14 and want to be vegan!?

Question

But i have a couple questions...why do people become Vegan? what does it help? what are they standing up against when they go vegan? what can vegans eat?

Ive been a vegitarian for a while, and i just want to take it to the next level.

Thanks for all the help (:

Answer 1

There are several reasons people become vegan.

It is healthy because the animal industry is not always humane and the animals get mistreated and sick and are fed strong antibiotics to keep them alive, so you never know if that food source is clean and healthy, including dairy and eggs.

Also some people don't think it is necessary to eat animals to be healthy and think all the pain and trauma that animals go through is unecessary.

A vegan diet can be very healthy if you follow it correctly.

Make sure that you don't only high starchy foods like bread, cooked soups, grains, rice and beans as they can put on weight and your body uses your mineral and enzyme reserves to digest them. So make sure you eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, I'd say at least 50% raw fresh fruits and vegetables which are high in minerals and enzymes.

Another concern for vegans is vitamin B12. A good source is Red Star brand nutritional yeast which is rich in vitamins and also has protein and tastes good sprinkled on soups and salads.

For protein, beans, dark greens, nuts, seeds, whole grain bread, hummus, natural peanut butter.



The're are certain popular foods that people aren't aware of that have animal products in them: french fries, breads, cereals, ketsup, gummy bears and most candies so just get used to reading lables.

It can get a little tricky when eating out, but you can order a salad with vinegarette or baked potatoe with olive oil and steamed vegetables.

I suggest to look online or at a bookstore or library for simple vegan recipes.

http://www.vegan-food.net/

Answer 2

Go to the library and get some books on it.  You can easily cause yourself major health problems as a vegan without proper education.  You much ensure you are getting all of your nutrients, proteins and vitamins.

Basically vegans don't eat any animal by products - no milk, cheese, eggs, etc.

Answer 3

go to Vegweb.com. all of their recipes are vegan and they have a lot of information.

Answer 4

if you cant really answer the question of why to go vegan, i dont think you'll make it, you have to have your own personal reason to go reason, mine is i dont want to hurt animals with my eating and by still eating animal products i indirectly was,

by eating dairy products you are supporting the animal cruelty to chickens and cows(and veal), veal is just a by product of the milk industry, and chickens are mistreated cause all they care about is the eggs, also they only care about how much milk they can get from a cow not the wellbeing of a cow,

vegans, contrary to popular belief, dont just eat salad. there are many vegan free dishes and alot of substitutes for food we no longer eat,

Answer 5

you should go to allveggielinks.com

then go check out some of these vegan books

Veganomicon : the ultimate vegan cookbook / Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

Vegan world fusion cuisine : healing recipes and timeless wisdom from our hearts to yours / [Mark Reinfeld, Bo Rinaldi and the chefs of the Blossoming Lotus, with a special foreword by Jane Goodall].

The vegan sourcebook / by Joanne Stepaniak ; special nutrition section by Virginia Messina.

Vegan planet : 400 irresistible recipes with fantastic flavors from home and around the world / Robin Robertson.

Vegan express / written and illustrated by Nava Atlas.

Vegan & vegetarian FAQ : answers to your frequently asked questions / compiled by Davida Gypsy Breier ; nutrition section by Reed Mangels.

The single vegan : simple, convenient, and appetizing meals for one / by Leah Leneman.

The new vegan cookbook : innovative vegetarian recipes free of dairy, eggs, and cholesterol / by Lorna Sass ; photographs by Jonelle Weaver.

The new vegan : fresh, fabulous, and fun / Janet Hudson.

The Mediterranean vegan kitchen : meat-free, egg-free, dairy-free dishes from the healthiest place under the sun / Donna Klein

How it all vegan! : irresistible recipes for an animal-free diet / Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer.

Cooking with PETA : great vegan recipes for a compassionate kitchen / edited by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

The complete vegan cookbook : over 200 tantalizing recipes, plus plenty of kitchen wisdom for beginners and experienced cooks / Susann Geiskopf-Hadler and Mindy Toomay.

Answer 6

Most people become vegan because of the cruelty towards animals--even for non-meat reason. Animals are treated very harshly to produce eggs and milk. Egg-laying hens are slaughtered after about a year due to the fact that they can't produce many eggs after a certain amount of time. Cows produce milk for their young, the same reason as humans, but you don't see females being hooked up to machines and having theire milk taken AND THEN slaughtered. Most of the people who go vegetarian also do it for the animals,so there's your answer: for the animals.

Vegans can eat ONLY things that aren't nor contain meat, eggs or any dairy. Also, any other animal products, which are common in ALOT of foods. Also, you wouldn't be able to use animal tested products or clothes such as leather and wool.

Answer 7

That's great you're interested in going vegan!

The American Dietetic Association is one of the country's top nutrition experts and it supports vegan diets for all ages: "Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."

People become vegan for various reasons. A major motivation is to reduce animal suffering in the meat, egg, and dairy industries. Vegan diets are also healthy, since cholesterol is only found in meat and animal products. Veganism is good for the environment. (The University of Chicago reports that going vegan is 50% more effective than switching to a hybrid car in reducing greenhouse gas emissions! See: http://www.goveg.com/environment-globalw... )

Egg industry: http://www.chooseveg.com/eggs.asp

Dairy industry: http://www.chooseveg.com/eggs.asp

Vegans eat a variety of fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, and grains. There are lots of fake meats that are vegan, and also non-dairy products like soy cheese and soy ice cream. Here's a list of some popular vegan products:

http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp

This site has a list of easy and cheap vegan meal ideas:

http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=07budge...

