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SnuffleUffleGrass
03-08-2018, 08:42 PM
*Bump*

I'm trying out vegan diet b/c of health issues & it really is making me feel better.

ScarletKitten
03-25-2018, 11:17 AM
Some quick easy vegan meals to throw together:

* Bean and rice burritos: You can use pinto beans or black beans or both, add Spanish rice, guacamole, lettuce, cilantro, diced onion, and salsa.

* Stir-fry: Throw in some tofu, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, onion, hearts of palm, bok choy, and whatever other veggies you like with a side of steamed jasmine rice. Use teriyaki or soy sauce.

* Pasta: I like using just a little olive oil and adding in some spinach, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and fresh basil leaves.

* Veggie burger: Black bean patties topped with spinach, onion, tomato, and a side of sweet potato fries. Yum!

*Here's a good falafel recipe that I want to try: https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-vegan-falafel/

*Vegan sushi!: http://thegreenplate.com/blog/9-vegan-sushi-recipes-so-you-can-finally/

trustfundkiller
03-25-2018, 12:14 PM
I've been vegetarian since 2008 and vegan since 2015. I'm reading a book called "How Not to Die" by Dr. Michael Greger and it's incredible, all backed up with information and citations from medical journals but written in such a way that it's actually entertaining and enjoyable to read. "Skinny Bitch" is another book I read in the beginning of my transition, but it focuses heavily on the ethical side of veganism so I'd go w/ "How Not to Die" if you're more interested in the health aspects. Some great documentaries are Earthlings, Cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives, etc.

I get all my produce at Trader Joe's because it's so cheap and the quality is great, and I go to Whole Foods for my specialty items. Mock meats and cheeses are great when you're transitioning because they're comforting and familiar. Of course you'd be better off sticking to fresh fruits and vegetables but most people's tastebuds are so bombarded with fat, salt and sugar that they can't go from eating the standard American diet to eating salads. It will taste like cardboard to them.

We all know about soy/almond/coconut milk instead of dairy milk. My personal fave substitutes: Earth Balance butter tastes exactly the same as real butter. Gardein makes the best mock meats - their "chicken" fingers are my favorite. They make amazing "fish" filets too. Beyond Meat patties and Dr. Praeger's burger patties are my fave burger alternatives. Getting a great cheese alternative is most important because that's what most people struggle with. Field Roast's Chao cheese is INCREDIBLE and so are the Follow Your Heart brand cheeses. Most people get started with Daiya and it's the easiest to find, but I don't like it. It's subpar compared to what's out there. Miyoko's has amazing gourmet vegan cheeses if you want something fancier. Kite Hill is by far the best vegan cream cheese and yogurt. Annie's has the best vegan mac and cheese. Follow Your Heart makes the best vegan salad dressings. I drink coffee black now but when I first started I was addicted to the Califia Farms caramel hazelnut coffee creamer. Ben & Jerry's does the best vegan ice cream, but TJ's has some amazing soy ice creams too.

I like to do tofu scrambles for breakfast with crumbled extra firm tofu in a pan (turmeric gives it yellow coloring) along with sautéed garlic, onion, mushrooms, spinach or kale, and cherry tomatoes. I'll use some soy sauce and a little sriracha for flavor. Of course, you can do smoothies, oatmeal, chia pudding, toast, English muffins, etc. For lunch I'll usually have soup, or a large salad. I like to make a big batch of soup that will last me all week. Lately I've been into this potato broccoli "cheese" soup I make by browning a large onion, throwing in some minced garlic, a head of cauliflower and bringing everything to a boil in veggie broth. Then I add in potatoes, celery, seasonings and let it boil until soft. Then I throw it into a blender w/ almond milk, transfer it back to the pot and add more potato chunks and broccoli with lots of nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor and let it simmer. For dinner I like to do pasta, or some sort of dish with rice like veggie stir fry or burrito bowls.

