The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[FrockRadar8]

Bone-Up is calcium supplement to help build strong bones. i don't drink enough milk, maybe in my tea, but it's just a spot.
I bought mine at Whole Foods, but I see it everywhere...like Natural Food Stores or Vitamin Stores.
It has a picture of a spine in b/w...LOL

thanks so much!

 

[Zen]

Hi.......I'm trying for the fourth time going vegetarian. But this time I'm falling more on the vegan side. I guess the whole "raw foods" is getting noticeable. I've done some research and I feel the raw-foods fit me well. There is this great recipe book called "RAW FOOD" that I just love! People in here should check it out. The concept of eating raw un-cooked vegetables makes sense! I didn't know that there is sooooo much to know about eating un-cooked vegetables and the benefits of eating it un-cooked. Anyways, I've been on this new path, and I've been very happy with it! Seriously guys, check out the book "RAW FOOD" it has so much to offer!!!

 

[fashionista-ta]

i have been eating mostly vegetarian for the past few months but dont want to give up my weekend hard boiled eggs......this is why i ask......

I think eggs are fine for a vegetarian, right? Just not for a vegan. I feed my dogs mostly vegetarian, and I give them lots of eggs.

My understanding--

Vegetarian--eat nothing an animal has to die for
Vegan--eat nothing from an animal source regardless

Some also apply this rule to plants--nothing the plant has to die for, which seems very valid to me (although my personal belief is that my obligation is eat as responsibly as possible, as in organic and don't waste anything, like Native Americans). Who says a plant doesn't have the same rights as an animal I've read about studies that seem to show that plants feel fear and pain.

 

[Sweets]

only plants have no central nervous system

 

[adorefaith]

yep tata.....
agreed....

i was just curious.....
i have both vegan and vegetarian friends....
some of the vegetarians wont eat eggs.....others will.....

i dont eat dairy..... and so was considering cutting out eggs too....
i'm going to see how i feel.....i dont tend to be one for 'strict' categories and rules.....
so indulging in an egg or a cup of yoghurt every now and then feels fine to me.....

its interesting when you consider the plant argument....

 

[Odette]

This is my third day as vegetarian,I know it's not much but still. I switched completely: no eggs,no meat, no cow milk,no cheese, yoghurt. I am sticking to rice,pasta, cereals, soy milk, soy yoghurts,juices and fruits Sometimes it gets quite hard,for examplle, last night I went round with my friends and we ended up asking for pizza,I took the vegetarian one and it was basically the base and tomatoe since I don't like vegetables(that's why I take pills for the minerals and stuff).
Is really hard to be vegetarian if you don't like vegetables so that's why I am planning to take them whether I like them or not(just like soy milk which I think is just disgusting).
Today I found something GREAT, soya custards(vanilla) and it tastes really nice and doesn't feel like soja at all plus 0% lactose obviously and 0% cholesterol.The only negative thing is the price quite expensive. In general vegetarian food is quite expensive,isn't it?
Here is the website of the custard, www.provamel.com

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

Hm Odette perhaps its not the best idea to completely change like that so quickly?

Perhaps try not eating meat first...then try not eating dairy/eggs etc if you want to. What you are is actually Vegan...you might find that if you make such a drastic change straight away it wont give you time to figure out what recipies you like etc.

By the way...I'm sure that if you keep eating vegetables...and find interesting ways to put them into your meals...they won't seem quite so unappealing to you. You'll get used to it. Good Luck.

 

[Baebis]

icourse I do feel better and part of that is knowing that I won't have to go through what alot of people do when they struggle with their weight as they get older. Plus you get a sense of accomplishment with knowing you can achieve something so big, a little at a time.

The struggle with weight as you age comes from the fact your metabolism slows down with age. So even if you only eat raw, your metabolism will still slow down.

What is the big achievement you speak about? Sorry, I'm confused

 

[Odette]

By the way...I'm sure that if you keep eating vegetables...and find interesting ways to put them into your meals...they won't seem quite so unappealing to you. You'll get used to it. Good Luck.

Thanks, I hope it goes that way cause I've been all my life without eating vegetables. Yes, I see what you mean but you know I am still no being 100% vegan(and I am not planning to be) cause I do take fish(probably twice a month or even a bit more) and salmon sometimes. The thing I don't really know what to take for breakfast cause I've seen recipes and it is just too much cooking and too much food and basically too much to eat in early morning.

 

[adorefaith]

i agree with fff, odette....
perhaps you should take things slowly...
ESPECIALLY if you dont like veges....

you need to give your body time to adjust....
and yourself time to be creative and experiment so that you can genuinely develop a taste for vegetables....they are very important to your diet and you'll enjoy eating a lot more if you can appreciate their lovely taste....

try different sauces...different ways of cooking...
often people hate vegetables because they've grown up with their mum cooking the heck out of them and they end up like a bland, soggy mess on your plate........
try steaming them..... eating them raw, cut up with a nice dip or a slice of cheese (if you re-introduce the cheese for a while) etc.... i'm sure you will find veges you never thought you'd like!....
you just have to give yourself some time to appreciate them.....

