How many vegans on board?

Murrell

savvy wrote: »

Birthday coconut cupcakes _party_

They look yummy, bet they went down well. What did you use for the topping?

Sandra
x

savvy

They did Murrell, even the non-vegans said how fab they were

The frosting recipe is here although I only used half of that amount

sleepymy

savvy wrote: »

That's been the trickiest bit for me so far, while the purists would say you can't wear your old stuff, I can't afford to completely replace everything so am doing this area gradually as in now not buying leather products etc.

I know quite a few vegans who wear out/use up their old animal product stuff so it doesn't go to waste. I also know some who buy second hand leather shoes rather than pleather because they feel it's more environmentally friendly.

I think it's really an individual choice but you do have to be prepared for the occasional tool squealing "but you wear LEATHER!!!", as a means of discrediting all aspects of veganism.

savvy

sleepymy wrote: »

I know quite a few vegans who wear out/use up their old animal product stuff so it doesn't go to waste. I also know some who buy second hand leather shoes rather than pleather because they feel it's more environmentally friendly.

I think it's really an individual choice but you do have to be prepared for the occasional tool squealing "but you wear LEATHER!!!", as a means of discrediting all aspects of veganism.

Aye, I worry that it sends mixed messages to non vegans that it's okay I suppose it's best to say you eatvegan or are a vegan?

I wouldn't say I was completely happy wearing my old leather stuff (to be fair I haven't got much anyway) but am comfortable wearing it out as that animal lost it's life for me to have that item and I don't want to flippantly throw it out and discard that fact (and can't afford to give it away) IYSWIM :undecided:undecided

nzmegs

Hi all, just wanted to recount a nice thing which happened to me yesterday. Took the kids to Subway for lunch. They had the usual snadwiches and I choose a massive salad and then asked about which dressing didn't have dairy products.The bloke servinc me asked if i was intolerant (to dairy that is!) and I explained that I was vegan. He said he was very impressed as he was a vegetarian and didn't think he could take that step.

I told him it was easy and he should give it a trial run. The whole exchange was great. he was really interested and certainly didn't make a fuss or give me a weird look. it was the first time i have publicly said "I am a vegan" and after two months, i feel justified in saying that is my identity.

While sitting eating I did think "ooops - leather bag, partial leather shoes, woollen hand knitted hat...children eating ham and bacon." Well i guess i can't be perfect:)

bathgatebuyer

Well, I'm still a vegan after another few weeks passing by. Can't say I'm missing anything at all and I've been helped by making use of two really good shops in Edinburgh which supply me with some ready made vegan foods which have helped me out. In particular, it's great to just be able to pick up some vegan flapjacks, banana or carrot cake ready to snack upon when I've been out and about as it means when I have been out meeting friends for coffees, I can just take one of those along rather than sitting starving watching the others tuck into some muffin or something! I'm also making amazing use of tupperware now - seem to always be carrying around little pots of nuts or dried fruit everywhere!

I have had a few days away from home reliant on finding foods elsewhere and I was worried about that. I was in Liverpool recently and took some snacks to supplement the few days I was away just in case I coudn't find anything when i was there! Thankfully Liverpool has a great vegetarian and vegan cafe quite close to Lime Street Stn, so I had a massive burger followed by the biggest and best banana cake I have ever seen in my life! (So good I went back for a second slice in the evening too!) I did visit another city with work a few days later, and I struggled to find a coffee shop with soya milk in the first 4 coffee shops I went into. One even told me, "We don't do fancy foods". As I've got that first 'away trip' out of the way now, I feel much less daunted about going away perhaps for a slightly longer stay too (although, maybe mainland Europe might be a bit too far if there are going to be language issues in trying to explain being vegan!)

In terms of toiletries and things, I've always liked Original Source toiletries, so I haven't had to make any real changes to my toiletries. I'm using what I've always been using, although some of my soaps I no longer have labels for, but when they're being replaced by new, I'll be making sure I buy all the right things. Would welcome any suggestions as to other places I can try for toiletries - the cheaper the better!

I'm still wearing my old shoes which do have leather in them as I just can't afford to go out and replace everything right now (although when I can, I'm going to have bloody great fun on a big shopping spree!)

In terms of health, I've now lost 12 pounds in the last few months, although I would say that in addition to following a vegan diet, I have been watching my calories as well in order to lose the weight. A few more pounds gone and I will be lightest I've been since my mid-20s (although people would probably still kindly describe me as 'sturdy'!!!)

In summary, I can only describe it as having been a really positive step. I'm more confident about cooking as I make a lot more from raw ingredients (buying a pile of veg every weekend) and save some money from this. I also take in anything I've overcooked for lunch the following day to work so consequently don't spend cash there, I'm nearly back down at my mid-20s weight, and any skin problems I had have all but disappeared!

nzmegs

Oh dear, I well and truly fell off the wagon in the last few days. I haven't eaten any meat, but gave in to some cheese on the weekend. problem was that there was literally nothing else to put in a sandwich and everyone else in the house was having cheese on toast...it goes to show the importance of being prepared and shopping regularly. I kind went off the rails briefly and had some chocolate and biscuit or two without checking what the ingredients were.

I am blaming hormones and some stress. But really - no excuse. Back to normal today. but disappointed after two months of near perfection and even working towards eating mostly raw. Any kind words of advice - other than stay away from the cheese!!

savvy

Phew sorry megs, haven't had time to reply - I hate lesson planning

Two months is such a short time in the grand scheme of things.......and in the grand scheme of things you are doing amazingly well :T:T Don't beat yourself up about it, I'm pretty sure every vegan has had cravings and I'm pretty sure about half of them probably gave in in the early days. Don't forget your body is technically detoxing so will make you crave things especially when you've got a lot on and you don't have that much support.

As for the checking, well I've made some mistakes too, I know a vegan of 26 yrs and she made a mistake the other day with........... certain apple juice apparently. It's very very hard with all the manufacturing processes our foods go through and the sneaky lil tricks they play, for vegans to get 100% ALL the time especially when foods aren't labelled for us. Again don't beat yourself up about it, you have already saved loads of animals by not eating them

moonpixiewitch

Hi everyone,
I am preparing to go vegan (I am not currently vegetarian) for health reasons and because for some reason it "feels" like the right thing to do, since I started baking vegan cakes for some customers of my cake business . I have a wheat intolerance (it gives me a nasty rash on my foot:eek: ), so some of the mainstay vegan foods such as pasta , seitan, bread etc are out of my diet already . I have bought a couple of cookbooks and can't wait to get started but I do wonder if anyone has a wheat/gluten free vegan bread recipe though as every recipe i have found either contains wheatflour or egg

savvy

Welcome Paul :T hopefully we'll be able to tap into some of your experience

moonpixiewitch wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I am preparing to go vegan (I am not currently vegetarian) for health reasons and because for some reason it "feels" like the right thing to do, since I started baking vegan cakes for some customers of my cake business . I have a wheat intolerance (it gives me a nasty rash on my foot:eek: ), so some of the mainstay vegan foods such as pasta , seitan, bread etc are out of my diet already . I have bought a couple of cookbooks and can't wait to get started but I do wonder if anyone has a wheat/gluten free vegan bread recipe though as every recipe i have found either contains wheatflour or egg

Hi moonpixiewitch, are you okay with spelt at all?? I ask as I had a wheat intolerance as such, and was fine with spelt. Oh I say 'as such', it was cured by eating a more alkaline diet and alkalising my body