Any vegans/vegetarians out there??? Advice needed.

[mummymimi]

Not sure where to put this but I think this would be the right spot. My eldest daughter wants to do a 30 day vegan challenge and I said I would do it with her as support to make it easier. Does anyone have any advice on vegan friendly products, what taste nice, what is a good substitute for common animal products? Any supermarkets better than others for product range, price etc?

Also does anyone have any experience of being vegan/vegetarian while living with a meat lover? My eldest daughter and I don't have a huge appetite for meat but my husband and my youngest two daughters are the worst.

[Mathermy]

hmmm I was vegetarian before i fell pregnant and have eaten meat ever since.Bizarre huh?

I think the main thing is to make sure she is getting her protein.

From memory I used to like the honey- soy marinated tofu at the supermarket, there was also a sanitarium product called 'nutmeat' that came in a can and was kind of like a loaf.I would crumble that upand use it in pasta , lasange etc. There is also TVP that is found in a box in the 'health food' aisle. It's like little flakes and you soak it and it swells up and kind of has a texture of mince. I used that for spaghetti etc. Felafal is also great-found in a box in the same aisle but you can make it yourself at home with chickpeas and spices.

I'm pretty sure they make some vegetarian sausages.You used to be able to get some nice flavours but to be honest some of them tasted like ****

On an aside note just be cautious if this is a teenage daughter. Try and make sure she is still getting all the energy that she needs. Often switches to vegetarian or other restrictions can move from something harmless to something else.

Of course this is probably not your DD but it just helps to be aware when teen girls start drastically changing their eating habits

[mummymimi]

She is nearly 16 but I am not worried. She is manily concerned with finding a good substitute for all her favourites like ice cream so atleast I know she is not doing it as a diet iykwim. She has never had much of an appetite for meat even as a young child so I am not surprised that this is something that she wants to try. But I completely understand your concerns apparently it is quite common for some teenage girls to mask the onset of an eating disorder with changing to being a vegetarian (just from some of the research I have been doing since she told me that she wants to do the challenge).

[Mathermy]

I can't say i was ever brave enough to try the vego icecream-she sounds much more dedicated to the cause than I , but i do know there are some soy varieties in the feezer section, the name slips my mind right now!

Perhaps even something like a sorbet would be good-can't imagine there would be too much dairy etc in that but i spose it's a matter of how strict she wants to be and taking the time to read the labels.

[Penthesilea]

My partner is vegetarian and the kids and I eat some meat (mostly kangaroo sausages and organic chicken).

The challenge depends on what your daughter wants to cut out. All animal products, including milk & eggs (also jelly, rennet, marshmallows, gelatine - my partner doesn't eat these, although he eats eggs & milk), or does she want to eliminate meat from her diet?

For protein include in your diet nuts, beans, lentils, legumes etc.

Soups are easy to make - use up whatever veges you have, add some lentils or beans, and also patties are easy - use veggies with mashed beans (kidney, white, whatever) and fried onion and mushroom, form patties and bake or fry.

My partner hates those packaged vegetarian meat substitutes. except nutmeat - yummy on a sandwich with tomato.

Good luck.

[TKK]

The So Good brand chocolate ice cream is the best thing ever. Ever! Its like a toblerone mashed up in ice cream form. Don't be afraid.

I've been veg since I was 5 years old - if you have any questions on products or anything at all you are most welcome to PM me.

[sunnyflower]

Sanitarium have lots of meat substitutes
nutmeat
nutolene
rediburger
tvp
country casserole

[greengreen]

Hi. I'm a vegetarian (lacto-ovo, not vegan) too, so is my partner and so are our two kids. I would just recommend keeping an eye on B12, many of the meat substitute products have it added, and some soy milks, but if you're concerned you can always take a supplement. There's also flaxseed oil for omega 3 which you can buy at a health food shop: it comes as oil which you can drizzle over things or in a capsule form. There are soy based cheeses and yoghurts too. Most supermarkets have a good range these days. Have fun with the challenge!

[canberramomma]

Here's a great link for balanced vegan diets

Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

And try this one, too

VegPeople: Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes Archives

Good luck!

[mummymimi]

Thank you all so much that is very helpful. She wants to cut all animal products for 30 days and then afterwards eat a vegetarian diet that includes dairy and honey. We are starting on Saturday as I told her I needed sometime to research exactly she should be eating and to do a grocery shop.