A friend of mine bet me I couldn't eat a vegan only diet 5 days a week for 2 months. I need to get healthier anyway so I'm taking the bet.

What's a typical daily diet consist of? Any decent recipes?

1/18/2011 7:00:34 PM

Typical daily diet:

Beans, esp soya products
Nuts and nut products
Grain products (breads, cereals, etc)
Vegetables
Fruits

Foods and recipes:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Vegan_cuisine
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Vegan_Substitutions
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Category:Vegan_recipes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian_cuisine

http://www.veganhealth.org

http://www.americanvegan.org
http://www.vegansociety.com
http://www.veganaustralia.net

http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/nutrition
http://www.vegansociety.org.za

1/18/2011 9:29:53 PM

Lol have fun with that. You have to avoid honey, gelatin, yeast, etc.

1/18/2011 10:40:49 PM

Is that the diet where you eat rocks?

1/18/2011 10:50:46 PM

^^ Many vegans get their B vitamin requirements and amino acids from nutritional yeast, so I wouldn't necessarily rule it out as food source.

Yeast (brewer's or baker's yeast) are classified as a fungus, albeit a unicellular eukaryote, and are not animals per se. They're interesting little critters under the microscope- I work with them for a living.

1/18/2011 11:44:54 PM

Yeah I thought fungi were OK. Otherwise vegans wouldn't eat mushrooms, and I am sure they do.

What about bacteria? (foods made/changed by bacteria)

And what about something like "Quorn"? Well I guess if fungi are OK, that should be OK too, right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorn

Oh wait, scratch that! They use egg white as a binder, so it is out for vegans.

1/19/2011 6:27:31 AM

You've already lost.

1/19/2011 9:05:27 AM

^ aha I like that. Might have to show that to my sister next time she goes through her hipster vegan phase.

1/19/2011 9:07:03 AM

vegan diet and vegan lifestyle are very different. I followed a vegan diet for a few years, but never bought into the lifestyle aspect. It is too difficult and very expensive to cut out EVERYTHING in my life that came from an animal.

1/19/2011 10:39:37 AM

I can guarantee you that anyone who follows a vegan lifestyle is aware of every single bullet point on that diagram, and either has alternatives or goes without...


[Edited on January 19, 2011 at 11:38 AM. Reason : Although a common exception is medical stuff... they're still smart enough not to want to die]

1/19/2011 11:36:48 AM

There is a big learning curve when you first start. One important thing to remember is you will make mistakes and that's OK! Read labels, read labels, read labels!!! You will spend a lot of time in the grocery store during your first trip. Gelatin, casein, rennet, and whey are some commonly found non-vegan ingredients. Shellac, cochineal, and carmine used on shiny hard coatings, typically found in candy candy and is typically derived from insects. Bread will be a tough one, many store bought brands will contain mono and diglycerides sometimes derived from fatty acids of animals but may also be plant derived, but the packaging will not tell you. Also, many labels will list "natural flavors", which can be any number of things. You will have to make a decision on where you want to draw the line.

http://www.theppk.com/ contains some tasty free recipes and Isa Chandra Moskowitz is arguably the worlds most celebrated vegan cookbook author. Start there and check out their message board. Lots of info floating around on that website.

1/19/2011 1:35:48 PM

some vegan "fast food" options include vegetarian chinese dishes, most cliff bars, made to order burritos (can have milk in the wrapper, so check), subway veggie delite sub without cheese, veggie sushi, and the whole foods hot bar. take snacks so you don't get stuck without food!

1/19/2011 4:22:44 PM

^also middle eastern food. the vegetarian Indian place in Cary will point out vegan foods on the buffet & menu.

1/19/2011 9:33:34 PM

its veggie week at capital club 16 this week and they are offering some delicious vegetarian AND vegan special menu things!

i guess the week is almost over, but seems worth mentioning in this thread!

1/19/2011 9:46:31 PM

this seems like much more trouble than any possible benefit is worth. besides, even if you're opposed to eating meat, it seems only logical that since cows are being killed anyway the non-steak parts should be put to good use

1/19/2011 9:57:28 PM

A vegan diet isn't necessarily healthier, especially if you're lazy.

1/19/2011 10:12:19 PM

The remedy diner is having a 100% vegan menu for restaurant week next week.


http://www.theremedydiner.com/

1/20/2011 8:54:28 AM

Is Coca Cola vegan? If so, try that.

1/20/2011 9:09:00 AM

Quote :

"A vegan diet isn't necessarily healthier, especially if you're lazy."

So true. I used to work with a vegan that was a total fatty. Her diet basically consisted of French fries, potato chips, and copious amounts of pasta.

1/20/2011 9:18:41 AM

Good way to start off your vegan diet

http://www.theremedydiner.com/events.htm

1/20/2011 10:25:29 AM