Being vegan or raw vegan in a small meat eating town...help me??

Question

I am a vegetarian and have been for about 4 years now, but I'd love to become a vegan and maybe a raw vegan as well. The only problem is I live 30 miles away from anywhere that sells vegan 'meat', and a little over an hour away from anywhere that sells vegan cheese, and even seaweed sheets. Yes. That's right. It sucks here.

I feel my only option to being vegan are the fruits and veggies in the produce section. Would this be healthier than all the fake cheeses and sauces the far away stores have? Or am I doomed to be malnourished?? I'd really love some advice.

Answer 1

Just make sure you get plenty of beans for protein, and maybe take calcium tablets and other vitamins? Go to a health store and ask them what vitamins you need to take daily if you are vegan. They'll know. I'm sorry, I could not imagine a lifestyle where I could not eat as much cheese as i want, which is why I'm content to be vegetarian. Or you could try ordering these items frozen, in bulk, online.Sorry, I couldn't offer any websites.

"I fully support you and wish you luck on this endeavor." *One of my favorite phrases that I use any time I can!!!*

EDIT: and "Krister", I'm pretty sure most breads and pastas have milk, eggs, oil, and other animal products in them, and I've seen that same text that you've copied and pasted onto like, 3 vegetarian questions.

Answer 2

i'm a vegetarian, but i know stores sell plenty of alternative foods like you can get peanuts, vegetarian beans, and the stores should have some soy milk and i also see some thing like veganaise. but all you need now are plants and veggies. but i'm guessing you also need calcium, at costco there are these little gummie bears that have lots of calcium and doesn't have any milk, eggs, or any thing that comes from animals. i use penuts and beans to get protien so its pretty easy to me right now. but i hope that some day i'll have the guts to become vegan like you.

good luck!

Answer 3

You don't need any of that special, over-priced stuff.

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentil, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can easily offer everything that you need except B12.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement regularly since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status that is lower than recommended.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

It may help you if you see proof that vegetarians have the same potential as anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

If you need meat or dairy during any stage of your life or to live any certain lifestyle, why does the American Dietetic Association say otherwise?

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 4

You definitely don't NEED fake meat and cheese to be a vegan. But it does help for variety. Have you thought about going to those far stores and buying a bunch of the stuff you like and putting it in a cooler on the way home? Most of that stuff has a long shelf life, so it will be fine in the fridge for awhile. Also, do you have any vegan cookbooks? They have some that have recipes that you can make your own meat and cheese replacement foods. Check it out on Amazon or at a bookstore. There are tons of vegan cookbooks nowadays. Or even look for recipes on the internet. You just have to be creative...you can do it!