lazy junk food vegetarian transitioning to healthy vegan
Hi,
I'm a total junk food vegetarian trying to transition to being a healthy vegan. I know a healthy vegan diet is better for your health as long as you are a little careful about B-12. I've been thinking about taking the plunge for at least a year, but I tend to take the path of least resistance when it comes to eating as in .....MMMMM pizza! Now I'm severely iron deficient which is being managed by my doctor and I know it's because of my horrific diet. So now I'm trying to focus on lots of leafy greens, vitamin C, seeds, nuts, legumes. My problem is I work full time and go to grad school so I'm always on the run and often have days where I'm gone 14 hours. Hopefully as I change my diet I'll have more energy, but how do you stay vegan when you are always on the go? Any tips? Here's my other problem- I can't stand salads for the most part, especially with iceberg lettuce. I like veggies but I like them either cooked or with some type of seasoning. I know a veggie who doesn't like salads :o
We've had a discussion here before about salad. Not liking salad is not uncommon.
If you're grabbing food on the go (I gather from the pizza comment), select a bean burrito instead of pizza.
The whole trick to being vegan on the go is to make a big batch of food on the weekend.
One cup of cream of wheat has 10 mg of iron. On the weekend make a big batch of cream of wheat and then freeze it in serving portions. The night before, take a serving portion out of the freezer and put it in the fridge if you're going to heat it on the stove or leave it in the freezer if you're going to nuke it.
Bean are great for lunch. A can of beans makes a couple of meals. You could make chickpea "tuna" salad or mix a can of pinto or black "refried" with whole beans and add some salsa. Pair it with an orange or a nanner.
I second the "make loads of food on the weekend" comment! Last year with work, practicum and uni committments I was doing a six day week with 12-14 hour days. It was crazy, but I managed it by spending my Sunday evenings cooking up a couple of dishes, then dividing them up into plastic containers (re-using as well for an extra dose of feeling virtuous!) and putting in the fridge or freezer. Then, come racing out the door in the morning I would grab a container or 2, a piece of fruit, maybe a muesli bar (also great if they're homemade) and not have to think or plan or prepare anything.
I always ate well, got so many comments from friends and workmates about how my lunches looked amazing and "wow, you MADE that YOURSELF?!" and they always tasted fantastic and kept me much fuller/more energetic than any fast food. It's really worth it! And it only takes an hour or two a week - for the rest of the time there's no need to worry about shopping or preparing or anything.
So it is definitely possible! I know how it gets when things are hectic, it can seem difficult to start. But you certainly can :)
Some easy options are: Stir fries, curries, potato or pasta bakes, soups, little pies or pastries, casseroles....basically anything the possibilities are boundless!
Im not big on lettuce either, but what I do is chop up tons of different veggies and have a "salad" without lettuce. it works for me, I also like cooked veggies a lot so I blanch them quick and toss in a dressing or spices and have it either warm with rice or as a chilled salad, stuffed in a pita or wrap, make a great quick lunch.
All such great ideas. I guess sometimes it just has to be mind over matter and planning a bit. Now I'm off to make lemon rice soup with chard and salad. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.
i've made this suggestion to plenty of people before, but i would bring up floradix with your doctor. its a liquid iron supplement which also has lots of b12 in it. its specifically made for vegans and its done wonders with my iron problems.
I've never heard of floridix. I'll have to check it out.
I really want to be more of a model of health. One of my pet peeves are people who say, "I was vegetarian, but it made me sick and now I'm so much healthier since I've started eating meat." Of course, that one person is the one everyone else uses to tell you that you NEED meat. I especially love it when the people who tell you to eat meat for health reasons smoke 3 packs of cigarettes, drink 3 gallons of coffee daily, have never exercised in their whole life, and make BK or McDonalds burgers and fries a staple in their diet. ::) They need to worry more about their own health and less about mine.
The point is, I want to be very healthy so I can say how much better I feel since going vegan.
This may be kinda hit or miss, but I like to use raw kale as a "salad green." I like it more than spinach. I don't know if you like raw greens though. I can't remember if anyone mentioned greens already, but even if you don't like raw kale, you can steam it and it is delicious! I seriously live off greens lately. They are packed with EVERYTHING you need. I can't even tell you the difference I notice in my energy level and my complexion when I'm eating greens everyday. Oh, and green smoothies=perfect.
I found that it wasn't salad I did not like...it was store bought dressing that I hated. I started making some homemade dressings and now I actually like salad (although I don't eat it very often). Laine gave me this recipe which is my fave-
equal parts balsamic and agave
a splash of grapeseed oil
minced garlic
mix up and YUM!
Tahini with tamari, lemon juice, water, and garlic is also delish.
I can't stand store bought dressings any more. Even the organic ones.
I can't stand store bought dressings any more. Even the organic ones.
GASP! Even Goddess dressing?! :o
Ooh another thought about salads... I don't really rate "salads" or eat them much, they seem kinda insubstantial to me...but put exactly the same ingredients in a sandwich, or roll, or pita bread, or wrap and I LOVE them...so maybe it's an isue of presentation? It can be easier to get the same stuff if you give it to yourself in a way you really like :)
i've made this suggestion to plenty of people before, but i would bring up floradix with your doctor. its a liquid iron supplement which also has lots of b12 in it. its specifically made for vegans and its done wonders with my iron problems.
Is there a particular brand that you buy?