Any other vegan teens out there?

[Robin]

Hey, I'm Robin. I'm a 14-year-old vegan. I am a Diary Writer, so if you'd like to learn more about me, check out my diary, but for now I'm just wondering if there are any other vegan teens out there who want to chat? I'm disappointed that this new teen board hasn't been getting many posts! I'd be glad to talk with you about vegan ideas, issues, concerns, etc. Also, if there are any teens out there considering going veg, I'd be glad to answer your questions! Peace out:p

[HimuraLain]

Hi. I am also a teen vegan and would like to chat about it. I've been vegan for three years and it's something I believe in deeply. I would be interested in exchanging recipes and making new online friends. Thanks. Bye.

[Robin]

Hey! Thanks for responding! Do you have any family members or friends who are vegan? I have one vegan friend- she went vegetarian first and I went vegan first, so we've kind of inspired each other. We get together once a week for dinner. As for school, I go to a public high school. How about you? I am going out of town tomorrow and won't be back until August 5th, but I'll look forward to your response and chat some more then!

[HimuraLain]

My mom is vegan, she became one after me, but she first taught me to be lacto-ovo vegetarian. I have one or two vegetarian friends--well now three, including you! I also go to public high school and am entering 11th grade. I am taking a lot of art classes. It's great to find someone around my age who is vegan to talk to! I have a very good vegan recipe for you. It's called Tofu Pasta. My mom, a nutritionist, and I invented it. If you're interested I will post it. Thanks. Bye.

Justin Derringer

[cuoremia]

I'm trying to be a vegan. I'm going at it slowly..that's how I became a vegetarian. I have officially cut cheese out of my diet and drinking milk...but it's really hard to stop eating ice cream!!! Especially since it's summer!! :) I've been a vegetarian for 6 years, so I think it's time to go even further...anyways..I'm 17..about to be 18 in September. I've noticed that you're from Wisconsin...me too!! I live in a city called West Allis...it's only a mile or two from Milwaukee....where are you from?
-Theresa

[HimuraLain]

Good luck cuoremia. As the for the ice cream, you can try to find a good soy ice "cream." I have found Soy Dream products to be really good. Also, fruit makes a good dessert alternative. Bye.

[Erin Pavlina]

A little off topic, but today I found out that Vegan Essentials is in Milwaukee. You guys can go to their location and shop directly. Will save on shipping.

Go to: http://www.veganessentials.com and see where they're located.

[nooly]

hey robin, i have a friend like you who was veggie first and i went vegan first, now she's vegan too so we eat beans and vegan icecream together when we're at each others' houses.
i'm 18 and i've been a vegan for a year and a half, veggie for a couple of years before that.
emmmm.......that's about it! just wanted to register my presence as a teen vegan :)

[Vanessa]

I guess I'm a "vegan teen", though I feel a lot older... I'm 18 going on 19 in November. I became vegan almost a year ago when I was still 17. I had also been a vegetarian for almost 6 years prior to becoming vegan. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone (in person) that is vegan or at least vegetarian. I find a lot of comfort in these forums. Also, living in LA county where there are loads of vegetarian and vegan restaurants as well as natural and whole food markets helps a lot.

I think the last time I had craving for dairy was maybe 2 months ago or so. It takes awhile to get over your cravings but fortunately there are a lot of yummy vegan subsitutes.

[Corinne]

Hello!
I'm a 17-year-old female vegan from Canada and would love to chat and share ideas with other vegan teens! I only have one vegan friend, although I know several vegetarians, and I've only been vegan since last month! (I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian for about 5 years.) No other veg*ans in my family, so it's been interesting!
Aside from animals, nature, and vegan cooking, my interests lie mostly in music! I've finished grade 10 piano and am taking my performer's exam next June. I rigged it so I'm finishing high school in January, with only a career prep program in music from then until June! Should be great.
Looking forward to meeting some veg*an friends on here!
Corrie:D

[Robin]

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I've been on vacation and didn't have access to a 'puter! It's great to have other veg*ns to talk with.

