The KInd Life Community Forum

Lucie B said #1 Jun 14, 2012 at 1:34pm

Hello Kind cooks,

My name is Lucie and I am a 20 year old Londoner. I have recently woken up to the realities of meat and animal products and have been a vegetarian for now 4 weeks (which I have no real trouble sustaining). I do not drink milk on its own (in coffee, cereals), eat sunflower butter, and do not eat eggs on their own. I however have cheese (around 4 times a week) and will have sometimes non-vegan mayo and non-vegan cakes/biscuits (maybe 4 times a week). I truly believe in the ethics of veganism but I am taking it slowly with the last few steps!!

I am writing because recently I have been feeling quite sluggish and unergetic, so I must be going wrong somewhere. I really want to stick to vegetarianism and ultimately become vegan, and I do not want this health 'problem' to prevent me from doing so!

I feel like meals don't really 'fill me up' and not satiated, although it does not make me feel 'hungry' per se (excuse me for the obscure description). I go to sleep exhausted, and I do not feel fresher or more energetic after meals (which I usually felt as a meat eater).

I am wondering if it is because of something that I DO eat (e.g. cheese) or because of something I DO NOT eat enough of. (NB I have started a new job last week so it might make it worse, but I have felt like this for a bit now)

I will describe my diet/exercise regimen:

Breakfast: Tea AND

2 small slices brown bread and vegan butter + baked beans

OR 4 small slices brown bread and vegan butter, peanut butter or jam

OR muesli cereal with non dairy milk

Snack: a fruit or two, sometimes a few nuts

Lunch: 1/2 carbs, 1/2 vegetables. Sometimes a huge salad with some leftover rice or beans in it and all the veg I can find. Probably a fruit for dessert or some sultanas.

Snack: sometimes none, sometimes some bread/pittaswith hummus or guacamole and some fruit. If I'm naughty I'll have non vegan biscuits. Coffee

Dinner: usually larger than lunch, tonight I had some tofu, mushrooms, kale, celeri and potato stir fry with rice. Yummy! and I like my dark chocolate or peanut butter spoonful in the evening.

I probably eat beans/lentils 4/5 times a week. I probably eat tofu/quorn/falafel 3 times a week. I'm 1m65, I weigh 62kg (has been constant in the last 8 months and has not changed since I changed my diet). I do not take supplements. I do not do a lot of exercise per se (run every other week) but I walk quite a lot everyday to and from work. Generally I'm very busy and I need the energy to push me through the day!

I apologise for the long message, but I would appreciate any help to fix up my diet! I want to persevere and get to my goal of veganism!!

x

Kirsty said #3 Jun 17, 2012 at 9:09pm

Was just thinking if you haven't read TKD you probably should as it's a great resource tool ... explains why having wholegrains, veggies, beans in various ways is so important etc etc ...