Officially becoming a vegan?

Question

Okay I'm so excited because I think I'm ready to finally and officially become a vegan :) I've been working on it for about 3 months now and I have spent all this time slowly cutting out things from my diet. I wanted to go nice and slow because if I went vegan cold turkey, then I would have had problems sticking with it. But now I feel fairly comfortable (and confident!) and I think I'm read to officially become a vegan. Anyways the only things I do have somewhat of an issue with is eating out.I went to a Vietnamese restaraunt for lunch today and I lucked out - they had an entire vegan section! But most restaraunts do not have vegan options, unless it's just plain old veggies or fruit. I also have an issue with eating out at other people's houses, especially my friends because none of them are vegetarians or vegans. So how can I fix my eating out problem? I'm ready to go vegan and this is the only thing holding me back. All answers are welcome :)

Answer 1

welcome to the team, mate!

salads

soups

desserts

sandwiches and snacks

juices, smoothies and shakes

entrees

Answer 2

well first off Congrats! and good luck!

might have a suggestion for your friends house but I'm completely clueless about restaurants. I would just ask my server lots of questions about different item or send him/her into the kitchen to see if the cook knows of a different option. I would ask make sure to ask, if they are cooking something for you, to see if they are using the same surface for everything.... *worked at a sports bar and I have seen veggie burgers go right beside regular ones...* grossed me out.

I would sit down with your friends and simply explain to them about your decision, If they know what you like then they are more likely to make it for you. Maybe bring over a vegan dish to their house for them to try, this way they can taste it and you will have something to eat as well. they might even ask you how to make it if they like it enough.... of course you can't force everyone to try it but if they see that you're making an effort then they will as well. Oh but I would ask the host before hand because that might get a little sticky if you outshine the host with your dish...

I hope that helps a little.

Oh and Congrats again!

Answer 3

Hi! The authors of 'How It All Vegan' suggest that when it comes to eating out, it can be tricky so call the restaurant in advance and check if there are any vegan dishes. Apparently, Mexican, Indian and Chinese restaurants often have vegan dishes. Go vegan whenever you feel comfortable, it took me a while too. Don't feel bad if you make slip ups, just keep at it. I support your decision if it feels right for you. Best wishes! =)

Answer 4

When I eat out, I always try to obtain a menu ahead of time so I can figure out what I can order or how I can ask the kitchen to modify it so it's vegan friendly.

Salads are my best friends when I go to chain restaurants! I like them anyway, so it's not that big of a deal to stick with a great big bed of leafy greens. If you go to www.vegcooking.com, they have a list of restaurants that offer veg-friendly meals.

Good luck and many congrats!

Answer 5

yay congrats... :)

Eating out may be hard at first, but you will be surprised how much vegan food is out there. Most restaurants have vegetarian or vegan options. If not you can always ask them to leave out the cheese/eggs/milk etc. You can also ask for soy instead of milk and tofu or veggies instead of meat.

I generally like to know where I will be eating before I go out to dinner or lunch with friends. This means I can check the restaurants menu before hand. Many restaurants post their menus online or you can call and ask if they have vegan options or if they can customise your meal.

As for friend’s places, I like to bring some food/snacks/meals along with me. I always bring extra so everyone else can try some. Your friends are also likely to have vegan food in the kitchen without even knowing it. Here's a list of baked foods that are “accidentally” vegan.  http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/Ve...

I also like to have a small snack before I leave home that way I’m not starving if I only order the salad or something.

It gets a lot easier after a while, it becomes second nature. I hope this helps… Good luck ;)

Answer 6

I don't know you, but I saw your question, and just wanted to say congratulations, and good luck!! :)

Answer 7

allveggielinks.com

veggielinks.com

goveg.com

vegweb.com

supervegan.com

veganbits.com

vegan books:

125 best vegan recipes / Maxine Effenson Chuck & Beth Gurney.



  The complete vegan cookbook : over 200 tantalizing recipes, plus plenty of kitchen wisdom for beginners and experienced cooks / Susann Geiskopf-Hadler and Mindy Toomay



  The joy of vegan baking : the compassionate cooks' traditional treats and sinful sweets / Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.



  The Mediterranean vegan kitchen : meat-free, egg-free, dairy-free dishes from the healthiest place under the sun / Donna Klein



  The new vegan : fresh, fabulous, and fun / Janet Hudson



  The new vegan cookbook : innovative vegetarian recipes free of dairy, eggs, and cholesterol / by Lorna Sass ; photographs by Jonelle Weaver.



  Skinny ***** in the kitch : kick-*** recipes for hungry girls who want to stop cooking c**p (and start looking hot!) / by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin



  Vegan express / written and illustrated by Nava Atlas



  

The vegan gourmet : full flavor & variety with over 120 delicious recipes / Susann Geiskopf-Hadler, Mindy Toomay



  Vegan planet : 400 irresistible recipes with fantastic flavors from home and around the world / Robin Robertson



  The vegan sourcebook / by Joanne Stepaniak ; special nutrition section by Virginia Messina



  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].



  Veganomicon : the ultimate vegan cookbook / Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

Answer 8

Hey Mutt!!This isn't really answering your question, I just wanted to say congrats on going vegan. So congrats!!!! :D

Answer 9

Most restaurants DO have vegan options. I've been vegan my whole life. Just because there is no special section with a big "VEGAN" header doesn't mean anything. I mean, how hard is it to say "beans instead of meat" or "hold the cheese, please"?

WIth eating at other people's houses, the way I see it is you can a. eat before you go b. take something with you or c. ask your friends to prepare something for you, explaining to them carefully what is and is not vegan