I've gone Vegan -medical risks?

[Pirate Dante]

Vegans? I'm personally a person that eats barely anyting expect for meat. Only cases where there's anything else in there is to make the food better.

 

And no, I don't live a healthy life.

[Rose_682]

I only skimmed the other posts in this topic.

 

I had one answer directed to the person that said this:

Aren't mushrooms living organism too?

Where is the line? I mean for people who don't eat meat because of the animals.

 

Mushrooms are indeed living organisms. They are not classed as an animal, as a plant, or as a bacteria. They are not sentient. They do not respond to pain, or conversation. They have no eyes, mouths, feet, ears, etc. They do reproduce, but so does every other living organism. Fungi have no nervous system and have no brain. There is no reason to believe that they suffer in any way.

 

The fact of the matter is that fungi are indeed more closely to animals than plants. But you need to remember that yeasts are also fungi. Without which, your traditional home-baked loaf of bread would not be possible. Also, yeast is responsible for the fermentation of certain types of alcohol (beer and wine, in particular).

 

Where is the line? For people who do not eat meat because of the animals, the line ends at the mention of the kindgom Animalia. Anything classed as an animal would be the line, I would say would be the safe bet. Animals have the capacity for pain, for love, etc. This makes them, in the eyes of the people you were asking about, nothing akin to food. Plants, fungi, and bacteria do not. This makes them edible, and also establishes that line you were looking for.

 

------------------------------------------

 

I was raised vegetarian for a good deal of my life. Were it not for the fact that I ate eggs, I could have been vegan, as I have a very distinct allergy to one of the proteins in cow's milk, completely eliminating it from my diet. I did not suffer from malnutrition, despite being on such a diet from the time I was just a baby.

 

There are many options for vegans to gain the nutrients needed in day to day life. There are alternatives to almost everything that is also non-vegan. Cheese (though I must admit I don't like it nearly as much as my goat cheese... and the consistency seems to be closer to medium firm tofu than cheese), milk (almond, rice, soy), ice cream (also soy, or rice, among other things), chocolate, etc, etc, etc.

 

Then there are a whole ton of ways to get your daily nutrients. You can eat ALL the fruits and veggies and nuts and grains, barring allergies of course. I have access to more than a few amazing recipes that are entirely vegan, including the lasagna my mother raised me on (which features a ricotta style filling, minus the ricotta cheese... Not that anyone would know. :D).

 

If you need recipes, please feel free to PM me. I'd post a bunch here, but I am very tired, and I have to be up very early tomorrow, so I cannot be bothered to type them all out right now.

 

I'll also add to this post, or post again (depending on how many answers there are to this topic before I return) with a bunch of other information. Or I might just PM that info... Depends on how tired I am by end of day tomorrow, I suppose. :D

[dasavo]

When I said earlier that "not a single person suffered from malnutrition from being a vegetarian or vegan" I was not talking about children. I apologize, but I thought it was kind of a given that babies should drink their mother's hissi milk. Again, I'm sorry, but I was talking about adults.

Yes, humans have canines, yes, our digestive systems can digest meat. However, most ancient societies and civilizations did not eat meat regularly. Meat is really only supposed to be consumed a couple times a week, which is why humans can live a lot more easily as a vegetarian than as a strict meat eater. The reason why I do not eat meat at all is because the animals that we consume are farmed purely for that purpose, to feed us. They are tortured, and must endure very painful deaths. I completely support meat eaters who eat meat that come from free-ranged farms. I would probably do that too, if I wanted to eat meat. But I don't, I like my diet :)

[amileah]

I'm a little late to the topic, but I thought I'd say a thing or two anyway!

 

I am a vegan, and honestly, it's not too difficult to get all of my nutrients. You just have to keep your diet varied and try new veggies and alternative food! There's a ton of stuff out there to try.

 

If you are really concerned about getting a proper diet, do a little research and make a little chart of foods you eat and their nutrients, and put it up on your fridge. Use that to make a basic plan in your mind for your meals. That way you won't have to do too much work, but you can make sure you're getting all those vitamins and nutrients.

 

I did get my blood tested a while back, and while my vitamin B levels were normal, they were a bit low on the scale, so I take supplements just in case.

 

Good luck!

[0o0neko]

I've always been vegetarian but on new years I went vegan. I've done a lot of research and have bought a lot of vegan alternatives so my diet doesn't go downhill. I've also been carefully watching my weight so I don't lose too much.

