Help on becoming a vegan?

Question

hi. i have been a vegetarian for a few months now and would like to become a vegan soon. any tips? what are some snacks and meals you like? once the school year starts again, what should i pack for lunch? i really want to go vegan, im just not sure what to eat in my house of meat eaters!!! thanks!!!

PS - im not listening to trolls. this is something i believe in.

Answer 1

Snacks:

Crackers and peanut butter, hummus, tofu pate

Bite size veggies

Tortilla or potato chips

Sliced fruit or peeled citrus

Dried fruit

Nuts

Vegan chocolate chips..hehe

Meals for school:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Faux meat sandwich with vegenaise or other eggless mayo

Hummus sandwich with veggies

Falafel patties in pita bread

Veggie, no cheese pizza (or use vegan cheese)

Bean burrito with salsa and guacamole

Answer 2

allveggielinks.com

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 3

I love getting raw nuts from the bulk section and you put them in a lightly salted water in the fridge overnight.  They have more nutrients this way and you're not getting over salted/oily nuts.  I also like to munch on dried fruits/veggies, soy beans, etc.  

Easy lunches are salads and fresh fruit.  Or what I used to do, whatever I made for dinner that night, I would double and save it for lunch/dinner the next day.  It makes it easier on you.

Try cook books by Sarah Kramer and and Vegan with a Vengeance to get an idea of what kind of recipes that you can make.  Warning: Sarah Kramer's books have a lot of carb based recipes in them and you can gain a ton of weight (trust me, I'm trying to lose it all right now! :))  VWAV is more,...advance I suppose.  The recipes are more complex, it's kind of going from college food to gourmet with the two.  Also, try picking up some other cookbooks that have ethnic recipes...I have a great vegan Indian and Mediterranean cookbook.  It gives you variety so you don't get bored!

Good luck!

Answer 4

Vegan Planet is such a wonderful cookbook - I recommend it.  Meat Eaters in my life still love those recipes.  

I would just say, best of luck to you.  And if you find it too hard at first, just be gentle with yourself and try to ease into as you can.  Making such a leap in a matter of months is a really big step.  The final vegan leap can be something to work up to.  I know I'm still working on it!

Answer 5

Everyone here has already listed a bunch of great food options - I just wanted to add that I would recommend you cut out all of the animal products at once instead of "weening" yourself off them. If you take it too slowly, you will start to think of them as a special treat, and that'll make it harder to give them up for good.

Answer 6

i'm not a vegan, but i just wanted to say "good for you"!  that's something i'd like to do eventually.  =)

as far as snacks go, you can't beat fresh veggies and fruit, obviously.

what about hummus with pita bread? that's a good, filling choice that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy.  my favorite is the roasted red pepper kind....yum!

silk soy yogurt doesn't use any milk products, and it's great with some granola on top or fruit mixed in.  that's a good mid-day pick-me-up or a good breakfast on the go.

i know people always think of salads when they think of vegetarians and vegans, but salads will always be one of my favorite lunches...especially when it's hot out.  just toss some sesame seeds on top, mandarin oranges, crunchy asian noodles, and an asian vinaigrette dressing and you'll have my favorite kind =)