Empathy Only Vegetarianism and Veganism - SUPPORT ONLY, NO DEBATING.
- Thread starter Sunspots
- Start date
I recently read that the most perfect protein for the human body (with the exact right proportion of amino acids)... is the soybean. This doesn't surprise me as many members of my extended family (by marriage) and many of my friends are Asian and I grew up around Chinese culture specifically, and soy foods are so common in many Asian cultures. I have noticed in that in many countries (especially among poor folk) that the popular staple foods are often the ones that provide the right amino acids - for instance black beans and rice are a common combination in many countries and that combination provides the right ratio of amino acids thus a "complete protein". I'm a big fan of peanut butter sandwiches which also provide this with the combination of peanuts and bread.
Unfortunately soy allergy also runs in my family (I'm Caucasian) and I seem to have a sensitivity to soy products although I'm trying to test what I can eat and what I can't. I just found a recipe for air fryer tofu that I'm going to modify and try. Tofu sometimes seems to upset my stomach but that may be due to the fact it's usually marinated in an onion-based sauce.
My ideal is to go back to being fully vegetarian as I was for 12 years until realizing I had numerous plant-food sensitivities causing digestive issues (including onion, beans, lentils and more). I look forward to sharing recipes and suggestions with others who want to focus on plant based eating.
Unfortunately soy allergy also runs in my family (I'm Caucasian) and I seem to have a sensitivity to soy products although I'm trying to test what I can eat and what I can't. I just found a recipe for air fryer tofu that I'm going to modify and try. Tofu sometimes seems to upset my stomach but that may be due to the fact it's usually marinated in an onion-based sauce.
My ideal is to go back to being fully vegetarian as I was for 12 years until realizing I had numerous plant-food sensitivities causing digestive issues (including onion, beans, lentils and more). I look forward to sharing recipes and suggestions with others who want to focus on plant based eating.
Hey @Brân …
I have been Vegan for over 30 years, so if you have any questions in particular please feel free to message me…
I don’t use any of the meat substitutes either, in fact I avoid them… After all these years I don’t want anything that resembles meat - quite the contrary!
I truly love tofu and every kind of bean there is so I definitely don’t worry about protein…
In the Spring and Summer I tend to eat lots of salads and now that the weather has cooled down I eat loads of homemade soup…
Since I am now living on my own I don’t make a big pot of soup usually just enough for 2 days or so…
Lately what I do is the following…
2 sweet potatoes
2 bulbs of fennel
2 red peppers - I prefer the long pointed ones
2 hot chilli peppers
a handful of cherry tomatoes
a couple of leeks
a big bunch of rainbow chard
Salt and pepper to taste added after cooking is supposed to be better for our body…
I rarely make a broth either I just use water or plant mylk, such as oat or coconut
then I either use a stick blender and only blitz it a bit so it is still chunky or lately I have just been using a potato masher and leaving it very chunky…
Because I don’t eat out often and I don’t buy any junk food I spend more money buying almost only Organic fruits and veggies… They taste So much better and it is So much better for the Planet!
Looking forward to hearing from you and anyone else who is interested in living Vegan…
I have been Vegan for over 30 years, so if you have any questions in particular please feel free to message me…
I don’t use any of the meat substitutes either, in fact I avoid them… After all these years I don’t want anything that resembles meat - quite the contrary!
I truly love tofu and every kind of bean there is so I definitely don’t worry about protein…
In the Spring and Summer I tend to eat lots of salads and now that the weather has cooled down I eat loads of homemade soup…
Since I am now living on my own I don’t make a big pot of soup usually just enough for 2 days or so…
Lately what I do is the following…
2 sweet potatoes
2 bulbs of fennel
2 red peppers - I prefer the long pointed ones
2 hot chilli peppers
a handful of cherry tomatoes
a couple of leeks
a big bunch of rainbow chard
Salt and pepper to taste added after cooking is supposed to be better for our body…
I rarely make a broth either I just use water or plant mylk, such as oat or coconut
then I either use a stick blender and only blitz it a bit so it is still chunky or lately I have just been using a potato masher and leaving it very chunky…
Because I don’t eat out often and I don’t buy any junk food I spend more money buying almost only Organic fruits and veggies… They taste So much better and it is So much better for the Planet!
