Question:
how diffucult is it to be a vegan?
asylum
2009-08-01 20:10:18 UTC
i mean im a vegetarian and have been one for over 2 years, and i really want to become a vegan but my question is how radical of a change would it be for me? like what foods would i not be able to eat? and how exactly would i be able to get protein, i would also have to convince my parental units that it is a healthy lifestyle. Thanks for any answeres =D
Eleven answers:
darceee
2009-08-01 20:28:55 UTC
i guess it it kinda depends on what foods u really like... so basically you cant eat anything that comes from an animal...so no dairy... which for me would be... as u put it a radical change!! :) if u rarely eat eggs, milk and cheese then it shouldnt be to hard for u... as far as protein ... u can get that from soy and tofu products... if u decide to do it and theres a Whole Foods in ur area they have a huge variety of vegan options... stuff u wont find at a regular grocery store which becomes useful since foods may get repetitive... i enjoy several vegan burgers and vegan chicken patties... i also think its way more difficult to go out to eat.. as for ur rents thats a tough one... i used to get crap all the time from mine and i was just a vegetarian :) ... good luck!
J
2009-08-02 04:45:48 UTC
First off your parents do not know best. Eating animal products is incredibly bad for you. We are the ONLY species on the planet that consumes dairy after infancy. We are also the only species that eats other species's dairy. Our bodies can not handle it. Milk is meant for newborns only.



How do cows or elephants get protein? Through vegetables. Eat rice, beans, tofu, tempeh, seiten, flours, nuts, peanut butter. Protein is in many things.



Vegan isn't a diet. You should know that. Vegan is a lifestyle. Vegans own nothing and eat nothing that came from an animal. That means no dairy, no eggs, no honey, no wool, no leather, no fur, no gelatin, and no glycerine. They also don't use items that were tested on animals. Like cosmetics, shampoos and dyes. Not all are tested on animals but many are. The actual list of what animal products, by-products and parts are in is exhaustive and vile.



A Strict Vegetarian though is what you might want to try first. Use it as a stepping stone. A Strict Vegetarian doesn't eat eggs or dairy. What lies between that and vegan is your choice. You could eat honey or not. Wear leather or not. While I don't think you should use animals, that's my opinion and it's your choice.



Strict Vegetarian's are FAR healthier than Omnivores. People that don't eat any animal products have a 5% chance of having a heart attack. People that are omnivores have a 50% chance of having a heart attack.



You are less likely to become overweight which lessens your risk of diabetes.



If you don't eat organic meats you're pumping your body full of hormones and antibiotics. That is very bad.



If you eat organic meats, while avoiding the hormones and antibiotics you are still consuming meat. Therefore you still have a 50% chance of heart attack.



Eating meat puts you more at risk for prostate cancer (if you're male) or ovarian (if you're female). Processed meats, like bologna, hot-dogs etc, are even worse than regular meats.



You have to remember that us humans are designed to be herbivores. Yes, we are. We have made ourselves into omnivores and it's fattening us, poisoning us and killing us. Comparatively less people died of heart attacks 150 years ago, than they do today. Yes we have longer life spans, however that is not due to animal consumption. Diseases have increased since we started becoming a more meat-centric diet. As has our medical technology, which one could strongly argue is why we live as long as we do.



So as you can see not eating meat is better for you all around. Cutting out all animal products is the best option for you. Take your time though. What you have is an addiction to animal products. You don't see how life can be without them, it's a foreign concept. Like with all addictions it takes will-power, perseverance and a gradual mind-shift.



I recommend cutting out dairy first. Our bodies absolutely cannot handle dairy. Then, when you're comfortable without dairy drop eggs. So on and so forth. Set your own pace ultimately find what works for you.



I am a Vegan. I was a vegetarian for 3 years before I made the transition. I dropped dairy then eggs. I've been Vegan now for a little over a year. I'm healthy and still kicking.



