I'm a vegetarian and i want to be a vegan but i dont know if i can do it?! pointers? help?

Question

ive been a vegetarian for 3 years, i have always thought about being a vegan but i dont know if i could do it. im a typical girl: i LOOVEEE chocolate. i also like honey in my tea. and i like cookies, cant have cookies if theyre EGGS in them. this is so stressful for me that every time ive considered it ive just given up before even trying. also, my whole family is comprised of bloodthirsty, meat devouring italians who bribe me with MONEY to eat meat. no one supports me and that makes this even harder...please give me some pointers or some help.

and if all youre going to say is "veggies are idiotic hippie liberals who dont know a good meal when its given to them" then dont even bother.

Answer 1

Hi!  Congrats on being vegetarian and considering vegan!  :o)  I'm a vegan and I still have cake, cookies and chocolate all the time.  well, not all the time or I'd be overweight, but you know what I mean.

Do your research - you can EASILY find vegan chocolate (think dark chocolate) and recipes for cookies.  I'll post my favorite recipe - Pumpkin cookies.  ;o)

Good luck!

Pumpkin Cookies

16 oz. Can of pumpkin

1 ½ cups applesauce

4 cups white flour

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups quick oats

1 cup raisins

2 tsp. Baking soda

1 cup chopped nuts

2 tsp. Ground cinnamon

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 egg ( use egg replacer)

1 tsp. Salt



Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream pumpkin, applesauce, egg replacer, vanilla, sugar until fluffy.

Slowly add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.

Drop by teaspoon-sized .  Bake 20 - 25 minutes.

Answer 2

I was in the same place as you when I went vegan.

I was addicted to icecream and chocolate... and cookies...

Have you tried vegan chocolate? you know - chocolate that doesn't have milk fat?! ITS AMAZING! Try some Endangered Species chocolate! look it up online!

as far as cookies go, OMG, you can make some AMAAAAAAAZING vegan cookies - better than normal, and i'm not just saying that! I've made batches of vegan chocolate chip cookes and given them to cousins and aunts and uncles and they cant tell the difference and they love them!

just look up recipes online!!! You can subsitute eggs for 1/4 cup of applesauce and you cant taste it! seriously!

as far as chocolate chips, look for them without "milkfat" in the ingredients. Or just research it online.

Seriously, you can make this happen!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

ew don't let omnivores tell you to just eat meat...that's disgusting, and i know if you've managed for 3 years you won't because you've got to be smarter than that, after all, you did choose the healthy veg life style.

veganisim is pretty hard in the beginning to be honest, but it totally rocks. go to natural food stores to find stuff made specifically for vegans, and same in regular stores. I also bake ALOT [I'm vegan if you didn't catch on] I love baking and it's soooo fun. Also, vegans have such awesome options. Theres alotta sites you can order food from that's ONLY and SPECIFICALLY vegan, EVERYTHING on the site is vegan, and i mean everything. keep in mind veganisim means not using products tested on animals too, and other things among that like no fur, pearls, silk, leather etc.

also not all chocolate is dairy. only if it's milk chocolate. and they have alternatives to honey/choc also, like they have for meat and milk [like boca, morning star farm or silk soy milk] be careful though because just because what you eat as a vegetarian doesn't mean its vegan...like mos of morning star farms products [although delish] are not vegan. most have milk or eggs. Even Amy's mac & soy cheeze as casein in it i think which is an animal ingredient.

don't just jump into veganisim do ALOT of research before hand or you'll be over whelmed. take time and look up what products are and are not tested on animals. i don't use products from companys that use animal testing at all either... like i think proctor and gamble is the parent company of windex and stuff....one of their windex products do NOT to animal testing..do I use it? no way because i'm still supporting the company that uses animal testing...get what i mean? also most cosmetics are tested on animals too....if you have any questions feel free to ask, i love helping people with vegan/vegetarianisim ^_^

Answer 4

People often point to some food item and ask me, “Can you eat this?” My answer is always “Sure, I can eat whatever I want.” I choose not to eat certain things. When deciding what type of vegetarian you want to be, think about what you want to include or avoid. You don’t need to fit into one of these categories, but understanding them will help you think about your short-term and long-term goals.

1. Pescatarian (also spelled pescetarian)

The word “pescatarian” is occasionally used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. Although the word is not commonly used, more and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.

2. Flexitarian/Semi-vegetarian

You don’t have to be vegetarian to love vegetarian food! “Flexitarian” is a term recently coined to describe those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet, but occasionally eat meat.

3. Vegetarian (Lacto-ovo- vegetarian)

When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. People who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, but do eat eggs and dairy products are lacto-ovo vegetarians (“lacto” comes from the Latin for milk, and “ovo” for egg).

Lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a vegetarian who does not eat eggs, but does eat dairy products.

Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.

4. Vegan

Vegans do not eat meat of any kind and also do not eat eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products that may not contain animal products in the finished process, such as sugar and some wines. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet.

5. Raw vegan / Raw food diet

A raw vegan diet consists of unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). “Raw foodists” believe that foods cooked above this temperature have lost a significant amount of their nutritional value and are harmful to the body.

6. Macrobiotic Diet

The macrobiotic diet, revered by some for its healthy and healing qualities, includes unprocessed vegan foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and allows the occasional consumption of fish. Sugar and refined oils are avoided. Perhaps the most unique qualifier of the macrobiotic diet is its emphasis on the consumption of Asian vegetables, such as daikon, and sea vegetables, such as seaweed.

Answer 5

I've been struggling with the same thing... only my deal is cheese.

Gave up milk, eggs, mayo, sour cream, etc - no problem.

Finally I've realized that I don't need a label - I'm eating what I want because cheese makes me happier than being able to say I am "vegan" and secretly wanting cheese.

I love honey, too, but I find agave nectar is a pretty happy alternative.

AND I work with a bloodthirsty Italian woman who CONSTANTLY makes those delightful italian cookies with the yummy coconut icing because she knows I am weak... take them and throw them in the freezer - when they thaw out they taste horrid.

Dunno if I helped, but I definately feel your pain...

Answer 6

twhy do you want to be a vegan?  to be a true vegan is really tough!.....its harder on the body and you really have to keep your protein in check....sounds like what ur doing now is just fine...enjoy your self.  be happy and healthy....YOUR WAY  :)

Answer 7

as with all things, take it one step at a time.  find alternatives for your favorites.  they exist, it may be an adventure finding the one you like, but you can do it.  

start with the cookies.  search out a few varieties, taste them.  stop when you fall in love with one (or more) flavors.  then move on to the next.

honey...not you, the bee stuff...is acceptable to many (it is a product of their labor more than a product of their body, see http://www.pa.msu.edu/sciencet/ask_st/07... ).

for support, read Skinny B i t ch.  then quote some of it (uncensored) to your un-supportive family.  try bribing them - double or nothing that they can't make it a single day as a vegan.  don't worry, money or not, you are the winner here.

.

Answer 8

animals aren't dying to make milk or cheese.  and bees aren't dying to make honey.  and even if they are so what do you think the animals are getting stressed out when people die?

Answer 9

Just stop being a veg. u don't have to eat a lot of meat, eggs, just have a little when you want.

                            Good Luck :)

Answer 10

whats wrong with meat???  as long as its organic and you stay away from hotdogs your fine.  i like my steaks and hamburgers to much to become vegetarian

Answer 11

i am a vegetarian too. ive tried goin vegan so i practiced eating only soy. i backd away frm eggs and milk and fish. its pretty challenging. if ur willing to take tht risk i suggest u take alot of vitamins