Hurdles To Overcome Transitioning To A Vegan Lifes...

Despite the fact that the positive benefits of shifting to a vegetarian or a vegan diet has been widely publicized these past couple of years, many people are still doubtful and hesitant about finally taking the great leap of faith towards transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle. Because becoming a vegetarian or a vegan entails a whole 360 degree lifestyle shift that requires a huge amount of dedication, time and effort, this article aims to aid prospective vegans during the transition time by providing several tips in overcoming the hurdles to a vegan lifestyle.

First, you must realize that making the shift to veganism entails a lot of self-confidence and dedication. It will help if you mark a date on your calendar and decide that it will be the day that you begin your new life as a vegan. Before that date, purge your kitchen and pantry of all meat and dairy products gradually, as this will help ease the temptation to sneak in bits of bacon or a bag of chips into your daily diet. Keep in mind that this should be done bit by bit, eliminating only a few foodstuffs at a time so as not to shock your system. You might want to eliminate meat products first, and then remove all dairy products from your fridge and pantry.

As the big day arrives, make sure that you let your closest network of friends and family about your decision to go vegan—remember that having a strong support group will have a big impact on sustaining your choice to become a vegan for years to come. Also, doing research on vegan recipes, restaurants and food stores will help you in figuring out what to eat and how to prepare quality vegan dishes especially during the first few days of your transition. You might also want to stock up on a few pre-prepared vegan dishes that are available from various vegan stores, just to be safe.

Also, remember to consult your physician or nutritionist about any special health concern that you might encounter on your shift to a vegan lifestyle. After a few weeks of going on a non-meat diet, you might also want to consider going on a detox in order to clean out your body’s supply of excess fat, cholesterol and other harmful toxins that you acquired from years of consuming unhealthy foods. Again, do consult your physician before going on a detox.

Finally, keep in mind that becoming a vegan also entails cleaning out your closet and your house of animal products and services, such as animal, leather, fur or wool products. This can take a longer time than transitioning to a vegan diet but be patient. Remember that becoming a vegan is a long process towards better health that can only be successful if you put enough time, effort and commitment into it.

Long Term Benefits Of Vegan Eating

Because of the rising number of people who are now afflicted with heart ailments and other diseases brought in part by consumption of a high fat and high cholesterol diet, the past few years has witnessed an amazing renewal of interest regarding the advantages of subscribing to a vegetarian or a vegan lifestyle. Despite the hype, many folks are still clueless about the rewards of shifting to a vegan lifestyle. This article enumerates some of the long term benefits of vegan eating, in an attempt to persuade people to take up healthier diets and food choices.

Vegetarianism basically connotes an alternative lifestyle marked by the consumption of a plant-based, meatless diet due to health, ethical or political reasons. Vegetarians may or may not consume milk, eggs, dairy or fish depending on their preferences and sub-genres. For instance, Ovo vegetarians may eat eggs but not dairy products while Lacto vegetarians will gladly consume dairy products but not eggs. Meanwhile, lacto-ovo vegetarianism permits the consumption of eggs, milk and honey. Fruitarians will only eat fruit, nuts and seeds, while ensuring that the plant is not harmed in the process.

Veganism on the other hand, is a more extreme form of vegetarianism which involves strict compliance to a plant-based diet, excluding all animal meat and meat products, such as dairy products like eggs, milk and honey. The three kinds of vegans, dietary, ethical and environmental vegans emphasize some of the long term benefits of subscribing to a vegan diet.

For one vegans enjoy better health and general well-being if compared to meat-eaters. Because vegetarians and vegans consume large amounts of beans, lentils and other seeds in order to make up for their body’s protein needs, they have higher numbers of isoflavones which effectively lowers their risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer and osteoporosis. In fact, a research sponsored by the World Cancer Research Fund has shown that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables translates to the production of cancer-protective phytochemicals such as:

• flavonoids
• carotenoids
• glucarates
• ellagic acid
• liminoids
• curcurmins
• terpenoids
• lignans
• isothiocyanates
• phthalides
• saponins
• phenolic acids
• sulfide compounds
• phytosterols
• tocotrienol

Another benefit in switching to a vegan lifestyle lies in the fact that by doing so, one is actually upholding the ethical rights and welfare of animals that are bred for their meat. Animal rights activists have long been campaigning for a stop against the inhumane conditions that cattle, poultry and fowl endure for the sake of satisfying man’s appetite for meat. By going vegan, not only are you advancing your own health and well-being, you will also be championing the cause of animals and even the environment in general.

Shopping With A Vegan In The House

Do you have a family member who just recently went vegan? Or you have been living with one who has been a vegetarian for many, many years? Either way, you will have to take into consideration the dietary needs of your vegan family member when shopping for groceries. If you are also thinking about transitioning into a vegan lifestyle, here are some great tips on how to shop vegetarian.

Look for great food alternatives ideal for vegetarianism. Since vegans do not eat meat, then you have to also fill the shopping cart with foods that are staples in a vegetarian diet. Of course, vegetables are an obvious choice but this doesn’t have to be the core of a vegan’s diet. There are other foods that can be used as sustenance for vegans, which include:

• Soy – An excellent substitute for meat since it is packed with proteins. Some examples of great soy products include soybeans and tofu.
• Black beans – Perfect alternative to animal protein and referred to as ‘the meat of the poor’ since they are fairly inexpensive to purchase.
• Nuts and seeds – Another great source of protein that vegans should include to their meal.

