So what do vegans eat?

@writersedge (22563)
United States
May 19, 2008 5:56am CST
Vegans do not eat meat or anything coming from a creature including dairy products and honey. I try to provide a vegan alternative to whatever I make but chocolate to me without dairy (milk chocolate) just doesn't seem fair. Sugar just doesn't seem as good as honey to me, maybe brown sugar. Then alt to meat, I'm not very good with beans, tofu, seitian, and I'm really, really bad with tempeh. Suggestions?
2 people like this
3 responses
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
19 May 08
Suggestions? What do you mean "not very good with"? Do you mean your body doesn't react well to those foods or do you mean you aren't good at cooking with them? If it's the latter then my suggestion is to just keep trying! I couldn't cook AT ALL until I went vegan. It took me a couple weeks to get the hang of it, but now I love to cook. I'd check out vegweb.com if you haven't already for recipes. Have you tried anything like agave nectar or molasses as an alternative to honey?
• United States
19 May 08
I personally tend to stick to really simple recipes. I make a lot of chili and stir-fry with tofu, for example, but here are some that I have successfully made from that site and liked: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7579.0 http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7610.0 http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=5646.0 http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=5701.0 It's also nice because the site has ratings and reviews of the recipes so you can see if people liked it or not.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
I hope we don't get canned because of the links, I just wanted titles of recipes. I like simple, too. If you're making two of something, the simpler the better. Chili tofu sounds do-able, I always disliked the tvp ones, esp. the hyper-salted prepared box stuff, just plan nasty. Thank you, very, very much.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
I mean I cook that stuff and it tastes like garbage to me. Then I don't want to serve it or bring it anywhere. Molasses seems strong to me, so I use brown sugar or I cut it with honey. Agave nector, isn't that a cactus or am I thinking of something else? Wonder if we even get that here. Thanks for the website, what recipes have you tried there that you would recommend the titles of? Websites are nice, but I like to know which recipes actually taste good and someone like me can actually cook. Thank you very much and take care.
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@snowy22315 (171267)
• United States
20 May 08
I don't know because I'm not vegan, but I think alot of Indian food is vegan, you'd need to find a substitute for the ghee though. My sister in law is vegan and can make delicious food. I don't see her very often,but sometime i will try to get some recipies from her.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 May 08
That would be wonderful. I like India Indian food. Thanks.
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
19 May 08
Having cut out all dairy products to see it it made a difference to my health (it doesn't). I can sympathise with you as dairy products are in everything. I bought bread flour and it had on it a warning that it contained milk. When I phoned the supermarket they said it was produced in a factory where milk was present but for a strict vegan or someone allergic they wouldn't even be able to make bread. As for alternatives, there isn't any to meat apart from soya as Quorn has egg and milk in their products. The soya manufacturer, alpro soya does do rather nice soya puds bit like custard in three flavours chocolate, vanilla and caramel. All I ate was veg as the vegan variations of manufactured products were also quite expensive.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
Thanks for your response. I have a friend trying to cut out dairy because she believes it's making her menopause worse. It may be because our cows in this country are given lots of hormones. But I think less dairy and only organic would help. I also worry about her not replacing the calcium, she takes supplements I guess. But I wonder how well those are absorbed. Beans are about all I can think of and maybe something made from mint for desert. Many pot lucks up here are vegetarian. Not vegan yet, but I can see it coming. Take care
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19 May 08
You can get calcium from soya milk/cheese and also nuts I think, it might be just almonds though. Vegan and vegetarian diets are difficult as you really need vitamins and minerals but it can be done, it needs a lot of research though.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 May 08
Yes, and my friends tend to jump into things without researching, so I worry about them getting themselves into a bind health wise. Thanks.
1 person likes this