thinking about becoming vegan/vegetarian. i need to ask some questions?

Question

well, first off, i'm a teenager still living with my mom and i have no job. i know she won't go out of her way to buy meat substitute, MAYBE i can get her to buy some garden burgers, but we'll see. what other foods can i eat?

have you lost weight since becoming vegan?

has your skin cleared up?

feel more energized?

is it hard to go grocery shopping?[moving on my own soon]

what's your favorite vegan treat?

what do you usually order at fast food restaurants that you would reccommend?

thanks in advance! <3

Answer 1

"i'm a teenager still living with my mom and i have no job. i know she won't go out of her way to buy meat substitute"

>>Go with your mom to the store, that way you get what you want, your mom doesn't have to go out of her way, and you'll get used to shopping on your own to find vegan stuff-- for when you're living on your own.
You don't always have to buy expensive foods. You can buy: Veggies- which can be found cheap, depending on what and where you buy-- I buy produce at an asian supermarket,
Grains- can be found very cheap,
legumes- also very cheap,
Fruits- sometimes expensive, but they go on sale...
Nuts- sometimes expensive, but sometimes you need to treat yourself :]
If you want to buy stuff like boca burgers, I'd suggest going to a wholesale type store, like BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club...
My boyfriend's mother bought us a 16 pack of large boca burgers from BJ's like 3 months ago (the boyfriend loves them) We actually just finished the last one a week ago. And they only cost her 8 or10 something -- compare that to the $4 4-pack in the super markets... LOL
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"have you lost weight since becoming vegan?"

>>I have lost weight since giving up dairy and eggs, but I can't say that it's the only reason. I started riding my bike everywhere around that same time so it's probably half because I use a bike as my main form of transportation.
If you are asking whether or not >you< will lose weight, that depends on what you eat. But there is a good chance that you will lose at least a few pounds. -- remember a lot of junk food is vegan, so if you eat nothing but crap, you might just GAIN weight.
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"has your skin cleared up?"

>>My skin was always more on the dryer side... I would get pimples every now and then but mostly it was always dry. So I haven't noticed a real change in my skin --I should probably drink more water...
But some people have said that their vegan diet causes their skin to clear up.
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"feel more energized?"

>>Definitely more energized!! :]
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"is it hard to go grocery shopping?[moving on my own soon]"

>>No, it's not hard to go grocery shopping, just get used to reading ingredient labels...
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"what's your favorite vegan treat?"

>>I like those simply asia soups,
http://www.simplyasia.net/
but since they are expensive I don't get them a lot. --(BTW watch out because some of their products have fish/ honey/dairy in them.) Lately I've only been eating rice and something (peas or beans), but soon I'll have a better job and I'll be able to buy more stuff LOL
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"what do you usually order at fast food restaurants that you would recommend?"

>>I don't usually order at fast food places because there is always the risk of finding something nasty (meat) in my food. But If I had to eat out at a fast food place I'd choose Subway-- only because the veggie delight is good, better than a salad anywhere else :]
I actually just wrote a blog about fast food options for vegans if you're interested here is a link:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-VhTVUj05cqpbgu0GOsuJrFedmQ--?cq=1&p=149
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"thanks in advance! <3"

>>No problem and good luck :]

Answer 2

You can eat tofu or beans to substitute the meat... I usually eat meat subsitute though, they can be found in nearly any grocery store. It's usually in the tofu section or near the vegetable section.

Yes, I have lost some weight since becoming a vegan, but not much. I eat much healthier now, but I used to have a binge eating disorder and would eat nearly all carbs and no vegetables. The weight I gained because of it didn't go away, it's hard to lose weight without exercising, the diet alone won't do much.

Yes, my skin has cleared up a lot, but I'm not sure if it's just because of becoming a vegan. I also take better care of my skin & wash it morning & night now.

No, I don't feel more energized at all, to be honest. I feel healthier, in a way, because I used to get a lot of stomach aches and now I almost never do. I've been a vegan for about 2 months, and now I feel sleepier and have less energy.. I'm still trying to figure it out. But be careful of getting all the nutrition you need. For example, vitamin B12 isn't found in anything but animal products. But try being a vegan for a while, & see. You might want to look into taking supplements or daily vitamins..

No, it's very easy to go grocery shopping. Tofu & meat substitute, as I said, are found in nearly every grocery store, but you might have to read the ingredients and check whether or not they have eggs or milk. You could also try health food stores such as Whole Foods, if you ever want to look into baking with recipes which require ingredients such as eggs, to find egg substitutes.