Looking forward to hearing from you and anyone else who is interested in living Vegan…
I am not vegan or vegeterian but staring at my meals makes me sick most of the time. I used to be vegan but I did it very wrong and fucked up my health (thyroid and vitamin D) so I started eating meat again. It would be cool to see some high protein recepies. Also eating vegan gets expensive fast, maybe someone could share a budget grocery list or smtn? I guess it depends wich country you live in, but im still interested
Hey there @IDontWantToDie …
So sorry to hear that you have been having health issues…
I won’t try to give medical advice as I am definitely not qualified, however, unless you were following a vegan diet for several years I doubt that it was responsible for your health issues. Deficiencies usually take years to develop…Poor eating habits are often present before starting a vegan diet and then the fact of going vegan often gets blamed for issues that occur… What I am trying to say is don’t blame yourself either for your health getting f’d up… Poor eating habits are often present when our mental health is not in good shape… Our physical health and mental health definitely affect each other!
If you would like to try to go vegan again eating regular balanced meals is actually every bit as easy as eating meat based meals and honestly it is Cheaper! As long as you don’t eat out often and don’t buy lots of the fake meat or convenience foods like Beyond burgers and stuff like that…
Rice, beans - fresh or frozen fruit and veggies - whole grain bread and other whole grains like oats these are all much cheaper than meat and you don’t have to be a gourmet cook to make them taste good!
I would be pleased to help in anyway I can…
Please take care of yourself…
So sorry to hear that you have been having health issues…
I won’t try to give medical advice as I am definitely not qualified, however, unless you were following a vegan diet for several years I doubt that it was responsible for your health issues. Deficiencies usually take years to develop…Poor eating habits are often present before starting a vegan diet and then the fact of going vegan often gets blamed for issues that occur… What I am trying to say is don’t blame yourself either for your health getting f’d up… Poor eating habits are often present when our mental health is not in good shape… Our physical health and mental health definitely affect each other!
If you would like to try to go vegan again eating regular balanced meals is actually every bit as easy as eating meat based meals and honestly it is Cheaper! As long as you don’t eat out often and don’t buy lots of the fake meat or convenience foods like Beyond burgers and stuff like that…
Rice, beans - fresh or frozen fruit and veggies - whole grain bread and other whole grains like oats these are all much cheaper than meat and you don’t have to be a gourmet cook to make them taste good!
I would be pleased to help in anyway I can…
Please take care of yourself…
I was vegan for a few years after being vegetarian for 35. I returned to adding a small amount of certain animal/egg organic product into my diet in the last couple years related to certain health issues and need to include. I haven't eaten soy product in about 10 years related to research I've done, really miss the tofu, but now it all feels balanced and supportive for me.
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I’m a meat eater who would prefer to be lacto-ovo vegetarian. I am Buddhist and although we’re not required to be vegetarian, I find that I like meat less and less the more I meditate. The reason is that I think of the cruelty of factory farms and that a being died for me to have this food.
I love lentils and rice, and I am trying to train myself to eat more vegetables. I have had years of an ultra processed diet, and vegetables like greens or cruciferous taste awful to me. I only like peppers and onions right now. Probably due to their high sugar content. I don’t have any food sensitivities but I do notice that I digest certain grains more easily than others. I love tofu but I’m aware it contains phytoestrogens which are not good for males. Probably less bad for me than eating processed meat though.
Sorry I am rambling. Basically I’m wondering how to eat more vegetarian- what supplements such as B12 help offset what I don’t get from eating no meat, should I transition gradually, how to get enough protein, and are there any fruits to avoid because of sugar content? I already pretty much only eat chicken or fish although if someone else cooks for me I will have whatever they make.
I love lentils and rice, and I am trying to train myself to eat more vegetables. I have had years of an ultra processed diet, and vegetables like greens or cruciferous taste awful to me. I only like peppers and onions right now. Probably due to their high sugar content. I don’t have any food sensitivities but I do notice that I digest certain grains more easily than others. I love tofu but I’m aware it contains phytoestrogens which are not good for males. Probably less bad for me than eating processed meat though.
Sorry I am rambling. Basically I’m wondering how to eat more vegetarian- what supplements such as B12 help offset what I don’t get from eating no meat, should I transition gradually, how to get enough protein, and are there any fruits to avoid because of sugar content? I already pretty much only eat chicken or fish although if someone else cooks for me I will have whatever they make.
