[yisote]

Well I've made the leap into a vegan diet and it's been 8 days since I went 'cold turkey' and stopped eating dairy & eggs. And it's been a fun and easy past 8 days!<br><br><br><br>
Tuesday though (that'd be day 10) I'm going into town and last time I was there I ate a lot of dairy-based junk food and needless to say - I'm craving it!<br><br>
It's been awkward because all I can think about are these certain foods (example: croissants, deep dish pizza, cheesecake, feta cheese, peanut M&Ms, etc).<br><br><br><br>
I don't want to drop the vegan diet, but how can I stop obsessing over these items?!<br><br>
I know I'll feel a lot 'stronger' if I resist but will the desire ever fade?<br><br>
Will giving in and eating those things just make the cravings worse next time?<br><br><br><br>
(and I can't cook/bake anything because my living area just has a hotplate)<br><br><br><br>
Any suggestions would be great!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/help.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":help:">

 

[peaceglitter]

The way I am coping is by finding alternatives such as vegan cheese and chocolate. I find once you get used to vegan substitutes you stop craving the non vegan stuff. Do you have a vegan store near you or is there a vegan group in your area that could help? Good luck and stay strong <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[karenlovessnow]

Vegan substitutes definitely help. Also, I think it gets easier the longer you go without.

 

[Dirty Martini]

From the examples of food you're craving, it sounds like you're craving fat. are you getting enough fat in your diet?

 

[yisote]

OregonAmy - I'm not sure actually...<br><br>
I know that the hummus, tofu, and soymilk that I eat have some fat in them.<br><br><br><br>
But I don't eat avocado that often (maybe twice a year), I don't use oils when cooking and I know that roasted nuts & seeds are unhealthy, but I really dislike them raw, so I don't eat nuts or seeds either.<br><br><br><br>
According to fitday.com I get about 20g a day...I figured that was plenty, but maybe it's not enough if I'm craving high-fat foods? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Dirty Martini]

20g is not enough at all. You need to be getting about 60g of fat a day.

 

[yisote]

60g?! really? Wow...that's a lot.<br><br>
What could I eat that's vegan and contains fat?

 

[Dirty Martini]

Why don't you use oils?<br><br><br><br>
And nuts and seeds are VERY healthy (in moderation - you don't want to go eating 3 cups of brazil nuts or something) - where did you hear that they were not?

 

[yisote]

I recently started cooking for myself and didn't buy oil when I was at the store and just got used to eating foods without it.<br><br>
I heard that roasted nuts & seeds were unhealthy because of all the extra fat that gets added in the cooking process.

 

[~Wonder]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>OregonAmy</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
you don't want to go eating 3 cups of brazil nuts or something</div>
</div>
<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/drool.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":drool:"> I do. I love me some brazil nuts. I wish I had some now.<br><br>
~Wonder <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/kiss.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":kiss:">

 

[teddygee]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>yisote</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I heard that roasted nuts & seeds were unhealthy because of all the extra fat that gets added in the cooking process.</div>
</div>
<br>
This can be true of some nuts and seeds, but it's all in the brand.<br><br><br><br>
For example, the other day I picked up a jar of Planters Dry Roasted Sunflower kernels and thought, "Hmm, I've never had sunflower kernels before. I shall try a smidgen." I turned the jar around and read the ingredients:<br><br>
Sunflower kernels, salt--this is where an ingredients list should end for nuts/seeds--sugar, cornstarch, monosodium glutamate(flavor enhancer), dried yeast, gelatin, corn syrup solids, paprika, onion and garlic powders, spices, natural flavor.<br><br><br><br>
I quickly put the jar down and proceeded to yell to myself vehemently about where these corporate food moguls get off, not even able to produce roasted seeds without getting freaky on the artificial ingredients.<br><br><br><br>
Anyways, the key to eating roasted nuts and seeds the healthy way is simply to read the ingredients label. I don't know what all can be done with a hotplate, but roasting your own nuts and seeds can be done at home, too.<br><br><br><br>
Frickin' Planters...can't even make nuts...THEY'RE NUTS!<br><br><br><br>
(babbles on about the state that agriculture and the restaurant and food industries are in)

 

[thatoneguy]

The cravings should stop with time. The thing to remember is, if you backslide don't think you're a failure. Just move on and keep at it. It took me 2 1/2 years to stop back sliding, now I'm happy to be vegetarian.

