Current Events > I've been vegan for 5 years. AMA

(+) Yeah! (+)

Anything at all.

Why did you go vegan?

Have you ever told anyone who didn't ask that they should go vegan?

Chrknu posted...

Why did you go vegan?

Have you ever told anyone who didn't ask that they should go vegan?

It was initially for health reasons.

Online? If it's related to the conversation and someone seems receptive, I encourage considering it.

In "real" life? Only once and it was because I was drunk as shit and misinterpreted something someone said. From their perspective, that conversation had to seem like the stereotypical depiction of a vegan randomly showing up and telling them to go vegan lmao.

I mostly don't bother with trying to explicitly change people's minds on anything anymore though. Going by how set in my ways I used to be, I know it's almost always going to be a misuse of my time and energy.

bump

Do you ever wish you could have one more non vegan meal like steak, cheeseburger, breakfast burrito, etc? Imitation products dont count here?

samsungsalt posted...

Do you ever wish you could have one more non vegan meal like steak, cheeseburger, breakfast burrito, etc? Imitation products dont count here?

Nah. I only planned to do it for a month, then I was going to have a big steak on February 1st but I ended up deciding to stick with it. I don't even have enough interest to regularly eat the imitation stuff.

How did your friends, family, and coworkers react? Mine didn't give me any trouble despite all the horror stories I've heard.

Me too, almost exactly 5 years. Are you an alt of mine?

Son_Of_Spam posted...

How did your friends, family, and coworkers react? Mine didn't give me any trouble despite all the horror stories I've heard.

A couple of my sisters are pretty supportive but nobody else really is. My mom's especially difficult about it but she's difficult about everything and I've learned to tune her out.

discodancer77 posted...

Me too, almost exactly 5 years. Are you an alt of mine?

Ahh, don't start this again. YOU are the alt!

So what's your main source of protein?

what are some of your favorite vegan meals?

St0rmFury posted...

So what's your main source of protein?

Legumes, especially lentils and chickpeas.

TeaMilk posted...

what are some of your favorite vegan meals?

I've had a lot of really decadent and elaborate "special occasion" meals that blew my mind but it's not stuff I could eat every day. My favorites are probably the meals I never get tired of, simple stuff like falafel and pita, potato tacos, rice and beans with cornbread or tortillas, and various soups and stews. I eat a lot of Indian food. It's all just simple, cheap, nourishing food with no complications. Can't beat it.

Notice any health benefits from it?

Do you miss meat?

Congrats, yep Indian food is often the way to go.

Wow, so you went straight to veganism? I'm vegetarian but couldn't give up chocolate. Though if I can I go for almond or oat milk.

do you eat honey

uHasNeckHairXFD posted...

Notice any health benefits from it?

I used to be really, really fat (BMI of 55 when I started, now at 31) and a high carb, whole food, plant-based diet is the only thing I've had this level of success with, in terms of amount lost and time that loss has been sustained. And I've tried everything else short of surgery enough times to know they won't work for me.

That type of dramatic weight loss itself comes with loads of health improvements, including a1c and cholesterol that are now at optimal levels. I don't have severe joint pain anymore. I've also gotten my binge eating disorder under control, and improved my depression considerably in part because of the lifestyle changes that went along with or were enabled by my diet overhaul.

I don't know if I could've gotten these results if I had lost weight another way but it's a moot point because I couldn't lose weight any other way.

One thing that is definitely attributable to a plant-based diet is improvement in my digestion. That's kind of gross so I won't go into specifics, unless you want me to...

dj1200 posted...

Do you miss meat?

No. I'm around it enough to know I have no interest in it. I did used to have this weird, conflicted nostalgia of meat because of my food addiction issues but as I've improved my mental health, it doesn't happen much anymore.

Joelypoely posted...

Congrats, yep Indian food is often the way to go.

Wow, so you went straight to veganism? I'm vegetarian but couldn't give up chocolate. Though if I can I go for almond or oat milk.

Thanks. Indian food is amazing. I'd been eating it for a while before going vegan and started making it often. A lot of stuff I made regularly was already vegan and everything else was easy to veganize, so that carried me a long way in the early days when I didn't really know what to eat. Still have it a few times a week.

I had been looking into a less meat heavy diet for about a year before going vegan but yeah, I mostly jumped right into it. It's kind of funny because the last non-vegan thing I intentionally ate was this incredibly average canned clam chowder. I just needed something in my stomach because I was going out to drink. I never imagined that being the end of my animal eating days.

There's lots of good vegan chocolate out there. I don't eat it as much anymore because any product close to ethical is not affordable or accessible enough for me. Never been too much of a chocolate enthusiast anyway, so it's usually not worth it.

Almond and oat milk are good but I'm a devout soy boy.

VampireCoyote posted...

do you eat honey

No.

TheLiarParadox posted...

I don't have severe joint pain anymore.

You still have joint pain though?

uHasNeckHairXFD posted...

You still have joint pain though?

