A newbie

[bachlva]

Hi Mamas [and Papas??]...

Would you welcome a not-quite vegan? I'm a vegetarian who eats fish and eggs - but no other dairy [milk, cheese, butter, etc.]. I just recently decided to become totally dairy free - that is, avoiding all hidden sources of dairy - you know buttermilk-based sauces, baked goods made with butter - I've found this to be more difficult, especially when eating out - and, one of my only exceptions to obvious dairy was half and half with my coffee - when I allowed myself a cup [I'm a breastfeeding mama]. Yesterday I tried drinking a cup of black coffee - UGH! Hard for me to get used to, but DH does it all the time.

Anyway, I'm Mama to Oliver Reese who is 8.5 months as of today, and mostly breastfed. DH is not a vegetarian, but he eats whatever I make, so I'm working on having more energy to make family meals, kwim? We basically plan on raising him with my diet.

Hmmm, What else, I'm in So. CA ... And have a fellow friend who is a member on this board, Katharina! [Hi Mama!]

That's about it. I wanted to join this board, b/c I have a hard time finding info in vegetarian arenas - recipes, etc. - that doesn't revolve around cheese and dairy!

Thanks for having me [if you will]!

~ Alysia

[Erin Pavlina]

Alysia, you are welcome to join the board and in our discussions. Transitions are a tough thing and it takes time and support.

If we can be of help in any way, let us know. Be sure to visit the products page (http://www.vegfamily.com/product-reviews/) to find some really great products that are meat and dairy free. And if you have any questions, fire away!

Where in Southern CA are you?

[bachlva]

Erin - I PM-ed you!

LOL - I meant we plan on raising our *son* with my diet, not DH! :p

~A~

[GranolaMommy]

It is very good and very "creamer" ITKWIM. There are also flavors Here's a link to their info page at Westsoy products:

http://www.westsoy.biz/products/creme_de_la_soy.html

[bachlva]

Hi Granola Mommy...

Thanks for the tip... I clicked on the link ~ and I'm not sure if I'd like it - it has brown rice syrup in it - this is the problem will most other [yucky] artificial creamers too - they're sweet and I never put sugar in my coffee - bleck! ;) Thanks for trying though!!

[GranolaMommy]

But I haven't fonud the original to be sweet, per se. I think the sweetener is there to approximate the sweetness of cream but not to add sweetness if that makes sense. We used to use the original to make soy lattes when we were doing that sort of thing. We haven't had our espresso maker out for a long time now

[Christa]

Silk also makes a soy creamer in a little purple container, but it is a tad sweet if I recollect correctly. I don't drink coffee, so I don't know how that would be. Have you tried plain soy milk or rice milk? My husband, who drinks coffee, tells me that Silk does not "separate" in his coffee, but some - like Soy Dream - separate into little blobs in the coffee. Thus, we buy only Silk :).

Welcome.

[bachlva]

GM - OK... I'll give a try then.

Christa ~ I've not been one to like milk in coffee [only 1/2 & 1/2] b/c it's too thin, kwim? (No, I guess you wouldn't! )I haven't drunk milk for years, but always had to have cream in my coffee - go figure. :rolleyes: Anyway - I'll try Silk too .. thanks! ;)

[Butterflynjesus]

What about putting some of your milk into the coffee? LOL J/K of course!! But they did that to a guy at my DH's work...think they got the idea off some TV show or something. *giggle*

I'm not a coffee drinker at all..blech so I don't have any advice there..give me some tea or a fruit smoothie anyday though.

I'm switching to vegan as well and the only thing I miss occasionally is pizza and chocolate.

~MELISSA