Any references for a vegan diet?

[Tussiemussies]

Been vegetarian for 20+ years and would now like to become a vegan successfully. Lucily it has just naturally come over me that I don't care for cheese or eggs anymore but do eat eggs when they are cooked in something else. We only purchase free range eggs, but I guess they have to go completely?

I need to read something that will help me eat correctly so I can do this the right way!

I have used egg replacer in the past, the powdered form but just wondering if I can use that or egg beaters when making things like tapoica pudding, or regular puddings or pumpkin pies. Cooking without eggs will be my biggest challenge.

Also need a good cookbook, one that doesn't have a lot of yucky tofu recipes in it.

Thanks for your help! Christine

P.S. I am also concerned about gaining weight maybe there are some vegan books that are diet books too?

[pinkytoe]

I'm not a vegan but like to cook some vegan recipes. I usually go to these two sites for recipes and inspiration:
www.fatfreevegan.com
www.happyhealthylonglife.com

[Aspen]

Check out the movie Forks Over Knives. There is a companion book as well as a newly released cookbook. I have the cookbook and there are wonderful recipes. We've tried a couple and find them flavorful and filling.

[bunnys]

You can do and eat anything you want. There is no "doing it right" unless you're doing it so you can call yourself "vegan." And plenty of "nearly" or "almost" vegans call themselves "vegan" because they're close enough.

Don't hang out on the vegan websites where the vegans act all holier-than-thou. It's boring.

vegweb.com has like 15,000+ recipes but their forum is very holier-than-thou.

[CathyA]

My DD is a Vegan. I'll ask her what books she found most helpful.
I do want to add, that she got into some deep depression and we discovered her vitamin D level was almost non-existent. She began taking D2 (D3 isn't Vegan) and her depression began to lift. I also told her to take B12 sublingually, and that seemed to help too. I don't want you getting depressed!
She likes Gimmelean for burgers and the Tofurkey for Thanksgiving. She really likes some tofus and Tempeh. She really hasn't found any cheeses that she likes.
I'll ask her about the books.

[Rosemary]

I'm with bunnys on this one - do what you think is right for you & your body, not what a label says you should do.

[Dhiana]

It is my understanding that very ripe bananas act as an emulsifier in various vegan receipes. Use the banana to replace the egg in pancakes, etc. Check receipes for correct amounts.

I'm not too thrilled with all the fake burger, fake hot dog products, etc and have really enjoyed making vegan Indian curries instead of relying on soy based products. My body does not like that much plant estrogens.

I'm curious as to why you think you would gain weight turning to a completely vegan diet?

[bunnys]

It is my understanding that very ripe bananas act as an emulsifier in various vegan receipes. Use the banana to replace the egg in pancakes, etc. Check receipes for correct amounts.


Yes. My standard though is 1/2 cup applesauce for every 2 eggs. Not nearly as sweet or strong tasting as banana. But banana works too.

Tussiemussies will not gain weight as vegan unless she becomes a potato chip/pop tart vegan and just eats a bunch of junk.

[Tiam]

I think you can use cream of tartar....is that vegan? Or ground flax seed. 1 tbsp ground Flax seeds +3 tbsp Water =1 egg

[bunnys]

Yes. You can do both of those although I have never tried either.

Eggs act as a binder (applesauce is good substitute) and source of leavening.

To add the rise action of eggs, many vegan baking recipes mix an acid (vinegar or lemon juice) with the liquids that they mix in with the baking soda or baking powder. (Does the same thing as when you mixed baking soda and vinegar together as a kid.) When making vegan baked goods you don't beat them the way you do with regular baked goods (beating regular batter beats up the egg whites.) Instead, you basically just mix till it's all wet, dump it in the pan and bake. Otherwise you actually deflate the bubbles created by the acid/soda mix.

Tussiemussies you should try Ener-G Egg Replacer for recipes other than baked goods (i.e., meatloaf.) It works very well. But I have to tell you, besides the issue of baked goods for which I substitute applesauce, I only use the Ener-G about 1x per year for meatloaf. It is VERY easy to eliminate eggs from your diet.

You can substitute scrambled tofu for your breakfast egg dishes. If you really think tofu is gross, you haven't had enough tofu and you haven't had good tofu. I LOVE it! (I'm also a really good tofu cook and have many good recipes for its use.)

[Tussiemussies]

Think I am just going to give up the cheese and yogurt, I am going to make homemade coconut milk or soy yogurt but still eat eggs when they are in recipes.

Thanks pinkie toe for those two sites I will have to look them over....

Aspen, does that movie go into animal cruelty? Just cannot watch that stuff, it leaves me sick and shocked and never leaves my memory, you will have to let me know. Is the name of the cookbook the same as the movie? Thanks!

