from veggie to vegan?

So lately I've been toying with the idea to switch to vegan. Right now I am vegetarian, basically just not eating meat, including poultry and fish. I'm wondering just how difficult is it to make the switch? It wouldn't be too hard to avoid milk and eggs.. but I know there's lots of other things that hide in foods now-a-days and I just don't know what to look for, yet. Any suggestions on what to check for?

Also, My boyfriend (who I live with) isn't vegetarian... in fact he is closer to a carnivore. I'd still like to be able to go out to dinner with him and such occasionally but just glancing over restaurant menus I can tell vegan choices are slim to nil. Going to family dinners and stuff would be really hard because there is always butter and stuff added to everything.  How did your switch to veganism affect your family, firends and social life? Is it even possible to be a successful vegan when living with a near-carnivore?

i've been considering the same thing.

id say one of the best things to do is week by week take away one dairy product.
Start off by not eating eggs, then butter, then milk etc...

it will help you wean onto the lifestyle and simply to see weather it suits you as a person.

I'm doing the same thing... I've managed to get everything out  (milk, eggs, butter, high fructose corn syrup, gelatin, honey, leather, animal tested products, etc)

Thats a very good idea... I guess I could always switch to lacto-vegetarian for a while to get used to avoiding eggs and then eventually start weening off dairy if it goes well. Thanks!

any other suggestions?

You're sure you're ready to give up Quorn, Katy?

I only ask because it was you that turned me onto the stuff!

Check this out for what to look out for: http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/2723 2.html

You also have to be careful if you use soy cheese--a lot of it has casein in it, which is an animal bi-product.

I made the switch from vegetarian to vegan for a month and decided not to remain vegan (still vegetarian), but I'll share my experience.

I went through some dairy withdrawal.  It wasn't pleasant but not everyone does that.  (Mostly, icky poops.)  What sent me back to vegetarianism was a very long period punctuated by truly horrible cramps.  I've never once had a period with bad cramps (I'm 25, so I've had a few) and never any variation in their length, either.  I was scared enough by this to stop monkeying around with my diet; I feel best as a vegetarian.  It's not a diet for everyone, sorry for the 'tmi' in this paragraph.

I didn't have any trouble with convenience in my normal routine; I cook most of my own food, though.  It was VERY inconvenient to be out with friends.  I ended up packing a Luna bar in case we went to a restaurant that only had a side salad that was vegan friendly.  People seem to think you have to put cheese and veggies together.

I also live with a near-carnivore, and as long as meat doesn't sicken you and you're ready to do a little extra for him/her, it's just fine.  I usually cook him a bit of fish/chicken and serve him some of my entree as a side.  I'd have a plate of roasted veggies and he'd have a side of roasted veggies with his meat... it wasn't much more trouble.  If, that is, you cook.  :-)

As for family dinners, my family has been very supportive of my choice and makes an effort to accomodate my needs, but I have a special family.  (I also have two diabetic family members, so we are used to talking openly about what can and cannot be on the menu.)

HEy sarah,

I've been a vegan for a year now. ..and its GREAT. It makes eating a creative and thoughtful/intentional experience (not to mention really appreciative of how many awesome and delicious things are out there made from sun and ground alone.) The thing that got me is that most breads and any sort of processed grains may have butter or eggs. And most of the time at resterants the waiters don't really know what goes into a peice of bread or pasta ...the things that are packaged and the cooks don't make themselves. The way i dealt with it is to just switch to whole foods and avoid processed things all together. (Its great for your health too!) But if that is to extreme then just keep on asking.) (are you eating honey?)

Its hard at first, but you'd be surprised how easy it is. It really is a way of living that I find to be very accomodating. And it makes other people think about what they consume, which is just a good practice in and of itself (Sorry, I am getting preachy..not intentional)

Well Good luck.

Virginia