The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[shopsmuch]

^ vegans absolutely eat chocolate. i eat chocolate nearly every day. i eat dessert nearly every day, and every time i make some kind of vegan dessert (cookies, cakes, pie, whatever) for someone, they say it's fantastic and don't even realize it's vegan unless i tell them. it's not like vegan candy/baked goods taste bad or anything.

i've been a vegan since i was thirteen and i have not gotten seriously sick since then (while everyone else i know, has). i eat a crazy variety of foods, they're all delicious, and not at all bland or boring. being a vegan is not limiting or unhealthy unless you sit around and eat only potato chips all day. if anything, eating vegan is less limiting, especially for americans, because if you can't just fall back on eating a cheesburger or some other tpyical unhealthy american food, then you start to look around and realize what a wide variety of grains, legumes, vegetables, and spices there are to make everything so delicious. unless you're just lazy.

i'm sorry if that came off as a bit aggressive, i'm just somewhat bitter right now because i had to explain to about five kertrillion gabillionpeople yesterday at a formal dinner what a vegan was, and that no, it's not as hard as you would think, no, i'm not dying of nutrient deficiency, and no, i don't just eat plain salad.

 

[chanelnumber5]

thnks for the info dreamsethereal, i might turn vegan when i live on my own. u didnt sound aggressive, i no how u feel about explaining stuff over and over. the amount of times people ask if vegetarians eat chicken! and when people say u must get no protein its like ummm yes i do actually get protien

 

[Melisande]

^ vegans absolutely eat chocolate. i eat chocolate nearly every day. i eat dessert nearly every day, and every time i make some kind of vegan dessert (cookies, cakes, pie, whatever) for someone, they say it's fantastic and don't even realize it's vegan unless i tell them. it's not like vegan candy/baked goods taste bad or anything.

i've been a vegan since i was thirteen and i have not gotten seriously sick since then (while everyone else i know, has). i eat a crazy variety of foods, they're all delicious, and not at all bland or boring. being a vegan is not limiting or unhealthy unless you sit around and eat only potato chips all day. if anything, eating vegan is less limiting, especially for americans, because if you can't just fall back on eating a cheesburger or some other tpyical unhealthy american food, then you start to look around and realize what a wide variety of grains, legumes, vegetables, and spices there are to make everything so delicious. unless you're just lazy.

i'm sorry if that came off as a bit aggressive, i'm just somewhat bitter right now because i had to explain to about five kertrillion gabillionpeople yesterday at a formal dinner what a vegan was, and that no, it's not as hard as you would think, no, i'm not dying of nutrient deficiency, and no, i don't just eat plain salad.

Great points, I totally agree!
Your desserts sound so gorgeous...mmm! Would you like to share some recipes with us?!

Shugga, good luck and take care! I first became vegan because of health problems too, and now looking back, I'm so thankful for those health problems and my doctor. Cutting dairy isn't as hard as you'd think...if you miss it, they have excellent vegan cheese, vegan icecream, yoghurt, soy/rice milk, etc...

 

[sakina]

I was just curious if any of you consider honey a vegan food? it's not physically from an animal but produced by them so i was simply curious what your opinions were.

 

[Sweets]

true vegans do not eat honey, as it is a product by animals

 

[sakina]

^ ahh thank you !

that's what i always thought but than got into an argument with my father whether it was conisdered an animal product or not because unlike dairy or eggs it doesn't actually come from the animal body.

 

[adi]

i've been vegetarian for two weeks now and haven't missed meat at all. i have found chocolate again and been eating that way too much the only problem i've found with this diet that almost every person around me is meat eater so i always have to make these arrangements to get food.. especially if i eat at my boyfriends house. it sort of feels annoying to be vegetarian and then demand all these different foods but this is my choice so they just have live with it.

cooking has become my new passion as well and i'm planning to collect all these different receipes into a book so i don't have borrow or buy any cookbooks. vegetarian food is so much better than meat food

 

[chanelnumber5]

i've been vegetarian for two weeks now and haven't missed meat at all. i have found chocolate again and been eating that way too much the only problem i've found with this diet that almost every person around me is meat eater so i always have to make these arrangements to get food.. especially if i eat at my boyfriends house. it sort of feels annoying to be vegetarian and then demand all these different foods but this is my choice so they just have live with it.

cooking has become my new passion as well and i'm planning to collect all these different receipes into a book so i don't have borrow or buy any cookbooks. vegetarian food is so much better than meat food

congats on becomeing vegetarian

 

[twilight fairy]

So what are everyone's favourite non-meat protein sources?

 

[tott]

Favourites:
soy beans in the form of tofu, milk and youghurt
1/3 red lentils with 2/3 whole-grain rice (or any beans with rice, really...)

 

[lostinemotion]

I like chick peas aka garbanzo beans with olive oil, onions, and a mexican spice powder added...mmmm

 

[tott]

A good, textured hommous with bread, how could I forget that... Lots of parsley and some garlic/lemon and I'm in heaven...

 

[Hipkitten]

So what are everyone's favourite non-meat protein sources?

I eat lots of tofu, beans, and "textured soy products" - Boca "chicken," "beef" crumbles etc.

 

[Ariez]

I like chick peas aka garbanzo beans with olive oil, onions, and a mexican spice powder added...mmmm

omg I love the exact same thing. Except I end up adding way too many spices but I like it that way It's a nice quick meal.

 

[adi]

chanelnumber5 thank you very much

So what are everyone's favourite non-meat protein sources?

i'm starting to like beans more and more, also soy products and tofu has become my new obsessions. it's just so expensive here so maybe i have to learn to make it myself..

 

[FrockRadar8]

I eat lots of tofu, beans, and "textured soy products" - Boca "chicken," "beef" crumbles etc.

I'm with Hipkitten, those are staples. I'm also a HUGE fan of Quorn, and Morningstar "steak" strips for mock cheesesteak sandwiches.

 

[chanelnumber5]

So what are everyone's favourite non-meat protein sources?

tvp, quorn and lentils. i have a great recipe for lentil bake thing and it is reall easy:
(serves 3-4)
500g potatoes peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion
1 can tomatoes
2 cans lentils (or you can use ones youve cooked from dry depending on how much time u have)
2 pinches mixed herbs
Grated Cheese to top (optional)

1. put the potatoes in boiling water
2. heat oil in sauce pan and add onion
3. when onion is cooked add herbs, tomatoes and lentils
4. when the mixture begins to boil put in a dish
5. when potatoes are cooked put on top of sauce
6. if you want cheese on, sprinkle on top of potatoes and put under warm grill to melt

 

[twilight fairy]

Mmm sounds yummy, thanks for all the input guys. I will have to try some of the stuff.

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

being vegan is not nearly as hard as I would've imagined..the giving up dairy part I mean. Since I have to, doctors orders, I'm really following through- I have to be incredibly strict..I cant have certain types of breads that may contain dairy products or ANYTHING. I'm cutting out meat as well, but that isn't hard at all for me. Love veggie burgers.


I need advice though on more healthy snacks. So far the vegan snacks I've been eating are granola bars, crackers, fruits, salads, and then the unhealthy stuff. A vegan cookie today-over 400 cals! Vegan ice cream..more cals than regular ice cream. "Tofutti Cuties" vegan (dairy free) ice cream bars. I feel like I'm going to gain weight just eating all the junk..I need tips/encouragement!

 

[Sweets]

good for you shugga! theres tons of vegan junk food, and i love it all and i eat them even when i'm not really vegan...i'm vegan agian tomorrow though yay for me