The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi guys,

I'm very excited, I left my copy of the China Study lying around the house and my nerdy Dad couldn't resist picking it up. He became completely engrossed and ubelievably has decided to try a vegan diet! If you knew my Dad you would understand why this is such a big deal. He is about 30kg overweight, takes blood pressure meds daily and for all his life has been a huge meat-eater...I'm talking steak for dinner every night if he could. The thing is, I worry he will fall off the wagon if he gets bored with his meals. At the moment he is eating lots of brown bread, vegie soups, tofu in brown rice stir fry's, salad sandwiches and nuts. He likes baked beans but wouldn't know what to do with dried beans or lentils. When I am home for dinner I use them in my cooking but what would be great is some easy, healthy vegan meal ideas for men who used to love meat. I truly appreciate any help!

Alysse

I find a vegan chili always goes down a treat with non-vegan friends. I usually use two beans one being kidney beans and the other usually a smaller bean.

Curries also go down equally well, can be made healthy and are satisfying.

There are a few recipes on my blogs will write more up soon - http://www.vegankingdom.co.uk

My meat eating son who is very particular loves this Vegan Enchilada Recipe I found on Chooseveg.com: http://www.chooseveg.com/enchiladas.asp There is a video that even shows you how to make it. Very hearty.

PS - just a little note of encouragement: my mom (who enjoys her steak as much as any man I've ever seen) has been on a "veganish" diet for the past two months. I say veganish because she's only super strict during the week - but her diet is actually harder because she also had to cut out all oils (including avocado, cocunut and other nuts). The two things that have made all the difference are 1) she gives herself "permission" to cheat on the weekends because it's easier when you only have to do it for 5 days at a time; and 2) she saw pretty immediate results. Within a month she says she lost her cravings for meat, cheese, butter and all the other stuff she would normally pile on. In just two months she's lost 12 pounds and gotten her cholesterol down to a healthy level while reducing her statin medication by 75%!

She's following the advice of Dr. Esselstyn in his book called Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease - it definitely helps people stay on track when the facts are up front and center!

Also, any of the products made by Field Roast are really delicious and my hubby loves them. When he did the vegan kickstart with me last year, I gave him a lot of those because he was a newbie and not crazy about stew or stir fry every day. And his tastes are gradually changing so that he enjoys the lighter vegan fare more and more. There are lots of kind lifers with great cooking blogs, you can get some good ideas from them too.