Justin- It's awesome that your mom is a nutritionist and raised you veg!! I have yet to talk with a nutritionist about my veganism (so far I have no complaints!!) but it would probably be a good idea just to prove the people who say I'm unhealthy and malnourished WRONG! I would love the tofu pasta recipe- post it if you get a chance!:D

Theresa- Hi! Great to meet you! I went vegetarian overnight but eased into the dietary part of veganism, and it took me even longer after I had cut out all animal foods out to switch to all cruelty free products- so far I have "officially" stopped wearing any animal products (wool, silk, leather) but I am still learning about "good" and "bad" companies and where to buy personal care items. One thing that I have found that helps in making a dietary transition to veganism is to cut it out slowly, but set a specific date when you will be totally vegan. If you have an overly long transition it may make it even harder to be vegan! I wish you the very best and let me know if I can answer any questions.
Oh, by the way, I am from south-central Wisconsin but my parents have asked me not to give out my city online.

Hey nooly! Are you still living at home? If / when you were living at home how did your parents respond to your diet? I too, was veg for a couple years and have been vegan for a year and a half. Sounds like we have a lot in common!!

Hi Vanessa! That's so awesome that you live in the L.A. area! I've never been to an all-vegan restaurant but it would be the coolest thing if I could actually order anything on the menu and even dessert! Do you have any favorite veg places? As far as cravings, how do you deal with them? I have not been struggling with that lately, but I know Erin has posted some good info on this board about things to GROSS yourself out with when your tempted to eat dairy, but it sounds like substitutes are working fine for you.

Corrie- Hi! Are you fairly new to these boards (haven't seen ya around much!) It's great to meet another veg*n! I am taking piano too, although it is private lessons, not through school. I've been studying it for 6 years! Well, I'll talk with you soon-

[Emily]

Hey we have something in common besides being vegan teens. I play piano too. I've been playing for 11 years and I'm in grade 9. I also teach piano as my part-time job. Piano is a big part of my life and I'm planning on studying music at university (hopefully.)

Emily

[HimuraLain]

To Robin:

Sorry for the confusion, but I meant that my Mom *and* and a nutritionist and I invented it. Here's the recipe (I've been having my friends and even my former Italian teacher try it, and it's been a big hit):

Garlic Tofu Pasta

Ingredients:
Safflower or Canola Oil
2 packs of Extra Firm or Firm Tofu
Garlic powder
1 lb. Farfalle (Bowtie) Pasta
Salt or Pepper if desired

Cooking Time: About 30 Minutes

Instructions:
Boil water for farfalle pasta and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, heat oil in skillet or frying pan, then cut tofu into cubes and pour them into the oil. Stir often and stir-fry until golden brown. Add much garlic powder after turning off the heat. Strain the pasta, replace it back into its pot, then pour the oil, tofu, and garlic mix onto the pasta. Mix well and serve. Enjoy it while fresh if possible. Use salt and pepper if desired. The leftovers are pretty good as well.

[OUTxFORxBLOOD]

Hey just checkin in here, yet another vegan teen. Been veg for 8 years now, vegan for 6! It's great to see others out there!

[blendersaw]

Hey a good and cheap way to have ice cream is to make some at home, then you know what is in it.
I bought an icecream machine from Target for $20,
I use the choc silk milk, and buy the sugar from the health food store and some carob chips, they sell tofu choc chips to which are even better than real chocchips. put it al int he machine and plug it in,

for strawberry buy vanilla silk soy milk, and get strawberrys chop them up real fine and add with the juice and all. You can use sweet juice instead of sugar.

hope this helps,
Soy icream lover!