I was born with bone and joint defects in my legs that will probably always bother me to some degree unless I get surgery or stop being active. I can't do either of those things. It's very mild pain though and completely manageable with proper stretching.

TheLiarParadox posted...

I was born with bone and joint defects in my legs that will probably always bother me to some degree unless I get surgery or stop being active. I can't do either of those things. It's very mild pain though and completely manageable with proper stretching.

Ah, ok. Figured it was joint damage from being obese but that's great that it's under control. Joint pain is really demoralizing, at least for me.

uHasNeckHairXFD posted...

Ah, ok. Figured it was joint damage from being obese but that's great that it's under control. Joint pain is really demoralizing, at least for me.

All things considered, I'm honestly baffled I didn't do serious permanent damage and surprised I have the level of mobility that I do. I'm sure I'm still worse off than I would be if I never got fat though.

Did you acquire any Vegan powers?

bulletproofvita posted...

Did you acquire any Vegan powers?

I consider it more of a curse but I have a much keener sense of smell than I ever have when it comes to animal products. I

This is one of my staple meals, curry lentils and kidney beans with rice and naan.

It's not the most glamorous meal out there but it's quick and easy to meal prep, cheap, delicious, and nutritious. This whole plate cost around $1.60. I've also included the macros below.

The only thing that really took effort was the naan, but I don't meal prep those because you can't beat a fresh, hot naan imo.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/7/AAPLhNAAEEDF.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/8/AAPLhNAAEEDG.png

TheLiarParadox posted...

This is one of my staple meals, curry lentils and kidney beans with rice and naan.

It's not the most glamorous meal out there but it's quick and easy to meal prep, cheap, delicious, and nutritious. This whole plate cost around $1.60. I've also included the macros below.

The only thing that really took effort was the naan, but I don't meal prep those because you can't beat a fresh, hot naan imo.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/7/AAPLhNAAEEDF.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/5/8/AAPLhNAAEEDG.png

What do you replace the egg with in your naan?

Favorite type of milk?

TheHoldSteady posted...

What do you replace the egg with in your naan?

I've never put egg in my naan. It's just flour, baking powder, a touch of salt, and water.

FarmFox posted...

Favorite type of milk?

Unsweetened soy

TheLiarParadox posted...

I've never put egg in my naan. It's just flour, baking powder, a touch of salt, and water

Gotcha I used to love getting naan at Indian restaurants but bums me out it traditionally has egg in it (am also vegan)

TheHoldSteady posted...

Gotcha I used to love getting naan at Indian restaurants but bums me out it traditionally has egg in it (am also vegan)

Yeah, or if it doesn't have egg, it has yogurt or is slathered in ghee. There's always something.

Good stuff on you for going vegan <3 Vegan for 18 months here. As an Indian, it's easier to go vegan yet similarly difficult to convince people to not put dairy in my food because of their confusion between vegetarianism and veganism.

RIP-shikhar posted...

Good stuff on you for going vegan <3 Vegan for 18 months here. As an Indian, it's easier to go vegan yet similarly difficult to convince people to not put dairy in my food because of their confusion between vegetarianism and veganism.

Same to you!

That's got to be frustrating. I know dairy is the hardest part for a lot of people, so props to you.

Hopefully dairy won't be a limitation soon. There are already products from Perfect Day on the market that have animal-free whey protein. Vegan mozzarella made with animal-free casein is expected to come to the market this year.

Yes true, we have been having vegan cheese, butter, milk, buttermilk and curd at home. It's doing a near perfect job of replacing dairy, to the extent that it's even more confounding to think why we must rely on cattle for milk.

Son_Of_Spam posted...

Hopefully dairy won't be a limitation soon. There are already products from Perfect Day on the market that have animal-free whey protein. Vegan mozzarella made with animal-free casein is expected to come to the market this year.

They have to be more affordable though. Last I checked, Brave Robot is still like twice as much per pint as store and on-sale national brands. Fence sitters likely aren't going to go with the alternative when they could get animal dairy varieties 2 for 1 or a half gallon for the same price, especially these days.

Brave Robot did blow my mind though, to the point it was almost uncomfortable. I actually have this concern, not sure how rational it is, that non-animal dairy will catch on among vegan alternatives and reduce the variety of plant-based options while making a negligible difference against animal dairy <_<

RIP-shikhar posted...

Yes true, we have been having vegan cheese, butter, milk, buttermilk and curd at home. It's doing a near perfect job of replacing dairy, to the extent that it's even more confounding to think why we must rely on cattle for milk.

People just don't like change, mostly.

TheLiarParadox posted...

They have to be more affordable though. Last I checked, Brave Robot is still like twice as much per pint as store and on-sale national brands. Fence sitters likely aren't going to go with the alternative when they could get animal dairy varieties 2 for 1 or a half gallon for the same price, especially these days.

For a while they were selling it on their website and had a 50% off coupon. I was getting it for like $3.50 a pint. Too bad they don't sell it on there anymore.