I love to bake vegan cookies, they're very tasty =]

I never go to fast food restaurants, I'd rather starve, to be honest. I don't recommend going, because they usually use some sort of animal product in anything you were to buy. But, if you really had to, I would guess salads which don't contain meat or dressing with cheese or milk..

Answer 3

1) Some. But once I discovered delicious vegan junk food, well.... Still, my clothes fit looser than they used to.

2) I've always had fairly good skin, but I think going vegan has improved it.

3) I'm not sure. I feel a positive difference, though.

4) Nope. As someone else suggested, make grocery shopping a family thing so you get experience finding vegan items and a sense for how much things cost. I shop at Whole Foods or a local natural foods store for almost all my stuff. But most conventional shops at least carry Boca burgers and a few items from Amy's Kitchen. I've seen Yves products as well at the local Safeway, but it's actually cheaper at Whole Foods. I also buy some stuff online, which won't be an option until you get older.

By the way, I hear the price of cows' milk is now higher than the price of soy milk--another consideration for your mom.

5) Oh, that's hard, to pick just one. But I adore Purely Decadent Pomegranate Chip soy ice cream.

6) The only fast food I eat is Chipotle, and I get their crispy black bean tacos. They're pretty veg-friendly, as only the meats, pinto beans (cooked with pork), and dairy items are off limits to vegans. There's a local salad place chain called High Noon I sometimes go to and get a salad. Subway has the Veggie Delight. Qdoba has vegan options, as does California Tortilla, and Moe's Southwest Grill (Moe's even has tofu for your taco!).

There's a lot for vegans to eat--but you will have to remember to read labels scrupulously.

Answer 4

That's a good question. I'm a vegan and "modern medicine" is scary to me. I believe that the health care system (at least here in America) is in the business of keeping people sick in order for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, insurance companies, etc. to make lots of money. In the last few years, how many medicines have been taken off the market because they were causing serious health complications and sometimes killed people? Upon further research, the FDA finally fesses up and states that no, the didn't do *enough* research on the drug before approving it. They rushed it out in order for the powers that be to get paid. That tells me that they don't have patients' interest at heart. Having said that, I think that natural remedies are better for us and are not used often enough. I swear by natural remedies to make me feel better and they *do* work. If somehow we could turn back to nature for cures, I think everyone would be happier and healthier. I don't agree with medical animal testing. It's totally unnecessary in my opinion.

Answer 5

oh dear, there is a lot of misinformation in the answers for this question isnt there?

First of all, meat is not the only source of protein on the planet you buffoons. theres varying amounts of protein in everything we eat. legumes, nuts, seeds and grains are great sources.

Secondly there is too much protein in meat, it significantly contributes to osteoperosis and places a constant havey load on our kidneys and livers. not to mention the massive amounts of saturated fat which we have no dietary requirement for and which significantly contributes to obesity and heart disease.

thirdly there is nothing in animal food products that cannot be found in a plant based alternative.

fourthly all diets can have the potential to be unhealthy, meat eating or not. a well balanced vegan diet is possible, and there is no need for dietary supplements.

fifthly most meat substitutes are unhleahty processed rubbish foods marketed at people trying to eat healthier. whole foods are much better, tastier and cheaper.


now that the myths are out of the way, your questions....

yes, ive slimmed further and tonned more, though i attribute this to eating healthy not just vegetarian and doing a lot of exercise.

yes actaully my skin has gotten much better, though i attritbute this to consuming more healthy fats in nuts seeds and avocados, as well as eating much much less unhleahty saturated fats like in meats and fried foods.

energy is same, though i dont feel the need for as much coffee anymore so yes i guess.

grocery shopping has always been easy because ive never bought meat anyway, just go to a growers market and get fresh produce, everything is definately no meat and its all cheaper and better for you : )

vegan treat? well dark chocolate is pretty good, especially the ones with orange citrus flavour in it : )

i dont really do much fast food, indian is pretty easy to get vegetarian and some bits are vegan. usually you just gotta know what things are made from and ask whats in what you dont know.

Good Luck : )

Answer 6

Ryan is right!
I gained weight becoming vegan. I started with 14. No health problems. Was only sick for about 2 times in 14 years now.