 

[fashionista-ta]

only plants have no central nervous system

Yes However, the people doing the plant studies contend that assuming a central nervous system is the only way in the universe to feel pain is an extremely animal-centric way of viewing the world When you think about it, they seem to have a point. I hope that my plants and trees feel that my pruning them is more of a haircut than an amputation

 

[fashionista-ta]

This is my third day as vegetarian,I know it's not much but still. I switched completely: no eggs,no meat, no cow milk,no cheese, yoghurt. I am sticking to rice,pasta, cereals, soy milk, soy yoghurts,juices and fruits Sometimes it gets quite hard,for examplle, last night I went round with my friends and we ended up asking for pizza,I took the vegetarian one and it was basically the base and tomatoe since I don't like vegetables(that's why I take pills for the minerals and stuff).
Is really hard to be vegetarian if you don't like vegetables so that's why I am planning to take them whether I like them or not(just like soy milk which I think is just disgusting).
Today I found something GREAT, soya custards(vanilla) and it tastes really nice and doesn't feel like soja at all plus 0% lactose obviously and 0% cholesterol.The only negative thing is the price quite expensive. In general vegetarian food is quite expensive,isn't it?
Here is the website of the custard, www.provamel.com

Hi, Odette, are you sure you don't like any of them? I am kind of picky about vegetables myself--there are lots I'm not too fond of (eggplant cauliflower ) but also lots I love. I tend to like more fruits (tomato) and flowers (asparagus, artichoke). I also like carrots, onions, celery, beets, peas, etc. Something to try if you don't like something is ... for example, I absolutely hate zucchini in minestrone. It's really overcooked ... but raw I'm cool with it, and steamed is not too bad. Canned spinach is totally nasty, but raw is great, and fresh wilted is pretty good too. My mom always made Harvard beets--yuck. Instead I bake them, peel and dice and eat with Vidalia ranch. It's always a good idea to try for a broad range of bright colors. Green bell peppers disagree with me unless they're heavily cooked, but yellow and red ones are great, cooked or raw.

You really should enjoy your food, it's one of the great pleasures of life

 

[Bonchic]

The struggle with weight as you age comes from the fact your metabolism slows down with age. So even if you only eat raw, your metabolism will still slow down.

What is the big achievement you speak about? Sorry, I'm confused

Well if you keep active and eat healthy you won't have as much of a struggle as other people with bad diets and no exercise do ... the big achievement is being a vegan

 

[fashionista-ta]

PS What about something like apples and peanut butter for breakfast? Any combination of fruit and nuts, like a clementine and some cashews or almonds ... you could also add some kind of very lightly sweetened wafer ...

 

[Odette]

Thanks for the advices,seriously I find them quite helpful.
I like asparagus quite a lot and you know I want to take vegetables cause I am sick of taking pills as a supplement.
Nevertheless, these three days went like flying, I like what I am eating is just that I have A LOT of trouble finding vegetarian food.You know soy milk and soy yoghurts are quite easy to find but there are some other things which are a real nightmare to find.

 

[adorefaith]

sounds like you are having trouble finding food that fits within a vegan lifestyle, odette....
you can still consume dairy, eggs etc as a vegetarian....if that makes things a little easier for you?....

if you have any fresh fruit & veggie markets or shops around, they should have a good selection.....
chinatown is always a great place for dark leafy greens, i find.....
....

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

I'm seriously thinking becoming vegan, or at least "strict vegetarian" I guess? I have to have this big test done (in the operating room and all!) because I might have esophagitis, which they think dairy products can cause, so I might have to cut out all dairy anyways. Any suggestions/helpful tips?! I've been pretty sick lately (past 3 months out of school!) so I'm not going to be able to start right away, but I've gained probably 20 lbs over the past two years from being so sick, and eating way too much junk food, so I just want to kickstart a healthy cruelty-free lifestyle!

 

[Sweets]

shugga everyone could do with a little less dairy, i'd suggest you cut out dairy just as soon as you feel like it, its definitely not a necessity. I was vegan for about 6 months, but now i'll occasionally indulge in cake, or other baked (packaged) things that may have sources of dairy/eggs in them. Its really about finding that balance between a healthy diet and foods that fit with your ethical views, good luck to you, and your future good health!

 

[Baebis]

Well if you keep active and eat healthy you won't have as much of a struggle as other people with bad diets and no exercise do ... the big achievement is being a vegan

Very true. You are so young, the benifits will be even greater later on.
Being a vegan is a big step, and requires a lot of disclipine. You're a strong girl!

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

Odette...for breakfast you could also try:
Porridge oats with soy milk/rice milk (it's much sweeter and a bit watery) and a chopped banana in...a tsp of honey is a good alternative to having sugar on it. You could also try putting on some sunflower or pumpkin seeds to add some good essential fats. You can just do the porridge in the microwave and it takes very little time.

Also you could cook a load of plain cous cous the night before with a dash of oil so it doesnt become dry...and just leave it in a tub once cooked (possibly in the fridge) take out however much you want and add one of your soya yoghurts to it...and some chopped fruit...possibly banana/apple/pear. If you liked this there wouldnt be much cooking involved at all, one time for a fair amount of cous cous that would last more than a couple of days.

Both breakfasts give some good carbohydrates...I love fruit but hate eating it alone for breakfast because I end up feeling tired early on and my stomach feels acidic, so these give you more energy.

What did you used to eat for breakfast?