Vegan?????? 10 points to best answerrr!?!

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Hi. My main tip would be to do a lot of research. Veganism is fantastic when done properly, but you need to know a bit about nutrition to make sure you're getting everything you need. Work out what your body needs and what foods you'd eat regularly to stay healthy.

In regards to your specific worries:
1) I'm sure if you explained to your parents why you want to do this they would be understanding. If they're concerned about your health you could write up a balanced meal plan to show them that you can eat perfectly well on a vegan diet.
Be open with them, talk through any concerns they have and do enough research to be ready to explain to them that this is a positive decision.

2) Foods like brown rice, potatoes, beans and carrots are all fairly cheap but great at filling you up. Vegan food doesn't have to be expensive. As long as you plan meals beforehand you can make sure nothing goes to waste. Buying things in bulk is also a good idea because it works out cheaper overall.

3) As long as you keep in mind why you want to be vegan you should find it easy enough to stick with it. If it means enough to you then I'm sure you'll have no problem sticking with your convictions.
Once you've got into the habit of sticking to vegan foods you'll probably find it easier than you expect.

Good luck with it.
X

Vegan

Parents --- You've made the decision so just start making your own meals. If you take the work off their hands they might be a little more accepting since it's like you helping with the chore of cooking. You could also point out that your decision to go vegan will be cheaper for them in the long run because they won't be sharing milk or cheese, etc with you anymore. Most importantly, explain when it comes up for discussion, why you want to do this and how important it is for you. Tell them it isn't a phase and this is a part of you growing up and becoming the person you want to be. You simply don't want to be a person who exploits animals. If they're still upset you could point out that you aren't confessing to using drugs or something of equal shock value.

Hunger --- Love your carbs. Pasta is filling and cheap. Vegetables tend to be cheaper than meat. That's another selling point for your parents. It's harder to find vegan bread though. You could try certain tortilla wraps. Make sure that you're getting proper nutrition of course.

Willpower --- Read! Go to your local library and try to find reading material on veganism. It'll keep you informed and educated on the lifestyle you've chosen. Read articles online as well. If you don't know other vegans or vegetarians in your area, find a community online to be involved with. If you feel completely isolated in your lifestyle it'll be harder to keep your motivation alive. No one wants to be completely isolated so find ways to involve yourself with other vegans even if they're miles and miles away.

Good luck!

Vegan

I agree, keep in mind why you want to be vegan. I am allergic to dairy products, so I don't have a choice, I can never eat dairy, but I stopped eating meat in December of 2003 when I was 12. My parents didn't like the idea of me not eating meat, but I was just really stubborn and they finally got used to it. I'm not suggesting you be stubborn about it at all, I agree that you should explain to them why you don't want to eat meat anymore. As far as the cost, my parents buy my groceries at Whole Foods Market and usually everything my mom buys is pretty pricey, but it's vegan substitutions like "earth balance" for butter, and "tofutti products" such as cream cheese, and all the different cheeses that are vegan. If you're not buying things to substitute the legumes and rices shouldn't be expensive at all! I suppose it's if you start craving something like a cheesecake, where it will get a little pricey. But too... you could always get a job and buy some of your own groceries if it becomes an issue. And as a "must try" for vegan.... the Red velvet cupcakes at Sprinkles.... HEAVENLY!

Good luck!

ok before doing that suggest your personal dietitian to track your energy volumes. You can avoid meat being cheaper, and even stick to soy products or traditional products like Cereals/grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts,etc provide better protiens completely.

Your hunger would decrease coz of low richness in food quality certainly, but with time lapse and suggestions from your personal dietitian, you'll probably fix your daily score. Ya surely for all this, you gotta have a great willpower, if you lose it, somwhere, you would only waist your time trying all this loosing lots of calories.
To boost your willpower, try avoiding meat cusines events, similar friend outings & tv shows of products or adver on meat products.
Thanx.
My personal suggestion: Revert back to meat! LOL!

wikipedia.

you and your parents can look into the following information:

wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia has information

on veganism at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism

on alternatives to meat at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_analog…

on soy beans/soy products at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean

on alternatives to dairy milk at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_milk

and on alternatives to dairy cheese at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_anal…

try to use the one-word-a-search-idea with words such as: breakfast, lunch, sandwich, snacks, dinner, salads, tofu, casserole, souffle, desserts and smoothies in the search box of the following websites:

vegetarian times at http://www.vegetariantimes.com

and veg web at http://vegweb.com

for information on the health food stores in and around the area where you live go to happy cow at http://www.happycow.net

http://www.wikipedia.org

http://www.vegetariantimes.com

http://vegweb.com

http://www.happycow.net

stop eating meat

beans, grains, and other similar foods are all vegan, and cheaper than meat, so cost shouldn't be a problem.

the only thing that can be more expensive are all those fake meat products that you don't need to purchase.