Vegetarian to Vegan or straight to Vegan?

Question

I recently read about the abuse of animals in slaughter houses and having already been disturbed by the idea of eating meat I've finally decided to become a vegetarian. I'm 15 years old and at this point I would say I didn't eat a lot of red meat, mostly chicken. However for the past few months I think I've been at an all time low. Now, I never did consider giving up dairy products until I read this book. I definitely want to give up both meat and dairy, and no question meat right away, but do you think that I should start off by becoming a vegetarian and after a couple of weeks or so take out the dairy? I actually don't even eat that much cheese or drink that much milk. I know, I know, it is a big commitment and I understand the changes I will have to make. This is most certainly not a phase, it is just me no longer being ignorant of what is on my plate and how exactly it got there.

Also do you recommend any cookbooks?

Thanks for any advice you give.

Answer 1

I went vegan 'cold turkey style. I went from meat-eater to vegan. I just stopped eating animal products over night and I'm doing just fine. Better than ever, in fact.

I don't think replacing milk will be a big problem. I just started drinking soymilk and it tastes great and has protein and calcium.

Congrats on your decision!

Sebastian G: Umm...vegetarians who "add" fish are not vegetarians. Just so you know. And a person on a vegan diet can be perfectly healthy, so stop making generalizations.

Answer 2

I went straight from omnivore to vegan, no trouble.

Vegetarians are great but quite honestly could use some more commitment to the cause. Ignore the first person, fish is meat, vegans are not ALL skinny, and he is ignorant.

Answer 3

Do what you feel is right. If you want to be Vegan it is not as hard as you think. There are tons of  vegan resturants now and easy recipes that can be found online.

Hopefully you will be willing to spend a little more to get organic and special ingrediants.

check out: http://vegweb.com/

Answer 4

Your transition from meat-eater to vegan is yours to make.  

I made the switch straight from meat-eater to vegan because I wanted nothing to do with the industry and as soon as I had decided I did not want meat I figured I might as well take out all animal products.  I didn't get sick in the transition or anything like that.

Good Luck with your choice. It's the beginning of your new life.

Answer 5

Do not go vegan.  I've seen so many men go vegan and they're skinny as a bone, even with vegetable protein sources.  

If you're 15 years old.. You're still growing and need good food.  I recommend the fish and veggies diet.

you can be a vegetarian but you add fish.  This is what I'm doing.

Please dont' listen to the animal activist here, especially PETA.  They will give you false propaganda material.

Answer 6

I think it would be easier to cut out meat first, and then dairy, so that your body won't be totally thrown off by the sudden extreme diet change.

Actually, most people cut out red meat first, then chicken, then fish, then dairy products, and finally eggs.  Be sure that you are getting enough protein from non-animal sources, such as soy and nuts. If you can't stand the taste of soy, please don't even consider going vegetarian, as you won't get enough protein.  Humans, unlike rabbits and guinea pigs, can't survive on eating nothing but salad.

Answer 7

You can get all the B12 you need from soy milk.  B12 doesn't come from animals anyway.  I went straight to veganism.  www.meat.org.

Answer 8

I'm a vegetarian, and I don't eat dairy. I eat eggs 2-3 times a week, but I buy mostly vegan products (earth balance margerine, kombucha, vegan gourmet cheese, soy yogurt, muffins). I buy my eggs locally, from either a co-op or farmer's market.

I would recommend researching and trying the following types of cuisine:

South Indian (many of the foods are naturally vegan, in some cases though--just use olive oil in any recipe that calls for ghee, and soy yogurt in any recipe that calls for curds)

North Indian (uses a bit more dairy & meat, but has some good veg options if you use tofu in place of paneer)

Middle Eastern (baba ganoush, falafel, hummus)

Greek (falafel)

Thai (Yellow, red, & green curry are awesome. Some contain shrimp paste, but you can make them yourself without it).

Kosher vegetarian foods

These cuisines have GREAT vegetarian & vegan options which are much tastier than most american vegan food. I cook south indian food on a regular basis, but I am fortunate because my husband is south indian and my MIL showed me how to prepare everything (it's not hard, but it can LOOK hard if someone doesn't "show you the ropes.")

Indian food in general is awesome for vegetarians, because it is hearty, filling, nutritious, and very very tasty. Many of the recipes (especially S. Indian) were designed to be vegetarian, they are not "vegetarian/vegan adaptations."

Check out the following books:

Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Isa Moskowitz

Classic Tamil Brahmin Cuisine - Pure Vegetarian South Indian Samayal by Viji Varadarajan & Padmini Natarajan

Dakshin: Vegetarian Cuisine from South India (Paperback)

by Chandra Padmanabhan

Eat, Drink & Be Vegan: Great Vegan Food for Special and Everyday Celebrations by Dreena Burton

The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen by Donna Klein

Answer 9

I'm working on becoming vegan also, but I'm doing it slowly so I won't fail at it. For one month I'm giving up meat. After that I go the second month either cutting out all dairy or half; I'm not sure yet. Unless you have the superior will power to go cold  turkey I suggest you do it in increments.

Answer 10

It will probably be easier to be vegetarian and give up a new thing whenever you are sure you can commit. You could go straight to vegan but I don't think it's a good idea until you read up on veg nutrition and know how to cook a decent range of vegan foods.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/f... http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/index...

You don't need any special food to be vegan. Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentil, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies are all that you need. The only nutrient that all vegan people should take just to be safe is B12. It can be found in fortified soymilks or in a supplement. Most people veg or not, are deficient in B12 so you shouldn't feel like it's a flaw to need it.

Some people may tell you that vegan people are weak, frail or generally out of shape. Don't listen to them, they're ignorant fools. http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/... http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

Answer 11

If you think you can go straight vegan, I say go for it. Just remember than vegetarian to vegan is a much bigger leap than omnivore to vegetarian- so many more things contain dairy than meat. But it's totally possible! If you don't think you're ready to go vegan, go vegetarian for a few months. Let yourself get used to a meatless diet, *then* go for the plunge.