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Need some support
Started
by KP
on October 18, 2009
I just got the book and have been enjoying reading it. I am ready to get started but the recipes and ingredients are VERY overwhelming for me since I have not done much cooking on my own. Most of the ingredients I have never heard of and do plan on visiting the local Whole Foods store just to see what they have. I am very excited to get on my vegan road to better health and just wanted to know if others have felt the same way, or is it just me? :-)
It is not just you...while I am not aiming to become a vegan, just a vegetarian again, I am excited about all of the new ingredients that I've also never really heard of and eating healthy in general. If you think about it in the way of eating healthier as opposed to thinking about it based on what you can't eat, it will seem a bit easier.
I understand where you're coming from. I'm a major firter, what lead me to a lot of Vegan and Vegetarian foods was my interest in cooking, and learning about all these different ingredients, and healthier alternatives to things.
It can be a little overwhelming at first, but it gets better! Think of it all as a new adventure.
Depending on area, you don't even have to go to a Whole Foods. Even regular supermarkets are starting to carry these things.
Cooking can be one of the greatest things we do for ourselves. It provides nourishment, and satisfaction. I hope you don't let it continue to overwhelm you!
I completely understand, I have been flirting with the idea of becoming a vegetarian for a few years but I just could never bring myself to make it a life style. I'm slowly realizing that there are many resources out there to help make the transition. Also, I can no longer justify eating meat with the way animals are treated in the process of making them food. I am very excited to start my journey to being a vegetarian and later a vegan but the recipes are a little over whelming at first glance.
hi! KP i promise when you pick one recipie that sounds the yummiest to you...and get the ingredients for that....you will be fine. they were all new to me at one time too...but now i wouldnt dream of living without them! ume vinegar! brown rice syrup! yummie! pick what sounds yummiest and give it a go....i promise you wont end up wasting stuff...bring the book or the notes you make on what you want to get at store....it will be so much easier than you think...ask a nice person who works there for help with anything you dont know where it would be...they will help you! im excited to hear how it goes!!!!
Going vegetarian was really easy for me, but vegan was the hard part. For either though, my two best pieces of advise that helped me the most:
1.) Cook the foods you always cook and use the veggie substitutes. If you love tacos use veggie meat. Spaghetti is great without the meat, but you can easily add some veggie grounds too. Chinese food is super easy to get great veggie dishes. If you are a steak and potatoes kind of person try a portabella mushroom cap with the same seasoning you used on your steak and eat that with your potato (bacos on a baked potato are delish and totally vegan too).
2.) Get informed! I just liked the idea of being a vegan but it was SO hard for me until I really understood all the reasons why I should be one. So read...LOTS. I also had to get informed about food. There are tons of vegan and vegetarian cooking blogs out there, get on the googles and start searching.
I still get overwhelmed by ingredients that I am unfamiliar with, but I just try one new thing every few weeks and it is 99% of the time successful. I found so many wonderful foods that I was previously clueless about.
Good luck! It is really worth it!
I too am enjoying the book and I am trying to go Vegan for one month (as she suggests in the book). I have been thinking about doing this for years, but my husband has an allergy to all kinds of beans and could never be a vegetarian even if he wanted to. I am doing this for my health and the health of my family. What meat I am still serving my family I will be making it the most high quality I can!! Organic all the way and cutting down on all other animal products and making substitutions.
I made the lentil and sweet potato stew and the cornmeal muffins yesterday... so awesome and yummy!!! If the rest of the recipes are anything like those two I think I can handle this lifestyle!!
Can't wait to try more and to see how other people are finding the book and the recipes!
Thank you all for the great responses. I am taking it one day at a time and am planning my trip to the market to pick up a few different new items at a time. I
this site is amazing for getting the support and info on how to change how you eat!
I have flirted for two years or so; eating about 90% vegan. Biggest issue is when out running with kids what do I pick that is easy to eat behind the wheel that is actually vegan? So unfortunately I have not given up on fish yet. Anyone have any ideas; they would be most appreciated. Thanks
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