Plant based diet recipes/sites for new Vegan?

[OneLove2019]

I have noticed since being on MTX that I always feel best when I avoid meats, breads and eat light, so I am looking at plant-based cooking, the thing is I have 2 kiddos and run a business from my home. The idea of doing it seems daunting esp., with still being exhausted a good portion of the time (I also try kickbox a few days a week so as you all know about micromanaging time for energy, that is a concern). My thing is are there any sites where you don't have to be a gourmet chef or spend hours in the kitchen to have a healthy plant-based meal on the daily??? Tips and suggestion beloved and welcome. Also--anyone heard of Arbonne30? Alicia

[Mirell]

Hello! Ive been vegan for 5 years and I love it, but it has been alot to learn and im still learning (discovering new tricks and recipes).

In the beginning try easy recipes. I eat alot of beans and quinoa, quinoa is very nutritional (contains almost all of the essential proteins to

mention something) and I try to always have it on my plate instead of fir example rice. Quinoa can be used in many ways and a google search will give you alot of ideas! I love quinoa! Its a bit pricey though, at least here in Norway.

Best tips is to google and check out what recipes is out there, explore. Cook from scratch and try to add beans, seeds and nuts to the meals, nuts and seeds; I mostly just sprinkle it over the food on the plate.

Plant based food contains less (normally) calories so its important to eat enough and to add healthy calories like I mentioned above, just a little handful is enough.

Good protein sources are beans, seeds, tofu and vegetables. My personal favorites are soy beans ( i buy them dry and soak og cook them in big quantity and put them portion bags in the freezer so its always ready and its cheap), broccoli and other easy to get vegetables. I have started buying frozen vegetables, its more convenient and makes the cooking even faster.

Its alot to learn, but when you get the hang of it, it becomes natural for you. And of course I dont always make my dinner from scratch, when Im lazy or just want something quick I buy finished products like burger, in Norway its always been difficult to find products like these, but the recent years it has exploded! Its great to find vegan food in my local grocery store!

Vegan cheese, butter and other products to put on the bread should be easy to find, do a little research in your local area and join facebook groups in your city where you can ask and learn. Its also a good idea to join vegan food groups on facebook or other sosial media, I have gotten alot of inspiration from this!

Healthwise you should take b12 supplement if you go all in, there isnt any good plant based sources to get this important vitamin from. Do blood work to check you nutritional state from now and then, especially in the beginning to see where your at and if you are doing it right or wrong! Its alot to think of so you should read up on nutrition and sources, internett, books or maybe even contact a nutritionist if you find it difficult on your own.

In the beginning pay attention to changes in your body, for me its the calories that I have to keep an eye on, thats why I use seeds and nuts to up my calorie intake, so I dont look like a skeleton. I lost weight when I went vegan, but the same time I started eating healthier and made homemade food, but the combination made loose weight. Now my body just refuses to add weight, but I feel great on plant based so thats whats important and my blood work are good except from low d-vit a while ago (not uncommon here in Norway with the lack of light most og the year).

You can do it gradually to make it easier, for example: start by making only the dinners plant based or have a few days a week that is plant based. I did it gradually over many years, which made me prepared when I decided to go all in. But many people just jump right into it

Hope this reply wasnt to messy.

Just ask for anything and I’ll see if I can answer you Good luck, you can do it!

[Mirell in reply to Mirell]

I’ll see if I can find some good recipes and info sites for you this weekend when I’ve got the time for it!

[OneLove2019 in reply to Mirell]

Aww thank you so very very much--that was perfect *huugs*. Very confusing knowing where to start especially since I am also anemic--but I don't like feeling dragged by "big foods" glutens and meats...

[Mirell in reply to OneLove2019]

Your welcome! Its great when you find a diet that works for your body. But, yes, its a challenge to know where to begin. For me it was cutting the dairy that really changed it for me and my tummy!

[Georgie-girl in reply to Mirell]

Thank you for this response Mirell. My daughter is a vegan and I do worry about her getting enough of the important stuff. I'm a vegetarian and slowly starting to go vegan, so this info is extremely helpful. Thanks again and good luck one love x

[OneLove2019 in reply to Georgie-girl]

That is my fear as well--and I have an absorption issue so I have to find liquified vitamins to put on my tongue and that is very very hard to locate--wonder if there is liquid B-12?

[Georgie-girl in reply to OneLove2019]

Tricky one. I'd suggest speaking to the pharmacy in your local hospital. I'm sure they would know what's available and from where. Good luck.

[Mirell in reply to Georgie-girl]

Your welcome, so glad to help!

[Hidden]

I don't know if you have looked at this site, vegansociety.com/resources/...

all things vegan including recipes. XX

[OneLove2019 in reply to Hidden]

Appreciate you my friend--thank you so much!

[Hidden in reply to OneLove2019]

You're welcome lovely lady.

[Cann]

I eat lots of beans, too, daily except missing day out occasionally as body may need a rest and something different when I eat millet, quinoa or amaranth. I find the small beans best for me - aduki, mung, black turtle, blackeye and chick peas, too, they are all tasty and I enjoy them much more than when I ate ordinary food - whatever that is!

Because the food is nutritious I find I don't need a lot to satisfy me. My husband likes his evening meal, too, and doesn't like to miss my created meal.

I eat nuts and seeds in form of butter because I can't chew nuts well nor digest them unless pasty. I eat veg with my beans and herbs to make them tasty such as sage, thyme, bay, oregano, parsley, dill, rosemary, marjoram, etc. and spices such as cayenne pepper, curry, turmeric, cumin, celery salt, asafoetida, fennel, etc. all makes nice and tasty.

I don't eat potatoes because of arthritic tendencies nor peppers or rarely a tomato - shame as I love tomatoes, but I know what aggravates and fatigues me. I even find oats are not that good - only occasionally having - it is the avenin protein - hope it is spelt right. I avoid all gluten.

I follow my own recipes as I find no printed recipes help me much, but you don't have to be a chef to cook quick easy vegan meals.

[OneLove2019 in reply to Cann]

Thank you, I find new cooking daunting because I am not that good a cook LOL--I keep it simple--baked fish, baked chicken lightly grilled vegs or pre-prepared meals ... but now I just wanna feel better. Love nuts and beans and saw a few vegan dishes that looked heavenly. Told hubby I am starting next week so I am looking at menus. Question--what keeps best--like, is there anything I can make and keep to warm up a few days for lunch and or breakfast?

[Cann in reply to OneLove2019]

Hopefully, you will find what is right for your family and you. I only eat fruit for breakfast or nuts and fruit. I tend to eat my main meal in the evening and may have a little bit of protein at lunch-time to keep me going. Perhaps others can help you or the vegan society.

[OneLove2019 in reply to Cann]

humph... thank you for your input my friend.

[AimeeA]

One caution is to not rely too heavily on soy products--soy milk and many vegan cheeses and other products are based on soy, which may negatively impact your thyroid function. People with lupus frequently get low thyroid as their body can attack the thyroid, and soy products can stress it even more.

I was drinking a lot of soy milk and they put soy in many processed foods, and it worsened my low thyroid and counteracted my thyroid meds. So I read labels and use no products based on soy. You can do rice milk and rice cheese, but read labels and be cautious with soy, including tofu. Google soy and thyroid to see the research. Not a good food for those with lupus.

[OneLove2019 in reply to AimeeA]

Thank you so much

[Hidden]

Hello,

Try this website for vegan/vegetarian based health advice set up by a group of “plant based health professionals” in the UK. I think you will find some recipes in the resources section:

plantbasedhealthprofessiona...

Regards

[OneLove2019 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I really appreciate that