Going vegan......old style?!

HelenYorkshire · 29 January 2009 at 9:44PM

PS - almond milk - mmmmmm *drool* as a sweet treat,not in tea or anything. Also goes well with malibu. Don't ask how we discovered that....!

greenbee · 29 January 2009 at 10:19PM

I like rice milk

but I do make sure that I don't get the flavoured stuff! And admittedly I only really use it for porridge.

I'm an omnivore, but my diet is mainly vegan, as I feel better when I stick to seasonal, organic, locally grown fruit and vegetables... which is obviously much easier in the summer. Although I do eat some meat, fish, eggs & dairy, the majority of my diet is vegetables, and it is an extremely economical way to eat!

As part of this approach, I've increased the variety of ingredients that I use - I have several types of rice (black, red, jasmine, basmati, brown, arborio, vialone nano), several types of lentil (black, puy, red, green), millet, quinoa, pearl barley, several types of flakes (oat, millet, quinoa, blarley, rye, wheat) that I use to make muesli & porridge mixes. I also drink yogi teas, which I don't find need milk (although you can add it if you prefer).

I also use tofu - silken tofu to add to casseroles and sauces, block for stir fries etc, and flavoured (basil, red, smoked) for salads (very handy for taking to work).

I haven't found this particularly hard, as there are plenty of adventurous things to cook within the vegan repetoire... it's not all lentils and brown rice! I find aubergines and tomatoes extremely flexible (I'm trying to deal with my tomato addiction at the moment :rolleyes: ). As I've never tried to make my vegan meals as meat substitutes, I haven't felt that I'm missing anything, more enjoying something extra.

My GP was very supportive of this approach, as she agrees that a diet rich in plant oestrogens is good both in helping deal with weight problems, and in balancing hormones. As a result, I've been able to avoid having some conventional treatments inflicted on me, and have been discharged by the gynaecological consultant as I've managed to resolve something that they thought would require long-term medical treatment.

Go for it, and make sure you enjoy it, don't see it as a discipline you have to stick to rigidly. I you have the odd bit of dairy, meat etc it won't mean you've failed (it may mean you're dealing with a difficult social situation), but it you stick to it most of the time it'll do your health and your budget the world of good!

twinkle_star_2 · 29 January 2009 at 10:49PM

Hello all!

Am amazied at having so many responses and congratualtions and yay for all the vegans appearing from the woodwork. And Weezl, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. I'm starstruck! :j Hope the bambino is growing well.

Ceridwen - i did wonder if it was that particular brand of rice milk. Might try some different ones in the future. Do you have any suggestions?
HelenYorkshire - my mum told me about almond milk but haven't been able to find anywhere yet. Hope its as yummy in other things!
Greenbee - i hope my storecupboards will one day be as varied as yours!
Sam37 & fraxxmunch thanks for the congrats and advice.

Well, after the milk testing I was a bit full but have managed two bowls of homemade minestrone soup and some wholemeal bread. Being vegan certainly means I'm eating more!

Justamum · 29 January 2009 at 11:23PM

thenanny2die4 wrote: »

I spent two years eating a vegan diet and lost a great deal of weight as a useful extra!

I became vegetarian 25 years ago, and vegan about 5 years ago, and I'm still battling with my weight!

Anyway, congratulations twinkle-star on making the decision to go vegan. It's really easy when you get the hang of it! Pulses are always cheap and easy. Soak and cook a whole bag then freeze. I used to do them in portions, but now I just open freeze them in a roasting tin and break them up singly when they are frozen to put them in a bag. It's quicker to use them that way (about 8 1/2 oz is equivalent to a tin btw).