It takes some time to figure everything out, but once you do your health will never be better and you'll feel incredible. For meal ideas, Google is a godsend and I also like to go on YouTube and search "vegan what I eat in a day" and you'll find videos of just that - people showing the meals they ate that day.

Ginnyyy
03-25-2018, 12:43 PM
I have both vegan meals and vegetarian ones. I dislike dairy and meat (except sea food, which I try to eat in tiny amounts and very rarely) I just don t like having a dead animal on my plate or in my sweets, gummy bears and whatever. I also do not dress in animal carcases or wear them as shoes. Have nothing against those who eat or wear them, it s their personal choice. But I don t kiss them after a meal, it s yuck.

ScarletKitten
03-25-2018, 01:24 PM
Lately I've been into this potato broccoli "cheese" soup I make by browning a large onion, throwing in some minced garlic, a head of cauliflower and bringing everything to a boil in veggie broth. Then I add in potatoes, celery, seasonings and let it boil until soft. Then I throw it into a blender w/ almond milk, transfer it back to the pot and add more potato chunks and broccoli with lots of nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor and let it simmer.

Omg this sounds amazing! I am going to have to try this! <3

Litch
04-08-2018, 10:46 AM
vegan here! my best advice is to make sure you get enough fruit in your diet. fruit has tons of minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients. I would HIGHLY recommend starting your day with a fruit smoothie. I usually do bananas and blueberries. Bananas actually have quite a bit of protein in them. Drinking a smoothie in the morning extends the break that your digestive system gets and you just get a huge nutrient boost.

Another bonus of the vegan diet is that a lot of dairy/meat replacements are fortified with vitamin D and b12 so I feel like I'm actually less likely to be deficient than I was before.

I just love being vegan. everything has gotten better since going vegan! body mind and soul! I don't get depressed as often, my anxiety is a lot better, I can focus better, I can't remember the last time I got sick, had a zit, or muscle cramps (including period cramps!), and I just feel pretty good all around.

R-209
04-08-2018, 01:22 PM
* Veggie burger: Black bean patties topped with spinach, onion, tomato, and a side of sweet potato fries. Yum!


I've recently discovered these. So easy to make and so good. Maybe I should start using dry beans to cut down on sodium.

SnuffleUffleGrass
05-13-2018, 11:19 AM
Some updates to my vegan diet experiment-

* my sense of smell has improved, probably from having less inflammation. I still have sinus issues but even with that...I smell and taste things better now.

* I feel good, I also feel more sensitive to things.

* I have less "upset tummy" moments. Now deep fried food and sugary things leave me feeling "bleh."

* My skin is more clear.

ScarletKitten
05-13-2018, 03:13 PM
Some updates to my vegan diet experiment-

* my sense of smell has improved, probably from having less inflammation. I still have sinus issues but even with that...I smell and taste things better now.

* I feel good, I also feel more sensitive to things.

* I have less "upset tummy" moments. Now deep fried food and sugary things leave me feeling "bleh."

* My skin is more clear.

Amazing! I can confirm that as a vegan for 13 years, I no longer have IBS like I did before I went vegan, my skin is more clear, my energy is great, and I don't even remember the last time I had a cold or the flu.

ScarletKitten
05-13-2018, 03:20 PM
Vegan subreddit with excellent information for those who are curious:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vegan/

ScarletKitten
05-27-2018, 09:46 AM
Drinking macadamia milk for the first time, and it's delicious! I found it at Marshall's of all places.

49936

SuperJa
06-13-2018, 07:35 PM
50013

This tofu feta is THE BOMB and I keep coming back to it.

Crumble the (drained) tofu into a bowl.

Combine remaining ingredients in screw top jar or other watertight container. Shake to combine.

Pour over tofu, reserving about 1/4 cup for dressing.

