, exercise options, how to break it to my parents ((i'm a 15 year old girl to two very meat eating parents)) etc!. Any help would be appreciated :]Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Making a major dietary change is a perfect opportunity to brush up on your nutritional knowledge!. Doing so will also help you to talk to your parents about it since they will undoubtedly (and probably misguidedly) be concerned about how you will nourish yourself!. Pick up a copy of "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina!. Both are registered dietitians and they've pretty much written the bible of vegan nutrition!. You'll answer your own questions about what to eat and whether or not you need to take supplements!.
Your exercise options would be no different than they are now!. Just like anyone else, vegans come in the couch potato variety, the elite athlete variety, and every variety in between!.
As far as breaking it to your parents, you have to anticipate their objections so that you're prepared to overcome them!. Usually parental objections fall into two categories: nutritional concerns and inconvenience!. If you've read "Becoming Vegan," you're prepared to answer concerns of the first variety!. As for the inconvenience factor, moms are often concerned that they're going to have to cook two meals every night!. You'll probably need to offer to help with cooking!. If your mom (or whoever does the cooking) is open to it, offer to help plan meals that can satisfy everyone (spaghetti with marinara sauce for you and meatballs for everyone else to add, for example!.)
Veganism is a whole lot easier if you cook for yourself instead of relying on convenience foods (it's healthier that way, too!.) A couple of good cookbooks are indispensable!. "Vegan with a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and "Veganomicon" by Isa and Terry Hope Romero are incredibly good!. Any of the Sarah Kramer books are worth checking out also!. "Yellow Rose Recipes" by Joanna Vaught is a winner, too!. Isa's cookbooks, in particular, have loads of delectable baked goods, which are key in winning over the skeptics!
As for dairy substitutes, there are lots of different plant milks available!. Soy milk comes in plain, vanilla, chocolate and sometimes you can find seasonal flavors as well (strawberry banana is on the shelves right now and they have peppermint chocolate around the holidays!.) There's also almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk, and even hazelnut milk!. You'll just have to try a few out and see what you like!. I use plain or vanilla soymilk for baking and almond milk for making oatmeal!. Earth Balance non-hydrogenated spread is vegan (lots of margarines aren't, even if they're labeled non-diary) and really tasty!. I grew up on real butter and thought nothing would ever pass the "toast test" but Earth Balance is great!. Personally, I haven't found a vegan cheese I really like, so I've just gone cheeseless and it's been fine!. There is a new one called Teese available by mail order and it's supposed to make great pizza, but I haven't tried it yet!.
Another book that has great starting out tips is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living!." Sounds silly, but it's pretty comprehensive and has some good info about avoiding hidden animal products and sourcing cruelty-free consumer products (like makeup and toiletries!.) It's worth checking out!.
If you need support or advice, check out the forums at http://www!.theppk!.com There's lots of good discussion going on there!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Your exercise options would be no different than they are now!. Just like anyone else, vegans come in the couch potato variety, the elite athlete variety, and every variety in between!.
As far as breaking it to your parents, you have to anticipate their objections so that you're prepared to overcome them!. Usually parental objections fall into two categories: nutritional concerns and inconvenience!. If you've read "Becoming Vegan," you're prepared to answer concerns of the first variety!. As for the inconvenience factor, moms are often concerned that they're going to have to cook two meals every night!. You'll probably need to offer to help with cooking!. If your mom (or whoever does the cooking) is open to it, offer to help plan meals that can satisfy everyone (spaghetti with marinara sauce for you and meatballs for everyone else to add, for example!.)
Veganism is a whole lot easier if you cook for yourself instead of relying on convenience foods (it's healthier that way, too!.) A couple of good cookbooks are indispensable!. "Vegan with a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and "Veganomicon" by Isa and Terry Hope Romero are incredibly good!. Any of the Sarah Kramer books are worth checking out also!. "Yellow Rose Recipes" by Joanna Vaught is a winner, too!. Isa's cookbooks, in particular, have loads of delectable baked goods, which are key in winning over the skeptics!
As for dairy substitutes, there are lots of different plant milks available!. Soy milk comes in plain, vanilla, chocolate and sometimes you can find seasonal flavors as well (strawberry banana is on the shelves right now and they have peppermint chocolate around the holidays!.) There's also almond milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk, and even hazelnut milk!. You'll just have to try a few out and see what you like!. I use plain or vanilla soymilk for baking and almond milk for making oatmeal!. Earth Balance non-hydrogenated spread is vegan (lots of margarines aren't, even if they're labeled non-diary) and really tasty!. I grew up on real butter and thought nothing would ever pass the "toast test" but Earth Balance is great!. Personally, I haven't found a vegan cheese I really like, so I've just gone cheeseless and it's been fine!. There is a new one called Teese available by mail order and it's supposed to make great pizza, but I haven't tried it yet!.