I agree with you about rice milk - bleeugh!!! The soya milk I use is white wave, which I've found is the only one which doesn't curdle in coffee (I drink tea black)

I'm going to bookmark this thread so I can see how you get on.

vixtress · 29 January 2009 at 11:30PM

ceridwen wrote: »

...and I'm sitting here thinking well "Rice Milk - depends on what brand one uses. Rice Dream...fine...no problem..Other brands....yuk!" - so worth a bit of experimenting as to which brand one uses...

this is very true, we use provamel and its fine. i bought a different brand last week and it was foul! complete with nasty floaty bits :eek:

were not vegan (or vegetarian for that matter) but the kids dont have dairy. i am always interested in any thread that might bring me new recipes though

had roasted veg and cous cous for dinner....delicious and vegan too

Patchwork_Quilt · 30 January 2009 at 12:58AM

One of our favourite veggie recipes is an old Rosemary Conley one

Splash of olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, sliced

Fry until browned

1 can chickpeas, including liquid
6 oz of green beans, cut into 1 inch lengths
1 oz bulgar wheat
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Add to the pan, with a little more veg stock if necessary and simmer until the beans are tender

fff_2 · 30 January 2009 at 2:38AM

ooh, how interesting to see vegan OSers emerge. i decided two weeks ago to go mostly vegan. have been veggie for ten years (half my life :j) and the most major changes are that ive switched to soya milk, stopped buying cheese and eggs (and milk chocolate of course). processed food/reading labels is more of a challenge though. and wine/cider!

i have realised that i was eating mostly vegan anyway, lots of homecooked things with pulses. so anyway i just wanted to say that i'll be following with interest!
x

twinkle_star_2 · 30 January 2009 at 7:38AM

Well, big thank yous for all the responses and recipes (and milk-esque advice).

I thought I'd do a quick bit of nutritional geeking over breakfast. One the questions I've been asked most since I announced my changed to veganism is 'but where will you get protein from?' Now this was probably the thing I was lest worried about since I was already fairly aware that pulses, beans, lentils, nuts etc all provide plenty of protein but I thought I'd do some research and here is what the Food Standards Agency's Manual of Nutrition has to say in their section on animal versus plant proteins:

"the nutritional advantages of animal foods over vegetable foods in practice lie more in the presence of associated nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron and retinol (pre-formed vitamin A) than in protein."

I'll discuss the other nutrients mentioned at some point but generally I was fairly pleased protein-wise. The FSA point out that vegetable foods have typically been labelled as 'second-class' proteins because, unlike animal foods, each individual source does not contain all the amino acids needed by humans. However, where pulses are short on an amino then a different source (generally a carbohydrate) has plenty. For example lentils are low in tryptophan but rice provides plenty so rice and dahl as a meal would be full of all the essential amino acids. You have to try to ensure that the two sources are eaten together (or shortly after each other) as the body doesn't store amino acids but luckily there are many cultures throughout history where the nut/bean/lentil & carbohydrate have grown up e.g. Rice & dahl, falafel & wraps, tofu & noodles, bean stew with bread, and even beans on toast!:rotfl:

Some quick numbers of average protein content per 100g, uncooked:

Whole cow's milk - 3.2g
Cheddar cheese - 25.5g
Beef, stewing - 20.2g
Chicken - 17.6
Dired red kidney beans - 22.1g
Peanuts - 25.6g :T
Bread white/wholemeal - 8.4g/9.2g
Spaghetti - 12g
Steamed tofu - 8g

I think I'm less amazed about how protein-packed peanuts are than how little protein beef is. I think when you're eating meat you really tend to think of it as a bit chunk of protein when, of course, its full of other things too.

So I'm pretty happy protein-wise. Even my lovely breakfast of porridge with banana and brazil nuts is providing me with some protein. Coming soon - the real vegan issues: B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D & iodine. :rolleyes:

Doom_and_Gloom · 30 January 2009 at 8:55AM

I find simple meals such as the following to be easy nutritious meals that are not to expensive:
Vegetable stir fries with noodles
Miso soup with noodles
Vegetable soup
Lentil soup
Vegetable maki
Salads (I make HUGE ones that don’t usually fit on the plate. Not very money saving but very yummy and if local can be cheap)
Vegan shepherds pie
Veggie curry
Veggie chilli

The list goes on really. I have found so far that ALL the meals that have meat can be made vegan. Meat alternatives can be expensive though and usually not very nutritionally sound, however every now and then won’t do much harm so using pulses in the place of them can be a better idea. I also find that dairy free cheese such as sheese and cheezly to be hit and miss for different people as well as different styles of the dairy free cheese. They are also not that cheap and again only really should be used every now and then.

