Going Vegan...?

Question

I've been a vegetarian for over a year now, but I have never really eaten the healthy way. Now I want to go vegan, but I want to do it the right way. Any suggestions on how to eat healthy on a vegan diet?

Answer 1

I was a vegan for a while, and it was great. I felt so healthy... The wonderful thing is that it is not just all about eating leafy vegetables and drinking water. There are many options out there.

Be sure to eat your grains (like quinoa & brown rice) and include vitamins B6/B12 in your diet. Also, check your local health food store for different food options such as soy cheese, soy meats, etc. Don't forget to always read the label, too.

Answer 2

There are tons of replacement foods that are great. As a vegetarian you have probably already discovered veggie bacon, ground beef, deli slices, chicken nuggets, etc. but once you go vegan there is also soy milk, cream (for coffee), cream cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, the list goes one! The best advice I can give you is to try different brands. Sometimes one brand is horrible tasting and another is delicious. Don't give up! You'll feel great as a vegan, both your body health and your conscience! Congrats!

Answer 3

Try to cut out as much junk food as possible. It's a mixed blessing that there are so many vegan junk foods available, I think. It's good because it makes veganism more accessible and people are more willing to reduce or eliminate animal products if they know they can still have tasty treats. The problem is it's too easy for vegans to get caught in a trap of eating too much junk food.

So eat fewer packaged and processed foods (I know, easier said than done). Use whole grains whenever possible--brown rice instead of white, quinoa, barley, bulgur. Eat lots of fruit and veg. Eat beans. If you get them canned, look for low sodium varieties or rinse them before using in a recipe. Eat nuts in moderation.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Read Becoming Vegetarian. It has a ton of nutrition information, sample menus, dairy and egg alternatives and as well some recipes. Vegan With a Vengeance is also good.

Answer 5

"Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina is great for the nutritional aspect of being vegan. "Vegan with a Vengeance" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz is awesome for tasty, varied vegan recipes and cooking tips. "Vegan Freak" by Bob and Jenna Torres is good for all the other aspects of veganism (dealing with hostile friends and relatives, ordering in restaurants, choosing vegan beers, etc.)

Answer 6

Vegan is not the healthy way. Where in the world did you hear that?

Answer 7

that's gonna be hard but I admire you for wanting to do it. Healthy vegans eat alot of grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, no yolk pastas, soy, whole wheat breads, etc. I'd start by going grocery shopping for foods like that. You can also eat some soups,and cereals with soy milk. To ensure that you have a healthy diet, you might want to add vitamin supplements to your diet, to make up for any vitamins you may be missing.

Answer 8

Go as little processed as possible - not so much bread, or premade goodies or meat alternatives - rather to go for the veggies, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. A common bodybuilding saying is to ignore all the "inside aisles" at the supermarket, and stick to the veggie section. Do that, and you can't go wrong.

Answer 9

Well if you haven't eat healthy as a vegetarian ... what the deuce makes you think you will eat healthy as a vegan cult member? That's like crashing in a Volkswagen because you are a bad driver, so you go out and buy a turbo-charged Porsche to "make me drive better.". Makes no sense.

Answer 10

There is a simple way, eat 5 pieces of fruit and a large salad, AND DON'T PUT ANY DRESSING IN YOIR SALAD!!