Remember, yours is the healthier lifestyle already. It's your parents that have the unhealthy eating habits. What they are eating is surely killing them. Tell them that.
boing
2009-08-01 20:49:52 UTC
Depends how dependent you are on eating eggs & dairy I guess as to whether it would be too much of a radical change for you.



I would suggest giving up one bit at a time & try out vegan alternatives so you can find what you like to drink & eat.



I've been vegan a few years now & for me it wasn't such a big deal but it did take a while to figure out which milks I liked, what vegan cheese was better, which beans & legumes were good with what and reading labels to make sure that I was buying something that had animal products in it.



You need to experiment trying new foods and showing your parents that you know what you're doing. You also need to enjoy your change in lifestyle and the changes that you make for yourself without the pressure of others telling you what they want you to do.



I found it very useful to also go along to vegan dinners with other like-minded people. Check out any vegan groups in your area. It's fun & you get to meet other people that have similar interests.
anonymous
2009-08-02 13:15:36 UTC
1. I went from an omnivore to a vegan overnight. It was not a radical change, except I cut my grocery bill by more than half.



2. Foods you can't eat are foods derived from animals, like meat, dairy, eggs, and honey, but also stuff like gelatin and D3 (cholcalciferol) which are also derived from animals.



3. Except for oil, ALL FOOD ON THE PLANET CONTAINS PROTEIN. If you eat a well-rounded diet comprised of natural foods and adequate calories and still manage to become protein deficient, then I'll give you $10.



4. Ask your parents how they feel about it, then ask if they have any concerns. Use the internet to print off information addressing their concerns. I like to show people the profiles on www.veganbodybuilding.com and ask them how "sickly" those vegans look. :)
?
2009-08-01 20:32:06 UTC
I went from vegetarian to vegan without much trouble. Vegans do not consume any animal products. Avoid :dairy ie; cheese,milk,sour cream. Also no eggs. There are some good substitutes for things like sour cream and cream cheese. Do some research, get a book out from the library, I recommend "Becoming Vegan". There is a chapter on teens and nutrition. It is written by dietitians so they know what they are talking about when it comes to nutrition. What worked for me was getting rid of things one at a time. First to go was eggs, then yogurt,cheese, and lastly milk.

Good Luck!
?
2009-08-01 21:41:34 UTC
It is not that much more difficult than giving up meat. It doesn't take long before cheese and eggs falls into that nonfood group. One thing that helps as far as cheese is concerned is that most of it contains rennet from calfs stomachs. Protein is abundant is nonmeat sources and isn't a problem in a well balanced diet.
anonymous
2009-08-02 00:33:19 UTC
Its going to be a huge change for you. No dairy, eggs, or any products that come from animals IE: leather. A big problem is that so many foods are made with eggs and milk so your going to have to give up a lot of foods.
?
2016-09-15 11:58:21 UTC
This one is SUPER EASY. The vegan microwave cake x] Ingredients: one million one million/two cups all-cause flour one million cup sugar one million teaspoon baking soda one million/two cup unsweetened cocoa powder one million/two teaspoon salt one million cup water one million/two cup vegetable oil two tablespoons white vinegar two teaspoons vanilla extract Directions: Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl. Combine the remainder elements in a separate bowl, then stir into the flour combo. Microwave on top for six to 7 mins, rotating one million/four flip two times, till a fork comes out blank whilst inserted within the nook. Let cool for 10 mins. Makes four servings.
M J
2009-08-01 20:31:43 UTC
No animal products at all, None, Nada, Zip, Zero.....Vegetarian maybe....but Vegan????? May not be such a good idea if you are still growing. BTW, parental units know best.
anonymous
2009-08-01 20:26:42 UTC
Honestly I know for a fact that vegetarian is much healthier than vegen cooking food is what caused humans to develop better and use less energy to digest food and your body gets more nutrients from it and you will be even healthier if you eat some chicken and fish.
zellyyy.
2009-08-01 20:20:08 UTC
I thought that said virgin lol.


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