 

However a lot of people seem certain that no matter what I'm endagering myself - most of the time they have no real proof, so I wanted to open it up to you guys who seem to have a lot to say about a lot of things. :laughingsmiley:

 

Also, have you ever tried being vegan/vegetarian?

Do you have any recipes/tips/advice? ^_^

 

Hey! I'm vegetarian (born and raised... only meat I've had was accidental). I tried being vegan, but it's just not for me. I love cheese and icecream too much, and the fake versions don't cut it for me.

 

There are some really good vegan dishes and ideas I like, though. If you slice firm tofu really thin and fry it up with oil and a veggie chicken seasoning (McKays or Bill's Best are good), it's a good replacement to scrambled eggs in the morning. My oldest brother and his wife make pizza without cheese that's really good, too. Buy a premade crust and put pasta sauce and the veggies you like on it and bake it. Of course there are vegan cheeses, but I prefer the taste without it.

As long as you're still getting all of the nutrients your body needs, there is no danger. B vitamins are the most difficult, since most are found solely in animal products, but if you eat enriched foods or take a mutli every day, it should be fine. :) Good luck!! :D

[Tank Girl]

It's a pretty healthy choice to be vegan these days considering how much dairy goes into a lot of saturated foods. My advice would be to eat a lot of vegetables, lentils and fruits (especially bananas!) to keep your energy up as well as taking vitamins to make sure you're getting enough iron and calcium.

I was a vegetarian for a long time but it made me anemic and very weak so I had to start eating meat. When you're not getting enough of what you need vitamin wise it can also mess with your mood, so make sure you're getting everything you need! :) Good luck

[Guest kxjenn]

I'm not vegan/vegetarian so can't really help you. But vegan seems so intense, you can't eat like. Anything.

Not even eggs!

I love eggs! (x

 

I tried being vegetarian but it's very difficult when you go to parties, go out with friends, etc.

and my parents didn't support me AT ALL.

 

I just switched to not eating red meat & most dairy products(milk, cheese) :3

[Tristessa]

I've been vegetarian for 16 years (I'm in my late 20s) and rarely eat dairy or eggs. I have never had any medical issues because of it. I have hypothyroidism so I get bloodwork done regularly. B vitamins are on the low side of normal except for folic acid (which is high), so I take supplements. Everything else I get from eating a varied diet of meals I prepare myself. I do recommend getting in the habit of cooking from scratch rather than prepared meals, so you know you're getting everything you need, and not other stuff that you don't.

[Judge of Paradise]

Due to the fact my vegetarian cousin of age 26 gained giant cysts the size of grapefruits from the lack of true protein in her diet, I do not plan to go vegetarian or vegan. Ever.

 

Not to mention I heart meat on so many levels~ <3

 

But that doesn't mean I don't care about poor treatment of farm animals.

 

<_<;;; I hate how some people lump those who eat meat in with cold blooded jerks.

[Rose_682]

I'm sorry, but obviously your vegetarian cousin wasn't doing it right. There are plenty of ways to get all the right proteins as a vegetarian. I did it for many years. I choose to eat meat now, because I enjoy it from time to time. I still prefer to get my meat from free-range or grain-fed sources, though, because I like to know the animals were well-taken care of. If I can, I investigate the source.

 

Even better, is wild meat. Deer, Moose, Duck, etc. Wild meats that are killed by people I know, and whom I know would never intentionally let an animal suffer.

 

But while I was a vegetarian, I never had any problems with nutrition. I got everything I needed, all the time, and I had multi-vitamins to make up for any possible deficiencies.

 

No offense, but your cousin should not be a vegetarian if they don't know the basics about getting the nutrients they need....

[0o0neko]

Due to the fact my vegetarian cousin of age 26 gained giant cysts the size of grapefruits from the lack of true protein in her diet, I do not plan to go vegetarian or vegan. Ever.

 

Not to mention I heart meat on so many levels~ <3

 

But that doesn't mean I don't care about poor treatment of farm animals.

 

<_<;;; I hate how some people lump those who eat meat in with cold blooded jerks.

 

Most vegetarian meat replacements are full of protein, so I've never heard of a vegetarian not getting enough. While I was pregnant with my twin daughters, I was told I needed to get 3x the normal amount of protein, and I was able to get it by eating an extra veggie burger patty (or something like it) a day. I'm sorry she had to go through getting the cysts and I hope she's okay now.