[xVoodooD0LLYx]

hi everyone! i'm flick, i'm 13 years old, and i've been a vegan for 10 days, wish me luck! my family are very supportive of me (even my grandma!) as they always try to teach me to be open-minded. but i have no vegan friends! a lot of my friends are vegetarian (i think i'm kind of responsible for converting them tee hee!) and jo wants to be vegan, except her mom won't let her :mad: so im feeling very lonely :( . also im very angry :mad: at some of my...hmmm...."not so good" friends, who make fun of me. i wish they would just leave me alone, because they are soooo immature. when they make a stupid comment, i automatically return another one, but they know im right and they're wrong whenever we argue. I've noticed their defensive attitude towards me, and it's always the three meat-eaters who try to argue. The vegetarians don't care about my decision, the others just can't stand the thought that i know better than them. ggggrrrrrrr! anyway, that is basically the reason i'm here, to get new friends! hope to get some replies, heehee! xx Flick

[Robin]

Hey Flick! I'm 15 years old and I've been vegan two years. My 13-year-old brother just went vegan about a week ago so maybe I'll get him signed up for this board and you guys can chat! See ya later. Good luck with your friends- if they know you're right they'll eventually lay off.

[xVoodooD0LLYx]

Thanks Robin, I should have taken my usual tactical approach, instead of getting upset I guess. How long has your brother been vegan for? I'm finding it easy right now, and I don't miss anything I used to eat. Yesterday though, I went into Rosemary's (health food store) and I kind of see it as a magickal place full of all my favorite foods, so it never occured to me that there would be something I couldn't eat in there, and I bought some yoghurt covered raisins!! Luckily I'd bought pine nut kernels too, but my mom wouldn't stop laughing at me! Damned brain of mine!

Oh well, I've got some simpsons to be watching and some chocolate to be eating. See you, Flick

[scarlet]

Hi everyone! My name's Erin. I'm 17 years old, a senior in high school, and I've been vegan for about four months. It can be hard because I'm the only veg*n in my family, but I manage. I think all the benefits to veganism make it well worth it!

I look forward to getting to know all of you through your posts.

Ciao:cool:

[xVoodooD0LLYx]

:) hi Erin. I've been vegan for 2 weeks and so far i'm finding it easy. When i was vegetarian i thought it would be really hard to give up eggs and dairy, but i just don't want them any more. What benefits of veganism have you noticed? I've heard vegans on these boards saying their nails have strengthened and stuff like that. After two weeks i just feel generally a lot happier in myself, and i just wish i'd known what was wrong with me before. I think it was guilt i was feeling but i didnt notice it, now i've never been happier!!! :D
I also have a lot more energy, but maybe that's because i'm finally taking care of myself.
hope to see you on the board, flick

[alexis]

Hi I'm Alexis from Singapore. I'm 16 and i've only decided to go vegan last months after suffering from two weeks of horrible indigestion from eating beef. right now, i've given up beef(DUH!) all diary products, pork and mutton. I'm trying to remove chicken and fish completely from my diet.
It's kinda hard finding vegan versions of alot of foods here. Tofu and soy milk is an everyday commondity. But soy ice cream, soy cheese and soy yogurt are like totally unheard of. If anyone knows of websites that sell these stuff and will ship overseas please tell me. :)

[scarlet]

Hi xVoodooDOLLYx, sorry I haven't replied to you.

Since becoming vegan I've felt a lot better about the choices I make and I feel more aware. I have more energy and I am learning to cook healthily. Most of all I feel great knowing that I'm doing my part to help protect animals, the environment, and my health.

Welcome to the board, alexis. I don't know of any companies that deliver soy ice cream, but there are some companies that deliver soy cheese and I know Delicious Choices delivers vegan "cheese" cakes, but I'm not sure if these companies deliver overseas, and if they do, it would probably be very expensive.

You should consider getting a vegan cookbook or two. If you have tofu and soymilk available, there are plenty of delicious vegan foods you can make, including "yogurts", "ice creams," and "cheeses." If you want me to recommend some vegan cookbooks or websites, let me know. I'd be more than happy to. :)

[alexis]

hey scarlet...well i'd love it if you could reccommend some vegan cookbooks...i'm hoping that when i move in with my friend i'll get to do my own cooking then i won't get people sneaking dead animals into my food...it's really annoying especially when they use regular milk and i end up with my allergies coming at me full blown in the night...some times i really think they don't care about my health at all...just about how they think is the right way to eat...

