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Would like to start a Vegan diet but can't have soy...
Started
by Rachel
on August 14, 2012
Hi everybody! I'm new here and am a 'flirt' right now in the Vegan world but I'm starting to make some healthy changes in my life now that I'm feeling a little better after some ups and downs with my chronic ulcerative colitis. A doctor of mine warned me to stay away from wheat, corn, cane sugar and DEFINITELY soy as they upset my the UC even more. I'm finding that many vegan products (Veganaise, Earth Butter, etc.) have soy products in them. I found that the Earth Butter mayonaise doesn't--which is great! but I would also like to find a butter replacement too if any of you know of some! Also, if any of you know some great wheat-free bread (weird, I know) be sure to let me know! I've tried some and they're not fantastic, but good enough to get started with.
Thanks so much to any of you that respond and thanks so much Alicia Silverstone for creating The Kind Life and The Kind Diet! Mine is coming in the mail today! EEP!
All my best,
Rachel
I've gotten some gluten-free bread from the local health food store in the past. It was called Udi's and while it fit the gluten-free bill (it's soy free too!), it doesn't completely fit the vegan bill (contains eggs). It does contain sugar and corn starch, so I don't know if it would be for you but here are the ingredients: water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, potato starch, canola oil, egg whites, sugar, yeast, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder (sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, calcium sulfate, monocalcium phosphate), cultured dextrose, ascorbic acid (ascorbic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch), enzymes.
Kind of like you said, it's not fantastic but it's something if you are really, really missing bread. I bought it once because I was jonesing hardcore and I've never really jonesed again! So maybe it cured me with it's mediocrity! lol...
As far as butter goes, I use Earth Balance. The kind of use has soy in it, but they make a soy free version:
http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/product/soy-free-buttery-spread/
Yay! Awesome I'll have to get that the next time I'm at the store. Thanks for the response!
If you want to skip soy, use hemp instead! I am concerned about the negative health effects of soy, so I have started to use hemp flour and seeds. I think it is even better than soy; not only does it contain all the essential amino acids, it also contains omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids (at least on the label). Spread peanut butter, almond butter or any seeds you like on your toast!
The soy free Earth Balance butter spread is great. There are some tastey gluten free vegan breads out there but I don't know of a brand to direct you to. Nice mushrooms make a nice soy protein alternative and avocados are a good source of fat.If you have a food processor or blender, you can make your own almond milk (I like it better than soy milk and it's easier on my stomach), and cashew cheese. I take the leftover pulp from the almond milk and make chocolate date energy bars, which even my meat eating husband approves of. Congratulations on "flirting" with vegan.
But please be careful and stay updated, it seems like hemp oil might be bad for people with digestive problems. I will tell you if I find some negative health effects of hemp flour or hemp seeds!
By the way, I live in Sweden and we only have margarine and seed or nut butters, and I'm not into soy products. I like to make my own spread of apricots and sunflower seeds, it's very sweet and tasty! :D
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