I've been considering for quite some time now about becoming a Vegan. I've been working this summer in an Organic/Healthy food store and it just seems to be the right time to start, as I have access to plenty of food alternatives without meat or animal byproducts.


Anyways what I'm trying to ask is, what do I need to know about being a Vegan? And I would really appreciate some advice from anyone who is / has ever been a vegan.


-Thanks.

well there are so many web resources about this, about how one makes sure that their vitamine/minerals/proteine-income stays okay ... you could start from there.

i'm not vegan, my boyfriend is, and i must say at first i was scared that our cuisine (i'm a dedicated cook) would be totally limited. and to my surprise, it isn't. you can replace lots of things with equally yummy, animal-free prodcuts.
if you're not a total cheese-junkie this can be a really decent diet (and more, i learned, veganism is an attitude).

i'd say try it for a week or two. then cut out the several food groups step by step. that way it's easier.
going meatfree, then eggfree, then cheesefree, then honeyfree, leatherfree etc.

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does anyone know why vegans refuse to use the same utensils/cookware thats used with meats?

is it just principle, or is there some biological factor involved?

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when that bitch breathes, the air comes out crooked.

It's just the principle to be honest. I'm about 80% there to being a Vegan but I wouldn't go as far as replacing/refusing to use certain kitchen appliances just because they may have been used on a bit of meat. As long as they've been washed properly I can't see the problem???

tofutti makes great ice cream, and cream cheese.
Umm to be honest its not much of a difference from being veg. First it may seem a little that way, but once you find alternatives for you fav. foods, its no problem.

It's like somebody already said. Veganism is an attitude.

If its cleaned I don't see a problem.

and it's not impossible for a cheese junkie to convert. there's lot of soy cheeses, as well as recipes for homemade "cheeses". alot of vegans just sprinkle nutritional yeast on anything they want to cheese up, though i've never tried this.

ditto.
actually aura, I'm even more laid back about things like this than that- I won't even get upset if someone cooks a veggie burger on the same grill as they cook a regular burger on for instance. I mean, I'd prefer they didn't, but I have to pick my battles, you know?
In general you shouldn't use knives/cutting boards that have touched raw meat with anything else after that, but this is just a general cleanliness/safety issue and I'm sure you knew that?

definitely not impossible, I was a cheese junkie. I love nutritional yeast though, you should try it. I go through phases where I crave it and I'm just coming out of the craving phase right now. I was eating it on stuff (potatoes, rice, etc) just about every day 2 weeks ago.

i've been wanting to get some. i just can't find it anywhere. there's only one health food store where i live, and they don't carry it. sadness.

I would die! Ask them to order some. Or you can order it online.

eh, they're dumb bitches in that store anyhow. i'll probably order some or just wait until i go out of town and get some then. i really need to get some because i've found several cheese recipes that use it. and i want cheese.

wow ive never had nutritional yeast, what does it look like generally? who produces it?

I believe it comes in powder or flake form. I've only had the powder one. Its has a cheese like taste from what I remember. Its been years since I tried it. The last I checked you can only buy it at "health" food stores. I've never seen it in regular supermarkets.

It has a yellowish color to it and comes in a container that looks like an oatmeal can, it's normally found in the supplement section of health food stores. To me the taste is close to that of cheddar or american cheese, it's good for making things like dip or sauce and such. Also, its a good source of B12

As for going vegan I suggest getting a general everyday cook book, or start searching the Internet. Go here The Post Punk Kitchen: Vegetarian cooking & vegan baking with no attitude they have a lot of free recipes available. I think there's some other links in the veg/vegan thread too.

Does anyone know a good British site that sells vegan food that you don't have to buy in wholesale? I want to try some new stuff as my diet is pretty limited. I've heard that vegan 'bacon' is nice but I can't seem to find it without having to buy like 10 packs! Does anyone know where I could do this?

i would say just watch your iron and b12 intake. protein is usually pretty easy to get enough of. overall it's pretty similar to being vegetarian cause there are vegan alternatives for basically anything-- they're just less available. oh and calcium can be difficult, for me anyway, so drink lots of soy milk and have veggies high in it. it's not that bad, although that is coming from someone who has never had cheese (except on pizza)