DD going Vegan

I could instinctively tell your DP wasn’t her dad just from the nasty and unnecessary words he chose to use. Don’t let him speak to her like that in future please.

As for veganism, is it really that big of a deal? It’s now easier than ever to be vegan. When I was vegan about a decade ago everything was much harder to source and cost a fortune when you did. Nowadays even Aldi do dairy free milks cheap. Lots of foods are accidentally vegan. Vegan recipes are pretty easy to make, you don’t have to hugely go out your way to create them. You also don’t have to buy meat alternatives, lentils and beans are better for protein.

Buy her a vegan cookery book and tell her to plan a couple of weeks meals.

Have things in that are quick and easy for busy days, beans on toast (without butter) is vegan and I think most people have a tin or two in the cupboard.

Maybe spend a day batch cooking and freezing so if the 'family meal' isn't vegan she has an option.

Some cook in sauces are vegan, they are not the most nutritious thing but it is easy to add a sauce to a tin of chickpeas and have whatever, a curry or casserole.

Pasta will sit in the cupboard for years and still be edible.

Super agree.

Torn is much better I agree. Also if you can be bothered, it’s great if you freeze it then thaw and cook.

Hi OP. I’m vegan and have been for 15 years. Please support your daughter, she could really resent you otherwise.

it’s a really easy way to eat once you get into the swing of things and so many foods that everyone eats are already vegan! Some of the vegan alternatives are ultra processed but so much meat is too! I use an app called Yuka that rates food and there are lots of vegan alternatives that score really well on there. But also just lots of normal food is vegan - baked beans, any beans, jacket potatoes, pasta, rice, noodles, poppadoms, bagels, avocado, crumpets. I could go on.

my mum grew up in a working class family of 8 and announced that she was turning vegetarian at the age of 13 and she was allowed to crack on with it and this was in the 60s so I think your partner needs to get with the times. Also he’s not her dad so don’t let him dictate. Btw my mum is now vegan.

if you let me know what your daughter likes, I can send some easy recipes over. 😃

To those talking about meat substitutes, they’re still often more healthy than the meat version. There’s a lot of soya consumption in the Far East and their diets are better than ours, so no need to avoid that either.

This is mumsnet which is quite old fashioned in attitude, your daughter will be fine.

If anyone told me not to cook in my own kitchen I’d lose my shit. It’s not just his kitchen FFS, how stifling.

I will try that. I use the extra firm tofu but always cubed and dusted with cornflour.
I'll try the tearing method .
Tx

I am 62 and went vegetarian at 13 - so back in the 70s. Back then it was tough, nothing like the range and labelling there is now. I was lucky that my mother was a great cook and supportive.

The Vegan Society UK has a great website with lots of useful information about getting started, nutrition advice, lifestyle and recipes. They used to provide an updated list of products. Odd things like not all Quorn items are vegan, many crisps contain milk powder yet the Just Roll brand of frozen pastry and pizza dough is vegan.

Good luck

And when she is mature to cook for her self she can think what she wants and it is a choice no matter how people want to dress it up

Just came on here to say, your DP needs to understand this is not a frivolous choice on DDs part. It's about her ethics and morals, and love for animals (as you already mentioned she prioritizes that no animal was harmed).
Please dont take that away from her. She is clearly a sensitive soul, who wants to live against animal cruelty, that should be respected if not admired, certainly not trampled over.

Being a healthy vegan is not easy, particularly when your body is still maturing and you have periods depleting your iron levels.
If your DD is committed to this, she needs to start learning from the get go how look after herself.
She's probably done a lot of research about the ethics, but she needs to research the health side. She needs to learn for herself what she needs to eat, and to make sure she does, whether she likes it or not. Because you can't really be a fussy vegan if you want to be healthy, energetic, with good skin and hair, and have strong bones and all your teeth in middle age. You need to eat all sorts that you dont much fancy at first, and other people turn their noses up, beans, seeds, pulses, tofu, and all the veg.
Trying to replicate your old meals using fake stuff doesn't cut it.
I'd sit down with DD and tell her this. Tell her you support her, but she needs to show she's able to make good choices and take responsibility to live well as a vegan.
Plan menus with her, encourage her to contribute to cooking. Tell her B12 is a must.
If your partner sees her taking responsibility hopefully he will come round and respect her choice.