Good luck!

Answer 8

People become vegan for many reasons such as health, they prefer vegan food, animal rights, love of animals, etc.

A vegan diet is quite beneficial to the health and body, it is good for you. I have found that I lost a few pounds :) and my body feels a lot better. I used to frequently get headaches but, have not had any since becoming a vegan. It is said that on average many vegetarians and vegans live longer than meat eaters and are often at a healthier weight.

Vegans stand up for animals and protect their rights and do what ever they can do help them.

I was 16 when I became a vegan, becoming a vegan at any age is possible and very much worth it. Good luck, best wishes!

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me.

Answer 9

you are a brave soul for wanting to go vegan!! I am a vegetarian and I don't think I could do the whole no eggs, no milk thing.. vegans are very strict on the no animal policy, they don't want to consume (or wear) anything that ever touched an animal pretty much. There are alot of resources out there for vegans, its such a brotherhood, more so than vegetarians since its such a dramatic lifestyle. you have to know EXACTLY what is in the food you are eating which is sometimes hard when you are at a restaurant. It gets easier over time, my friend is one and he usually is pretty sure what has eggs and milk and what doesn't but sometimes its honestly a guess!! Look up and try out some vegan recipes and practice looking at labels at grocery stores for animal products. it will get you into the groove.. Good luck!!!

Answer 10

I'm curious why you would want to be vegan when you don't really seem to know what it's all about?  I can tell you why *I* went vegan, but it doesn't mean much if you don't know your own reasons.

I was vegetarian for a loooong time before I went vegan.  I knew I was doing something good for animals, good for the environment and good for my health by being vegetarian, but I didn't think about it much beyond that.  Then I did some reading and learned about how dairy cows and laying hens are treated while they're producing, and learned about how the dairy industry directly supports the veal industry, and I realized that *for me* I wasn't doing enough to reduce animal suffering and cruelty.  I also realized that breeding cattle in large numbers is harmful to the environment and a waste of water and resources, whether that cow is used for beef or for milk (or both, dairy cows don't get to retire when they are too old to produce milk, they are slaughtered for food.)  And some of my reading convinced me that dairy foods were not good for human health.  So, I had a lot of reasons to take it to the next level, as you put it.

Vegans don't eat, use or wear anything that comes from an animal.  This still leaves a lot to eat if you're creative, open-minded (and if you are willing to do some cooking.)  We eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, oils and everything made from them.  The best thing to do is to get a vegan cookbook (that matches up with your level of skill in the kitchen) and try a bunch of new recipes.  That will give you an idea of whether you think it's doable.

The other thing I *strongly* recommend is doing some research into nutrition.  "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina is a very good resource; they include a chapter for growing vegans because at 14 you have more nutritional needs than an adult.  But the good thing is that the American Dietetic Association says that properly planned vegan diets are appropriate for all life stages.  It just takes some knowledge to work out the "properly planned" part.

Answer 11

People become vegan for a lot of different reasons. Common reasons are animal rights, graphic videos, moral beliefs, religious beliefs, health benefits, no desire to put unknown or potential cancerous/toxic chemicals into their bodies, dietary/health related issues, weight-loss, living a more 'green' life, and the list can go on. It really just depends on the individual. Many that go vegan do so for more than one of these reasons, possibly all.

What does it help? It can potentially help in all of the above areas. Animals are often treated terribly and live miserable lives then killed inhumanely. There are some who have religious views and so that fulfills them spiritually so they can attain a more peaceful life/afterlife. There are a lot of health benefits (despite what a lot of people will tell you, I urge you to seek out the ADieteticA, the FDA, the Cancer Institute, ADiabeticA, and other leading health organizations for medical studies/opinions) such as lowering cholestoral, decrease in heart-related diseases, weight-loss, better glucose/diabetes management, cancer prevention, and so on.  Many believe that going vegan does help the environment because it uses less energy to produce the food vs. the animals and because it takes so much to feed animals that feed people that more food would be available along with other beliefs.

Vegans can't eat anything derived from an animal. No milk. No eggs. No hidden animal ingredients (but this list can be large but if you know what to look for, you do ok).

What are they standing up against? Depends on what you mean. I notice a lot face social issues but I personally haven't had a lot of that. It can be hard if you live with family/partners that don't support it- which might make cooking and food purchasing more complicated but again, that depends on you and your relationships. Living with you parents and them allowing you to go vegan (in a healthy way!!!) could be an issue.

The hardest parts are typically having the willpower to do it and stick with it and educating yourself. If you can do both, it's not that hard. I really hope this helps.

Do a lot of reading= ) You'll learn a lot.

Answer 12

People become vegans for moral reasons, basically. However, the only way to get complete protein is through meat, eggs and dairy or through soy. If you don't get complete protein, your body uses the protein for energy instead of growth and repair.

You need to be very careful with soy. A lot of soy is genetically modified and genetically modified foods have so many bad things in them. Even if you get organic soy, it is ridiculously high in estrogen. Having an imbalance of estrogen can cause tumors to form. It is also known to lower men's sperm counts.

If you're still serious about being a vegan, wait until you have finished growing at least.