Going Vegan

Mojisola

Yolina wrote: »

But then there are plenty of people who aren't vegan and who aren't healthy either because they east mostly junk. So I'd say, like most things, it's a question of balance The OP certainly need to make sure they find alternative sources of some vitamins and nutrients to avoid issues but I'm sure there's plenty of healthy vegans out there.

I'm not vegan or vegetarian but have to agree with the above.

Judging from friends, it's a bit harder to get it right as a vegan but once you've got used to the new diet, it becomes automatic after that.

The people who don't do well on a non-meat diet tend to be those who live off "pretend meat" ready meals.

Rummer

Thank you for all the replies and Robrooo thank you for taking the time to post the links, I will take time to read through them

To the people who have advised against this decision I thank you for your concern, however I am reassured that if I research and plan appropriately then a vegan diet will provide me with everything I need. This is not a decision that I am making lightly and I want to be organised before I remove anything else from my diet.

In the short term I am using up the non-vegan foods, cosmetics, cleaners etc that I have and when they are finished I will replace them with vegan alternatives.

All other advice gratefully received

shandyclover

3 of my daughters are vegan, all still living at home. Initially they were vegetarian. While OH and I are not vegetarian/vegan we do respect their choices and most of the home meals are cooked around them. OH and I have actually found we feel healthier not eating so much meat and dairy.

My tips would be...

The internet is your friend. While it can be overwhelming at first you soon get the hang of vegan recipes, and will soon even be able to adjust regular recipes 'on the fly'.

Be prepared to cook. There is a fair amount of ready food for vegetarians, but vegans pretty much have to cook from scratch - but the food can still be delicious. DD brought vegan chocolate cake to a fundraiser at college and it sold out within 5 mins, long before all the others!

Learn to cook ethnically. Lot's of naturally vegan meals are Indian, SE Asian, North African, and Arabic, whose meals are based on beans, lentils or tofu. I have learnt lots of new dishes.

Stay simple, there is a huge array of vegan 'replacement' food. A lot of it very costly and quite often a disappointment. Don't fall into the trap of feeling like you have to replace everything. We've tried lots of stuff. In the end the only 'vegan' specific foods we buy are soya milk, tvp, tofu, 'pure' spread, tesco soya cheese (smoked) and granovita burger mixes. I have learnt to make my own soya yogurt, cheese sauce and philly like cheese much cheaper and nicer than any we have found in shops.

We buy fortified cereals. Mainly for my own peace of mind. I do buy vegan specific vitamins for the girls from holland and barrett, but they don't always take them!

Check ingredients. Things that you take for granted are vegan (like some sweets) are not. and some things you would never guess are, like some chicken flavored crisps!


Find out when your local vegan food fair is in your area and go, you'll be amazed!

There is a vegan food thread in the old style forum, lots of tips and mean ideas there!https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1451243

lemontart

co-op jam and custard donuts are vegan friendly and not expensive

ruis72

I'm not a vegan so don't have any personal experiences, but have come across a really good vegan website run by a vegan triathlete with lots of recipes and advice

ww.thriveforward.com

hth

InsideInsurance

All diets have their issues/ challenges and these can be complicated with medical issues or other personal challenges but with sufficient effort of eating carefully then omni, veg or vegan can be perfectly healthy for the majority of people.

Of cause the error that some/many people make is trying to take an omni diet and simply dropping the elements that they dont want to take any more but this doesnt work, it needs rebalancing to ensure you are getting protein, iron etc from non-meat sources etc.

I know as many overweight/ sickly omnis as vegans but thats because both eat rubbish, drink too much, dont exercise etc etc

Personally, Im an omni but happy to eat any good food no matter if its meat, vegi, vegan, rawism or anything else.

What gets my goat personally is all the false claims of benefits of all of these and all the other diets either health or wider and especially when they hold up "experts" as proof of their beliefs. For every pro expert you can find about these things then I am sure others can find an against expert. Do it because you want to, dont then become evangelical about it

Yolina

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Personally, Im an omni but happy to eat any good food no matter if its meat, vegi, vegan, rawism or anything else.

You and me both - though I eat so few meat & fish products that I could pretty much become vegetarian and not notice :rotfl:

Do it because you want to, dont then become evangelical about it

Indeed. My vegan friend's girlfriend is omni, and it wouldn't even cross his mind to say anything about it, just like none of us would consider telling him to stop being vegan. There is some friendly banter flying both ways, but it's taken well by all

Bathory

I have a vegan friend who makes the most divine chocolate cake substituting olive oil for butter, I need to get the recipe off her.

veganblackmetalchef.com has a website and some youtube videos (if you can tolerate the music and also explains why he became a vegan.

On a non-food issue a brand called Faith in Nature do great products and state vegan on most of their stuff, I'm not vegan myself but I have bought their soaps for many years.

frogga

I'm a veggie and have been for years, since I was about 5 or 6. Both my Tadpoles have been veggie their whole lives and when Tadpole 1 was about 14 she decided to be Vegan. She is now 19 and has never looked back.


Neither of mine have ever had a day off school. Ever. They are fit and healthy and have fantastic skin and hair.


It's pathetic to say 'don't do it, I know a friend blah blah blah...' I know millions of meat eaters who are unhealthy, that proves nothing!


It's about eating healthily and sensibly. Do your research, we're not meant to eat meat anyway. Humans only get B12 from meat because the cows eat the grass or the fish eat the seaweed and then you eat them. A natural human diet would have involved eating the grass and the seaweed yourself and cutting out the middle man.


This will turn into a huge debate now about the virtues of eating meat, or not, but don't listen to it matey. It's the best thing you could do, for yourself, for the planet, and for the millions of animals needlessly slaughtered for unnecessary meals.


I don't preach about being veggie, but if you ask the question, you'll get an honest answer.



That lit the touch paper....

Corelli

Hi, and congratulations. I've been vegan for around 20 years now and vegi for around 30 before that. My vegetarianism became more and more vegan as I became more aware of all the issues of animal abuse, and environmental advantages of plant based foods.

Are you going cold turkey from being an omnivore? That seems to work for some, and others find it easier to take a more gradual route. Sometimes people don't eat enough calories when they transition, make sure you have enough nurtitionaly dense foods. Unless you are looking to lose weight - this could be an excellent way to do so it that is your desire.

Something to think about is how you will handle the challenges from people, you are bound to get stupid comments and more genuine worries from people concerned about your health. It can get wearying after a while.

If you are on Face Book there are some excellent groups for vegans, both transitioning and well established. Some argue like crazy amongst themselves. I personally like:
vegan supermarket finds uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/194421304090499/?fref=ts

what fat vegans eat recipe hoard https://www.facebook.com/groups/738239912899934/?fref=ts

vegan special offers UK https://www.facebook.com/groups/228297654016490/?fref=ts

There are more but I cannot find them atm. Do pm me if you want any more support or just chat.