going vegan

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Permalink Reply by Hopalong on June 12, 2008 at 12:39pm

I'm not vegan or vegetarian...I'm struggling with healthy eating in general, but I digress....There is vegan chocolate, so you shouldn't have to give that up at all (YEAH!!!)...As far as cheese goes, some of the soy cheeses aren't too bad...Maybe start with these as a substitute and see how it goes...Good luck

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Permalink Reply by Anastasia on June 12, 2008 at 3:13pm

If you can figure out how to give up REAL cheese (the good aged kind like parmesan, brie, or blue)....please let me know...I just can't seem to give it up either. Processed cheese I have no problem giving up. Yuck.
"stasai

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Permalink Reply by Stacey Edness on June 12, 2008 at 4:34pm

I'm not going to be much help, I'm afraid, because I'm in the same boat. Went vegan in April 07 fell of the cheese/milk chocolate wagon at Christmas and I'm having the worst time getting back on. I've tried visulising the veal I'm contributing to, the "god know what's going into it" thought, but with NO luck and I need the fat and cholesterol like I need another hole in my head. So I'm going to be looking out for the good ideas as well. So far I've been treating it like an addiction -- one day/one hour at a time....

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Permalink Reply by Anastasia on June 12, 2008 at 5:02pm

I know there are things out there like "cashew cheese" and some other raw type cheeses mentioned in Natalia Rose's book but I don't have the time to make them on my own right now and can't seem to find anything like that at the stores. Maybe Kristen Raw will chime in with some ideas....hopefully:) I feel you....I will say I am trying to buy organic cheeses so at least I know the process wasn't inhumane to the animals.

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Permalink Reply by kta on June 13, 2008 at 1:45pm

are organic cheese innately cruelty free? i thought organic labels just ensure no antibiotics or gm foods were being feed to the animals... i may be wrong but i do not think the organic label ensures fair treatment of the animals...

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on June 12, 2008 at 6:03pm

I am in the same boat! I am a vegetarian and I am trying to go vegan. I can't give up yogurt and I forgot about chocolate, can't give that up either! I read this hoping to get some alternatives...but I guess we all need some help!

Sarah

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Permalink Reply by Sundari on June 13, 2008 at 12:38pm

Reading about the treatment of animals helped me turn the corner. Check out this entry at Kris blog. I also recommend reading Skinny Bitch. The author goes into details that made me swear off meat forever!

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Permalink Reply by Lauren on June 13, 2008 at 1:14pm

Sundari, Skinny Bitch made me get off meat too!! They really painted the picture. Who wants to eat fear and anxiety? :) So I've been vegetarian since January of this year and June 28th I'll be a month dairy-free. Dairy is gonna be a tough one though. I can do it for a month, but if my nasal congestion doesn't totally clear up than I may feel like "is it worth it?" Maybe I should read Skinny Bitch again! And yes after the month is up I'll start using my neti pot. I just want to see what dairy-free alone will do first.

Is it a bad idea to eat those vegan chocolate chip cookies? They are sooo good.

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Permalink Reply by Anastasia on June 13, 2008 at 3:27pm

I saw an interview wiht the girls that wrote Skinny Bitch and browsed through some excerpts. They use alot of soy as alternatives in their recipes which has it's caveats too (lots of controversy on health issues with soy and they way it's produced). I do agree with the over all philosphy though. One thing that has been making it super-tough for me is that there is a place only 15 minutes away that raises local, well-treated, organic milk cows and genuinely free range chickens (the animal farm is out in back of the main sellers barn). They have the most yummy dairy products (I tasted the samples of course!).. ...ice creams, yogurts, aged and spreadable cheeses and eggs (all packaged in environmental friendly materials btw). They seem to be more digestible for me as well (although I don't indulge in milk, ice cream or yogurt too often due to intolerance in general). Out of all the dairy I have given up due to digestiblity issues ...cheese, which I luuuv..... has been the one thing I still do ok with......sooooo...........
It's hard to argue with the convenience, the fact that it's organic and the animals are treated well, and that I am supporting a local business. HELP! lol.

BTW, does anyone know if there is a difference between the nut "cheeses" as versus the nut "pates" or "pestos"?

;)Stasia

Lauren,.....wouldn't vegan chocolate chips be non-dairy?

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Permalink Reply by Kristen's Raw on June 13, 2008 at 4:14pm

Nut cheeses and Nut pates are pretty much just "foods" that are made with nuts (cheeses are more smooth than the pates typically).

Also, most of the cheeses are made of a base with lemon juice, garlic, and maybe Tamari (wheat-free) or salt. Also, some people let their cheese ferment overnight so that it really takes on a cheesy flavor without adding the tamari, salt, etc.

Nut pates are usually filled with lots of other ingredients and flavors and made in a food processor which chops things up but doesn't make them uber smooth like most people do with the cheese (made in a blender).

Hope that helps. Cheers!

~Kristen's Raw

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Permalink Reply by Anastasia on June 13, 2008 at 4:34pm

Kristen,
Thanks a bunch. The pate and cheese thing was a bit confusing for me. I have made my own pestos in the past and didn't know if there was a difference or if the terms were being used interchangeably. Now things are clearer. You rock the vegan house!lol

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Permalink Reply by Kristen's Raw on June 13, 2008 at 4:41pm

SA-WEET! Glad I could help :)

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