vegan/vegetarian tips?

Question

I decided I want to be Vegan. I'm lactoseintolerant so that already eliminates dairy. But what else should I not eat or eat more of?

Answer 1

The main taboo food for Vegetarians is dairy, which is full of fat. Since you are Lactose intolerant, this takes care of that problem.

The other food you should avoid is the starch group -- bread, pasta and rice. Without the "full" feeling you get from meat and dairy, you will crave slow digesting, complex carbohydrates. Over-eating bread (and pasta) gives you lots of empty calories and weight gain.

Start with good sources of complete protein. A great core of a vegetarian diet is soy protein (like Tofu). There are lots of "fake meat" products based on soy protein. I think Morningstar Farms (in the frozen or health food section of the grocery store) makes the best tasting soy protein foods (chicken, beef, hamburger, sausage, etc.). You can even get luncheon meats based on soy.

Lentil beans are another good source of protein. The cook quickly and taste good.

Eggs are another item to include in your diet. This is not part of a Vegan diet, but they are fine for Lactose-intolerant people. Also, chickens are not killed or terrible harmed in egg production. Egg farms also do not use large amounts of land (no burning of rain forests for farm land or cows that contribute to air pollution).

As for vitamins, you will get all you need if you eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. However, you must take Vitamin D supplements and Calcium supplements. Be sure to consume Vitamin C foods or pills with the Calcium, as this helps the Calcium get absorbed.

Answer 2

As other people have said, as a vegan, you don't eat any animal products.

There are all of the obvious things like meat, fish, chicken, dairy and eggs. And then there are the sneaky things. Like gelatin. It's in several foods. Jell-o, most marshmallows, most jelly candies, most commercial yogurts, most commercial puddings, etc. Look, instead, for pectin, it's a gelling agent that comes from fruit. There are other substitutes too, like agar and tapioca.

Speaking of treats, most sugar and wines use animal products in the processing. Although the animal products don't show up in the final product, some vegans do their research and only consume products that were not processed with animal products.

Anyway, this is an area where the old-fashioned library can be useful. Before you commit to your new lifestyle, you can read lots of books, and try some cook books.

One final thing, know your reasons for becoming vegetarian or vegan. It will help when you are tempted by those gummy worms.

Answer 3

The difference between vegan and vegetarianism is the animal products. A vegan does not eat any animal products, therefore no cheese, no honey, no milk, etc. And obviously no meat! A vegetarian does not eat meat of any kind (that includes chicken and fish), but might still eat cheese, yogurt, honey, eggs, etc.

So the choice is yours. There are lots of non milk "pretend dairy" products on the market now that you can still enjoy the taste of cheese and milk without having to deal with the lactose.

Same with fake meat products. They are wonderful! Taste great. And you don't have to worry about cholesterol, trans fats,etc.

Answer 4

you REALLY have to do alot of homework. i have been a vegetarian for over a year now, and it's still hard. plus i'm still learning how to do it and still eat healthy.

it's even harder ( andmore labor intensive) to be vegan.

no meat- no dairy- no fish- no eggs. usually vegans wear only animal friendly clothes and such.
also get educated in reading labels. there are lots of things in processed foods these days that are animal by-products that dont just come out and say -animal product.

just be careful and talk to your doctor before you try this. it's not bad, but you really need to know what you are doing in order to stay healthy.

also, if you give in and eat something not on your list of ok foods, dont get hard on yourself. remind yourself that cutting back is definitely better than doing nothing. plus when you get really down on yourself it'll only serve to discourage you,.

Answer 5

I went Vegetarian Earth Day '09. i assumed it replaced into going to be annoying, yet i replaced into reading Gene Bauer's Farm Sanctuary, and in simple terms have been given bored to death with the way animals are taken care of, so i ended up going Vegetarian (after the 1st financial ruin). The final time I had tried to pass Vegetarian replaced into whilst i replaced into 11 and that i had no option to eat meat because of the fact that's what replaced into for dinner, so I gave up. besides i'm plenty happier now that i'm Veg. i believe like each animals look like canines or cats to me, so I in simple terms stopped eating it. I nevertheless eat fish (i'm Pesco-Veg) each so often nevertheless, yet no longer too plenty, on condition that i like veggie burgers, and tofu (attempt tofurkey!). I under no circumstances craved meat because of the fact contained in the beginning up i might constantly study on a thank you to stay a healthful Vegetarian existence-type, plus you would be able to desire to look on the bigger photograph. by using no longer eating meat, you're reducing plenty pollution, and waste. Water is used to severe quantities (tens of millions of gallons), a super type of animals are wasted away. they don't get the right care whilst they're ill, they become downed animals, and that they are crushed and taken care of poorly =(

Answer 6

Mix your protein sources to avoid malnutrition. For example have a cup of cooked spinach and some beans so you have different kinds of vegtables to fill your nutrient requirements. You may want to start taking a multivitamin if you don't already to make sure your basic needs are met.

Answer 7

Quinoa. It's a grain that has complete protein and tastes really good. Your local health food store might have it in bulk. Look it up on the web to find out cooking info, etc. And take your vitamins.

Answer 8

Being vegan is pretty much impossible. You don't want to eat meat? Thats not natural, human bodies weren't meant to be vegetarian. To be vegan, you can't have any animal products. But vegetables are made with animal **** as manure. That's using an animal product. Sorry. Impossible.

Answer 9

soy based meat products instead of beef and pork. those are the hard meats to ween yourself of. the fish n poultry are easier to get off of.

Answer 10

beans, nuts, tofu, leafy greans (very important), and whole grains, ....seaweed is good (good source of calcium), brewer's yeast, vegetables lots of them, olive oil.....

I recommend the book "Healing with Whole Foods"

by Paul Pitchford