Vegans-- I have some questions for you?!


Question: Vegans-- I have some questions for you!?
I'm 14 and I live with an omni family!. My parents don't mind buying/cooking me vegan food, but has anyone had this experience before!? Are there anythings I should look out for!?

What are some good school lunches I can bring that are filling and won't stink up the cafeteria!?

What are some quick, easy to remember comebacks I can use when people ask me WHY!?

What should I do when my friends and i go out for pizza or something!? Would it be rude to ask if we could get like a 3rd of one of the pieces cheese-less and with veggies instead!? Or should I order my own thing/bring my own thing!?

We're going on two extended field trips!. Both are 3 nights long!. What should I do about food!? One is in Canada, the other is in the US!. should I hope there's some granola bars in the hotel room or should I pack some food!?

Is New Year's a reasonable deadline!? I'm slowly cutting things out!.

I have very good self control, but will the cravings ever get really bad!?

What are some adjustments I can make at restaurants!? For example, if I go to an omelettle place with my family, would it be rude to ask for a plate of veggies that normally would've gone in an omelet (so cooked veggies) and un-buttered toast!? (so i can make a veggie sandwich!?)Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Fantastic!! Welcome to a great way of living & hope you enjoy the many benefits of being a vege!! :o)

Okay, I'm vegetarian but eat of a lot of vegan so I'll try and answer as much as I can for you!.!.!.

Things to look for are the hidden animal products included in food!. There are a lot of additives that are animal-based but you won't necessarily be able to tell from the packet - all those pesky things labelled "flavour" with a number!.!.!. now is the time to pay attention to them! But you've started in the right direction - the internet has a raft of information that you will be able to find these answers! In the end, you can't go wrong with fresh fruit and veg and if there's something you love but you are unsure whether it's 'vegan friendly' - just give the company a call, you will find that they will happily tell you what their products are made from! A balanced diet is the key!.!. oh and Google is a great friend!!

Oh yum, lunches! There are so many things you can get - look for sanitarium vegie delights (love these!) they have lunch meats you can put on sandwiches - though vege sandwiches are great! Some soy yoghurts are vegan and there are some great healthfood sections in Coles & Woolies now where you can pick up heaps of snacks to add to your lunchbox!. Things like soy crisps, nuts, chickpeas, fruit bars, vegan chips, all sorts of yummies that a lot have great added nutrients for you!.

The comeback I usually use if I get a bit of teasing (ah, you hippy!) is (jokingly!) 'don't make me send you animal torture videos!.!.!.' There's some good references for those who are really interested - like 'have a look on the PETA website and you'll understand why I'm vegan'!. But everyone's reasoning is different so find something that works for you!. There are also heaps of health benefits from having a healthy balanced vegan/vegetarian diet!. Oh, and depending on the person, a gross out like 'well, for example, do you know those lollies you're eating contain boiled animal skins!?' can work too!!

My sister is highly allergic to dairy so she going for pizza has always presented an issue but most pizza places will make you a cheese free vege pizza (though from experience you may find that some respond better to 'i'm allergic' than that you just prefer not to eat it)!. But even dominos has some options other than pizza now!. If noone else is happy to eat cheese-free, order yourself a salad!.

When travelling, I always pack something for myself just in case!. Just some snacks that I know I like and are easy to travel with - though you might like to check what can go through customs!.

Any 'deadline' you are comfortable with is a good deadline!!

To be honest, I personally don't have cravings for anything any more! Sometimes when I'm cooking something really yummy for someone else I might think 'oooh that looks good' but when I dig into my own, lighter and very yummy meal I think 'wow, this feels so much better!. better for me, nutritious and no animals had to die for it!' I guess it depends what you like!. And if you research you can find vegan substitutes for almost anything! (Try 'choculence' biscuits!.!.!. vegan timtams!!!)

Depending on the restaurant there are heaps of things you can do! If you go for italian (lots of great vege pasta options), you can get garlic bread made with olive oil instead of butter!. Most restaurants serve salads and some are quite happy to modify what's on the menu!. One thing I used to do at a restaurant I loved was get them to do veges and roasted potatoes (both on the menu) served together as a main!.