[youngrace]

i agree with rose. the problem is, there aren't enough materials instructing kids these days on HOW to be a vegetarian. when kids decide they want to go veg, they're usually on their own...when i went veg, none of my family members were veg, and i basically had to figure out how to do everything online.

 

i don't feel like everyone should go vegan, but i do feel strongly that most people can afford to cut down on their meat consumption. the amount of protein necessary in a person's diet is actually incredibly small--a piece of meat the size of your palm is usually enough to meet daily protein requirements. people seem to think that meat is a necessity at every meal--it's definitely not!

 

i was personally a full-fledged meat eater until i started seeing the conditions animals went through firsthand (due to some college thesis work i was doing)....it really broke my heart. anyway, i'm glad this thread was started...definitely some good food for thought here!

[Rose_682]

I'm only 23, but honestly, I grew up with the best possible instruction on how to eat right, no matter what. Vegan, Vegetarian, or Carnivore. I eat very little meat, still, but even if I were to suddenly convert to vegan, I could get everything I needed without any detriment to my body.

 

One of my favorite vegetarian meals (and in my case, vegan, also, because I cannot have milk) is Haystacks.

 

Recipe?

 

Rice or corn chips on the bottom.

Beans in tomato sauce or refried beans next.

 

Then your choice of the following:

Cucumber

Pickles

Lettuce

Tomato

Olives

Avocado

Onions

Peppers

etc etc etc

 

Basically any veggies you like can go on top. FRESH, not cooked.

 

Then you can add salsa, salad dressings (and sour cream and cheese for non-vegans).

 

Simple, not that hard to make, filling. Great meal for any day of the week. My personal favorite time to have it? Friday Nights!

[phyxius_on]

Vegans, octo-lacto vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters...all can be healthy or not, it depends on what you eat and how much of it you eat. If you are going to be a vegan that only eats veggies and adds no alternatives to your diet than yeah you are going to have poor health. Same with meat eaters, if they dont add veggies and fruit to their diet, then they are not going to be healthy either.

I personally don't eat beef (hate the taste), but I do eat tofu, soy, chicken, fish, venison and by-products of animals. I don't agree with people who will not eat animals or by-products because of treament to the animals, as there are now products out there to replace regular products. Fully agree with those who posted about vegans eating chocolate and goodies that contain animal products - if you are going to go vegan than don't be a hipocrite. But this is all personal preference and you do what you feel is right.

[Rebeka]

So, because animals suffer we should stop eating meat?

Fine.

But the COWS WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD!! I'm telling you.

[phyxius_on]

So, because animals suffer we should stop eating meat?

Fine.

But the COWS WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD!! I'm telling you.

hahahaha, you are too funny.........I am still laughing. Good one LoveBee

[0o0neko]

I'm only 23, but honestly, I grew up with the best possible instruction on how to eat right, no matter what. Vegan, Vegetarian, or Carnivore. I eat very little meat, still, but even if I were to suddenly convert to vegan, I could get everything I needed without any detriment to my body.

 

One of my favorite vegetarian meals (and in my case, vegan, also, because I cannot have milk) is Haystacks.

 

Recipe?

 

Rice or corn chips on the bottom.

Beans in tomato sauce or refried beans next.

 

Then your choice of the following:

Cucumber

Pickles

Lettuce

Tomato

Olives

Avocado

Onions

Peppers

etc etc etc

 

Basically any veggies you like can go on top. FRESH, not cooked.

 

Then you can add salsa, salad dressings (and sour cream and cheese for non-vegans).

 

Simple, not that hard to make, filling. Great meal for any day of the week. My personal favorite time to have it? Friday Nights!

 

 

Another person who calls them haystacks!!! :D :D :D Anytime I tell someone "I love haystacks", I get the weirdest looks. I then go on to describe it, and they say "Oh, you mean like taco salad/nachos?" :P I grew up in a family that always had haystacks for supper on Fridays. o_O

[Rose_682]

Hahaha. Seventh Day Adventist, by chance? My family was, for the longest time. GOOD FOOD!!

[Scarlet Fever]

Make sure you're getting all the right nutrients! Some sort of supplement is a necessity. I don't think I can stress that one enough. My recently ex-veg future mother inlaw (try saying THAT five times fast) is actually having to take a few vitamin shots due to deficiencies she developed during her long-lived vegetarian time. I know what you're thinking, but no, she wasn't a Junker. She ate quite well and diversely, she just wasn't getting the right KIND of proteins and the like. Like myself (also an ex-vegetarian), she just sticks to white meat and fish now. Soooo...yes, vitamins, watch for that. Hope it works out for you.

