Transitioning to Veganism/Vegetarianism

Keesha

Keesha

🐟
Location
Canada 🇨🇦
Transitioning to Vegan/Vegetarianism

No they aren’t the same but eliminating meat is certainly the dominating factor for both.

Veganism is the elimination of all animal based products

Vegetarianism is the elimination of animal based meat.

Positive side effects of going vegan/vegetarian :

1/. Sudden rise in energy levels
2/. Become more regular
3/. Improved body odour
4/. Tan like glow - rosier cheeks from the beta carotene in vegetables
5/. Clearer skin
6/. Shinier hair
7/. Fewer PMS symptoms ( not something most of us ladies need to worry about )
8/. Tastebuds come to life
9/. New cravings for different foods
10/. Clearer focus and concentration
11/. A boost in creativity
12/. Better performance in sports activities/ more endurance
13/. Higher libido
14/. A sense of relief knowing you are making a positive change for yourself , the animal kingdom and the planet itself.


Neutral Side Effects of Going Vegan/Vegetarian :

Changes in weight but not necessarily weight loss

Negative Side Effects of going vegan/ vegetarian:

1/. More frequent trips to the bathroom
2/. Gas and tummy discomfort
3/. A change in body odour - either positive or negative
4/. Skin rashes or acne
5/. Trouble sleeping
6/. Strong cravings for animal products
7/. Feeling hungry more frequently
8/. Feel fatigued
9/. Headaches
10/. Emotional ups & downs

Note: the negative side effects are temporary.
Here is more information about this which includes helpful links.

https://www.brownble.com/blog/2016/3/1/vegan-101-vegan-side-effects-what-to-expect-when-you-go-vegan

There’s seems to be many health conscious members here who don’t eat animal products and it’s a lifestyle I’d really like to adopt and transition into so starting this afternoon I’m going vegan/ vegetarian.

The reason why I add them both is that although I may have an easy time eliminating animal meat, I might still eat eggs and other animal by products while transitioning and I don’t want to pressure or disappoint myself.

Anyway this thread is for those who want to transition also and for those who already ARE vegan/vegetarian. They might want to pitch in and offer tips.

The GOAL of this thread is offer support to those wanting to transition to a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Yes it’s not just changing food choices;its a complete lifestyle change.

Personal goals:

1/. A serious lifestyle change
2/. To lose weight
3/. Better body hygiene
4/. Cleaner teeth
5/. Peace of mind knowing I’m not consuming dead animals
6/. Save money
7/. More creativity with food preparation and variety
8/. Clearer skin
9/. Shinier hair
10/. Energy boost
11/. Less pain from eating anti inflammatory foods
12/. Less mucus from eliminating dairy
13/. Better concentration



Gluten free vegan pizza that I had tonight.


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In general, with dietary changes, of various types,
I would suggest focusing as much as possible , on adding foods that you can eat and enjoy, within your new goals, and increasing the ones you already eat, that do still fit your new goals, and adding new variations and combinations of those, too. (( Focus less on what you can't eat, is what I mean, and more on what you can, and make idea lists of what you can enjoy eating!))

Pay attention to getting enough protein, and your usual or optimal balance of foods. For fewer cravings.

Planning in advance to have on hand, substitutions that you'd actually enjoy, for the times when you ordinarily might have something you now want to avoid, or when you might miss them.

The idea is to feel less deprived of an old favorite or habit, and instead to pay attention to the new options, that are interesting and positive and even, fun. Good luck, Keesha. :)
 
I have been slowly making this transition, too, @Keesha , and I am glad that I am doing it. I tried just becoming a vegan all at once, but quit, so I decided to just “sneak up on it” a little at a time.
At this point, I am mostly vegetarian, occasionally have fish or chicken, but am adding as many vegetable and fresh foods as possible, and eating raw foods more, things that can be eaten raw. My goal is to be at least 80% fresh and raw.

One book that really inspires me is Victoria Boutenko’s book, Green For Life. You can get it online , or probably at the library. The Boutenko family also are on YouTube, and I really enjoy listening to her son, Sergei Boutenko. He is an exceptionally interesting speaker, and also talks about foraging fresh greens, if you are into doing that.

Here is one of his videos that explains how he and his family transitioned from their unhealthy diet and sick bodies to health and happiness with lots of Whole Foods and green smoothies.
It looks long, but once you start, you won’t even notice the time go by...... it is that interesting !

 
I became a vegetarian by simply stopping the eating of meat, one day. I didn't do any planning, one way or the other. As I found foods that I liked, that were vegetarian, I deconstructed them, and made my own, better, healthier, versions. I did pay attention to how I felt after eating any new foods.