Phew! Lots of answers to your questions!. Would probably have more, but hopefully you will find that it opens you mind to so many new options! Remember that everyone is different and you need to decide where your limits are for you!. For example, I eat a type of yoghurt which I *know* has gelatin in it (oh the horror!!) because I get a lot of benefits for digestion issues that I just haven't found I get from anything else, but I try to cut out anything else that knowingly has an animal product in it!. Good luck and hope you find a good balance for you!!

PS Below are some great sources to start you off!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World
--------------------------------------!.!.!.
Hai “La Fille"! What do you eat!?" "Do you want a salad!?" "How do you get your protein!?" If you are a vegan-vegetarian, like my kid has been for the past nine years, sometimes it seems like you have accomplished the impossible and the preceding questions are what us vegans are often asked!. A vegan is actually the strictest form of vegetarian!. While a vegetarian diet may exclude most animal products, a vegan diet excludes all animal products!. Many vegans actually take it a step further and refuse to purchase or wear products made with or from leather!. What would make someone live a life with such restrictions, many would wonder, especially when the world seems to favor those who lead a carnivorous lifestyle!? I became vegan, not necessarily for ethical reasons!. It was just a natural progression because I was working as a counselor dealing with hardcore prisoners!. I hate NEGATIVE DISCRIMINATION!.

Currently the American diet and lifestyle is designed around processed foods, which contain meat or animal byproducts!. How does one choose to become a vegan and then maintain this lifestyle when there does not seem to be much support for it in the mainstream diet!? You’re indeed destined to have such a empathic, caring & loving parents!. The internet has become my greatest resource and friend!. Websites like vegan!.org and vegweb!.org offer a large network of vegans out there who support one another, I can also find recipes, online stores for mysterious products and when traveling I have used happycpw!.net to find vegan restaurants in places like New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and even Cleveland, Ohio!. As a wife and mother of three, I am grateful that I have a partner who enjoys being in the kitchen (sometimes more than I do)!. Being vegan, also means being smart in highest conscience and adventurous!. It means that you are willing to try new things; it means that you like to swim against the current!. Vegans tend to have healthy children, diabetes and obesity, which has become a growing epidemic (a side effect of the Standard American Diet S!.A!.D!.), is all but avoided in the vegan family!. Vegan children tend to eat and enjoy a much larger variety of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables!. You can see in most omnis families those kids “PUT ASIDE” THE VEGGIES AND WASTE THE LEFTOVER FOOD!. The best way to raise happy vegan children as opposed to children who object to such a healthy standard is to celebrate veganism as a true lifestyle!. If one takes on the notion that everything can be recreated without the use of animal products, and then it becomes an exciting challenge experimenting with delicious treats such as brownies, cakes, cookies and even making veggie burgers on the grill!. When a kid realize that killing even a small being is wrong, he/she would LESS LIKELY cause harm to another human in he/she future part of their life!. This advice is not meant for you, but everyone else in this world!. At least my theory became widely understood and agreed with!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You can eat a lot of food being a vegan!. Really, the best diet to be on is a raw vegan, that's what herbivores are!. So that basically makes it easy!. Fruits and vegetables raw!.
Unfortunately, we live in an addictive world so we eat cooked food All you have to watch out for is animal products in the foods you eat!. For example, biscuits, breads and muesli bars that contain milk!. Lollies or candy as the USA say that contain gelatine!. You can eat ice cream made fron soy, cheeses, milk, yogurt all made from soy!. We are an increasing race (vegans) and they are producing more foods for us!.
Pizza is easy!. Just order you pizza without cheese or meat!. The first time I did the waitress didn't realise what I was talking about, but times have changed!.

You're in a popular group, movie stars and singers are joining the vegan camp daily!. You're not alone let's save this planet, don't leave to govs they won't act until it's too late!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

When you say is there anything you should look out for!.!.!. do you mean food wise!? if so, look out for casein, whey, lactose, honey, gelatin and any other animal by-product!. Read the ingredient labels and you should be fine!. I'm seventeen and do all of my own cooking!. It's new and a fun way to explore different food groups!.

I'd suggest for school something like salads ie!. fruit salad, ceasar salad etc!. Sandwiches with vegan butter, tofu, rice crackers, peanuts and cashews - that kind of thing!. Get creative!

Here are some of my favourite lines!.!.!.

Idiot: "So if you don't eat meat, what DO you eat!?"
Me: "Anything that doesn't take a dump"

Mr!. Annoying: "So why don't you eat meat!?"
Me: "Probably the same reasons you don't eat humans"

Meat eater: "I always feel guilty for eating meat, but I can't stop!.!.!. I just don't have enough will power"
Me: "I wonder if child molester's feel the same way about child molesting!?"