 

[4EverGrounded]

Raw nuts are an excellent way of getting in fat without the worry of funky ingredients.<br><br><br><br>
eta: I just read where you don't like them raw. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/doh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":doh:"> Maybe if you bought them raw and roasted them yourself it would work? You can roast nuts in a dry pan - just be careful not to let them burn.

 

[Jennifer89]

You will be able to more easily resist in the future, but it's only been 9 days now, so it'll be hard. If you have any good grocery stores near you, you could buy some food from them, such as Toffuti Strawberry Cheesecake Icecream or Newmans Oreo Cookies. There might also be some places in town that have some awsome vegan foods if you just ask for them. I remember being shocked to find some of the best tasting chocolate I have ever had at a little chocolate shop downtown where they make it by hand inside of the store! And they had a lot of chouses to, all except for one of there dark chocolates was vegan, yum!<br><br><br><br>
As for cheesecake, unless you find the toffuti icecream near you, I don't know what you'll do, I'm happy that a vegan delli just opend last friday near my house, I had the first slice of cheesecake since going vegan (2 years ago) and it was great!<br><br><br><br>
Croissants: borrow a friend's stove, and bake some Pillsburry croissants! Fresh, warm, tasty, easy, fast and totally vegan!<br><br><br><br>
Pizza: you have two options here:<br><br>
1. buy Amy's cheeseless pizza, if you want a more cheesey tast, cover in advocatose (nead a stove, though)<br><br>
2. (No stove neaded!) Make your own, use casien-free soy cheese or no soy cheese at all. You can use a bagel, cover it in sauce, s. cheese and whatever toppings you want. Stick it in the microwave. (note, soy cheese takes a long time to melt! Maybe you should melt it in a pot over the hot plate, then put it on the bagel and in the mice... i've never tried this before, because I place it in the oven)<br><br><br><br>
Enjoy your vegan foods! They are supper yummy and oh so easy!

 

[Jennifer89]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>teddygee</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
This can be true of some nuts and seeds, but it's all in the brand.<br><br><br><br>
For example, the other day I picked up a jar of Planters Dry Roasted Sunflower kernels and thought, "Hmm, I've never had sunflower kernels before. I shall try a smidgen." I turned the jar around and read the ingredients:<br><br>
Sunflower kernels, salt--this is where an ingredients list should end for nuts/seeds--sugar, cornstarch, monosodium glutamate(flavor enhancer), dried yeast, gelatin, corn syrup solids, paprika, onion and garlic powders, spices, natural flavor.<br><br><br><br>
I quickly put the jar down and proceeded to yell to myself vehemently about where these corporate food moguls get off, not even able to produce roasted seeds without getting freaky on the artificial ingredients.<br><br><br><br>
Anyways, the key to eating roasted nuts and seeds the healthy way is simply to read the ingredients label. I don't know what all can be done with a hotplate, but roasting your own nuts and seeds can be done at home, too.<br><br><br><br>
Frickin' Planters...can't even make nuts...THEY'RE NUTS!<br><br><br><br>
(babbles on about the state that agriculture and the restaurant and food industries are in)</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Yup, I opend a container of Planter's peanuts the other day, they weren't honey covered or anything, so I didn't think to read the ingrediants, because they had to be vegan, right? No! They couldn't just make vegan peanuts, the would be to easy! They had to add gelatin! My vegetarian/going vegan friend and I were discussed (we had already had a handful or two). <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:"> what was the gelatin there for? to make the artificail ingrediants stick better, most likely. Grrr.<br><br><br><br>
You can buy some good roasted nuts from your health food store, if you have one. (FYI, they are expensive)

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

I agree with the others, sounds like you're actually craving the fat that's in those items.<br><br>
Do you just not like avacados or are they not available? They're a good source, as are nut butters - you could do almond butter on crackers, or a good ol' peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. Also hummus, which can be used as a dip for crackers, spread on toast or a dip for veggies.<br><br>
Mashed beans with tortilla chips to dip - great source of protein too!<br><br><br><br>
Trail mix with nuts and dried fruits is good and can help curb those sweet-and-salty "junk food" cravings.<br><br>
There's lots of brands of dark chocolate that are vegan and quite yummy too. If you have a Trader Joe's anywhere in the area, they have loads of yummy roasted and seasoned nuts, somewhat healthy chips and crackers and a good selection of hummus and nut butters.<br><br><br><br>
Good luck.