Vegan Diet - Healthy?

[Lily C.]

Today I was talking to a preteen and her mother about nutrition, and her mother explained that the family follows a strict vegan diet (no dairy, eggs, or meat). The mother was actually a raw vegan or raw foodist, and she only eats unprocessed vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Do you think a vegan diet is healthy enough for growing kids and teenagers?

P.S. I am not criticizing any type of alternative diet as I am a lacto vegetarian (no meat or eggs, yes dairy).

[bassandtea]

FFruit doesn't seem to fill me up at all, in fact it fuels my hunger even more. Does your diet include other snacks like sweet candy--snickers, reese cups, skittles or potatoe chips?

Also how long have you been eating this way? And do you ever feel temptation when you see your employees eating a Big Mac or having pizza?

I usually try to eat healthy, I use to be a health fanatic, but it became incredibly hard when everytime there was a pot luck or during the Holiday's or some special occassion there was nothing but pizza, nachos, hot dogs at the company get togethers. Sometimes I couldn't help but give into temptation. The food smelled so darn good and it made my grilled chicken and brocolli look like dog food in comparison lol

And being that I was thin, everyone would make such a big deal out of me eating healthy. I became a target, like the crazy skinny girl who eats healthy when she shouldn't. Like only eating healthy is for obese people who need to do lose weight. I am simply trying to maintain my figure.

Even when I go shopping, I buy diet soda or healthy snacks/foods and the cashiers are like "why are you buying this stuff? you don't need to lose weight." Like leave me alone! I will need to lose a bunch of weight if I cash out on cookies, donuts, and other unhealthy foods.

I occasionally eat potato chips/crisps, cakes, cookies and muffins. I make most of the cakes, cookies and muffins I eat myself and have a reputation for making the most amazing cakes (so much so before I made a career change to nursing the people in the office I worked in would pay me to make cakes for staff birthdays).

I've been fully vegan for over three years now and vegetarian on and off for more than ten years before that. I honestly don't feel tempted when I see others eating a big mac or similar, although I do sometimes miss the convenience. I still eat pizza and there's a couple of places in Brisbane that make the most amazing vegan pizzas and I also make my own gourmet style pizzas. Where I live it can be frustrating eating out since there are limited vegan options, although the ones that are around are amazing! Hahaha... Once I start talking about food and places to eat I can't seem to stop. I never enjoyed food as much as I do now I'm vegan.

For work gatherings and potlucks I use it as an excuse to make some of the most amazing food that I can... I guess that for me I think the best way to make people consider eating vegan food is to show them just how amazing it can be.

[truern]

sorry, that was misleading; it's not exactly spaghetti...

1 large zucchini

5 small tomatoes

1-2 cloves of garlic, depending on your preference

10 leaves of fresh basil

1-2 tblsp of olive oil

dash of cayenne pepper

pinch of sea salt

you need a food processor and i have this appliance called a saladacco, which slices veggies into spaghetti strands.

cut the zucchini in half (not lengthwise). put both halves through the saladacco. set the "spagetti" in a bowl.

quarter the tomatoes and place them along with the garlic and basil in food processor. it usually takes about 40 seconds to 1 minute. process for longer if you prefer a smoother texture. pour the mixture into a bowl and add the olive oil, sea salt and the cayenne pepper (sometimes i skip the cayenne pepper). stir gently to blend all the ingredients. pour the sauce over your "spaghetti", and eat!

lily, have you tried this with spaghetti squash?? when you cook it, it comes out in strands just like spaghetti. i'd just as soon have spaghetti squash as real spaghetti anyday :)

[truern]

I'd just as soon have spaghetti squash as real spaghetti anyday :)

So I did have it for dinner

Made some yummy spaghetti sauce with ground turkey and put it over spaghetti squash...yum yum yum!

[tofunurse]

this is my favorite recipie to make. i omit the corn chips & add black olives.

this recipe is a peta favorite. it's easy to make and extremely flavorful--a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

12 oz. vegetarian burger crumbles (try morningstar farms brand--

www.kelloggs.com)

1 packet taco seasoning

2 15.5-oz. cans enchilada sauce

18 corn tortillas

2 15.5-oz. cans pinto beans, drained

2 green onions, chopped

2 cups vegan cheddar cheese, shredded (try follow your heart brand--www.followyourheart.com)

1 4.5-oz. can diced green chilies

2 cups fritos corn chips, finely crushed

• preheat the oven to 375°f.

  
  

• in a small bowl, combine the burger crumbles and taco seasoning and set aside.

  
  

• spray a 9-inch by 13-inch pan with oil.

  
  

• in layers, spread a generous amount of enchilada sauce, 6 corn tortillas, 2 cans of pinto beans, a handful of green onion, a third of the shredded "cheese," half the can of green chilies, lots more enchilada sauce, 6 more tortillas, all the seasoned burger crumbles, another third of the "cheese," the remaining green chilies, more enchilada sauce, then the final 6 tortillas, more enchilada sauce, and the rest of the "cheese." cover in foil and bake for 30 minutes.

  
  

• remove the foil, top the entire casserole with the fritos, and bake for another 15 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and browned.

  
  

  
  

  
  

makes 6 servings

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[tofunurse]

I subscribe to two sites that send me weekly recipes. All are vegetarian and some are vegan.

vegcooking.com and [email protected]

YUMMY! :heartbeat