 

It actually bothers me a bit when people talk about vegetarianism/veganism being "so much healthier" than all else. The human body actually needs a certain amount of animal protein (yes, I'm sorry cute and furry/feathery animals). It's all about balance, people! lol...Just a bit of personal opinion right there. ;)

[_dancingshadowz]

I'm extremely new to these forums, but as a registered nurse(and former vegetarian of 5 years) I can't help but add my two cents.

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to any diet and no diet is best for all people. While it is true that many people can go vegetarian or vegan and still remain perfectly healthy, there are some who's bodies simply can't synthesize protein efficiently enough to not eat meat.

 

If you're a female who is looking to go veg or vegan, I'd urge you to make an appointment with your doctor to have your RBC count monitored every 6 months. Females of childbearing years are far more likely to become anemic in the first place and they face a slightly higher risk on a non-animal protein diet.

 

Best of luck to you!

[Scartic]

I've been a vegatarian since my 14th (i think) and for some reason i don't like milk,

however my father is a farmer and i sometimes help him out

 

the animals(cows in the netherlands) are treated well, but when they grow to old or ill they are butchered

also...we keep newborn calves for 3 weeks and then they usually are also butchered(dunno why, dutch people probably like the meat)

I feel that everyone should just do what they feel is right, unless they go on a crazy mass-cow/pig/etc-killing spree.

 

Lasty, if cows ever decide to take over the world, i don't think vegetarians/vegans are safe, 'cause there are some cows that really hate me :mellow:

 

 

...i swear they always try to eat my hair... :sad02:

[nerd4lifee]

I myself am a vegetarian, and i have a couple friends that are as well. :)

 

The thing with becoming a vegan (as well as a vegetarian) is the loss of protein usually found in meat. If you find alternatives to that though, and eat said alternatives regularly, you should be pretty good.

 

Also, congrats on becoming a vegan :)

[wumpeh]

CONGRATS! Welcome to the healthy lovely debate-packed life of veganism. I've been a vegan for the past three years, and I remember starting out and being so passionate I could argue until I was blue in the face.

And now, I can't even bring myself to read through this entire board thread, because ignorant comments (that us vegs hear 3x a day) make me want to pull out my hair.

My advice?

Don't listen to anyone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Do your own research. Read articles and works from loads of different places, read it from many different sources. Take out books, google it. Don't be afraid to read papers by meat eaters, and make sure the pro-veg articles you read are TRUE (sometimes you'll find false info planted by well-meaning animal lovers.)

 

Most of all, don't let yourself get overwhelmed. You're doing this for whatever reason, the animals, the environment, your health (I'm sure you can list the benefits as well as I can) don't get caught up trying to convince people or prove that your decision is correct. Who cares if any of these people support you? (I didn't read anything, so maybe they do, but you get my point ;) )

 

PS, you can get ALL the nutrients and vitamins AND AMINO ACIDS (*cough Zaokii cough ok I did read a little of the board*) from a balanced vegan diet, EXCEPT vitamin B12. Its suspected that the vitamin once WAS readily found in a plant form but that since the human race has really boomed, we probably killed it off.

I recommend vitamins though. I take them because I'm lazy, and I don't think I eat a healthy enough diet. I hate to cook, and I eat alot of instafood. If you love to cook and bake and experiment, you'd be good to go! I recommend taking iron, folic acid, omega acids, calcium, and B12 of course. You can get lots of those in multi vitamin packages. and be careful of the source! omegas are great, but don't get the fish oil ones! haha, very non-vegan.

 

BEST OF LUCK, and THANKYOU! You won't hear it enough, but THANKYOU for standing up for the planet, for the animals, for the people who starve in 3rd world countries because people here eat meat, and for standing up for your OWN health! You are now a part of the solution, THANKYOU, you are a terrific wonderful kind person!!

 

PSS, about protein.

The average american eats WAY more protein in a day than they have to. Do you lift weights? Are you an athlete? Then ok, you probably should watch your protein intake and make sure you get way a lot, because your muscles are special. Are you an average joe who plays neopets a lot? lol then you're probably getting enough from your morning soy milk and baked beans dinner. If you're worried, get a soy protein powder from a health food store and make up some smoothies once in a while.