I've been vegetarian longer than most whom I've met, at forty-two years. Being vegan for the last twenty-seven years, I've also been walking that walk for a good while. If I had to make elaborate plans, one way or the other, I doubt things would have gone as smoothly as they did, for me.

I stopped eating animals, and using most products made from them, because, at twenty-five, I became acutely aware of the suffering we put other species through, never mind the suffering we put our own species mates through.

Nobody needs to eat animals, weird genetic conditions notwithstanding, so save the hostile replies about your Aunt Esther who can only eat meat. Additionally, ten pounds of grain only turns into one pound of meat, so the planet would be better fed by eliminating the middle man/animal.
 
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One thing that I really enjoy is fresh salads, but I just do not have a lot of luck with my lettuce greens growing well, and I enjoy foraging out in the yard for edible greens, like dandelion greens and plantain leaves.
I do grow some Malabar spinach, which is not a true spinach, but will grow in hot weather and not bolt like regular spinach greens. It is great to add to fresh salads.

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Oh noooo! Can we please not get into how cruel humans can be? That’s something I’m all to aware of and while I understand it’s a tragic concern, I wanted this thread to be an uplifting one. A thread to encourage others who want to transition.

I want it to be filled with photos of delicious vegetarian foods that inspire us to try them.
Please, please don’t post pictures of animal cruelty in this thread. it’s trigger material that haunts me to the core 🙁
 
That shot of those pigs is disturbing. I feel bad for the animals but, I gotta eat. Sorry.
My question is this...you stated an increase in energy. It was my understanding that certain fats are good for you. To help you burn calories and fat. So are you saying that meat makes you have less energy? And if you're vegetarian, do you still eat fish?
 
MarciKS said:
That shot of those pigs is disturbing. I feel bad for the animals but, I gotta eat. Sorry.
My question is this...you stated an increase in energy. It was my understanding that certain fats are good for you. To help you burn calories and fat. So are you saying that meat makes you have less energy? And if you're vegetarian, do you still eat fish?
Click to expand...
WTF? You gotta eat? Sorry? Uh, what!?

I gotta eat, too. I don't kill animals, or support those who do so, though. And the odds are, I eat better, healthier, than most people on this planet.

As for vegetarians eating fish, do they grow on trees? Man........
 
MarciKS said:
That shot of those pigs is disturbing. I feel bad for the animals but, I gotta eat. Sorry.
My question is this...you stated an increase in energy. It was my understanding that certain fats are good for you. To help you burn calories and fat. So are you saying that meat makes you have less energy? And if you're vegetarian, do you still eat fish?
Click to expand...
Are you talking to me?
I took the information from the link.
If you read the information in the link, it explains the difference between animal fats and other fats. There are links within the article so it’s quite thorough in its references.
 
Well, I guess I'm done on this thread, when it comes to discussing the animal abuse side of the vegetarian/vegan issue. Too much emotion, for me to keep going there

I'm still here for diet/cooking info.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
I have been slowly making this transition, too, @Keesha , and I am glad that I am doing it. I tried just becoming a vegan all at once, but quit, so I decided to just “sneak up on it” a little at a time.
At this point, I am mostly vegetarian, occasionally have fish or chicken, but am adding as many vegetable and fresh foods as possible, and eating raw foods more, things that can be eaten raw. My goal is to be at least 80% fresh and raw.

One book that really inspires me is Victoria Boutenko’s book, Green For Life. You can get it online , or probably at the library. The Boutenko family also are on YouTube, and I really enjoy listening to her son, Sergei Boutenko. He is an exceptionally interesting speaker, and also talks about foraging fresh greens, if you are into doing that.

Here is one of his videos that explains how he and his family transitioned from their unhealthy diet and sick bodies to health and happiness with lots of Whole Foods and green smoothies.
It looks long, but once you start, you won’t even notice the time go by...... it is that interesting !

Click to expand...
Yes Victoria Boutenko - Green for Life. Isn’t she into the ‘raw food’ evolution?

Here’s her website?


https://responsibleeatingandliving.com/favorites/victoria-boutenko-green-smoothie-magic/

At one time I considered going on a raw food vegan diet but that would be too much of a transition for me at the moment. Like you I need stages, which I think is the general idea of transitioning. Besides which I’m truly looking forward to cooking vegetarian and vegan foods. I’d like to learn from people already doing it.

I’m looking for a good healthy smoothie recipe though so I’ll have a look.

Thanks HappyFlowerLady
 
treeguy64 said:
I became a vegetarian by simply stopping the eating of meat, one day. I didn't do any planning, one way or the other. As I found foods that I liked, that were vegetarian, I deconstructed them, and made my own, better, healthier, versions. I did pay attention to how I felt after eating any new foods.

