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New Freckled Vegan
Started
by dawnsamantha
on December 2, 2012
Ive been a vegan for nine days - I was never vegetarian. I had read the Kind Diet and was struck so passionately by it. I did feel social pressure to stay eating meat, which I did on Thanksgiving - but that was the last day. On Friday, Nov 23rd I became vegan. So far, I have not felt any pangs for any kind of animal product. In fact, I am falling in love with all the new foods I had never eaten before. Kabocha squash soup is heavenly!!! I would have never bought that squash if I didn't read about it. Im so excited for this journey I am on. In nine days, I have lost some weight, I FEEL lighter. That is not a joke. I thought it was silly when I read it, but the other night I was on a walk with my husband, and there it was, this light light light feeling. Its magical.
I feel blessed to have taken this path. Nothing has made me feel so good.
My biggeset concern is nutrients. I made a list of nutrients that I need everyday and crossed referenced it with foods that have those nutrients, so now I have a list of foods I should consume regularly. I was wondering what foods are on your daily/few times a week list to make sure you have everything you need? Also, when it says that quinoa is a complete protein, does that mean that a B12 vitamin isn't needed? I believe this life was the one I am supposed to be living. I am enjoying learning and want to take care of myself and my husband.
Congrats on your decision! I am by no means an expert at this Vegan journey, 13 weeks in, but I can confidently say I will NEVER GO BACK. My reasons for changing (outlined in the Kind Diet, along with the conflict I felt considering myself a passionate animal lover/animal rescue supporter while eating other animals and their products) are what drive me forward, and allow me to refocus when I yearn for "comfort" foods of the past.
From the research I've done thus far, my understanding (may be incomplete) is that the only non-animal sources of complete protein (all 22 amino acids) are: soy, quinoa, and nutritional yeast ("nooch"). Coconut butter is a good source of aminos (although not complete, if I recall correctly), so I do use it with my oatmeal or other morning porridge.
Nooch has been a GOD-SEND to me during this journey - it's only thru nooch's cheesy goodness I'm able to satisfy a pretty strong love of rich, creamy, salty tastes (queso sauce (my 17-year-old carniverous wrestler son ADORES it!), alfredo sauce (any incarnation, using nooch and soaked cashews), and nooch gravy that is on par with any other chicken or turkey gravy I've ever had (this made my first Vegan Tgiving SO MUCH EASIER, dousing my plate with my noochy vegan gravy).
Good luck! Remember this "high" as you ride the wave, and use it to pull you back to center when/if you hit a lower/more challenging point.
~Michelle
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