TheLiarParadox posted...

They have to be more affordable though. Last I checked, Brave Robot is still like twice as much per pint as store and on-sale national brands. Fence sitters likely aren't going to go with the alternative when they could get animal dairy varieties 2 for 1 or a half gallon for the same price, especially these days.

Brave Robot did blow my mind though, to the point it was almost uncomfortable. I actually have this concern, not sure how rational it is, that non-animal dairy will catch on among vegan alternatives and reduce the variety of plant-based options while making a negligible difference against animal dairy <_<

People just don't like change, mostly.

I need to find a better solution for my vegan butter

There's only one store that offers it nearby at $7 for a small tin, otherwise I'm driving 30+ minutes to get vegan butter

Any ideas?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]



Son_Of_Spam posted...

For a while they were selling it on their website and had a 50% off coupon. I was getting it for like $3.50 a pint. Too bad they don't sell it on there anymore.

Coupons were the only reason I ever tried it. Next time I saw it without one, I went with a store brand oat milk based product and was happy for the $3 I spent on it. I've never been a big dairy fan in general though, so I don't have high standards. My only desire in a frozen ice treat product now is that it doesn't give me the trots, which every plant-based one has delivered on so far.

TheHoldSteady posted...

I need to find a better solution for my vegan butter

There's only one store that offers it nearby at $7 for a small tin, otherwise I'm driving 30+ minutes to get vegan butter

Any ideas?

I'm not the most well-versed in butter but there's high praise for the Country Crock Plant line in all the vegan groups I'm in. I think it's probably the cheapest option in most markets.

Going to use this topic for my random food pics until I forget about it and it purges.

Here's some vaguely pork-like seitan with a crispy "skin."

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/3/9/AAPLhNAAEFmz.jpg

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

I used what is called the fry/simmer/fry method. Made the vital wheat gluten dough, then coated it with .5 tbsp of oil and stuck it in the air fryer until the outside was totally crispy. Then it simmered in a broth bath for an hour to cook the inside. I took it out and coated it with another .5 tbsp of oil mixed with some annatto powder for coloring, and air fried it again until it was nice and crunchy.

It can be really simple or really complicated. This was kind of a "special occasion" meal for someone else, so I put a bit more effort into it. I normally just throw dough chunks in the air fryer until they puff up and call it a day. Some people have extremely elaborate recipes trying to totally replicate meat that I personally won't even bother with tbh.

There are a lots of tutorials out there. I mostly learned from youtube.

Here's a bowl of pumpkin and chickpea macaroni.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/7/8/AAPLhNAAEGJy.jpg

TheLiarParadox posted...

Here's a bowl of pumpkin and chickpea macaroni.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/7/8/AAPLhNAAEGJy.jpg

That looks like something my dog threw up a couple of years ago...

Sorry for being insensitive, but your meals don't even want me want to check out veganism . All the creds in the world for you to stick with it, though

I've had some very delicious and good looking vegetarian meals, but I enjoy meat too much to cut it out completely. I'm trying to become better with using more vegetables, though.

My meal today
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/8/9/AAfDdOAAEGRx.jpg

Chrknu posted...

Sorry for being insensitive, but your meals don't even want me want to check out veganism

What would make you want to check out veganism?

TheLiarParadox posted...

What would make you want to check out veganism?

Lab-grown meat would count as veganism, right?

I've heard on some podcasts, they are really getting some vegan stuff to be both tasty and good looking, but it's expensive.

I will probably not go vegan as a lifestyle, but I'm probably down with vegan food that taste good and doesn't cost more :)

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Homemade seitan is easy but takes some time, especially if you simmer and fry it

My new favorite way to make it is just throw it in the crockpot with some broth and various seasonings. I start it early in the afternoon and forget about it and it's ready by dinnertime

Chrknu posted...

Lab-grown meat would count as veganism, right?

I've heard on some podcasts, they are really getting some vegan stuff to be both tasty and good looking, but it's expensive.

I will probably not go vegan as a lifestyle, but I'm probably down with vegan food that taste good and doesn't cost more :)

oh...

TheHoldSteady posted...

Homemade seitan is easy but takes some time, especially if you simmer and fry it

My new favorite way to make it is just throw it in the crockpot with some broth and various seasonings. I start it early in the afternoon and forget about it and it's ready by dinnertime

I've never made it in a slow cooker. I might have to try it. What's the consistency like?

Anyway, I had a super simple veggie stew for dinner today. Black beans, carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers. This was like $2 for a big pot of about four servings. Had it with some rice.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/1/7/AAPLhNAAEHEN.jpg

TheLiarParadox posted...

I've never made it in a slow cooker. I might have to try it. What's the consistency like?

It turns out about the same as if you simmer it, maybe a little less liquidy since I didn't cover the entire thing in broth

Chrknu posted...

That looks like something my dog threw up a couple of years ago...

it does to some... but i do like #24 and #48 food picture.