Going Vegan...

[tiggerblue10]

...for a month to see if it makes a difference in how I feel mood and health wise.

I use almond milk anyway but I've bought loads of dairy free alternatives and I like most meat free burgers, sausages etc. Some supermarkets do packets of grains and pulses with different flavourings such as Mexican which I quite like but it's all making me feel quite bloated.

This is my 2nd day and I would really like to keep going but I'm having trouble with the bloatedness.

Any advice on where I'm going wrong and what I should be doing? Will it settle down eventually?

[New Judge]

I forgot to add - it almost (but not quite) makes me think I should have voted to Remain !!! :-) :-)

[puzzled54]

Tofu doesn’t usually have bloating effects, but you should stay away from edamame beans at the moment! Could be a sudden change to eating lots of grains and beans that’s causing the bloating. I have to say though that I don’t understand why people swap meat for products that are made to taste like meat

[237SJ]

It's only in the Western world where vegan products try to replicate meat. A vast tract of India is Vegan and they don't try to copy meat in any way shape or form.

[ummmm]

I would never go vegan but I could give up meat.

[pastafreak]

Make sure you get your vitamin b12...because you're not likely to get it in a vegan diet. Have you researched this at all?
The trouble I have with the current vegan popularity is that so much of the food is created in a food lab, and manufactured. I'm sure it doesn't *have* to be that way.
While there are population groups that have evolved eating vegetarian, I don't think there are any vegan ones.

[New Judge]

Part of the programme I saw showed a process to grow "meat" by taking a feather from a chicken, extracting some cells from it and growing them in a lab. So, meat, but grown in a Petri dish rather than on a chicken. If this is industrialised huge numbers of chicken feathers will have to be taken as a source for the "meat". Won't our Vegan fiends be equally offended by this exploitation?

[tiggerblue10]

Like I said it's only for a month based on a recommendation from a friend.

The only thing I've eaten so far that could possibly be perceived as a meet replacement is tofu but then tofu is used widely in far eastern dishes.

I was a pescatarian for a few years in my early twenties but that ended dramatically on a holiday in Australia when one of my cousins made us a dish with veal!!

[tiggerblue10]

*Meat not meet. D'oh!

[pixie374]

Are you adding on a lot of new things at once? Pulses are quite common for intolerances and it might be difficult to know which are affecting you. I would try introducing things gradually to your usual diet before you start leaving things out.

[237SJ]

To be fair, I spend a lot of time in the Far East and tofu doesn't feature very much.

[ummmm]

I started eating meat because of the kids. I still don't eat much of it though.

[tiggerblue10]

I haven't had a chance to do a proper shop but planning to on Friday and changing the pulses for veg like squash, sweet pots etc.

[pixie374]

I didn't eat meat from about 8 to 21, and started because I was breastfeeding and starving.

[tiggerblue10]

I don't eat much meat either but I do eat loads of chicken and fish. I love cheese and butter so that would be more difficult to give up. Not keen on marge.

[237SJ]

If you like spicy food, Indian vegan cookery is the way to go. Here's my favourite dal recipe https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/tarkadal_90055 No soya in sight -)

[tiggerblue10]

I do like South Indian dishes which are mostly vegetarian. My favourite is masala dosa :o)

[237SJ]

I like masala dosa too. India is the only place where I could live and be completely vegetarian (if I had to)

[divegirl]

Sorry, but can I add, you are talking about as plant based diet not becoming vegan.

You don't 'go Vegan' for a month.

From the Vegan Society...
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. There are many ways to embrace vegan living.

It is not a diet.

[Maydup]

I enjoy vegan food and to reduce the bloatedness, I buy gluten free pasta and bread. I find it helps.

Eat plenty of salad, fruit and veg. Avoid processesed food especially the immitation meat and cheese; limt the portion size of pulses, benas and grains for a while; look for nut recipes and nut products.

[LadyCG]

Maybe your levels of got bacteria aren't what they should be. When your intestinal flora is depleted it can cause bloating, gas and IBS which can be linked to fatigue, poor concentration and low mood. Being female and of a certain age doesn't help.

I started taking high strength probiotics which contain at least 6 billion live bacteria per capsule and they've transformed my life and practically cured my IBS. My energy levels are far better and I can eat pretty much anything I want, though I prefer low carb and feel better for following that style of eating.