Im going to go vegan for a month just for the sake of the experience. Is this a good idea?

Question

Also, is there anything important I should know as a beginner? Thanks much! :)

Answer 1

Good for you! I applaud you for wanting to at least "experience" it. Kudos - and of COURSE I think it's a good idea! ;-)
It is quite hard to go cold turkey. You may want to cut things out of your diet gradually...like one week get rid of red meat. The next week, get rid of chicken and then the last week, get rid of fish and dairy. The week after that, you'll be set.
This is also a good way for you to take time to figure out creative ways to replace what you are giving up (and you don't have to be slammed with that task all at once).
The most important thing to remember is that you need to do this in a healthy manner. Do NOT compromise your health or nutrition by eating a bunch of junk food. Be steadfast in eating beans, veggies and fruit. Make sure you are eating enough calories.
Other than that, good luck!
BTW- you should post again in a month and let us know how it went! :-) I'd be interested to hear!!

Answer 2

I think it is an interesting idea. You will learn a lot. But your body will not be used to such a change so I don't know how realistic it will be justto specifically be vegan for a month- it is probably healthier to gradually become vegetarian and then vegan and then be vegan for a month? Also I have been vegetarian for 10 years and over that time I kept learning and discovering more foods I could have or that I had been eating that were not vegetarian, so it might not be as simple as being fully vegan for 1 month if you want to do it that way.
But I say it is great you are thinking about these things.
Just go to any official vegan webite.. like the UK/ Australian etc Vegetarian Society to read info about healthy diet and brands of food and recipes. Make sure you still eat balanced.

Answer 3

I think it would be an excellent experiance to gain knowledge and you never know you may feel better and want to remain that way. I went vegetarian for a month and it was a good experiance, I like milk and ice cream too much to go all the way. It might be difficult to go totally vegan there are a lot of rules and lable reading. If you live somewhere that is condusive to vegan cuisine (i.e. not the south or any small town) it could be very enjoyable for you.

Answer 4

sounds great. Be educated, though. I recommend "Becoming Vegan" you can find a lot of vegan books on Amazon...this one in particular has all the info for a newbie, although it doesn't warn you about eating/drinking too much soy. Treat soy like the heavy protein it is (to vegans it's like red meat but of course not so unhealthy, just a comparison as to how much you should consume) You want LOTS of grains, veggies, fruits, almond milk. Not a lot of processed junk unless you're on the go. I never liked that fake cheese. You might look into Macrobiotics as well which is more about balance and the energies of different foods, not just whether or not they are of animal origin...although that does make a difference health-wise.
OH, and you might need to eat more because vegan foods generally contain less calories/serving.

good luck!!

Answer 5

If you have a hard time going cold "turkey" then try some of the vegan meats like MorningStar sausage. Some of them taste surprisingly like meat. I enrolled at a college that only serves vegan meals. I did not know it at the time and was surprised when I tried the "chicken nuggets" (they weren't really chicken nuggets) and they were very chewy. On the other hand I have lost 2 inches from around my waist. Enjoy the experience, it's not as devestating as you might think. Oh, try pineapple pizza it's really good.

Answer 6

You can make it very easy by just sticking to whole foods for the most part (not refined or processed). Eat a balanced diet of whole grains, legumes, veggies, fruit and nuts (nature made foods) and you will be fine.

Just in case...there is a list of packaged vegan foods that can be found in most supermarkets. Here's the link: http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/

Answer 7

heck ya! well actully i suggest you go vegitarian for a month instead (if you arnt one already) becuase being a true vegan is hard. you have to stay away from ALL animal producs, including meat, dairy, honey, leather ect. dont take such a big step for you first time. but good choice! im a veggie and i love it!

Answer 8

If you do eat meat, that is essentially an addiction. As with everything, it's hard to go cold turkey. I'd recommend going vegetarian for two weeks beforehand (if you aren't already) to get used to not eating meat before you cut dairy out completely.
Good luck!

Answer 9

it is if you know what kinds of proteins (like legumes and nuts) and other substitutes you need to make. it's harder than you think, simply because it's hard to find vegan foods, so you end up making most of them yourself. i recommend you research all of it highly before getting sick of malnutrition. Plus, if you're really strict about it, a lot of normal foods can have non-vegan elements in them. just in case you're being strict. READ LABELS!

Answer 10

sure, why not? The main thing you need to learn is to avoid hidden sources of animal products, in things you would never dream of, such as gelatine in yogurt, ice cream, pop tarts, pastries, marshmellows, hair gels, cosmetics, etc. Also, animal sources are often used in "natural" flavors and "natural: colors, and do not have to be listed as a source. Eggs and dairy are in commercial breads, bagels, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, etc. Hidden sources of animal proteins are in most things, including chips and snacks. Do some research, and give it a go. You will likely feel better healthwise. Giving up meat is the best thing I have ever done