Just wanted to say thank you so much for supporting your daughter in this! Speaking from experience, when you become aware of the level of cruelty in animal agriculture it can be so distressing and overwhelming - having a parent support your new lifestyle means the world, especially when you dont yet have your own home and rely on the good will of others. Please ignore a lot of the pseudo science in this thread and do your own research from a trusted sources like the vegan society or British Dietetic Association. You dont need animal fats, soy isnt bad for you or anything to do with oestrogen, and UPFs you'd just handle in moderation like you already do with non-vegans UPFs! Floradix is a great liquid supplement but very expensive. You can get liquid B12 and Vit D which go under your tongue which might be a good bet! Or maybe gummies? Have fun researching nutrition and recipes together :) maybe pick out 5 quick and easy "go-to" recipes to ease in. I've been vegan 10 years and happy to give any pointers.

Going to try and be balanced here.

I’m vegan and don’t find it difficult and am perfectly healthy.

But fussiness followed by this decision would give me pause for thought re: ED.

My DD went vegan for a while and my rule was she had to eat what we gave her for nutrition and wasn’t allowed to be fussy. She actually went veggie before I went vegan so she influenced me if anything.

She has reverted now and flip flops due to people pleasing/laziness/social pressure.

I would let her go for it as if it is a moral choice it is awful to stop that and if it is control/ED related then she will find another way.

Ooh can I give you a texture tip for tofu you may not have tried? Get the extra firm one (Tofoo brand is good) and tear it into bite size chunks, rather than slice. Then lightly coat with seasoned cornflour and fry. Crispy and delicious! Also tempeh has all the benefits of tofu plus additional gut benefits because it's fermented, and has much more bite and a nutty flavour so some people prefer it. I hated tofu at first but now love it after some experiments :)

Can buy some vegan jelly multivitamins from holland and barratt, I don't think she'd mind taking those? :-)

Went vegetarian at the age of 10. Mum was supportive. Still vegetarian many many years later.

Meat subs are not that healthy imo, ok once in a while, better to cook good meals.

Honestly I’m a vegan and don’t find it hard at all ,
cooking joints of meat takes more effort ( I still buy and cook meat for my eldest adult kids when they visit ).
I think it’s a shitty response from your husband , at 14 your daughter has clearly thought about what she’s putting in her body and how it gets to her plate , he should be proud that she can think and make choices for herself.
i don’t eat meat purely because I love animals so eating them is hypocritical to me but I haven’t forced my views hence why my kids still eat meat.
there are vegan threads on here full of help too :)
how do you handle living with a man who wants to be in control ?

None of your kids are allowed to cook? So what happened when they leave home having never done it?

None of your kids are allowed to cook? So what happened when they leave home having never done it?

None of your kids are allowed to cook? So what happened when they leave home having never done it?

None of your kids are allowed to cook? So what happened when they leave home having never done it?

How does he mean well by being controlling???

Is there a power dynamic here where he is the main Warner and it's his house so you have to defer to him for fear of upsetting him?

There are plenty of vegan meals with little to no prep needed never mind planning!

Jacket with avocado and salad
Canned chick peas
Lentil dahl, ready made if needed.
Curry and rice

It’s not such a big deal and you can pretty much guarantee it will be healthier than the average meat eaters diet. Good for her!

That's ridiculous and not acceptable.

Why does she want to be a vegan ?
And does she choose cruelty free toiletries ( not just vegan ones that only refers to the ingredients) . Thankfully there's lots online .
I have been so annoyed that previously ethical brands have started selling in China (huge market) but then require third party animal testing .
I don't wear leather suede silk wool or fur. By choice.
Household products cruelty free which works ok in my house as I mainly use them. But trying to convince other people might not be so easy .