Thanks bunny for letting me know about the climate of some of the websites. I have tried the EnerG egg replacer when I used to bake a lot. Don't bake much anymore but do eat as a treat the things I mentioned on my original post. I think I am going to look into the free range companies and see how humane or which ones treat the chickens the best.
Maybe there is a CSA that I can get eggs from around here.... There is an organic CSA in this area...thanks bunny

Thanks Rosemary! You are so right!

Hi Dhiana, well I think I would gain weight from the nut butters, I am overweight as it is and have faithfully been on weight watchers for two years and have only lost 12lbs. I have to be careful with the fats, although I know I really do need some. I am very sedentary so I think that is the part that is the problem. I also stay away from sugar since my Mom became a diabetic and now my DH is too, bananas are great but very high in sugar...along with some other fruit. I really feel so much better since giving up sugar! I've never tried making any Indian food. Do you use a cookbook? Do love Indian food!
Thanks Dhiana!

:)

[Amaranth]

http://www.drfuhrman.com/ Eat to Live info, subscribe for access to excellent recipes and updates of medical info plus forums


Design your own vegan loaf from your chosen ingredients
http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html

Also homemade falafel burgers are amazing and much better tasting than frozen veggie burgers. A number of sites have veggie burger recipes though they usually mix vegetarian and vegan recipes together.

[Rosemary]

If your goal is to lose weight, I suggest a trial of no dairy, no flour, no sugar, and very light on whole grains (true whole grains, that is, not ground into flour). It makes me lose weight quickly (though I usually cut grains entirely when I need to drop a few pounds).

[Tussiemussies]

Hi again, Amaranth, I just move falaffels. They would really make a great burger...thanks for that and the other URL.

Rosemary, thanks for the advice, I am going to be making soy yogurt soon so that will cut out the dairy I eat, don't eat too much whole grain bread and such, but don't have any sugar as a habit! Thanks for the ideas!


Appreciate your ideas! :)

[Rosemary]

You can use flax meal as a binder in most veggie burger recipes in place of crumbs/flour.

[bunnys]

Tussie: I don't know if you've made soy yogurt before but you need to add some kind of little thickener because otherwise it's runny. Gelatin isn't vegan but if you're not concerned w/ trace amount stuff, that's what I'd suggest you add. Otherwise, there are thickening agents commercial yogurt makers add, I just don't know what they are.

I would suggest you use a recipe if you haven't done it before. If you have, you obviously know more than I as I have never made yogurt so never mind.

[CathyA]

Tussiemussies, I asked my daughter what her favorite book was with vegan recipes and its "Vegan on the Cheap: Great Recipes and Simple Strategies that Save You Time and Money" by Robin Robertson

[Tussiemussies]

Thanks bunnys, I did a long time ago make soy yogurt. I really don't want to use gelatine, I'm wondering if Agar-Agar would work well for yogurt?

ThanksCathya for the book recommendation, I will look that up on Amazon!

Well thanks again for all of your help. Appreciate it!

[Dhiana]

Hi Dhiana, well I think I would gain weight from the nut butters, I am overweight as it is and have faithfully been on weight watchers for two years and have only lost 12lbs. I have to be careful with the fats, although I know I really do need some. I am very sedentary so I think that is the part that is the problem. I also stay away from sugar since my Mom became a diabetic and now my DH is too, bananas are great but very high in sugar...along with some other fruit. I really feel so much better since giving up sugar! I've never tried making any Indian food. Do you use a cookbook? Do love Indian food!
Thanks Dhiana!

:)

Thankfully we don't need to consume a lot of nuts/nut butters to receive the benefits they provide. While they do have high calories from fat they aren't empty potato chip type calories. As with anything new you'll find where they do or do not fit in your nutrition plan.

Cooking Indian curries at home was intimidating to me at first with all those lovely spices and ingredients. Then I realized most receipes used a few similar spices in variations and that the Indian Curry Police would not storm my kitchen if I didn't use cardamom pods or toasted mustard seeds. :P
As for an Indian curry receipe book, I simply picked up a comprehensive book from my local used bookstore and make the adjustments for my personal preferences and the 6 or 7 spices I have chosen to purchase.

The changes you want to make in becoming vegan will go so much easier when you make these receipes fit your tastes and what's available to you. My favorite receipe from the book is a Spicy Squash, Eggplant and Lentil stew which in my kitchen is made as a Spicy Kabocha(Japanese Pumpkin), Red Pepper, Shiitake and Lentil Stew =)

Have fun experimenting with Indian Curries!

[kally]

I have been on a very low saturated diet for 7 months. It is plant based, but I have a little fish too. My diet is fairly strict, but I am used to it now.

I love the website called ohsheglows

I also like Dreena Burton's website and Roger McDouggal too.
Forks Over Knives is excellent.