Teen and Vegan Crisis?

Question

Ok, so I've been a vegetarian since December; every since I saw earthlings http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967

. I decided to take the next step and become vegan. In the state I live in, school is over on May 22, and I'm deciding to becoming vegan May 23. I know I can do it, I'm just really nervous. I don't want to miss the protein that I need or calcuim or any other needed body essential. My dad said he'll help choose my vitamins. I'm going to be talking to my doctor shortly. I'm just nervous. I guess what I'm asking is, is this a situation I should be nervous about. Anybody who Is VEGAN want to give me some advice. Just some background on being vegan and what's like would be good. Not saying I don't know what it is, just....what is like; the experience.

Sorry if, it's confusing, but thanks for all the supporting people who'd answered!

Answer 1

i am not a vegan. that being stated, i have a degree with some concentration on dietary nutrition and culinary arts. you're probably nervous because this is a big, new step for you. change always makes an individual nervous and doubtful...that is completely normal. you're doctor can help but look at credible literature on vegan nutrition to make sure you are eating a balanced diet. i can list alternate sources to protein and calcium etc... but you probably already know about them and if not any book or website on vegan nutrition will answer your questions. again, i cannot tell you how being a vegan is but ...its ok to be nervous, this is something you can do, and the most important things are to believe in yourself and find out how to eat a balanced diet.

Answer 2

congrats on the converting

treehugger.com has tons fo stuff

Answer 3

i was once vegan (but after a horrid crash, i had to go back to meat to get my blood back up, have yet to go back now that my boyfriend cooks it wonderfully) but eat alot of nuts and beans, they have alot of things in them your body needs. Check out www.recipezaar.com they have some vegan recipes, you can start trying before the full change.

Answer 4

Definitely look up www.vegsoc.org for more information and I would also suggest you read "The Food Revolution" by John Robbins and "The China Study" by T.Colin Campbell to understand vegan nutrition better.

www.vegsource.com is a fabulous site that will probably have an answer or an article for any question you  may have, plus lots of support.

http://www.vrg.org/index.htm is the Vegetarian Resource Group, another informative site.

http://tastebetter.com/ is another site with some good info.

Definitely take a Vitamin B12 supplement (usually a small tablet that dissolves under the tongue).

As mentioned by a contributor above, doctors barely do any nutrition training so really will have no idea what they're talking about regarding dietary advice, especially vegan dietary advice.

You absolutely won't have any problem getting enough protein on a balanced vegan diet. Just make sure you eat a variety of foods, and if you don't cook - buy a vegan cookbook or two and try out every dish in there!

Personally, I am not a fan of fake 'meats' because they are often full of highly processed ingredients, saturated fat (such as palm oil) and high in salt, among other nasties. Just learn to read ingredient listings.

Good on you for taking the step to veganism. Is must feel a little nerve wracking because it's a big change for you but it's all about creating new habits and soon it will be second-nature and you won't be nervous at all.

Answer 5

I found the transition from vegetarian to vegan pretty simple.  But, I cook a lot, which I think is key to making it easy.  There just aren't a lot of vegan-friendly convenience foods.  Whether you already cook or not, a great vegan cookbook to start out with is "Veganomicon" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

As far as your nutritional concerns, you MUST pick up a copy of "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina.  Both are registered dietitians and have written the bible of vegan nutrition.  You may find that your doctor doesn't know much about veganism, or nutrition for that matter (they get shockingly little - or sometimes NO - nutritional education in med school, which is why input from a registered dietitian is much more valuable.)

There is really nothing to be nervous about, though.  You're making a decision based on your ethics and living according to your principles makes you feel really good.  And there is a lot of information and support out there to make the transition smoother for you.  A couple of other books you may want to check out include "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living" (sound stupid, but there's a variety of good information in there for beginners) and "Vegan Freak" by Bob and Jenna Torres.  The forums at the Post Punk Kitchen website ( http://www.theppk.com ) are great.  You can meet tons of other vegans, chat about food and recipes, about vegan cosmetics and consumer products, about frustrations with skeptical friends and family, etc...

Answer 6

i'm vegan and i dont even take any vitamins, i never felt the need for them.

being vegan isnt that much of a change from vegetarian. theres soy milk to replace milk, and theres vegan margarines to replace butter. the only thing thats ever been difficult for me at all is the cheese, just bc i used to love mac and cheese and there isnt really a good replacement for cheese.

when baking you cam use banana or apple sauce instead of eggs, i found that useful, and adding tofu to alot of things adds protein.

Answer 7

Congrats on going vegetarian and deciding to become vegan! Earthlings is such a powerful film, and so hard to watch.

Anyway, I've been vegan for about five years and I enjoy excellent health. To be healthy as a vegan you should:

1) Make sure you're getting enough calories for your body weight. (Sometimes new vegans don't know what they can eat so they just eat low-calorie foods like salads.)

2) Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains in your diet. A diet of mostly pasta and soda is vegan but definitely not healthy.

3) Ensure a reliable source of vitamin B12. Taking a B12 supplement is the easiest way to do this. You can also eat foods that are fortified with B12, such as some soymilks and cereals.

This site has good vegan sources of protein, iron, and calcium: http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

The American Dietetic Association is one of the nation's leading nutrition experts and it supports vegan diets for all ages: "Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

I wouldn't be too concerned about the nutrition aspects. Doctors get very little nutrition training, so be prepared for your doctor to be misinformed about vegan diets. It would probably be more useful for you to meet with a nutritionist.

It does take some time to make the transition in the beginning, but after awhile, being vegan becomes more routine. There are so many delicious non-dairy products and vegan fake meats available these days.... I enjoy vegan quesadillas with soy cheese, fake chicken strips, and even vegan whipped cream. Be sure to try a variety of brands, because some taste much better than others. Here's a list of popular products: http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp

Other suggestions... take it at your own pace and don't feel like you have to completely change overnight. You could spend a month or a few months gradually incorporating more vegan foods into your diet. Also, I would just focus on taking eggs and dairy out of your diet. Those are the main products that cause animal suffering....I wouldn't worry about whether unpronouceable ingredients (such as arachidyl proprionate) are derived from animals. Always keep in mind that the goal of veganism is not personal purity; veganism is about trying to make choices that reduce suffering. Obsessing about ingredients just makes veganism look impossible to others and this ends up hurting animals. More on this issue:  http://www.vegcooking.com/anote.asp

Good websites about veganism:

http://www.tryveg.com/

http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-recipes.a...

Good luck!!