BeckyBoo Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Just thought I'd post this here - I've gone back to being a veggie and have ended up really more or less becoming a vegan - almost entirely because of the dairy issue. But I'm finding it really hard? I keep forgetting - like tonight I had a bit of homemade garlic bread - uh-oh, it had butter on it - obviously! I can't have the last piece of chocolate cake, in fact having a snack of any kind is really hard. My local Sainsburys doesn't appear to have vegan cheese so I'm off in search of that at the weekend, and meals are OK because I eat pasta and rice and veg, but I didn't realise quite how often I just grab a bite of something - it's no wonder you never see a fat vegan - there's nothing in my fridge I can grab at! And I think my body is finally reacting to the lack of animal fats in my diet as I was very weak and wobbly this afternoon - not like me at all, I think you have to concentrate harder on food until it becomes second nature. At least I've found a milk I like - rice milk which makes coffee taste like coffee you have in foreign hotels! And the vanilla rice milk is yum!! Oh well, of to fantasise about cheese and chocolate - it's like being on a diet, you instantly want what you can't have BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Hats off to you. Being vegetarian or Vegan is quite a step and though I dont really want to do it, I do appreciate how others do. Someone I know via another forum (none chicken but still lovely) has the following site which I think you may find useful. Lots of things that you can buy and eat on a Vegan diet. http://www.haverawcakeandeatit.co.uk/raw_food_uk/HOME.html Some of the recipes look YUMMY and I will be trying them myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 Well goodness me hun, I@ve had a quick look at the website and apart from Pitrok and Faith in Nature - a lot of those ingredients I wouldn't know wether to eat them or use them to wash the laundry! Never heard of them! There's is SO much to learn - when I was a veggie before I simply didn't eat meat - easy peasy, but this dairy lark means I've got to really pay attention to what I eat as a) I might inadvertently eat animal products (had NO idea they were everywhere!) and b) I'm going to end up malnourished if I don't make sure I replace what I'm leaving out! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenarees Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Hello, well done for being vegan, I find it helps to find products you like and then buy in bulk - I get lots of my biscuits (as well as my Bio-D cleaning/washing products which are vegan also) from here www.naturalcollection.co.uk and if you search for Dove farm they do a lovely range of vegan products espcially these:- http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/doves-farm/doves-farm-digestives-200g/ http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/doves-farm/5-chocolate-and-crispy-rice-bars/ (which I call my toffee crisps) and http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/doves-farm/doves-farm-organic-lemon-cookies-150g/ Also Plamil do loads of lovely chocolate and an egg free mayonaise that is great. I've also had the Veganomicon cook book for Christmas last year and this is really brilliant. You do have to be careful about having enough B12 vitamin on a vegan diet, the Vegan soceity has a very informative website too. Sorry if you already know this information Helena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 No no Helena, thank you - I'm stumbling my way through at the minute. I have discovered (to my delight) that I like fried tofu which will be good for protein and I'd heard of Doves Farm as I use their flour to make bread. Luckily I've discovered rice milk and Pure vegan spread instead of butter because it's the dairy I'm going to find hard - I love veg and pulses so hopefully that and a substantial amount of bananas should keep me regular if not balanced!! I find at the minute that come about 5 in the evening I get a bit feeble and wobbly but I actually feel quite energised this evening - must be the lack of animal fat in my diet!! BeckyBoo edited to ask - does anyone know why vegans don't eat yeast? I thought it was a plant or fungus type thing? I'll NEVER survive without Marmite! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I'm not a vegetarian or vegan but I my body can't tolerate dairy. I use Vitalite spread. It is suitable for vegans. It has a good flavour and is good for cooking and baking with. Holland and Barrett sell vegan food including vegan cheese (which I hated ) They also sell dairy free and vegan chocolate (which I love ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Well it's funny you should mention it because I hit Holland and Barratt this afternoon - found garlic and herb pretend cheese spread which is FAB, plus the cheezle stuff which I haven't tried yet, some people love it but I've heard a lot say it's vile. Plus I found vegan dark chocolate and a breakfast cereal. I LOVE rice milk and they do a vanilla one which is yum, bought the almond one today to try as well. So I'm a happy veg today! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesleyH Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 did you know that bog standard supermarket ginger nut biscuits are vegan? yummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 I didn't! But I do now - thanks!! So I thought that if something was suitable for vegans they would label it and shout it from the rooftops, guess that's not always the case? And, Cheezley is FOUL! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 Cheezely was the vegan cheese I bought, it tasted like vomit I now buy Lacto Free cheddar which is good. Tesco's "Free From" range often have vegan products, they list them as gluten free, milk free etc but are often suitable for vegans. Their shortbread biscuits are very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 You shouldn't really feel wobbly Becky - I hope you find a balance that suits you soon. You can but Vegan Hiking Boots as well - sounds like you should slap them between two slices of bread - because I don't wear leather. http://www.ethicalwares.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesleyH Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I think its easier if you cook - there are some great cake recipes out there...it's when you want to grab a snack or eat in a restaurant...it's like being a veggie was in the 80's!!! I am not a vegan, but shamedly only because its so hard...I do however have soya milk at home, Pure vegan marg etc....I fall down on a little cheese every now and then and will have dairy when I'm not at home. The vegan cheese's are pretty gross...I think if I became full time vegan I would have to just give up cheese altogether! Hats off to you...well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 edited to ask - does anyone know why vegans don't eat yeast? I thought it was a plant or fungus type thing? I'll NEVER survive without Marmite! I found ***this***, it says that Marmite is 100% vegan cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Try and eat lentils and pulses, really nutritious and you can do some amazing things with them, plus they will give you the necessary proteins and minerals you may be lacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Ethical Superstore is one of my favourite websites, bought lots of things from them. They stock a lot of vegan products. http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/search/vegan/?page=1 Good luck to you, hope you find lots of things you like to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted September 6, 2009 Author Share Posted September 6, 2009 Thanks everyone, I'm still going strong and loving it, the wobbliness seems to have passed (guess it was a transition thing - if you knew how much dairy I USED to eat ) I'm taking a vegan multi-vit every day but I'm not really sure I need to now. I'm eating lentils, chickpeas, SOOOOO much veg, I have my rice milk (which I carry in a little bottle when I go out so I can have a coffee in town - even a Starbucks - I did ask them to make me a Starbucks with rice milk but it was vile, but their Americano with rice milk is good.) I've made vegan pastry and I'm doing a vegan cake this afternoon. I'm still eating eggs, but only from my hens and I had a big dilemma about throwing out any leather goods I had, including my work shoes which have served me well for 17 years and still have life left in them, and I decided not to, partly because I can't afford to replace everything at once and partly because it seemed wasteful. So as things wear out I'll replace with synthetic or organic products. Course, it's meant a new look at haircare, make-up, bearing in mind I am MORE than flat broke, why should it be that only the well-off can really afford to easily be ethical? BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 have you considered making your own cosmetics? that way, the stuff that you cant make might be more in your price range what I mean is, if you make stuff like cleanser (OCM?) then you wont buy it, so what you save on cleanser you could use on make up and stuff like household cleaning stuff can be home made too (Ive got a book called the frugal life that has loads of recipes in it ) I think you are very impressive doing this, im not sure if I could , i think im too lazy cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 It only seems expensive because you want to change so much all at the same time - I've 'been there, done that' Take it slowly and you'll find that most changes don't cost more than the stuff you've been using, especially if you do as Cathy says and start making household products etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