Allow tofu to marinade in the fridge for 2hrs-overnight.

crystalize
09-02-2018, 02:31 PM
i was pretty much vegan/pescetarian for a while and fell off. now i wanna start transitioning again, cutting out dairy first (you DO notice hoe crappy dairy makes you feel if you pay attention to your body, and the breakouts are not a myth!) and then meat. i will still allow myself to eat seafood if i feel like it. who knows, maybe i won't want to, but i don't want this to feel like a 'i can't' thing, but positive instead.

can you guys recommend cheap vegan hacks/grocery options? i like daiya's stuff and other vegan meat imitations, but i find they have me going broke.

and how long did it take you to feel energized? i was struggling with low energy my first go around and consumed too many carb calories to compensate, which made me gain weight and give up.

SuperJa
09-02-2018, 06:58 PM
^^

For quick freezer meals I like to check out the ethnic sections- often things like chana masala and stuff aren't labeled vegan but they're vegan by default.

I buy mushrooms a LOT. I wasn't really into them at all before I switched and now portobello and me are best friends. If you have an asian grocer near you you can buy things like jackfruit and make your own pulled jackfruit.
Nutritional yeast added to things makes them "cheesy" for cheap. Plus some brands have b12 in them.
I rarely buy commercial meat replacements anymore; as your tastes and habits change I find a lot of them are "too meaty" for me and just have them for treats- I'm at the point where I'd rather have a lentil patty I made than a processed fake burger.

I didn't really have energy problems but I was following a vegan cookbook for athletes when I made the switch and I found that really helped introduce me to eating for performance as a vegan.
(It was this one, for those interested. She also covers basic workouts and has tons of bios from experienced vegans: https://www.amazon.ca/Vegan-Vitality-Complete-Plant-Based-Lifestyle/dp/1629143642 )

crystalize
09-03-2018, 08:52 AM
thank you!! checking out that book now :) and i love mushrooms!

ScarletKitten
09-03-2018, 09:42 AM
can you guys recommend cheap vegan hacks/grocery options? i like daiya's stuff and other vegan meat imitations, but i find they have me going broke.

and how long did it take you to feel energized? i was struggling with low energy my first go around and consumed too many carb calories to compensate, which made me gain weight and give up.

Cheap vegan hacks= beans & rice, potatoes & veggies, pasta, and peanut butter & jam sandwiches. I'm not sure if you have an Aldi's where you live, but they have alot of cheap vegan stuff too. Trader Joe's also has affordable vegan food. But otherwise, I basically live off of beans and rice, veggies, fruit, and potatoes mostly. Sometimes I'll have tofu and veggie dishes or pasta with tomato sauce and spinach/broccoli or something like that. I usually avoid buying vegan cheese because it's too expensive, and I don't crave cheese anyway so it's kind of pointless to me. The only time I eat vegan cheese is on pizza.

Feeling energized is not a problem for me at all. Allow your body to adjust to your new diet. As soon as you are adjusted you shouldn't have an issue. Foods with high energy are sweet potatoes, chia seeds, nuts, beans/lentils, grains (couscous, amaranth, quinoa, etc.), potatoes, avocado, chickpeas/hummus, dark leafy greens, zucchini, squash, and fruits. It's easy to eat vegan by eating Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese food. You also have alot of vegan Mexican food options too. Just order whatever without the meat and cheese. Black bean enchiladas are the bomb!

Hope this helps! <3

JessaJade
11-10-2018, 04:55 PM
50013

This tofu feta is THE BOMB and I keep coming back to it.

Crumble the (drained) tofu into a bowl.

Combine remaining ingredients in screw top jar or other watertight container. Shake to combine.

Pour over tofu, reserving about 1/4 cup for dressing.

Allow tofu to marinade in the fridge for 2hrs-overnight.

I made this earlier - delicious, thanks for posting.

whirlerz
11-12-2018, 10:29 AM
I'm not a vegan, but I do like vegan items sometimes..