I promise you, on a vegan diet, your muscles will not waste away and fall off from lack of protein.

and yet, EVERY person you explain your diet too will ask, "Where do you get your protein?" take a deep breath and try not to punch them, and tell them what I just said.

 

But don't take my word! Look it up yourself, you'll see.

 

 

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[Rose_682]

CONGRATS! Welcome to the healthy lovely debate-packed life of veganism. I've been a vegan for the past three years, and I remember starting out and being so passionate I could argue until I was blue in the face.

And now, I can't even bring myself to read through this entire board thread, because ignorant comments (that us vegs hear 3x a day) make me want to pull out my hair.

My advice?

Don't listen to anyone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Do your own research. Read articles and works from loads of different places, read it from many different sources. Take out books, google it. Don't be afraid to read papers by meat eaters, and make sure the pro-veg articles you read are TRUE (sometimes you'll find false info planted by well-meaning animal lovers.)

 

Most of all, don't let yourself get overwhelmed. You're doing this for whatever reason, the animals, the environment, your health (I'm sure you can list the benefits as well as I can) don't get caught up trying to convince people or prove that your decision is correct. Who cares if any of these people support you? (I didn't read anything, so maybe they do, but you get my point ;) )

 

PS, you can get ALL the nutrients and vitamins AND AMINO ACIDS (*cough Zaokii cough ok I did read a little of the board*) from a balanced vegan diet, EXCEPT vitamin B12. Its suspected that the vitamin once WAS readily found in a plant form but that since the human race has really boomed, we probably killed it off.

I recommend vitamins though. I take them because I'm lazy, and I don't think I eat a healthy enough diet. I hate to cook, and I eat alot of instafood. If you love to cook and bake and experiment, you'd be good to go! I recommend taking iron, folic acid, omega acids, calcium, and B12 of course. You can get lots of those in multi vitamin packages. and be careful of the source! omegas are great, but don't get the fish oil ones! haha, very non-vegan.

 

BEST OF LUCK, and THANKYOU! You won't hear it enough, but THANKYOU for standing up for the planet, for the animals, for the people who starve in 3rd world countries because people here eat meat, and for standing up for your OWN health! You are now a part of the solution, THANKYOU, you are a terrific wonderful kind person!!

 

PSS, about protein.

The average american eats WAY more protein in a day than they have to. Do you lift weights? Are you an athlete? Then ok, you probably should watch your protein intake and make sure you get way a lot, because your muscles are special. Are you an average joe who plays neopets a lot? lol then you're probably getting enough from your morning soy milk and baked beans dinner. If you're worried, get a soy protein powder from a health food store and make up some smoothies once in a while.

I promise you, on a vegan diet, your muscles will not waste away and fall off from lack of protein.

and yet, EVERY person you explain your diet too will ask, "Where do you get your protein?" take a deep breath and try not to punch them, and tell them what I just said.

 

But don't take my word! Look it up yourself, you'll see.

 

 

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Oook. I'm sorry, but I have a few problems with your post. Mainly because though you say you are a vegan, and have been for three years, you have a few key points wrong in your post.

 

First off, don't say things about not being able to read the board because of "ignorant comments that make you want to pull out your hair" and then spout off ignorant comments yourself. It's not polite. Also, this IS a debate forum, so in order to properly be informed as to the topic, you need to read, or at least skim, the topic. I read a good deal of the topic BEFORE I posted, and then kept up on it for things I might want to respond to after that. I appreciate that there are a lot of ignorant people in the world, but ignorance is not stupidity. Ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge about a topic. It can be remedied by someone taking the time to read the posts, and respond in a respectful, informative, manner. Not everyone will agree with you, by any means, but that is, after all, their perogative. Anyhow, on to the issues that actually pertain to the topic.

 

One great place to get your B 12 on a vegan diet is Brewer's Yeast (also known as a nutritional yeast, just ask your local health food store, or bulk food store). I put it on my popcorn, or toast. You can also use it in a variety of other manners (If you need recipes or something, ask me. I have bunches. One of the benefits of being vegetarian for a large part of your life is that you get a lot of vegan recipes over time). You don't need that much of it (less than one tablespoon per day) to get your daily value of the vitamin (for an adult). B12 is also found in certain fortified soy milks, and various vegan diet supplement formulas (like protein shakes or whatever). So you can get everything you need on a vegan diet. That's not the reason I choose to NOT be a vegan.

