Tips for a newbie

OneCatTooMany · 2021-05-28T19:07:54+00:00

Hi all. I hope I’m welcome here - joining this section of MN as I want to become vegan. Currently omnivore but having seen Seaspiracy, Land of hope and glory & Game changers I’m committed to making the change. Any tips for a newbie? I’ll be the only one in the household doing this, my husband and kids (13 & 7) won’t be, though the 7 year old is already veggie as she doesn’t like eating animals bless her [smile]. Husband and son are omnivore.

Merchymor · 28/05/2021 20:28

Health wise, lots of leafy green veggies for calcium. Try not to have too much processed faux meat if you can help it but I guess it can be useful especially if sharing with family eg Quorn mince. Personally I don't like it so use lentils for Bolognese instead.

Find a few recipes you like and batch cook as prep can take longer. Keep it simple.

Frozen veg mixes are your friend.
Eg I cook a stir fry mix from Iceland and make a peanut butter Thai style sauce to go with them and have with udon noodles or spiralised courgettes. Sometimes add tofu to up the protein.

Remember to include lots of protein like tofu, pulses, peanut butter to fill you up.

Cook lentils and pulses in unsalted water otherwise they won't soften enough. Canned chickpeas etc are really useful.

Not sure about fitting in with the rest of the family as none of us are omnivores and I do most of the cooking.

There are loads of cookbooks out there, local library will have some and charity shops so you don't need to buy new if you don't want to.

I like 'Oh She Glows' by Angela Liddon. Not all the recipes are good but I've made more from her book than any other.

Be prepared for a few recipe fails.

Take a B12 supplement

Good luck!

WhoppingBigBackside · 15/08/2021 18:22

This is a duplicate of a post I posted on a Food/Recipes thread, but I was so impressed that I'll post it here too.

Have a look at the Viva web site.

There was a Viva stall in my local town centre, with food samples. I'm not a vegan but am vegetarian, and am not normally enthusiastic about vegan meat and cheese substitutes, but the foods I sampled were absolutely delicious. The people on the stall were enthusiastic, informative and friendly and stressed that processed meat alternatives were as treats, not for day-to-day consumption.

The person I spoke to recommended the BOSH! recipes as well as the Viva ones.

WhoppingBigBackside · 15/08/2021 19:47

Some more links:
7dayvegan.viva.org.uk
www.veganrecipeclub.org.uk/

Both are Viva!, with which I have no connection, but I was most impressed by the stall holders.

Ricekrispie22 · 16/08/2021 04:39

My biggest piece of advice would be: prepare to be flexible regarding family and friends. Being willing to have a little bit of normal milk in your tea for example is likely to save a few relationships and keep you included in invitations. I'm sure they'll be understanding and try to accommodate you as much as possible.

PinniGig · 16/08/2021 06:08

Out of interest was it just those films that made you decide to go vegan?

Mamabear12 · 17/08/2021 10:44

Watch “what the health” on Netflix. That is another good pro plant based diet. I agree w previous poster about not eating too many faux meats (processed!). I try to focus more on whole foods. Maybe once a week or less I will have something like faux meat. The other times I have beans. And maybe tofu once a week (mainly bc I prefer beans). Lately I have been making these amazing salads w nuts. They are sessooo good. And I’ll eat them w some vegan falafels. So good. Or I’ll have it with a giant sweet potato. There are loads of great recipes online.

Also, some great health books to read that will give you motivation to stick to the diet. My favourites are “how not to die” and “China study”

Ivytheterrible1 · 17/08/2021 10:48

There are some fantastic communities on reddit and fb if you're in either. Other than that, post some things you and your family ordinarily eat and I can point you to some easy substitutes?

MrsR2be · 18/08/2021 22:12

@Ricekrispie22

My biggest piece of advice would be: prepare to be flexible regarding family and friends. Being willing to have a little bit of normal milk in your tea for example is likely to save a few relationships and keep you included in invitations. I'm sure they'll be understanding and try to accommodate you as much as possible.

I've never been flexible, I'm vegan and that's it. I haven't been excluded from anything or damaged any relationships. If you have dairy you are vegetarian not vegan

MrsR2be · 18/08/2021 22:22

Be prepared that a radical change in eating can give you an upset tummy at the start, especially if you don't normally eat lots of pulses & beans then suddenly East loads of them.
Plant milks are trial and error finding your favourite. If you drink coffee cheap milk will curdle. Alpro soya, oatly and minor figures don't curdle.
It gets easier, over the past 6 years I've learned to veganism almost anything

Tomasinabombadil · 25/08/2021 20:44

Opened this post because it’s supposed to be recommendations for school shoes? On MN daily Wednesday 25th August 2021🙄

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 25/08/2021 20:45

@Ricekrispie22

My biggest piece of advice would be: prepare to be flexible regarding family and friends. Being willing to have a little bit of normal milk in your tea for example is likely to save a few relationships and keep you included in invitations. I'm sure they'll be understanding and try to accommodate you as much as possible.

Eh? Milk in tea isn't essential and it's never been a deal breaker in any of my relationships

TheAstronaut · 25/08/2021 20:48

My biggest piece of advice would be: prepare to be flexible regarding family and friends. Being willing to have a little bit of normal milk in your tea for example is likely to save a few relationships and keep you included in invitations. I'm sure they'll be understanding and try to accommodate you as much as possible.

Seriously...wtf? ‘Normal’ milk...that’s oat milk in my house. This post must be a wind up.