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Original poster

Vegan-Vegan friendly MNetters- the new thread-sign in here!

743 replies

anyabanya · 15/06/2010 10:02

Hi Vegan and vegan-friendly MNetters!

Just wanted to know if anyone was out there and wanted to form a support thread- to talk about food/ veganism, 'stuff' in general.

I am late 30s, have been an on and off vegan for about 6 years, and after a hiatus of about 9 months or so am back 'on'. I adore cooking with a passion, and love reading food blogs and vegan food blogs.

I would very much like to exchange thoughts/tips/frustrations with anyone else out there!

OP posts:
TimeWasting · 03/10/2011 14:33

Ooh, it's all gone quiet!

Well, I've stuck with it and I'm loving being vegan again! I've also been eating a tonne and actually lost some weight. Grin
Baby due on Wednesday, and I'll be eating even more once she's here and breastfeeding.
Any tips for high-cal food and snacks? (Not too high-cal mind, I need to lose loads yet)

NoHunIntended · 03/10/2011 15:31

It has! Where is everyone!?

Wow - Wednesday, hey! Sooo close! Best of luck with all of it!
I ate loads of porridge when I started BFing, well, for the first six months I think I had a bowl a day - oats are meant to be good for helping your milk supply. I also drank a Mama Nursing tea - from the health shop, also meant to help promote your milk supply. No idea if it did or not, but I never had any problems with my supply.

NoHunIntended · 22/10/2011 23:45

What new baby news, please? Hope all is well.

Just dropping by to let you know the www.vegusto.co.uk/shop/ site is ready for orders, they are doing 15% off special packs at the moment, have just placed my order. Had a taste at the vegan fair a while ago, and the cheese was awesome.

TimeWasting, I have a couple of packets of nursing tea that I don't need more use of (am still BFing, but don't need the tea as it's not suitable for ttc/pg). If you want me to send it to you, PM me your address.

NoHunIntended · 01/11/2011 15:44

Happy World Vegan Day!

PenguinArmy · 08/11/2011 14:27

sorry to stroll back in because I want something Blush

In my defence we have now moved back to the UK and I have a DS (thanks for the congrats btw) who's now 4 weeks already. I missed wholefoods though and where we have moved to doesn't have a big organic wholefood vegan stocking store surprisingly.

So, it turns out soy doesn't agree with DD (21 months). I was always reluctant to give her soy as it's easy to overload so she already has oat milk for breakfast. Looking for any ideas about protein as that was one she ate or if I'll be missing any dietary nutrients. Still need to find out if it's just soy extract (milk, sausages) or fermented as well (block tofu).

Ignore the rambly parts, I'm passing time feeding DS Grin

PenguinArmy · 08/11/2011 14:28

timewasting i've been plumping for co-op donuts and flapjacks

NoHunIntended · 08/11/2011 18:30

There is more protein in hemp milk than oat milk, so you could switch to that for a start. There is protein in every plant cell, if she is eating a good variety of fruit and veg, that's great - maybe take her to a dietician if you are concerned though.

PenguinArmy · 08/11/2011 19:39

I remembered she has peanut butter sandwiches for lunch everyday. I'm going to make a squash soup with red lentils and quiona chucked in. She loves trka dall as well so there's more than I thought.

TimeWasting · 19/11/2011 15:53

Co-op donuts you say?

Well, the birth went really well, quick uncomplicated VBAC, my blood iron levels went up be themselves after I went vegan, and DD weighed 7lb 3oz, which is rather average for a 'larger lady'. Vegan rocks. Grin

I'm still loving being vegan and I've been trying to eat lots of fruit and veg portions, reading old 10/10 threads for inspiration.

I've just finished reading Plant Based Nutrition and Health which is excellent.

Oats are a good source of protein as well PenguinArmy.

NoHunIntended · 19/11/2011 15:56

The Co-Op donuts are amazing! Mmm. Treat yourself, you deserve it. Congratulations on your DD.

PenguinArmy · 03/12/2011 23:08

well she has porridge every day for breakfast Grin

what's everyone doing for xmas meal?

HoHoHoFunIntended · 03/12/2011 23:34

I'll see what Holland and Barrett have in, nothing special in there at the moment. We have a special roast in from Vegusto, though it is rather small. Then just the usual roast and trimmings. Yum!

There is a new range in Sainsburys that do vegan Milionaire's Shortbread, tiffin, and something else. Pricey, but quite nice.
And a chocolate spread (though made in a factory where they make milk stuff too). It's by Antony Worrall Thompson.