 

I choose to not be vegan because I am anemic, and I find it easier to maintain my iron levels on a diet that includes meat. I don't like taking supplements because a lot of the time, you get enough of what you need in your diet, and JUST iron supplements tend to cause constipation, so I only take them when my iron is low, despite doing everything I can to keep it level.

 

As for protein, I get plenty of that from a variety of sources that are not meat, as well. There are vegan cheese substitutes, there is tofu, soy meats, etc, etc, etc. Protein is VERY easy to encounter on a vegan diet. Beans are also good for proteins. You do NOT need animal protein in your diet to be healthy. But, unless you have a difficulty, like some people, processing animal proteins (or an allergy to them), it is also not going to hurt you.

 

Depending on what you EAT as a vegan, you CAN fall short on your vitamins and amino acids. You need to know what food contains what, and make sure you get enough of everything, or talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nutritionist to make sure you have a vegan-friendly batch of supplements that will allow you to continue being vegan without detriment to your health.

 

Almost every supplement you recommend taking can actually be obtained in the course of eating three regular, well-rounded, healthy meals a day, even if you are a vegan. The only one you might have trouble with is b12. You can get that in a stand-alone supplement, or in any of the ways I mentioned above.

 

I agree with you that the average person in a first-world country gets more protein than is actually necessary. You can get all the protein you need from very little protein rich food, unless you are actively weight training, body building, or doing other activities that are strenuous on your muscles.

 

Now, I have a few bones to pick with a few of your other statements. For instance, your whole "thank you" statement.

 

First of all, I will address the part about the people in the third world countries. People in third world countries DO NOT STARVE just because people in other countries eat meat. THAT, my friend, is an ignorant statement. There are MANY reasons people in those countries are starving. Infertile ground that is incapable of supporting crops, overpopulation, corruption in the various systems of government, drought or other natural disaster, the list goes on and on and on. You cannot make a statement like that and say it as an absolute truth. It's not. In fact, people here eating meat would be near the bottom of the list of reasons that people in third world countries are starving. Check your facts before you make inflammatory statements.

 

As for the animals, I can understand that statement. Some people feel that the killing and eating of animals for food, no MATTER the way it was done, or the reason behind it, is a terrible thing. I honestly can't share that viewpoint in all cases, but that's my own personal belief. I CAN say that I have seen some pretty horrific videos in terms of animal "factories" that I whole-heartedly disagree with. As I have said in this topic before, I try to buy my meat from places I can vet, as I prefer the least cruel way to get my meat possible.

 

You say not to listen to people who don't know what they are talking about. I say listen to everyone. There is no way for you to tell if someone is on the money, or completely off mark unless you listen. And even if someone doesn't have the best knowledge of the subject, they may surprise you and tell you something you didn't already know. I know this from personal experience, as even having an allergy to cow's milk since I was a child, a pharmacist recently told me something I did not know about it. An ingredient that I was not aware contained the milk protein I am allergic to, which ONLY comes up when looking for protein supplements. I cannot remember the name of it off the top of my head, but it's in some soy-based protein powders, so I'll get the name of it again, and post it here, so that you don't unknowingly consume something that is against your vegan belief system.

 

I agree that you SHOULD do your own research, and please make sure you gather information from a variety of sources, as internet forums are not the best or only place to gather information on the subject. Try to keep an open mind when gathering information. It's not going to be beneficial to you to gather information if you already have your mind made up about everything. There are many things you can learn if you keep an open mind.

 

Going vegan is not always about the animals. Some people genuinely feel that being vegan is better for their health. And, for some people, going vegan is the right decision. Make sure you get all the information before seeing if it is right for you. It was not for me, but I still eat a lot of vegan meals (being allergic to milk creates some very interesting and yummy vegan meals).

 

I say again, if you need some meal ideas or recipes, feel free to contact me. I'm full of yummy ideas ^_^

[nessaharris]

I'm vegetarian and healthy. It's definitely a challenge because you can't just have a slab of meat and be satisfied in knowing that your iron levels will be good for the next month. During the winter I take supplements to make sure that I'm getting all of the right vitamins and I need to be careful to balance my meals properly. That said, there are many days when I just cave and have pasta and chocolate, but like I said, I'm still healthy. It's much easier than one may think.

 

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