Answer 7

Well from personal experience ive been a vegetarian for a year and half but i stop, not becuz i want to eat meat but becuz of my health. I did lost some weight during those times about 15 pounds more or less without exercising. But let me tell you, being a vegan/vegetarian is not as easy as you think, you have to commit and look for sources for you daily vitamin intake, if not you wlll feel dizzy and weak and your skin tone will turn abit light-green due to not enuff certain types of vitamin you need. you know sometimes it does gets alil boring if you only eat greens, But one good thing about being a vegan/vegetarian is that your poop will soon be less stinky hehe, it will lessen and lessen and soon you wont smell much of poop and you will poop alil bit more often than b4. As far as grocery shopping its only easy if you know how to cook and know what to buy to cook, for me im kinda lazy to cook so i go out to vegan resturants all the time since my mom never wants to cook vegan food for me lol. For fast food resturants i usually get a garden salad with apple pie or with a fruit and yogurt and apple dippers from mac donalds are good. BurgerKing now has a vege burger you can order which is pretty good too.

So bottom line being a vegan/vegetarian is good for your health and for your skin becuz i see my skin got less oily for not eating meat, ONLY and ONLY if you eat right, i believe theres a rule you have to follow and you need to know what fruit and veges has what kind of vitamins and you need to know how much vitamins and amount to eat from them daily, and your not gonna eat the same thing over everyday are you? so you gotta constantly go find out diff veges and diff ways of cooking it..... i know.. its kinda alot of hassel, thats why i quit cuz i got lazy, my health went good only for a few months since i started being a vegetarian i guess the veges help flushes the bad stuff out of my body but then when it almost turn a yr it went down i got low blood pressure and have no energy what so ever even a multivitamin didnt really help much. But you can try it for a week and see how you can manage it. Here are some websites you can take a look at for cooking tips =) i hope i can help you a bit =) and GOOD LUCK!!!

http://vegcooking.com/
http://www.vrg.org/
http://chooseveg.com/
http://goveg.com/
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/
http://www.veganchef.com/
http://www.vegguide.org/index.html (Vegan Restaurant Location)
http://veganmeat.com/

Answer 8

I would start vegetarian then slowly work up to being a vegan, too much of a change you might not get all the nutrients you need unless you have an expert guiding you.

Answer 9

Personally I wouldn't do it. While people will say that there are benefits from this life style, may believe that it can have negative effects on your health as you get older. I has been shown that there is a correlation with primitive mans' becoming larger and primitive mans' consumption of meat. Certain proteins found in meat help neurons in your brain communicate with each other. As your age with out theses proteins senility could affect you. Vegan, and veggies still get pimples, so don't listen people who say diffrent. Genetics, biology, and metabolism are responsible for pimples. You will lose weight, a little any way, but remember it is harder for your body to digest chlorophyll which is found in green vegetables,
Also hunger is controlled by a lack of protein, which is mostly found in meat. Vegan ism to me by the way is impossible. There is too many products that contain animal or animal by producty. Mentos, candy, toothpaste. Many people say that being a veggy is natural, but people are born with canines and a digestives system built for meat. It's food chain that is natural. Good luck!

Answer 10

There are six different kins of vegetarians, based on what foods you will or will not eat.

*Semi-vegetarians eat dairy foods, eggs, chicken and fish, but no other meat.

*Pesco-vegetarians eat dairy foods, eggs and fish, but they do not eat meat.

*Lacto-ovo-vegetarians enjoy dairy foods and eggs, but no other animal products.

*Lacto-vegetarians will eat dairy products, but no other animal products.

*Ovo-vegetarians will eat eggs, but no other meat or animal products.

*Vegans, the most extreme type of vegetarian, will not eat any meat or other animal products.

Please be very careful if you are choosing to become a vegetarian. Your body is still developing and growing. You could harm your body if you do not get all the nutrients required. For example - if you do not get enough B12, (from foods) this could result in serious mental and irreversible nerve damage. Also you could suffer from a vitamin-D deficiency. Other deficincies you could have bone loss, hair loss... I could go on and on, but if you do choose to becoming a vegetarian, start slowly so your body gets accustomed to the shortages of nutrients. Learn about the proper foods and nutrients of becoming a vegetarian so you can stay healthy.

To answer some of your other questions...you may not loose weight because your body at first will go into protective mode, because of lack of nutrients...your skin will clear up with good washing, no chocolate and colas...most likely you will not have more energy at first... vegetarian foods like vegi burgers cost more money...and when dining out, you may need to ask the waiter what the food is cooked in like animal fat, are the broiled vegetables also cooked with meat, or on the same surface as meat, etc...