new vegan needs help...

[autumneyes]

I have decided to become a vegan. I am doing so quietly because, honestly, I know what people are going to say and none of its too nice. Now I am stuck learning what comes down to being a new lifestyle and not much to learn from other than conflicting online information.

So far it hasn't been hard, but my head is hurting... I know this diet has to be planned to be healthy but thus far little planning has gone into my eating; I am a student and I work [sadly the restaurant I work in serves nothing vegan friendly... but I need to work to go to school] so its been a spur f the moment thing.

Any advice as far as what is quick and easy for me to eat that will keep me healthy and make my head not hurt so consistently?

Also what are the best ways to keep iron and other vitamins in my diet, any specific pills recommended?


Thanks!

[amaroque]

Truth is not much planning is involved as long as you have a varied diet you are bound to get most if not all of the nutrients you need. Really the only ones you need to be are B-12, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron (I'm sure there are probably others but deficiencies are more rare).

If you are suffering headaches I suspect you maybe are not getting enough calories. Some recommend getting veg*n cookbooks from the library to try some recipes on for size. I always recommend perusing the veg*n blogs for recipe ideas. Look for ones that either appeal or contain ingredients that you likely already eat/stock.

One last bit of advice. People are going to question why you're eating the way you do. Its going to be an issue sooner or later. Either A) read up on issues surrounding veg*nism to be able to address the negative attacks or B) Just have a non-antagonizing statement ready to blow them off. There are threads on the board currently about how people answer queries about your choices.

Good luck and welcome.

[cerealkiller]

i agree with amaroque. you really don't need to do much planning. the whole idea about combining to get "complete proteins" is old thinking. just make sure you're eating from all of the food groups and you'll be fine. fruit, veg, grain, protein (seeds, nuts, legumes, etc.)... check out the vegan food pyramid (http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/theskinny/blog/vegan-pyramid-1024x768.jpg).

also be sure to look around the forums. a helpful thread might be "what i ate vegan today" (http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=85957).

and don't forget the recipe section here on veggieboards or over at vegweb.com. you'll find all kinds of easy-to-make recipes that just call for a few simple ingredients.

some of my favorite "quickie" meals are pb&j sandwiches on whole wheat bread, tofurkey sandwiches w/lettuce and other fixins, chick peas (garbanzo beans) smashed and mixed with spaghetti sauce for a quick "sloppy joe" filling, and pasta w/chick peas, steamed veggies, olive oil, and vinegar. oh... and black bean burritos with whatever other toppings/fillings i have on hand. yum!

i like making mixes with different kinds of nuts, raisins, vegan choc. chips, dried cranberries or cherries, etc. for a quick protein boost. LUNA bars and LARABARS are good take-along snacks. Amy's and Kashi both make some fairly decent vegan frozen food entrees, but they can be kinda pricey unless you find them on sale or have a coupon. if you live near a Trader Joes, they have a few of their own frozen entrees that aren't so expensive. also, "soup is good food".

hope this helps. good luck with everything and, yes... make sure you're getting enough enough to eat to keep your head from hurting!

[Mr. Sun]

What kind of conflicting info online have you come across?

[itsveggietime!]

Well, this is the new vegetarian folder. I'm thinking the best place to ask your question would be to actually ask it in the vegan folder :)

[Poppy]

Welcome to VeggieBoards, and congratulations on your decision to become vegan!

I'm wondering what kind of kitchen facilites you have available? Since you are a student, I wonder if you are in a dorm, or if you have access to a proper kitchen...?

Some quick and inexpensive vegan meals are: nut butters and bananas/jam on whole wheat bread, bean burritos, veggie burgers (there are lots to choose from), pasta and marinara, bruschetta, beans and rice...

You want to be sure to eat enough. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables - the more the better - and then add some beans, nuts and legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats to give you that feeling of "fullness".

As for your headache - by any chance have you cut down on your caffeine while you have changed your diet? Some people are very sensitive to cutting back on caffeine and have to do it slowly. Also, dehydration can give you a headache. Drink plenty of water! And finally, it may just be a sad coincidence - perhaps you're having an allergy headache from the change in season.

Good luck - and let us know how we can help! :)

[NZVeggie]

Funny I read the part about the headache as not being a physical thing. But rather as having a headache from thinking about all the nutritional aspects of veganism too much..... different interpretations. Wonder which it is, I'm curious now.

Being a student and being vegan is easy. There are plenty of people who do it, it just takes some time to adjust and figure it out. Don't let that get you down though!

Dried beans are super cheap if money is an issue, they take a little more planning but after a week or two it will become routine! Quick meals for me involve lots of pasta and rice dishes. I usually just stirfry veggies and mix it all up. I try and add soaked beans when I can but if your really short on time you can always add canned beans, although they cost a bit more.

I would suggest browse lots and lots of recipes to get ideas. Thats what helped me the most.