[Kristin]

Hey, I'm new to this forum:-) My sister and I have decided as of Jan 1st that we are going to make a concerted effort to remain vegan. She's new to the whole concept of veg*nism but I've been a vegetarian for almost 2 yrs now. Wish us luck! Some great cookbooks scarlett include "the passionate vegetarian" (crescent dragonwagon) "teen's guide to going vegetarian" (Jane Krizmanik) Yummy things we've discovered are tempeh, chreese, stir fries, etc. I don't know how long she'll last without eating cheese (my sis) but it will be interesting;-) I love being a vegetarian especially browsing through the health food store. There's a great one where I live that has vegan eggsalad in it's deli..mmmm bye for now. If any one has any questions about nutrition, vitamins, cooking, conditions etc etc I'd be happy to offer my two cents, I'm no expert but I have read a lot and perused many studies so I could be of help. Ask me anything:-)

[Kristin]

I'd be happy to chat with you Robin. I have only met two long term vegans in my whole life and they weren't teens like me so it was slightly dissapointing. Anyways maybe you could also talk to my little sis who is attempting to become vegan along with me.

[inkie]

Hey all. My name is Abbie and I have been completely vegan for 3 days now. Before that for the past two years I was almost a vegan, (I never switched from leather silk etc.) off and on. But a few nights ago I couldn't sleep and came across alot of sites on the web and once I started reading up on animal rights and other issues, I just knew that I had to go vegan. So far it's going good, but i have no other vegans or vegetarians in my family. My mom tries the dishes and stuff I make but she still eats meat and dairy. As for my dad, he thinks it is "the stupidest thing to do." When I asked him why all he said was, "I can have an opinion right?" My friends think it is a phase and as for my extended family, their reactions were worse than my dad's.

So far, I have had way more energy, and haven't had any trouble sleeping. Does any one know of a good shampoo and conditioner that is cruelty-free? Right know i have a container of Whammo! from giovanni but it isn't moisturizing my hair like that shmapoo I used to use. Thanks! Abbie.:D

[alexis]

hi inkie, welcome to the board, good for you on turning vegan. it's a great thing to do, i've been completely vegan just after new year's eve. But it's still kinda hard trying to know what products to buy and what not to buy. Why not try making your own conditioners and shampoos? I can give you the recipe if you want.
I've been trying to start a vegan magazine to promote teen veganism in Singapore. But down here, you have to register that with the government and if they think it's way out of the norm, well, they'll ban you. And there's a whole lot of restrictions in the pack too. Like having a certain number of people and stuff like that. But i'm gonna contact the Vegatraian society Singapore and give it a shot anyway. Wish me good luck. I'm writing to the registrar of Societies in about a month or so.
:D

[inkie]

Good luck on the magazine thing. I'd appreciate it if you could post the shampoo and conditioner recipes. It would do me alot of good because I went to the health food stores here and the seperate bottles of shampoo and conditioner are about eight dollars apiece. Thanks!:D

Also, let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out with the magazine.

[alexis]

Hey Inkie, well here's what you do for shampoo.

Shampoo base:
100 g grated castille soap
1liter spring water

Boil the water and add the soap in. Stir until dissolved.

Or
12g soapwort root, crushed
2 pints boiling spring water.

Put the soapwort root in a large bowl. Pour the water over it. cover and leave for at least an hour. Filter through a muslin cloth and bottle.

Then you add some essential oils to it. I add 2 teaspoons of peach kernel oil, 5 drops of jojoba oil, carrot oil and 2 drops of sandalwood oil to 225ml of the shampoo base. That's pretty moisturising. I hope it works for you. :D

[alexis]

Finally, i have a clue that i'm not the only person here that thinks meat is causing enviromental harm. I was reading The New Paper online and i saw an article on how meat was causing enviromental harm tand the person who wrote that is a vegan. ha ha ha. i e-mailed the article to all my meat eating friends. It's gotta be relevant cos the water shortage thingy is something that has been thrown at our heads for years.

to see the article go to: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/columnists/story/0,4136,12675,00.html?

