Resources and Information for New Vegetarians/Vegans

Ok folks, here is the place to put all your best tips for those considering a veg*an lifestyle.  Feel free to add links, copy and paste replies from other threads, or anything you think would be useful to a newbie. 

I believe we as Vegans and Vegetarians are looking for healthy alternatives to the garbage that the food industry has marketed as "good for you".   White flour is processed crap.  Whole wheat flour tastes better and is better for you. 

Original Post by elizabeth1519:

I’m soon turning sixteen and I want to become a vegetarian. I talked to my parents about it and they won’t let me. I personally don’t like most meats anyways. They think I only want to do it to lose weight which is only a small part of it, mainly I want the benefits of a healthy life style. Any suggestions?

 I'm 16 well and just recently turned vegetarian.  Well actually i just found out i'm pescatarian but i want to be totally veggie so i'm fixing that, anyways, My parents were weird about it too at first, especially because i've grown up with my whole family hunting, fishing, etc so its kind of hard for them to grasp that i would want to give up meat.  I told them my reasonings and once they realized that i was serious and i wasn't going to eat meat there's really nothing they could do about it.  They still make little jokes about it but it really doesn't bother me.   

Also you could always bring up the argument that it's your choice as to what you want to eat and very maturely explain that you are 16 years old and have decided to make a lifestyle change.  You are standing up for what you believe in and deciding how you want to live your life which is a part of growing up.  If they are worried about your health do more research on supplements that are available and show them that you know what you are doing and are doing it in a healthy way.  Make sure you completely explain your reasons for this change too.  Mine was the grotesque factory farming industry and health reasons as well.  I'm not sure what all of yours were, I'm guessing along those lines but either way once you thoroughly explain your thoughts, I don't see how they could keep you from it.  Hope that helps!  Good Luck! 

eat for nutrition and not for taste. you begin to align what tastes good with healthy and also unhealthy foods with bad tastes. 

This took me a long time because i became a veg about 11 years ago and my diet was bad at first.

Also, avoid eating meat substitutes. try to get used to meals that aren't imitating meat. 

Many new veg's fail because their diet begins to consist of fake beef fake chicken and fake whatever to avoid a lifestyle adjustment and end up going back. Just like anything, shortcuts commonly dont work. (i am not saying never eat boca burgers etc. you just shouldnt at first.)

hope this helps.

i have just set up a blog www.cooking4carnivores.com where i explain how me and my carnivore husband coexist. it could be a good site for people who are new to vegetarianism too as it shows how i make dishes that have meat for my husband, but don't for me. i also have links to cookbooks i use and love there. check it out!

I am going to be doing a "test run" for a vegetarian diet next week. It is something I have always wanted to try and see if it was right for me. My goal is to eat vegetarian for one week, and at the end evaluate how I feel, etc and decide from there if I am going to stick with it or not. I'm not exactly sure where to start. I have bought tofu, beans, lentils, cottage cheese, and nuts for protein. I also bought lots of fresh fruits and veggies. We always have brown rice, whole grain pasta, etc in the house. So what exactly do I do with all of these items now? I know I could just eat them seperately but I would imagine that would get boring pretty quick. I guess I just don't really know much about being a vegetarian. I have seen many references to books in the forum, is there one specifically that is great for someone like me, who really don't know much about anything?

k you cooking 4 carnivores! I think that is why I am still not fully dedicated to the change yet although I have implemented many changes in the hopes of one day being full vegan. My whole family are cani's but here is my most recent issue. My daughter went on a field trip to the dairy farm and came  home completely disgusted and outraged, and is now protesting much of what is from animals. THis is not a protest but a plea for help from a desperate mom. becuase I have already been researching and making changes  where and when possible, I was able to reckognize she was calling her self vegan and refusing to eat! I told her I was glad to have her making her own choices and this is a huge desicion but I want her to be educated correctly and their is alot of wrong info out there on both sides. Where is the best place to send or book to buy or show to watch for a 14 year old who is curious about the lifestyle to say the least. She does eat some vegan meals I make others she won't touch. I also have a baby and 6 yearold I am trying desperatly to avoid processing and many of the animal foods both ask for chocolate silk. but are their easy kid friendly vegan options?

there are lots of good books out there. i have a carnivore who has the palate of a five year old so i am often checking out the cookbooks myself. there is

Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet

and

The Teen's Vegetarian Cookbook

and

Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World: A Complete Guide for Parents

but please note i am only a vegetarian, not a vegan. that poses a whole other level of compromises. i think it is mostly about going out and experimenting with new things. also, just like i make spaghetti with real meatballs for my hubby and fake ones for me, you can try subtracting the animal products from what you are making and replacing it with vegan alternatives just for her. also, remember simple things - like cooking in separate pans, or using different utensils, or not using chicken broth. i hope this (and my blog) helps...

ty you soo much for the help!

i wanted to go vegetarian but my dad didnt want me to...he said i wouldnt get enuff protein(I relle dont blame him cuz i dont eat enuff veggies) my diet is mainly grain and fruit HAHA XD. i cud b a  vegitaraian becuz i relle dont eat meat often and i relle dont like the taste and i LOVE animals!

So i told my dad "When Im Fifteen!!"--random age-- hehe--- and so in two years i will come to this website and look at the tips! THX GUYs In AdVAnCE!

I've been lacto-ovo vegetarian for over 3 years and I looked EVERYWHERE for a good "daily recommendations"-type chart to keep my diet balanced. The one I've found the most useful and comprehensive is the "Vegetarian Food Guide Rainbow" from the New Food Guide for North American Vegetarians, which can be found here: http://www.metabolicdiet.com/pdfs/veg_food_gu ide.pdf

It's the most helpful article I've found so far, and the daily recommendations work for a vegan diet, too. Hope this is helpful to any new vegetarians out there.  

Hey kiwiberry,

Thanks for that link! I've been trying to find something similar to that and this was really helpful. I'm trying to become a balanced vegetarian and come up with a meal plan (I've been a vegetarian for 4 months now).

My daughter went pescatarian about 2 years ago when she was 15.  For young people looking to gain acceptance from their parents, I have had only one compliant:  I have to cook 2 separate meals.  I have no concerns about the nutrition just the time.  Maybe if you address this issue with your family, (ie. help to cook) you will gain quick approval.

Having them help is a great idea.

Read "The China Study" by T Colin Campbell. It will likely change the way you cook. You may not even want to eat fish.

Original Post by choopie:

Any other wheat/gluten free vegans out there?

I'm looking for a cookbook/and or recipe ideas.

Did you find a good cookbook?  I came across a really good web site recently that has a couple cookbooks. Can we share web sites here? Sylvia

Hi!

Someone may have mentioned this already but pod casts are a great way to get into it. I'm Vegan and this pod cast www.veganfreaks.comreally helped they are really funny but also tell it as it is. there are loads more out there so get googleing!

Also if you are just going veg*an don't stress about getting this mineral and this amount of protein etc. as long as you are eating variety you should be ok!

WOW

both those people are unacceptably rude. ( post where some people pointed out that being overweight and vegan was weird and they actually SAID this to their loved ones! Lashing out due to their own discomfort I suppose

I hang out on livejournal.com. Only place I feel normal as a vegetarian/vegan

These 2 communities are the one's I'm apart of

veganpeople

vegancooking

Join Join!