Probably Iron, @LumberJack -- but that's all I know! ;D
Oh, and so the fructose, on fruit -- is the same as the kind in sugar -- though there are obviously a lot of other nutritionally great benefits from eating fruit. It's just that if you overdo it, you can still suffer some of those same effects. Remember, fructose can only be processed in the liver (as opposed to glucose).
@LumberJack - just hoping you saw the edit/addition!
Oh, and so the fructose, on fruit -- is the same as the kind in sugar -- though there are obviously a lot of other nutritionally great benefits from eating fruit. It's just that if you overdo it, you can still suffer some of those same effects. Remember, fructose can only be processed in the liver (as opposed to glucose).
@LumberJack - just hoping you saw the edit/addition!
Hey @LumberJack …
The fact that you love lentils and rice is a Great place to start! Do you enjoy other beans as well? Between eating beans, lentils and tofu getting enough protein in your diet will be taken care of… Please do not worry about eating tofu - all of the hype about tofu not being good for people is just that - Hype. If there really was a problem with it I think that it would have shown up in the Asian population years ago…
As for grains maybe just try different ones and decide which ones you enjoy and agree with you… There are quite a few seeds that are prepared and eaten like grains which are very tasty - quinoa being the most well known…
Where fruits are concerned once again I wouldn’t worry about the sugar content, just eat the ones you like…
The biggest obstacle that I see so far is that you don’t like leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables… Do you like lettuce? Do you eat salads? If you do then that’s a good place to start adding other veggies to your salads… Personally I prefer cauliflower raw and I do love broccoli, especially the broccoli rab or tender stem type and I think that it is best only lightly cooked - once it gets mushy it is not nearly as nice…
After years of eating a heavily processed diet it will definitely take time to change your taste buds, however, once you do I think that you might be surprised at how Enjoyable simple natural fruits and veggies can be!
When I am particularly depressed I tend to eat poorly, when I avoid alcohol and eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies I notice a Huge improvement in my mental health as well as my physical health…
By the way, I have seen your posts about your continued sobriety. Congratulations! You are doing Really well!
I haven’t commented on this before because I have a Huge problem with alcohol myself and I just didn’t know what to say but, I am looking towards you as an Inspiration! No pressure, just keep up the good work!
The fact that you love lentils and rice is a Great place to start! Do you enjoy other beans as well? Between eating beans, lentils and tofu getting enough protein in your diet will be taken care of… Please do not worry about eating tofu - all of the hype about tofu not being good for people is just that - Hype. If there really was a problem with it I think that it would have shown up in the Asian population years ago…
As for grains maybe just try different ones and decide which ones you enjoy and agree with you… There are quite a few seeds that are prepared and eaten like grains which are very tasty - quinoa being the most well known…
Where fruits are concerned once again I wouldn’t worry about the sugar content, just eat the ones you like…
The biggest obstacle that I see so far is that you don’t like leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables… Do you like lettuce? Do you eat salads? If you do then that’s a good place to start adding other veggies to your salads… Personally I prefer cauliflower raw and I do love broccoli, especially the broccoli rab or tender stem type and I think that it is best only lightly cooked - once it gets mushy it is not nearly as nice…
After years of eating a heavily processed diet it will definitely take time to change your taste buds, however, once you do I think that you might be surprised at how Enjoyable simple natural fruits and veggies can be!
When I am particularly depressed I tend to eat poorly, when I avoid alcohol and eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies I notice a Huge improvement in my mental health as well as my physical health…
By the way, I have seen your posts about your continued sobriety. Congratulations! You are doing Really well!
I haven’t commented on this before because I have a Huge problem with alcohol myself and I just didn’t know what to say but, I am looking towards you as an Inspiration! No pressure, just keep up the good work!