If you start the day with a smoothie I find this helps. Something like bananas, apple, strawberry, blueberries with a desired vegan milk. I usually add wheat germ to this as well as a vegan liquid omega 3,6 and 9 mix although if you know you are eating quinoa later in the day you don’t have to worry about the omega 3, 6 and 9 mix as quinoa has all of these as well as being a complete protein for you. Nuts and seeds are also a good way to consume 3, 6 and 9.

I personally don’t worry about any vitamins or minerals really unless I am ill when I will take a vegan multivitamin (my doctor only ever said that B12 and iodine should be carefully looked at for vegans. My blood work has always come back fine to do with vitamins and minerals though so I don‘t worry). I do take extra calcium in the form of supplements though every day as an x-ray showed a split/un-fused vertebrae and I don’t want any more damage happening (although they believe it’s from birth as I haven‘t had anything happen that could explain it otherwise

). As long as you do have a balanced diet you should be fine although I believe learning nutritional information is certainly a must as it should be for omnis, veggies, pecsetarians etc alike :cool: . We could overcome alot of problems if more people looked more into the nutrition of the foods they are eating

.

I do have a slow cooker, a blender, steamer and other such things to help me out. I always find my chilli or curries taste better slow cooked, blenders are wonderful for smoothies, soups and the like and steamed veg and rice couldn’t be much healthier really.

I do also have a milk maker (it can make any plant food based milk you want really). I can make soya milk for a matter of about 15p/litre doing this (not including the electricity mind). Saves so much money as basic soya milk is 60p/litre as you said. 45p/litre saved adds up over time believe me :beer: . However it may take you a while to adjust to home made soya milk rather than store bought as it has a slightly different taste and texture (store ones have thickener agents in them to make the texture more like animal milks as that’s what most people are used to). Oat milk to make costs me about 8-9p/litre and costs about £1.30/litre on average to buy from the shops :mad: . It may be worth buying a milk maker due to this but do bare in mind they can be difficult to clean!

Sorry for the long post. I do get into this kind of thing lol. If you need any more information I’m happy to help though. My friends call me a pool of knowledge for veggie and vegan diet aspects :rotfl: .

D&G

Justamum · 30 January 2009 at 9:43AM

twinkle_star wrote: »

One the questions I've been asked most since I announced my changed to veganism is 'but where will you get protein from?'

Oh the old 'rolls the eyes in exasperation' question :rotfl: Protein needs are actually far smaller than most people realise, and most meat eaters have far too much. The question in reply for most of them should be 'but where do you get your vitamins from?' as so many people don't eat enough vegetables!

There's also the 'scare' about soya too - some people say it's not good for you, and carry on drinking their hormone and antibiotic laden cow's milk

I know which I'd prefer (not to mention things like pus and other unmentionables which might be in the milk). And how bizarre it is to drink the breast milk from another species - they wouldn't put human milk in their tea or on their cereal would they? :eek:

twinkle_star wrote: »

Even my lovely breakfast of porridge with banana and brazil nuts is providing me with some protein. Coming soon - the real vegan issues: B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D & iodine. :rolleyes:

Not to mention the selenium from Brazils too! I watched a series a while ago about the Amazon rainforest, and one very interesting thing they said was that Brazil trees will only grow in virgin forest - they can't be cultivated or interfered with - so all Brazils are organic, and by eating them you are helping to keep the rainforest going!

This is turning into a very interesting thread!

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Going vegan......old style?!

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free