Newbie who needs advice!!

[s'mores05]

hi guys! I literally decided to go vegan about 25min. ago. I am a nutrition major and had been doing a lot of research on the lifestyle and thought that it would be an interesting challenge. And was first considering it for the nutritional benefits. The idea of eating what is pumped into meat, and vegetables these days is enough to make most understanding people disgusted.I've been eating and feeding my family organic for a while. What I didn't realize was just how much the videos that I came across would affect me....

The things that they do to animals are disgusting and I don't want any part of it. I've never even been particularly fond of animals, meaning I've never had pets or been in any situation where I was personally attached to an animal, but nothing that has life deserves to be treated with such disrespect.

I have quite a lot of questions regarding transitioning my family to veganism though. We are from Texas, obviously it would be wrong to group the whole state as close minded,but.... Let's just say that I might be met with much more opposition than others. This will likely begin with my husband who is your proverbial "meat and potatoes" boy. He will literally eat nothing but meat potatoes and corn??

My three year old is my next challenge, I would really appreciate any advice on transitioning children! I can obviously choose to change my habbits immediatley. I personally feel that it would be really awful of me to do that to her.

Thanks for the support!!

[Poppy]

Welcome to VB!

One of the easiest ways to transition a whole family is to make yummy vegan dishes without talking about what exactly is in them: bean burritos and Spanish rice, spaghetti with marinara and sauteed vegetables (and Nate's "meat"balls), stir-fries with veggies and Morningstar Farms meal starters, pancakes and vegan sausage - there are lots of things you can make that will be very close to what your husband is used to. Go through the recipes on VB and on vegweb.com - you'll find lots of great options. Just don't make a big deal of your new way of cooking - just say you're trying some new recipes.

And, imho, it would not be awful to to change your daughter's diet immediately - it would be the very best thing in the world for you to do for her! Best of luck, and please come here with yoru questions and concerns - we woudl like to make this as easy for you as possible!!!

[s'mores05]

thanks poppy!

I just meant that completely altering everything she's known w regard to food all at once could likely be a little traumatic, awful was probably the wrong word...

[Fritemare]

I doubt the three year old will even notice. As long as it tastes good, kids usually don't seem to care what is in it. As for your husband, well, mine still eats meat so I won't be much help there. He eats mostly vegetarian at home except for meat he specifically picks out at the grocery store. He usually cooks it on the grill himself, or I throw it in the oven or crock pot so I don't have to mess with it too much.

I live in Texas, and you are actually pretty lucky to chose a vegan diet if you live near a Big HEB. The ones near my home have an awesome selection of vegan products. Great organic produce, a bulk bin area, good selection of soy and nut milks, and an awesome international food section. The one I live near actually just put in a huge deli section and has had a sushi bar. The sushi ladies make cucumber/carrot rolls that are vegan and the deli has a lot of vegan salads.

[zoebird]

and if your husband doesn't want to transition?

you could agree that you make veggie meals, and he makes meat if he wants it.

[bluesand]

:pibo:Hi and welcome ,
Best to start maybe one or two meals a week veg with your husband with ingredients he likes

It sounds like you are the cook , so you might be cooking two separate dishes or you might cook his or he cooks his meat .

There are dishes that can be cooked veg and you just add meat at the end for the meat eating side of things

Don't force the veg side onto your husband . Get you going and in time he will start to ask the questions .

This thread is good for kids surport/advice...

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=110