Help going from Vegetarian to Vegan?!!?

Question

I have been vegetarian for a little while now, and it makes me feel great! But I can't help feeling like if I am gonna give up meat and eggs, why not give up dairy products!? Does anyone have any advice... like what to avoid and what to try? Any help would be great appreciated!

Answer 1

I went from vegetarian to vegan a few weeks ago b/c I found out that I am now lactose intolerant. One of the best things is fortified rice milk. You can get any vitamins or minerals you are lacking from a multi-vitamin. It has 100% of the B vitamins.

Nuts and whole grains are great protein sources.

If you can just focus on ALL of the vegan foods out there instead of tinking of the foods that you can't eat, it makes it a lot easier.

If I can do it, anyone can do it. I loved dairy!

Answer 2

Without any animal protein, not even dairy products or eggs, you need to be aware of the traps in a vegan diet and you must do it right to be a successful and healthy vegan.  A lot of people do it wrong.

To learn what the traps are and how to deal with them you could do a web search for vegan + "health hazards".

Answer 3

The best advice I can give is plan. See a nutritionist. They will work with you with foods you like and make sure you eat the right things to have a balanced diet. The biggest problem with vegans which leads to idiotic comments like one of the above, is that people don't do it correctly. Being a vegan does not mean you are skinny, and unhealthy, and wasting away like some peopel believe. The ones that are, are doing something wrong.

The most important think you need to do as a vegan is ensure you are meeting you dietary needs EVERY day. You need to make up for what you are not eating with other foods. This is why nutritionists are so helpful. Also, investing in some cookbooks in probably a good idea. There are 30 minute vegan meal type of things out there.  If you are an experience cook I suggest the  Candle Cafe Cookbook. It's filled with recipes for wonderful, elegant meals. (But they are tricky). If you are not too experienced of a cook I would suggest the Veganomicon. Cooking is really your best bet. Prepared foods, even vegan ones, are not nearly as healthy as freshly prepared meals with fresh ingredients.

Also, experiment with new items like Tempeh, Seitan, Tofu, and the like. A personal favorite of mine for quick meals are the organic soy veggie crumbles. They have a texture like ground beef and work wonders for tacos, chili, "meat sauce" and the like. Just please, plan well and keep yourself healthy. If done properly, being a vegan can be incredibly beneficial to your health, but done incorrectly can be quite detrimental.

Good luck!!

P.S. Join the Vegetarian Times Online Magazine. They have a subscription option to get a free newsletter in your email once a week with a featured vegan recipie. Enjoy!

Answer 4

Learn what things are, such as gelatin. It is very commonly seen in jello and gel capsules. It is made from melted bones.

Sugar can involve bone char.

I am a raw vegan and continue to eat honey on occassion, although I avoid it and substitute agave nectar whenever possible.

Going vegan is something you set your own rules for. There is no written book for what you do and do not do. The basics are just avoid animal products. It is more of a learn by experience thing.

The best thing I can tell you is to include as many unprocessed foods in your diet as possible such as produce and nuts and seeds(both raw preferably).

Answer 5

When you go from Vegetarian to Vegan you better watch out for certain nutrients that are not as abundant in pure Vegan diets. In example, lots of Vegetarians and Vegans take B12 which is easily found in meat products. Also watch about for iron and protein. Spread out and eat more variety of vegetables, nuts, fruits, grains. Variety is key.