Be wary of products with hidden meat. While there are now a number of food products labeled vegetarian sold in the supermarket, some include hidden meat. That being said, you should take time to read product labels carefully. Stay away from those that include gelatin and chicken broth.

Look for well-known brands selling vegetarian products. Shopping will be a lot easier if you know what veggie brands to look for. One such brand is Choose Veg which offers a wide array of food products designed specifically for vegetarians.

Bring your vegan family member with you when shopping. It will be easier for you to find foods that will fit the taste and diet of a vegan family member if you bring them with you in the grocery store or supermarket. Allow them to pick the foods that they want to eat. Or, you can have them list down the items they want and you can just buy it for them. This way, things will be much easier for you, particularly if you are not a practicing vegetarian.

Become knowledgeable about the vegetarian diet. Even though you are not a vegan, it would help if you know a thing or two about the vegetarian diet. Your knowledge about it will help you with your shopping. Doing so will ensure that you will acquire food items suitable for vegans.

Snacks That Every Vegan Should Enjoy

Many people often associate the term snack or snack time to unhealthy foods such as chocolate cake, salty chips, carbonated beverages and candies. Most newly-converted vegans and vegetarians are therefore stumped about maintaining healthy food choices during snack time when the urge to eat potato chips or chocolate bars grow stronger than ever. Fortunately for all the vegetarians and vegans out there, there are now tons of vegan snack choices that one can consume during snack time. This article provides a partial list of healthy and delicious snacks that every vegan should enjoy.

An excellent example of a vegan snack is the famous Pita sandwich. For a healthier option, why not make your own pita sandwich with your own stuffing made up of beans, salsa, shredded lettuce, and tomatoes or go for fruit and nut slices if you want something sweeter to go with your toasted pita. By doing this you can have a very delicious, filling and healthy vegan snack in such a short time.

Another snack option for the discerning vegan would be the vegan Chip n Dip as opposed to commercially available potato chips that are loaded with salt and fat. Simply grab a bag of vegan corn chips from your local grocery store and proceed to making your own dip. You can whip up your own salsa by using tomatoes, cilantro and other spices or make your own guacamole or hummus that can serve as your dip. If you are hesitant about making your own, there are also a huge number of commercially available vegan dips that you can buy for your chips.

For those nut and berries fanatics, why not try your hand at making your very own trail mix during snack time? Simply put together your favorite nuts, dried fruits, seeds and chips and add your desired amount of sugar, salt or pepper to taste. This will not only provide faithful vegans a healthy snack, it is also more affordable if compared to store-bought trail mixes. For vegetarians and vegans looking for healthy beverages to go with their snacks, a fruit smoothie is your best bet. Not only will fruit smoothies refresh you, it also helps increase your body’s calcium levels. Soy milk or rice milk are also other alternatives to sodas or other carbonated beverages.

If you are in the grocery store and currently looking for vegan snack options, you might want to consider checking out Jovial Foods Einkorn Crispy Cocoa Cookies. Made from einkorn and low in sugar and fat content, these cookies still contain the chocolatey taste that kids and adults crave from time to time. Another vegan snack that you might want to check out is Kookie Karma Herb and Vegetable Krunchy Krackers, made from organic vegetables, walnuts, and a scrumptious array of seeds and spices.

Popular Vegan Restaurants

Even though the vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyle has enjoyed rising popularity among a greater number of people these past few years, it can still be quite difficult for the serious vegan or vegetarian to find good restaurants or bars that offer quality vegan fare. For the benefit of all vegans and vegetarians out there who are looking to expand their dining options, this article provides the reader with a partial list of some of the most popular vegan restaurants that offer excellent dishes that vegans will surely enjoy.

One of the most popular restaurants that offer vegetarian and vegan fare is The Café Sunflower. With two branches located in Atlanta, this up and coming restaurant was recently awarded the prestigious Vegetarian Times Dining Out Award for their impeccable dishes, particularly their Portobello Mushroom Wrap and carrot cake desserts.

Another top vegan restaurant is Candle 79, located in the heart of the Big Apple. With top of the line vegan dishes prepared with organic ingredients, Candle 79 offers diners and guests gourmet vegan fare that is not only healthy but is also surprisingly delicious. Also found in New York City, the Pure Food and Wine Restaurant is another unique establishment that has been featured in Forbes Magazine for bringing exceptional raw food and vegan dishes to the general populace. For raw food enthusiasts and serious vegans, the Pure Food and Wine Restaurant is surely the place to go for big family gatherings, because the place has a back garden that can accommodate up to 70 people.

The Dandelion Communitea Café in Orlando is another top vegan restaurant that deserves greater exposure. Apart from being dedicated producers of quality vegan dishes like the famous Bean there done that wrap, this café also espouses conscious capitalism, sacred commerce, and common sense, as evidenced by their sustainable business practices.

For those vegans who are craving for something sweet to satisfy their palate, you might want to check out the Back to Eden Bakery and Boutique located in the state of Portland. Back to Eden offers mouthwatering vegan cakes, cookies, muffins, scones, tarts, pies, and sweet breads that truly evoke the sense of paradise.

For those visiting or residing in the Hawaiian Islands who are looking for quality vegan dishes, make sure to drop by the Peace Café. This restaurant offers diners whole, organic, and local foods that are sure to keep vegans happy and energized for a full day of sightseeing. The Peace Café also has happy hour Mondays for those who want to take a swing and relax with organic wines and beers.