PenguinArmy · 04/12/2011 12:30

well now that DD doesn't do soy, not sure what to do, although I am happy with just all the trimmings provided there's mash and roast potato (very important to have both).

Tried DD on tofu yesterday to see if that kind of soy is ok...it's not. I do feel a bit lost over intolerances as whether to insist she can't have said foods if only seen consequence is runny nappies.

I think I've had the chocolate spread (well it was one by sains) not as nice as the one I used to have from a local organic store but can't remember what it's called and we've moved since.

PenguinArmy · 04/12/2011 12:33

although those Vegusto roasts look soy free

NoHunIntended · 06/12/2011 17:19

We're going to have the Redwoods Cheatin Turkey (looks like it is mainly wheat protein, but it does list soy too), maybe the beef one too I'll do vegan pigs in blankets, stuffing, cauliflower cheese, sprouts, chestnuts, and loads of roast veg. Mmm!
And the Vegusto roast, it really is tiny!

The chocolate spread is amazing! Mmm!

NoHunIntended · 06/12/2011 17:28

And nutroast, of course!

PenguinArmy · 06/12/2011 19:53

I don't like nutroast.

earlyriser · 06/12/2011 20:02

Hello, have been recruited by NoHunIntended from the other veggie christmas thread. This will be my 20th vegan christmas Xmas Shock

We (me and 2 children, dh not even veggie) will be having Cheatin' Turkey with sosmix chestnut stuffing, skirlie, brussels in 'cheese' sauce, potatoes rolled in sesame seeds, roast pots and maybe a few veggies.

I always find my plate on xmas day looks very brown until i add the cranberry sauce, might have to make a side salad this year to make it more colourful!

HoHoHoFunIntended · 06/12/2011 20:08

Yippee! This is NoHun with a festive namechange! Welcome, earlyriser! I have not heard of skirlie, but I just looked it up. Yum! DH is Scottish, I will make it for him!
I do lots of greens, and carrots, so I have a colourful Christmas plate.

Are your children vegan?

Earthymama · 06/12/2011 20:17

DP and I always have this m.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/dec/17/features.weekend4?cat=lifeandstyle&type=article
It is really delicious, and we have all the trimmings including little veggie sausages.
Looking forward to it already Smile

earlyriser · 06/12/2011 20:21

Thought it might be one and the same person! Yes both children (dd is 6 and ds is 4) are vegan from birth. Will let them decide one day, but as i do all the shopping and all the cooking (bar DH's annual pasta/tomato sauce from a jar effort) everyone in the house eats vegan. (DH does sneak a bit of pepperoni on his pizza and makes his own biltong occasionally but that is the limit of it).

Is your DH Vegan?

earlyriser · 06/12/2011 20:24

That looks quite yummy Earthmama, and no nuts either (nephew has nut allergies so can't have nuts at the table, quite hard to find vegan xmas recipes that don't have any nuts in them!)

PenguinArmy · 06/12/2011 20:30

My DH isn't vegan but is 98% for main meals, unless eating out. He has regular milk on cereal, regular margarine and meat sandwich fillings. If we weren't as poor I think he would switch to dairy free 'dairies'.

He actually like the marinated tofu I made the other day.

Have to admit with DD I sometimes panic and let her eat some of DHs stuff (when he does have meat) now that she can't eat soy and also she isn't the best eater. I need to have more courage and not let ILs get to me and make me feel guilty. I feel awkward when at playgroups etc. but at least the being dairy intolerant gives me a get out clause. Playgroups are new to us but I think I've got there now.

earlyriser · 06/12/2011 20:38

It must be very hard to do vegan without the soy, Penguin, i know how much we rely on it! But i guess now there are rice milks, vegan sunflower spreads and even a soy free vegan cheese (from Redwood) which is actually my favourite fake cheese.

Plamil (if they are still on the go?) used to make a lot of their vegan stuff from pea protein, so may be worth checking out as another soy alternative.

PenguinArmy · 06/12/2011 20:44

well she was always on oat milk as I had a suspicion, also ILs thought I was being very precious not letting her have dairy when we visited when she was younger so I feel vindicated now Xmas Grin. I don't have too much soy but it was one of the few things she had been eating, was hoping she'd be OK with tofu and just not the other stuff Xmas Sad

will look into those, our town apparently only has one small wholefood shop which I was surprised about. We'd found loads of things where we were and we ruin it by moving.