I want to become a vegan but I don't know where to begin?

Question

I have decided that I am going to become vegetarian, but I am confused about what to eat and what not to eat. I know I should eat the veggies and fruit in there natural state but does this mean I can't buy frozen veggies??? Also I can eat nuts and seeds, but what type of nuts and seeds? A planters can of nuts? Is that sufficient? I NEED HELP PLEASE!

Answer 1

If you're vegan, you only need avoid animal ingredients. As long as there's no butter or animal extracts in them, you certainly can have frozen veggies.  I have them all the time!  If it's the difference between not having veggies and eating them frozen, then get them frozen.  You can have all nuts and seeds, but do read the ingredients to make sure there are no animal-based extracts or buy them plain in bulk.  One type of Planter's jarred nuts once had gelatin in them!  Yikes!

If you live in the U.S., there are tons of vegan shopping sites; message me and I'll tell you.

Check out www.happycow.net or www.vegdining.com to find vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants.  They will also list natural foods stores that are usually more veg-friendly than conventional grocery stores.  Whole Foods is also a great place to get veg-friendly foods.  Happy Cow also has a forum and little e-groups so you can ask questions to your heart's content.

Also check out www.vegweb.com for recipes.

For a comprehensive list of animal ingredients, go to www.veganwolf.com.

Answer 2

http://michaelbluejay.com/veg/eat.html this will help alot.

Answer 3

I don't know why people are so worried about "being" one thing or another. Why are you wanting to do this? Is it to experiment, fit in, be different? It sounds like you're confused. Just eat what you want.

Answer 4

Awesome that you want  to go vegan! This blog is good: http://veganpeace.blogspot.com . It has links to guides, information, reasons to go veg, recipe sites, foods to eat, other vegan blogs, nutrition, tips and ideas, just go to toggle post. Good place to start there:

http://veganpeace.blogspot.com/2007/12/n...

Some other sites that will help:

http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack...

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

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

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/

http://www.vivausa.org/activistresources...

http://www.bryannaclarkgrogan.com/page/p...

Answer 5

have half of your brain removed, so you won't need as much protein that you will not be getting

Answer 6

Well, what to eat and not eat depends on whether you want to be a vegan or a vegetarian (you said vegan in your question and vegetarian in your additional details.)

Vegetarians don't eat dead animals.  No meat or slaughter byproducts like gelatin, meat broths, lard or rennet.  Foods like dairy products and eggs, which come from living animals, and all plant foods are fair game.  You need to become accustomed to reading labels because there are ingredients like chicken fat in the most unusual of places, making that item not vegetarian.

Vegans, on the other hand, don't eat, use, wear, purchase or otherwise consume anything of animal origin whatsoever, regardless of whether the animal died for it.  This means we avoid the same foods as vegetarians, but we also don't eat dairy, eggs or honey.  We don't wear animal fabrics or purchase consumer goods (like shampoo and other toiletries) which are made with animal ingredients or tested on animals.

Either way, you'll want to base your diet on legumes (beans, peas, peanuts, lentils, chickpeas,) whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and you can also eat things like plant-derived oils, herbs, spices and prepared foods like faux meats.  Frozen vegetables are perfectly acceptable for both vegetarians and vegans unless there are objectionable ingredients added to them.  Nuts can be incorporated by snacking on them or by adding them to cereals, muffins, etc.  Flax seeds can be ground over lots of foods, sesame seeds can be eaten sprinkled over Asian entrees or ground into tahini.  As long as you're eating a wide variety of vegetarian foods, these kinds of ingredients creep in in places you may not even realize now.  A good cookbook or two will help you plan meals that incorporate lots of different plant-based foods.

Even if you're not actually wanting to go vegan, I highly recommend "Veganomicon" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.  The recipes are delicious, creative and will give you a good idea of what vegan cooking really means (it's not just fruits and vegetables in their natural states, it's much more varied than that.)

You'll also want to do some research into vegetarian and/or vegan nutrition.  Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina, both registered dietitians, have written two books on nutrition.  Choose either "Becoming Vegan" or "The New Becoming Vegetarian" depending on which you're going with.  They really are an indispensable resource.

There are also a few "vegetarian starter kits" available, which might be really helpful since it sounds like you don't know a lot about it.  Just google vegetarian starter kit and see what you get.  I think Peta has one, and the PCRM does too.

Answer 7

Make sure the nuts don't have honey on them.  Drink soy milk, eat vegan burgers, search around your grocery store for vegan stuff.  Always check the ingredients.  That's a habit you'll master in no time.

Answer 8

Dont eat meat...Eat fruits and vegetables..decide if you are going to cut out eggs and dairy products also..I am pretty sure you can eat frozen fruits and veggies, because they aren't made with meat..I am pretty sure it is all about the common sense..

Answer 9

Congrats on your decision! Vegans eat fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and grains. You can eat any type of these foods -- frozen veggies and Planters cans of nuts are fine.

Here are some good vegan sources of protein, iron, and calcium:

http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

Popular vegan fake meats and non-dairy products:

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

Try gradually replacing the meat, eggs, and dairy in your diet with vegan versions (like soy milk and soy cheese).

Good luck!

Answer 10

Why not get some books from your local library on the subject.