Vegan for four months, now

[Vegankate]

Hello, I am a new member and thought I would share my story. I became a vegetarian in Christmas 2013 after being asked to prepare a leg of pork for Christmas lunch. I suddenly had a realisation that this lump of meat was actually a leg that had been running around not long before and although I persevered and delivered the cooked meat to the family Christmas lunch, I never got rid of the feeling of discomfort about eating it. From then on I was mostly vegetarian although ate fish for a while.

A year later, following a bereavement and looking for something to help with my grief, I found a Buddhist teacher online and became a follower. This made me see how wrong the eating of other creatures is. In January this year I did some research on ethical and organic farms and realised that however hard they try, there is no way to justify the dairy industry as it inevitably results in the suffering and untimely death of billions of creatures. There is also no need for human beings to consume the milk of other mammals. It is ridiculous and most adult humans in the world do not do it.

I now eat a diet of mostly Asian vegetarian dishes (I love a good, hot chilli!). I take home-made vegetable soups to work and have them with garlic toast followed by fresh or dried fruits, a variety of nuts, home-made biscuits (oats, seeds, Agave nectar , coconut etc). I have wall charts in my kitchen to remind of plant sources of calcium, iron and protein. Breakfast is always (and always has been, since childhood) wholemeal toast and Marmite - a very valuable source of the B vitamins.

At the age of 60 I have lost two stone, my cholesterol is down to normal and my joints, which used to ache, are now fine. I am often mistaken for someone 20 years younger. I was considering surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome due to tingling and numbness in the hands (I work on a keyboard all day) but that has now gone, too.

It is frustrating to hear people still asking questions about how I can get enough of this, that, or the other without consuming dairy - all so brainwashed into thinking the unnatural practice of drinking cow milk is somehow vital to their health when quite the opposite is true.

I hope this helps inspire and encourage others! All the best.

[Zest]

Hi Kate,

It would be really good to see some of your favourite recipes, if you'd care to share? You mentioned liking a 'hot chilli' - that sounds really good. I'm looking out for some more recipes to try - and I would like to have a few vegetarian ones - I don't mind trying Vegan ones too.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend.

Zest

[deejames]

As a vegetarian I like my eggs and dairy too much though I appreciate your feelings on the subject. I have my own hens so their living conditions are excellent. Milk I always buy organic and always vegetarian cheese.

It's quite hard work to be vegan. My friend has gone the whole way with no honey, wool, silk etc.

I can't believe I ever ate farmed meat though wild meat makes more sense.

I am glad you are feeling so well on this diet. Keep it up

Dee

[Thisgirlcanandis]

Hi Kate

I have been vegetarian since 1985 when I too made the connection between what I was eating and what it used to be. I am now slowly moving towards a plant based diet - I no longer drink cows milk and am pretty much off cheese now. However, chocolate and eggs are my weakness. I have only just joined this forum so it was really encouraging to see a vegan post straightaway. I did veganuary and felt much better mentally so I am trying to stick with it.

[Vijjit]

Hi

I too would like to avoid dairy. But dairy is a good source of calcium. My oral condition is deteriorating quite early in life. I don't know if it is owing to vegan diet that I started few years ago.

If any vegans are facing oral problems, please do share. This will help me to persist my vegan living.

[Backtobasics95 in reply to Vijjit]

Drink kefir for breakfast.

authoritynutrition.com/9-he...

Have that with Maltabella (love love this). In my opinion it's tastier than normal oats and much more filling. Have it with a bit of honey, a sliced up banana and some nuts.

natureschoice.co.za/bio-fri...

You can also have congee for breakfast. It takes a while to cook in a saucepan but if you have a rice cooker with a timer you can leave it overnight.

thekitchn.com/how-to-make-c...

Also you can sprout things to make them more nutritious. You can do so using broccoli seeds, radish seeds, mung beans, lentils, even almond nuts.

Also there are lots of plants you can grow in your backyard and eat. Here are 52 you can eat

wakingtimes.com/2013/08/03/...