Diet Discovery

Is being vegetarian/vegan expensive?
Not especially, it might even be less expensive. think of all the money you’ll save on not buying meat.

Do you have to be a vegetarian before you become a vegan?
No, some people find it necessary to slide into it. but I think it depends on what your eating habits are now.

What are some good recipes?
You could go to the library and check out a few vegetarian cook books, in fact I think that’s a really good idea because they have other things besides recipes that are worth reading. Some of the cook books you have now might also have a vegetarian recipes. The web is full of vegetarian/vegan recipes – just google it.

Is there any real difference between the two (vegetarian or vegan)?
Since vegans don’t eat milk or eggs – its more challenging to get protein. But it’s not that hard since the discovery of tofu 🙂

I know some diets have meal plans, is it like that?
Not unless you want to. but it’s a good idea in the beginning to check your daily nutrients – make sure you’re doing OK. Protein, calcium, and the B vitamins are worth looking at. Some people end up taking some supplements.

Any good books (cook books, general information books) on it?
There is plenty. When you’re at the library getting some recipe books check the 613.2 shelf.
If you like to listen to podcasts – I totally recommend subscribing and listening to " Vegetarian Food for Thought", especially the older ones.
You might also want to google and check out "Compassionate Cooks".
And PETA has a lot of free resources.

Final thoughts: if you try to become a vegan find a way to like soy milk. Its a complete protein, and its cheap and easy. Maybe buy the chocolate kind. or make peanut butter smoothies with it. But like everything else – use it in moderation. Another food you should make friends with is tofu. OK here are a couple or reciepes to get you started.

Pasta
Goes great with a salad
fry 8oz of tofu in 2 tbsp. olive oil
add 2 cloves of crushed garlic
add some sliced mushrooms, and/or chopped rep peppers, and/or sliced zucchini, and/or chopped onions.
Add 1 can of chopped tomatoes, and 1 can of spaghetti sauce
simmer
use for topping on whole grain pasta.

Stir-fry
make quinoa: 1 cup quinoa, 2 cups boiling water, simmer for 15.
Fry 8oz of tofu in 2 tbsp. olive oil
add 2 tbsp water, chopped mushrooms, and/or chopped peppers, and/or chopped onions, and/or sliced zucchini, and/or snow peas, and and/or sliced green beans,
increase heat and cook and stir for 5 minutes. Spoon over quinoa.

Burrito
Prepare a head of time and it takes just one minute to make one for lunch
fry 8oz of tofu in 2 tbsp. olive oil, put some mushrooms in if you want.
add one can of refried beans, or black beans, or pinto beans or garbonzo beans
optional: one package of soy taco mix
heat and mix.
Put mix in frig.
When you want a burrito spoon mix on tortilla add fake cheese and nuke. Then add salsa, and sliced avocado and/or olvives if you have some.
References :

Is being vegetarian/vegan expensive?

No. In fact, it’s cheaper than eating meat if you aren’t constantly buying meat substitutes. Think of it this way: beans are way cheaper than steak.

Do you have to be a vegetarian before you become a vegan?

Many people benefit from a slow transition, but I went straight from omnivore to vegan easily.

What are some good recipes?

Cashew-butternut mac and cheese; pizzas topped with your favorite veggies and salty artichoke instead of cheese, lasagna, vegan chili, raw pesto… I use lentils and rye in meatloaf and shepherd’s pie. Just get creative!

Is there any real difference between the two (vegetarian or vegan)?

Yes. Vegans consume nothing that involves the exploitation of an animal. A vegetarian will eat dairy and eggs. It is harder to eat out as a vegan; I usually find myself letting little things slide (e.g.: I’ll order a pizza with no cheese but I won’t ask of there’s any dairy in the sauce or crust).

I know some diets have meal plans, is it like that?

It can be if you want it to, but it doesn’t have to be. After a couple weeks you’ll get used to what you can eat and you won’t even really have to think about it. The main thing is to hit every food group daily. For a vegan, the food groups are veggies, fruits, leafy greens, grains, nuts/seeds, and beans/legumes. The other thing is to take a B12 supplement, as B12 is found in bacteria that is washed off of produce before it hits the shelf and there are no consistent vegan sources besides supplements or fortified foods.

Any good books (cook books, general information books) on it?

I don’t do cookbooks, but I do happyherbivore.com (she also has cookbooks available). I have also found several recipes on allrecipes.com that are vegan and delicious.

I just need some honest and truthful answers.

There you have it. 😉 Hope this was helpful!
References :

I think it’s better that you do become a vegetarian before becoming a vegan, since you will have to read up on this properly and gradually make changes, don’t go feet first into a vegan diet as a poorly planned vegan diet is not healthy. A vegan diet can be healthy but it has to be carefully planned.
References :

Vegetarian means no meat or fish. So it means you don’t eat cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens or fish. You don’t eat anything with eyes. Some people say you don’t eat anything "that had a mother."

Vegan means you don’t eat meat or fish PLUS you don’t eat dairy, eggs or honey. In other words, you don’t eat anything that came from an animal or was the product of cruelty.

There’s not one way to do it. Everyone has their own path. I think most people take it gradually. You know, slowly cutting meat out of their diet and replacing it with vegetables, fruits, beans, rice, etc. Then cutting out dairy. So you don’t have to become a vegetarian before becoming a vegan but a lot of people do it that way.

Check out the chat rooms and discussion forums at happycow.net. There’s a lot of friendly people on that site.
References :

Exensive no. Rice, beans, pasta, potatoes, all legumes- these are the cheapest foods in the world, and always will be. Always have been.

YOU don’t have to be vegetarian beforehand.

Vegan- just cut all the junk- the meat, diary ( so bad for you), eggs and anything that came throught the body of an animal. If you eat nothing but procesed food- chips, fries, frozen meals, pizza from the pizza aisle, boxed rice mixes and all that packaged pre-made crap, then you may have to start reading the labels, and it’s a good ime to address your whole diet anyway. That "food" is pure junk, and vegan or not, nobody should eat it. Once a week a bag of chips or something.Oreos are vegan, it’s not like you have to become a nun in the vegetable pathc or anything. Most DUncan Hines cake mixes are also vegan ( you’d add apple sauce, a mashed banana or tofu, not an egg to make the cake).

It’s actually very easy, but most people get a frightening moment when they got too much onfo and website action to look at. A simple meal of rice, beans, pumpkin seeds and walnuts, is great.
References :

I agree with the above poster, drilled it right on.
References :