I just had an Amy's brand burrito, non-dairy, made w/organic beans & brown rice.
I like Amy's, she's a single mom that wanted healthy food items, so she started the company.

wish
11-12-2018, 11:06 PM
Halo Top Creamery ice cream is great! My question is... why the hell are healthy snacks or food in general so expensive? I found kale chips for $5 for 2oz! Do you know the size of Doritos I could get for $5?! SkinnyPop popcorn is $4 for 6oz while I can get a box of 3 artificial butter oil name brand popcorn for the same price. I’m not even going into substitute butter and cheese. Starting my next shopping trip I’m going to keep track of how much my groceries cost.

I’ve also noticed I eat a lot less real food than fast/processed foods. Eating out is not just unhealthy for us it’s also killing my wallet. I just hate throwing out all this fruit and salad every week.

I am also going to introduce a new food to my family every week.

SnuffleUffleGrass
11-13-2018, 07:10 PM
Halo Top Creamery ice cream is great! My question is... why the hell are healthy snacks or food in general so expensive? I found kale chips for $5 for 2oz! Do you know the size of Doritos I could get for $5?! SkinnyPop popcorn is $4 for 6oz while I can get a box of 3 artificial butter oil name brand popcorn for the same price. I’m not even going into substitute butter and cheese. Starting my next shopping trip I’m going to keep track of how much my groceries cost.

I’ve also noticed I eat a lot less real food than fast/processed foods. Eating out is not just unhealthy for us it’s also killing my wallet. I just hate throwing out all this fruit and salad every week.

I am also going to introduce a new food to my family every week.

Buying frozen fruit and veggies eliminates a lot of waste.

If you buy beans, greens etc in bulk it's less pricey. This is where a Costco membership can help a lot. Or shopping at a co-op store.

AChildOfBoredom
11-13-2018, 11:39 PM
+1 on the Costco membership. With six of us living here, it’s been a real lifesaver. You can also get some great deals on cookware there.

None of us are vegan or vegetarian, but again, six of us here (though one is responsible for feeding herself, she tends to pitch in, and so the meals are pretty much communal here), we’re sure as hell not doing prime rib every night.

I’ve found (and we pretty much all seem to be in agreement here), that it’s better just to go at it straightforward, and not bother with the meat substitutes. If you’re expecting to taste a burger when you bite into a burger, you’ll be throughly disappointed. Yeah, people give me the, “but it tastes just like the real thing!” spiel all the time… after they tell me how they haven’t eaten met in 10 years, 15 years, whatever. My much more recent frame of reference disagrees.

Bite into a vegetable expecting a vegetable, you don’t have the disillusionment. Now that f I had gone vegan and been one for years to the point that the taste of a burger or steak or whatever isn’t so fresh in my mind, then yeah, I could see myself being content with a burger made from mushrooms, soya, seiten (though I still have reservations about eating something named after the prince of darkness and lord of all evil), etc.

SnuffleUffleGrass
11-14-2018, 09:09 AM
I don't want to threadjack but in cases where people want to adhere to strict diets, having the proper tools and appliances to prepare these items helps a lot.


Thanks to the Internet you don't have to pay top dollar for some food processors and non-stovetop cookers.


Plus sprouting beans can make a huge difference in avoiding gassiness and better taste. It does take a bit of prep though...

wish
11-30-2018, 06:13 AM
OMG I tried kale chips for the first time. Gross! Taste like hot trash.

Clara_M
11-30-2018, 06:22 AM
OMG I tried kale chips for the first time. Gross! Taste like hot trash.

It must be a bad bunch. My home-made ones usually get polished off. Remove the stems (they won't dry out easily). Salt + pepper + a tiny bit of cayenne, some oil, rub into the leaves, then dry out in the oven (not too hot!) until dried and crisp. People eat 'em up whenever I've made them.

wish
11-30-2018, 07:31 AM
It must be a bad bunch. My home-made ones usually get polished off. Remove the stems (they won't dry out easily). Salt + pepper + a tiny bit of cayenne, some oil, rub into the leaves, then dry out in the oven (not too hot!) until dried and crisp. People eat 'em up whenever I've made them.

They were store bought. Rhythm superfoods original kale chips. I guess I’ll try making my own.