I've been vegetarian longer than most whom I've met, at forty-two years. Being vegan for the last twenty-seven years, I've also been walking that walk for a good while. If I had to make elaborate plans, one way or the other, I doubt things would have gone as smoothly as they did, for me.

I stopped eating animals, and using most products made from them, because, at twenty-five, I became acutely aware of the suffering we put other species through, never mind the suffering we put our own species mates through.

Nobody needs to eat animals, weird genetic conditions notwithstanding, so save the hostile replies about your Aunt Esther who can only eat meat. Additionally, ten pounds of grain only turns into one pound of meat, so the planet would be better fed by eliminating the middle man/animal.
Click to expand...
What types of meals do you make?
Would you be able to give us an example of what your food would consist of in a single day; from breakfast to dinner?
What are your favourite things to make?
Of course I’m in no hurry for the info.
No rush.
 
treeguy64 said:
Well, I guess I'm done on this thread, when it comes to discussing the animal abuse side of the vegetarian/vegan issue. Too much emotion, for me to keep going there
I'm still here for diet/cooking info.
Click to expand...

I apologize to you also, @treeguy64 . I have completely deleted my post, and do not mean to cause you to leave this thread. I will just bow out of the thread .
Your input is as an expert, and I am just a beginner stumbling my way along the path , and just learning a little more each day.
 
Happyflowerlady said:
One thing that I really enjoy is fresh salads, but I just do not have a lot of luck with my lettuce greens growing well, and I enjoy foraging out in the yard for edible greens, like dandelion greens and plantain leaves.
I do grow some Malabar spinach, which is not a true spinach, but will grow in hot weather and not bolt like regular spinach greens. It is great to add to fresh salads.

View attachment 105737
Click to expand...
You know I never knew about Malabar spinach. I’ve never grown any spinach so didn’t realize they wilt but do know that lettuce can wilt in extremely hot weather. I’m going to keep my eye out for this.
Thanks for adding it.

Yesterday I picked up some good quality probiotics
462BD91E-CAA8-4FBE-9310-CA448B970DE9.jpeg
 
Happyflowerlady said:
I apologize to you also, @treeguy64 . I have completely deleted my post, and do not mean to cause you to leave this thread. I will just bow out of the thread .
Your input is as an expert, and I am just a beginner stumbling my way along the path , and just learning a little more each day.
Click to expand...
Please don’t bow out of this thread. I appreciate your input especially when I comes to health and food related topics. You are very knowledgeable in these areas. In fact I was torn between starting a new thread and posting in the one you started about ‘Eating a plant based diet.’ I’ll add the one you started to this thread. We can all learn from each other.
https://www.seniorforums.com/threads/eating-a-plant-based-diet.35480/
 
Yesterday - - -

Breakfast: Bowl of oatmeal with soy milk, grilled soysage patty pre-flattened in a tortilladora, slice of toasted garlic bread, slice of vegan provolone. Vitamins: C, D3, Glucosamine, Saw Palmetto, Niacin/Red Yeast Rice (in daily alternation), ¼ tab Aspirin. Tall glass of filtered water.

Lunch: Cubed tofu, broccoli, mushrooms, sauteed, placed on a bed of rice with cilantro. Vitamins: D3, L-Arginine. Tall glass of filtered water.

Dinner: Baked potato, dab of vegan sour cream, dab of vegan margarine, caramelized onions, sauteed squash. Glass of (3 tbsp.) organic tomato puree, mixed with filtered water, dash of vegan Worcestershire, squeeze of lime, teaspoon of Vodka, celery stick stirrer. Sliver of frozen cherry pie.

Bedtime vitamins: D3, probiotic, B12, lemon balm, magnesium. Glass of filtered water.

By no means is the above invariable. I eat what the spirit moves me to make. I love cooking, and try new ideas in the kitchen that pop into my head, out of nowhere. Rarely do I consult cookbooks, online or my own.

I go out to restaurants only because of the social experience that Janet and I enjoy. CV19 has ruined that, for me, lately, but Janet still wishes to boldly go, so we'll see what happens with that, in due time.
 
A slice of provolone ? Interesting. I thought provolone was more like a creamed cheese. Vegan sour cream? I should have looked for that when I went to the huge health food store yesterday.

From your food suggestions, I gather that you have a selection of stores that cater to your preferences. That’s one thing I’m very thankful for. While we have a small local health food store, we have two large health foods stores about 1/2 an hour away. They have a large variety of items.

Plus I really appreciate using fresh herbs. Luckily it’s the season for growing our own herbs but I think this winter I’m going to try and grow some in my greenhouse. I’ve got a portable shelf greenhouse which fits in my large greenhouse that might work.

Fresh Cilantro year round would be nice.



Thanks treeguy👍
 
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