[Candykid*trick*]

hey, im 16 and i just turned vegetarian the morning of Aug. 1st (3AM) its been going well so far and recently started trying to go vegan, I'll be honest tho, im having some trouble. I'm a cheese lover, if cheese was a person then he would be my best friend-... hell id mary the guy. But any who, i started buying soy milk and soy icecream and all of that other good soy stuff- i'm not completly vegan.. yet.. but im hoping that in a week or so that i will get over my love for cheese and move my life in the direction of veganness.
If any body has any tips on which kind of foods i should be eating- or if you have any kick ass recieptes (i havent visted that recieptes forum thats my next stop) then feel free to let me know.
If any body wants to talk or has any cheese subsitutes you can email me at: candykidtrick@aol.com
Thanks

[Erin Pavlina]

Vegan cheese.... www.imearthkind.com

It tastes great and melts.

[Candykid*trick*]

oh my.. erin.. dont take this the wrong way but- I love you!
thats awsum, one of the stores is in DC- about 45 minutes away from where i live, i'll be going there this weekend- thank you sooooo much! you just made my transition from vegetarian to vegan a hell of alot easier.
thanks!!!

[Erin Pavlina]

No problemo. I'm here to serve!

Be sure to visit the product review page so you can see all the yummy vegan products I've discovered over the past 4 years.

http://www.vegfamily.com/product-reviews/index.htm

[plubub]

hello robin! how are you today? it it too late to chat with you? i am also vegan (good woo hoo for us!!) and I am 18 and also looking for people to be buds with. write me back if you want. see ya..... plubub

[WillD]

Hey everyone! My first post here. I am 17 and have been vegan for about 5 days now so far.

I started because at the dinner table, I saw all the meat we had. I then wondered how many animals had to die a day to feed the nation. Wow. Then I looked into factory farming, etc. I saw the truth. It was horrible. From that point on I decided not to consume any dairy of any kind or meats of any kind.

Oh, and I wish that the vegan cheese above was available here. It costs too much to have it shipped.

[Erin Pavlina]

Ask your local health food store to carry it. It's available to any store that wants it I believe.

[WillD]

Yeah, I am gonna go over there sometime this week and see if I can persuade them to carry it. I also am a cheese lover, and this stuff looks great to make pizzas with, etc.

[Erin Pavlina]

Tonight I'm using it to make tortilla lasagna.

corn tortillas layered with a kidney bean/onion/green pepper and spices mix. With tomato sauce and then cheese every layer too. Yum! Can't wait to try this with the cheese. Last time I made it I didnt' have the cheese.

[WillD]

Lucky! :(

[Cozmo]

ROBIN! Hi my name is Kevin ( you can call me Cozmo)! I am a 15 yr old vegan guy living in Oregon; you sound so similar to me, in more ways than one!

I too have a feamle vegan friend who at first was vegetarian.

Anyway, I dont have time to type my life story on here right now, but PLEASE e-mail me or contact me!

E-mail: Neodude13@msn.com
AIM: Trendy Vegan

I hope to hear from you soon! I have so much to tell you!!

[edamame]

hi.

my daughter is a vegan teen. She's 16. I'll see if she's interested in joining the board. :)

[jazz_pianist]

hey emily, I teach piano lessons also and next year will be in 10th grade, I have been a vegan for an amazing 2 days! oh boy, but I am serious about it. I would love to talk to you some time. give me an shout sometime. jazz_pianist_07@hotmail.com
that is open to any vegans who would like to talk to me and show me the tricks of the trade. I've already gotten lots of recipes, but I dont know what lacto, ovo, lacto-ovo, and marco polo and all of those weird things are.
I would love to be clued in.
-Bryan

[duckie1978]

Bryan,

Welcome to the boards! My name is Dawn, I am a bit old to be posting in the Teens section (I'm 25) but I thought I would give a shout out! This is a great board to find out the basics of being a vegan.