Another book that has great starting out tips is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living!." Sounds silly, but it's pretty comprehensive and has some good info about avoiding hidden animal products and sourcing cruelty-free consumer products (like makeup and toiletries!.) It's worth checking out!.
If you need support or advice, check out the forums at http://www!.theppk!.com There's lots of good discussion going on there!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Go to a nutritionist so you know what you're doing!. If you can't, make sure you research!. My nutritionist tells me to drink two cups of soymilk a day for the protein and the calcium!. I also take the daily recommended calcium supplements and a multivitamin everyday!. You can try the fortified orange juice, but make sure it doesn't have animal products in it (you never know!.) You may want to get a B12 supplement and take it once in a while!. There is no B12 in a vegan diet at all, don't risk a deficiency, make sure you're not taking too much in supplements though!. Eat peanut butter for protein, and have beans!. You can put them in your salad, I like to have a salad made of spinach leaves good for iron (or romaine--the darker the better), black beans, tomatoes, broccoli for more calcium and olive oil--very good for you!. Tofu is good as well for protein!. You should eat fruits and vegetables for snacks, and there is also soy yogurt which is good as well for calcium and other stuff!. Read the labels!. You need to make sure you're getting grains too!. Try to stay away from white pasta and rice, whole wheat is better for you if you can get it!. also listen to this podcast, it's very entertaining and educational!. http://veganfreakradio!.com/
You can subscribe on iTunes!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can subscribe on iTunes!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It's best to go a little at a time!. Start with meats: take out beef, pork, fish, etc!. and do that until it's become easy!. Then move on to milk, eggs, etc!.
Protein is the biggest thing!. Meat alternatives like Boca offer high protein, and eating beans and rice together is a complimenting protein!. For more help/support, try these:
veganforum!.com
goveg!.com
sugarrocket!.com/vegan/vegan-tips!.php
If your parents don't support it, I wouldn't advise it!. It's really hard to stay away from so many things when people all around you are against it and eating it!. Tell your parents why you want to (religious reasons!? convictions!? health!?) and ask for a compromise!. I'm a 15 year old girl in a meat eating family too and our compromise is, whenever my mom makes meat for dinner she makes plenty of rice or noodles or vegetables to go with it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Protein is the biggest thing!. Meat alternatives like Boca offer high protein, and eating beans and rice together is a complimenting protein!. For more help/support, try these:
veganforum!.com
goveg!.com
sugarrocket!.com/vegan/vegan-tips!.php
If your parents don't support it, I wouldn't advise it!. It's really hard to stay away from so many things when people all around you are against it and eating it!. Tell your parents why you want to (religious reasons!? convictions!? health!?) and ask for a compromise!. I'm a 15 year old girl in a meat eating family too and our compromise is, whenever my mom makes meat for dinner she makes plenty of rice or noodles or vegetables to go with it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
* Take animals and animal products out of your diet all at once!. People who choose this option often decide to eat analogs (vegetarian products that look and taste like meat and dairy foods)!. These are widely available at local health food stores, natural food stores, supermarkets and online!.
* Gradually eliminate the animals and animal products from your diet, perhaps over a 3-6 month period!. Add more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your current diet, building meals around these foods!.
Experiment with recipes from vegetarian cookbooks!. Be adventurous and try vegetarian recipes from various countries!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
* Gradually eliminate the animals and animal products from your diet, perhaps over a 3-6 month period!. Add more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your current diet, building meals around these foods!.
Experiment with recipes from vegetarian cookbooks!. Be adventurous and try vegetarian recipes from various countries!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
you can eat meat substitutes or w!.e u call them lol like morningstar farms, boca, etc etc i dont really read teh names of teh stuff we buy lol sorry if u really wanna know though i can look for you and tell you if u email me about it!. theres a ton of companies that sell stuff at local food stores!. great places to go though are like health food stores! you also need to take daily vitamins for calcium and just the regular!. also just tell them about how its healthier, how your helping the planet (you save about 400 animals a year by not eating meat) and how they torture animals their whole lives and how they kill them and how its like eating your family pet(if u have one)
if they still dont understand jsut refuse to eat any meat nomatter whatWww@FoodAQ@Com
if they still dont understand jsut refuse to eat any meat nomatter whatWww@FoodAQ@Com
Be careful with soy!. Many vegans will get all or most of their protein from soy products, and the truth is, soy isn't all that good for you!. Soy contains a natural chemical that mimics estrogen, and it can create problems for both men and women if consumed too frequently!. Check out the site below to learn more!.!.!. it's pretty important!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
be vegetarian !Www@FoodAQ@Com
Don't forget always look on the box to find out if its vegan!.
When you assume you make an *** out of u and meWww@FoodAQ@Com
When you assume you make an *** out of u and meWww@FoodAQ@Com