Hey I'm new at this and a little lost...

[LoloRenae]

I'm 17 years old and I became a vegetarian as of about a week ago. I'm planning on eventually becoming vegan...I'm giving my body time to adjust. But I'd really like some advice as to how I can make veganism into a lifestyle.

My meat-loving family isn't exactly thrilled about my decision. My dad is supportive but my mother and sister grumble and scoff. I'm not really worried about them though, I think they'll adjust. But I'd like to help them out in any way possible. I'd love to hear from some vegans who live with meateaters as to how I can help my friends and family adjust and make eating with them easier.

My other problem is that I'm not sure how I'm going to continue being a vegan when I go off to college this fall...there's no dorm kitchens and the cafeteria is somewhat limited (they have tofu but only raw...). And being a vegan tends to be expensive, and as a college student I'd love some tips as to how to afford it.

Also, I'm getting hungry a lot. Does anyone have any satisfying recipes they can give me or know of a good source?

Thank you :)

[kjmckenzie]

Hi LoloRenae and welcome!

I would call your college and tell them that you have special dietary needs and you never know, they may agree to make you special meals! Stock up on trail mix and non perishables like apples for your dorm room.

As for meateaters, just make it easy on your family, maybe help with the cooking and make some vegan "normal" looking dishes that everyone can eat. Pasta with tomato sauce, salad, baked beans, steamed vegetables, baked potatoes etc. Then slowly but surely introduce the "wierd" stuff and hide it in things: soymilk in smoothies, do some vegan baking etc. Keep being polite and I personally wouldn't argue about your views, just keep them to yourself for now and go about doing your own thing. You can get lots of recipes online, there are tons on this website. Let how healthy and good you feel and look speak for itself.

I don't think being vegan is expensive unless you buy specialty foods. Dried beans and even canned beans are very inexpensive and they are extremely healthy and satisfying. Just make some brown rice (also cheap) and some veggies and you are good to go! That may not be the most gourmet of meals, but it is cheap and healthy.

I am sure other people on here will have better advice than me, but that's a start!

Good luck!

Krista

[LoloRenae]

Thank you very much for your advice :). I will definitely call the counseling center at my college and I've been looking at recipes online and checking out cookbooks. I'm finding lots of stuff.
I've been vegan now for about a week. Is it natural to feel a little weaker? I'm not sure what's going on.

[PikkuMyy]

Your body is going to take a little while to adjust and you'll need to find what combination of veggies/grains/proteins keep you feeling full and energized. Plan on snacking a few times a day because plant foods will make you feel full sooner than meat foods with some less nutrients. There are lots of healthy snacks that can keep you going and give you optimum nutrition.

My main advice is to avoid what I did when I was veggie in college, and that was to rely on lots of refined carbohydrates. I ate tons of rice, potatoes, white pasta, and bagels (nice and cheap and easy to cook) but didn't balance it with enough veggies and whole grains. I never made salad. And I weighed about 20-25 pounds more than I do now and my teeth suffered as a result.

Try some brands of whole wheat pasta to find one you like (Trader Joe's has them for 99 cents a pound) and you may find you need to cook it longer than the time on the box so it gets softer. Try to eat at least one bowl of salad and one bowl of cooked veggies a day. Get to know your spices and the sautee pan, garlic, and olive oil will be your friend for any dish.

One of my favorite things is a baked sweet potato topped with black beans, and then with sauteed onions and spinach. TONS of vitamins and minerals and very filling. At my college, I had a mini fridge, a single burner, and a toaster oven that I bought. I was able to cook almost anything there. (We had the added benefit of sinks in our rooms but I dare say you'll have a bathroom in your room - ours was down the hall.)

I would also see if once you get to college, you can meet with the food services director and find out the ingredients of the entrees they serve most often at the cafeteria to see what is vegan. Find out if the veggies are cooked with butter or just water or oil. Get to know the salad bar! :)

[LoloRenae]

Thanks so much for all the advice :) I have called and left a message for my college counselor. The sweet potato recipe sounds awesome...I'll have to try it.

Also, I'm trying to find a good vegan cheese. If you know of any that you like I'd love to be enlightened. I've done some research and everyone seems to like Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternatives, but I can't figure out where they sell them...

[PikkuMyy]

I love Vegan Gourmet as well. I buy it at Whole Foods and at my local health food store. It is made by Follow Your Heart - they make Vegenaise, the world's best vegan mayo, and other vegan products. If you find a store that carries other FYH products, they may be willing to order some cheese for you.

There is also a new product available online called Shreese that is from the UK but you have to order it, obviously.