As for your initial confusion about all the terms:
Ovo vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy or flesh
Lacto-Ovo vegetarians eat eggs and dairy but no flesh
Lacto vegetarians eat dairy but no eggs or flesh


I am curious, what made you decide to become a vegan? You said your on Day 2 or so, how has the transition been? Are your parents supportive? Do you know any other vegetarians or vegans? Are there any natural foods or co-ops around you to get vegan goodies?

[jazz_pianist]

I realized that my church (unitarian universalist) has principles that are the basis of what we belive. we are very loose about a lot of things and dont have set in stone belief in a god or anything, for instance there are some buddhists, quakers, jews, christians, wiccans, etc. but I'm an agnostic liberal socialist. anywho, I realized that the 7th principle of 'respecting the web of life' can not be held true if I am eating meat and dairy etc. I know some people like my friend mike (also known as 'the bisexual liberal vegetarian who wants your gun') who drinks milk and all but doesnt eat eggs or meat. and I wondered what they where. well anywho I have a story already. I didnt post already because I was out of town in long beach and we where at the convention center thursday through today (sunday). the convention center offered meals of ham and turkey sandwhiches, milk, yogurt, chocolate candy, starbucks frappucinos and sodas. I finally found some weird little candy things without anything I could object to, and didnt have chocolate. so I had that and an apple on thursday, along with a peice of cantaloupe. on friday I had an apple, some soup, and a peice of onion. on saturday I had an apple. a peice of lettuce, a peice of onion, and some potato. today I had some peanuts, some soup, and an apple. I think everything on that list is vegan safe. tell me if it isnt. oh, and I found some vegan safe smoothies at the local "smoothie king" and vegan safe french fries. it was a weird way to start being a vegan, but now I know what to look for. by the by, what kinds of bread have whey in them?
-Bryan

[jmksesholtz]

Hi,
I am a vegan mom, and I would like to know if there are any all natural whole food vegan teens (all natural- maple syrup instead of sugar) out there that were vegans through most of their life? If so, can you give me a brief on how it was growing up explaining yourself and what you ate when in came to birthday parties, people eating hamburgers instead of veggie burgers? Some people seem to think, my son is going to grow up miserable explaining himself and being made fun of in grade school.

Kathy

[WillD]

I am not vegan anymore, but still a vegetarian teen. To be honest, it seems that kids these days are fairly considerate and understanding. No one ever judged me for what I ate/chose to do.

[cowpie]

Hey, you vegan teens....I'm not a teenager, but I commend you on your choice of becoming vegan. I think the best soy ice cream is Soy Delicious Peanut Butter and Chocolate....check it out.....

[missvegan]

Hey my name is Bre. I'm 15-years-old. I live in Memphis TN area. and I am a vegan.

[WillowDancer]

A great and open-minded site for teen and adult veg*s alike is veggieboards, here is a link to an ongoing thread about lunch for teen vegans:

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=53190

[tayger91]

hi i don't know if anyone still reads these seeing as how the last post was a few months ago, but oh well i will give it a try and see if i get any replys. i just wanted to say hello. i am a 15 year old vegan from california. and if anyone wants to chat or anything reply this message and i'll give you my e-mail.

[Greenelf9]

Hi everybody! I'm a 15 year old from Kentucky. I just became a vegetarian and I doing pretty well at maintaining a vegan diet. The rest of my family is not vegan and there is a lot of pressure to eat southern country food more often. Despite that, I am still trying hard and I love the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. I have also discovered a new love of cooking. You can cook really beautiful foods when meals aren't centered around meats. I love it! :D

[Wistful Wanderer]

Helllloo everyone :D My name is Emma and I'm from the UK. I am also a vegan =)