Idiot: "Being vegan isn't going to help all the animals"
Me: "Being a nimrod isn't going to help you at all"

As for the pizza thing - I would bring my own food!. I can't stand those people who say they're vegetarian and order food with meat on it and just pick the meat off!. What good is that doing!?

For the field trips - inform the person incharge that you're a vegan, if they don't accomadate for you then do it yourself!. Actually, you're better off doing it yourself - then you don't have to rely on anyone for food!.

Being vegan - you slowly lose the the desire for meat and they thought of eating it becomes quite distasteful and disgusting!. You also forget what some foods taste like!.

Hope everything goes well for you! Great choice on going vegan!


Www@FoodAQ@Com

Wow Lafille!. I didn't know you were so young!. You are an amazing girl!
You don't really owe anyone an explanation!. But I know when you're a teenager, you feel like you do (or at least I used to)
Anyway, I don' t think it's rude at all to ask for certain things at restaurants!. Actually I think most places are becoming way more open minded!. At least here in Oregon, where I live!.!.!.there are a LOT of vegans and a lot of menu choices!.
As for your field trips, I'd bring a lot of your own stash!. I have some blood sugar issues myself, so I always have healthy food/snacks on hand since I don't want to risk doing without!.
Good luck to ya girlie!Www@FoodAQ@Com

im not vegan anymore but i used to be!. right now i am vegetarian, but i can definatly answer your questions!.

make sure that when u are buying chips, or even soy cheese, make sure that "casien" or "whey" are not labeled on the ingredients list!. they are made from milk protien!.

some good school lunches could be just a cheese wrap, or some flavoured tofu (there acualy not bad, i like the banana flavour) you can get soy milk boxes (like juice boxes but soy milk) you can bring veggies, fruits, even vanella oreos!! the shortening they use for them are made from canola oil i think, but not milk!.

some reasons are::
-animals are trapped in tiny cages , so tight they wouldnt be able to turn around!.!.!.!.(these are the animals that are used for milking)
-vegetarianism is very healthy if you do it right!. there is over 46% of the NON-vegetarian population is obese, and only 6% of the vegetarian population is!.
-they milk the cows until it hurts them, and it can get infected and sometimes puss is in our milk
-it has hormones that breast cancer feeds off of, so vegans have a less chance of getting breast cancer!.

well you cant really go out for pizza sorry!.!.!.!.


pack food!. there are grocery stores in canada and the us that sell vegan stuff, but they may be hard to find!. in canada there is a store called "choises" and alot of the stuff there is vegan!.

i dont know what you mean by the new years question sorry!.

well if you LOVE chocolate it might be hard to give up!.!.!.!.but no there not very bad!. i have bad self control, and i did it!. i onlly did it for a month but i stopped because i wanted to eat normal ice cream with my friends and be a normal kid!.!.!.!. so i stopped, but i didnt feel good about it!.!. but im okay now, but i didnt have milk for like a month after i stopped, it was just hard to go back, and i acualy prefer soy milk!. theres lots of different flavours!.

well what i did was for example if i wanted a wrap, i would ask for no sour cream, and no cheese!. dont make any super hard to make orders like the ones you sayd, most restaurants have vegan choices, and if not it normaly isnt hard to change one slightly to make it!. like just order a fruit salad,!.!.!.!. i dunno, but there are some vegetarian and vegan restaurants, so maybe see if there are any around your house!. also alot of places will either say on their menu or on their sign "vegan choises"

a couple extra tips:
-make sure you are getting enough protien, iron and calcium, or you could get very unhealthy
-soy cheese is descusting!.
-there are some meat substatutes, !.!.!.(fake meat) that tast horrible and some that taste good, so you will have to experiment a little bit!.
-soy ice cream is good, gelato is vegan (its italian ice cream with no dairy)
-ALWAYS ASK BEFORE ORDERING ANYTHING

good luck, god bless! <3




ps!. this took me a really long time to right hahaha!.!.!.!. and i hope i helped!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Hi,

thank you for being so mature thinking about your health!.

You can not become a vegetarian until you are 21!. Right know just be concern about what u eat!.

EAT HEALTHY!!!

kisses
maggi@nge
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