Is it possible to be vegan but not eat too many carbs?

[Notcontent]

I have just listened to a very interesting podcast about obesity, the Western diet, etc. One point being made was something I was already aware of - that it’s best not to eat processed foods, too much sugar and also not too many carbs in general.

I don’t have a weight problem but I want to try to have a healthy diet and also, recently I have become almost vegan (not completely yet).

But here is my problem - I try to eat lots of beans, nuts, tofu - but so many meals are still quite carby and of course so many vegan alternatives are quite processed. Yes, I know it can probably be done but only with a lot of effort... Fortunately I do love tofu but don’t want to eat it every day!

Is that something you try to think about when planning your vegan meals?

Seitan isn't too carby.

Rose eliot did a low carb cookbook when Atkins was a thing. Will try and find it...

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/rose-elliot/vegetarian-low-carb-diet-cookbook/9780749926984?gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZAlx88TVjcLUGlDhoXnRoZAytKY6PjYKZ5HYKNuYtCQ4ybfBv23FXRoC3OQQAvD_BwE

Swoodles (swede noodles) from tesco are edible with a sauce.

Swedes are carby.

Are they as carby as noodles? What's the point of them?
I just get them through olio

@SuperLoudPoppingAction

Seitan isn't too carby.

Rose eliot did a low carb cookbook when Atkins was a thing. Will try and find it...

I think vegetarians have more options as you can make meals based on eggs or dairy.

I am not so keen on seitan but it’s probably a good option if you make the seitan yourself (I think the versions you can but are pretty highly processed).

I make one with red lentils that's amazing.
It is a faff though.

Tempeh might be another option?
Bought versions aren't too processed. Unless you get a bacon version or similar.

It's VERY difficult

I'm no longer vegan, just vegetarian. I eat incredibly low carb to control my diabetes. I don't eat egg.

I do buy taifun basil infused tofu (sounds horrible but it's actually really nice. Eaten cold (it's in the fridge bit near the olives etc). Not so keen on the other flavours.

Cauldron sausages (not sure if vegan though)

Loads & loads of salad & veg, but protein is hard.

Swede is carb 5g/100g , but having just looked at the swoodles look interesting. Only 2.3G carbs per 100g. Says ingredients are 'swede'. One of those things that you could make yourself but rarely bother. Buying premade is handy. Not sure how they've halved the carbs with no other ingredients though🙄

Look at the thread on here with what vegans eat every day. There's loads of ideas. Many low carb. I lost 3 stone doing it. I DO eat some carbs though, whole organic rice, pure rye and or spelt bread.

If you eat mindfully you'll feel fuller and be healthier too.

Also eat plenty of fruit, salads and vegetables, IMO and E it's not necessary to count calories or the carbs in veg. like swede just don't overeat. Oh and try to get easy exercise in {stretches,dancing etc. )

Witches Not hard at all! B12 is the only vitamin that most vegans have to add to their diet That's in yeast flakes\marmite type products etc

. Linseeds, ground are good added to cooking\smoothies and or as an egg substitute for cakes, they contain omega 3 which very few people eat enough of, whether they're veggie,vegan or mainstream because all the ready made foods are full of preservatives etc. etc. It's better to cook from scratch for health. As long as you're not deep frying or burning everything!

DH has just lost almost 3 stone on Keto but found his BP actually went up so he has cut right back on meat and dairy. He eats mostly dairy substitutes such as oat milk, coconut milk (but does eat proper cheese). He manages ok, I don’t eat a lot of meat and DD is vegetarian so it hasn’t been a huge change for us. We find Japanese and Korean food very good and ticks most boxes. You can buy carb free noodles and make cauliflower rice

Eating tofu more than once a week is associated with a lot of health benefits like lowering heart disease I believe but can have a potential impact of increasing oestrogen sensitive breast cancers - so do consider your own risk factors.

The Rose Eliot book has vegan options too. She has published two books, one is just recipes, the other has diet advice. There's quite a bit of overlap but it's worth getting them both.

Personally, I found it too difficult to cook things that I like eating doing both vegan and low carb, and very difficult to cook things my daughter will eat.

Hopping There are a number of ingredients in ready made vegan and veggie products (actually in ALL ready mades) that won't suit anyone with weight and or high BP problems. I don't touch coconut,cashew products which major a lot . I mainly make my own meals.

Anti Does your daughter like rice? Whole organic rice (cooked for long time, especially short grain) is lovely with tamari. and olive oil, very healthy too but don't tell her that! My grandd. loves it (which she didn't before I increased the cooking time!! )

@ppeatfruit

Hopping There are a number of ingredients in ready made vegan and veggie products (actually in ALL ready mades) that won't suit anyone with weight and or high BP problems. I don't touch coconut,cashew products which major a lot . I mainly make my own meals.

Anti Does your daughter like rice? Whole organic rice (cooked for long time, especially short grain) is lovely with tamari. and olive oil, very healthy too but don't tell her that! My grandd. loves it (which she didn't before I increased the cooking time!! )

We don’t eat ready meals either or use jars of sauce etc so I think it was just increased meat and fat consumption. His BP has come right down now he has reduced the meat, dairy and eggs

I'm struggling with this too! Only been vegan for about 4 months and I have hit the Linda McCartney wall. I never want to see another piece of 'meat' 🤮

I'm not a keen or good cook but trying hard with the aid of the Bosh cookbook.

Yesterday I had porridge with blueberries and pumpkin seeds and a mushroom Bolognese from the Bosh book plus an oat yoghurt. It all seems very carby though and I've put on weight.

I'm not certain that vegan is as healthy as I thought but just the thought of meat and dairy makes me feel sick.

Watching with interest. I’ve recently started meal tracking on MyFitnessPal and am appalled at how little protein and how many carbs I seem to be eating. I thought I had a pretty good diet!

I suppose it a whole new way of shopping and cooking to contend with. It's quite hard work! Someone recommended I cook in the morning to prevent being too tired and resorting to beans or peanut butter on toast for dinner.

I think it can help to adapt quantities. I don’t mean portion control, more ratios.
Vegan chilli’s and curries are more carb heavy than meat so eat with less rice and possibly a salad. Try different grains too
I think this can be the downfall of many vegans along with too much processed food.

@DogsnKids

Do you have many to cook for?
Are you working during the day?

I'm not vegan but don't eat meat/dairy/processed foods.

I know that rice/Ezekiel bread/grains bloat me so I try to avoid them generally and use sparingly at meal time.

So for example my breakfast (on the days I eat breakfast) might be oats, at lunchtime I'll have a salad with a cup of quinoa or rice added. Or falafel. Dinner will be zucchini/sweetcorn fritters with a side of roasted vegetables.

I've played around with my diet a bit and find that sticking with predominantly plants/fruits on 2 out of 3 of my daily meals, it stops me becoming too reliant on heavy carbs. That being said, I rely on starchy vegetables a lot as I weight train so need to load up on things like potatoes/Swede. This provide me with the decent ratio without bloating me.

I don't really eat beans as I don't like them, and eat tofu maybe twice a week. I don't bother with seitan anymore as I couldn't be bothered to make it. I'll eat processed vegan foods like a beyond burger or gardein nuggets once a week if that.

If I'm hungry I'll have a smoothie, eat fruit or carrots with hummus.

Sunflower seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) hemp hearts and chia are all low carb & good sources if vegan protein. Also vegan protein powders.