After posting my last reply I realised that even here posting on this forum I am “masking”…
Because I am writing about what I care most about in this world I try to appear as if I am ok, when really I am anything but…
It has been 9 years 3 months and 2 weeks since my husband died… We first met 19 years ago, next year at this time he will have been gone longer than we were together…
Moving into the senior housing where I am now meant that I have had to part with So much stuff, yes - it is Only stuff - but, it holds memories and memories are all that I have left…
Since his cancer diagnosis over 10 years ago and then his death my mental and physical health has suffered greatly… The year that he was ill I started drinking Way too much wine, which I stopped 2 months before he died… Only to start drinking again even more after he was gone…
When I left France to come here to his native Ireland I continued drinking too much wine and my eating habits became terrible…In France there was very little Vegan processed foods, which meant that most everything I ate was fresh and homemade… Here there is nowhere near as much readymade vegan food as there is in the US or the UK, but there is a fair amount of it…
Being depressed, lonely and unmotivated I often resort to processed vegan meals with a bottle of vegan wine to go with it… I do cook, but it doesn’t bring me the joy like it used to… Tonight I had a vegan Mac’n cheeze with some tofu dogs and cheap vegan rose… These tofu dogs don’t taste like I remember hotdogs - thankfully! For dessert I had some vegan mylk chocolate…
So this kind of feels like a confession of sorts…
This probably doesn’t explain why being Vegan is so important to me. All that I can say is that by being Vegan at least I know that I am doing as little harm as possible in a world that I don’t feel comfortable in. I might not be doing much good, but at least I’m not doing too much bad…
When I leave my tiny apartment I try to look presentable, I try not to show How very much I am hurting inside. When I go into a shop I smile and try to act pleasant. My whole life feels like a performance… Which is only slightly ironic considering that in my teens and twenties I dreamt of being an actress!
Now I am just a retired gardener who’s true self is always hidden…
Because I am writing about what I care most about in this world I try to appear as if I am ok, when really I am anything but…
It has been 9 years 3 months and 2 weeks since my husband died… We first met 19 years ago, next year at this time he will have been gone longer than we were together…
Moving into the senior housing where I am now meant that I have had to part with So much stuff, yes - it is Only stuff - but, it holds memories and memories are all that I have left…
Since his cancer diagnosis over 10 years ago and then his death my mental and physical health has suffered greatly… The year that he was ill I started drinking Way too much wine, which I stopped 2 months before he died… Only to start drinking again even more after he was gone…
When I left France to come here to his native Ireland I continued drinking too much wine and my eating habits became terrible…In France there was very little Vegan processed foods, which meant that most everything I ate was fresh and homemade… Here there is nowhere near as much readymade vegan food as there is in the US or the UK, but there is a fair amount of it…
Being depressed, lonely and unmotivated I often resort to processed vegan meals with a bottle of vegan wine to go with it… I do cook, but it doesn’t bring me the joy like it used to… Tonight I had a vegan Mac’n cheeze with some tofu dogs and cheap vegan rose… These tofu dogs don’t taste like I remember hotdogs - thankfully! For dessert I had some vegan mylk chocolate…
So this kind of feels like a confession of sorts…
This probably doesn’t explain why being Vegan is so important to me. All that I can say is that by being Vegan at least I know that I am doing as little harm as possible in a world that I don’t feel comfortable in. I might not be doing much good, but at least I’m not doing too much bad…
When I leave my tiny apartment I try to look presentable, I try not to show How very much I am hurting inside. When I go into a shop I smile and try to act pleasant. My whole life feels like a performance… Which is only slightly ironic considering that in my teens and twenties I dreamt of being an actress!
Now I am just a retired gardener who’s true self is always hidden…
This makes total sense to me - while I don't believe personally in trying to force others to be vegetarian or vegan, I see it as an asset to the world both in terms of ecology and compassion.
I did rely on vegan meat substitutes for dinner a few times a week, thus finding out such things were hurting my digestion was a real blow. I'm going to try marinating tofu in a non-onion-based sauce and see if I can eat it. I can't eat beans and lentils either but am trying digestive enzymes such as alpha-galactosidase (similar to what's in Beano) to help.
Most Asian countries make and process much of their tofu and some other soy products differently than what is packaged for and consumed by western countries hence some of the negative print on soy product in the west from the content I've read and heard. As well as confusion regarding the estrogen content side effects.
I used to make roasted tofu slices with Bragg's and fresh herbs....almost to a jerky state, It was really tasty and good for on the go protein needs.
I used to make roasted tofu slices with Bragg's and fresh herbs....almost to a jerky state, It was really tasty and good for on the go protein needs.
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Thank you for sharing this. You have had a lot of loss. I'm so sorry. I understand about being so hurt that you can't bear the idea of harming others. As a vegan, there's a certain amount of misery that you're just not inflicting on others. I struggle with wine too. I went 7 years without drinking, then last year I lost the sight in my right eye and started again. I'm sorry you have to put a mask on to present to the world. Thank you for posting.
