I was just wondering if some of you guys could share some experience and advice on switching to a vegan diet.

Ideally I'd like to go mostly raw. I've been veggie on and off for years but for some reason any time Itried going completely vegan I find it difficult to cut out dairy for very long.

I thought maybe I was trying to change my diet too drastically all in one go or something. Did you find it easier to gradually cut out dairy?

Currently my diet consists mainly of raw vegetables and carbohydrate-rich foods like potatoes and noodles.

I currently eat fish a few times a week and the main form of dairy I eat is cheese. Occasionally I will buy eggs, maybe once every few weeks.

I know what I should be eating, but when I try to cut everything out at once I get tremendous cravings, for things like pork... which I pretty much never eat anyway!!

I know there is probably an adjustment period but I haven't been working for a while and sometimes when I start to get cravings or run out of my vegan food I will just buy the cheapest and easiest option which usually consists of something non-vegan.. which just gets me back into the cycle of not eating vegan for a while.

I'd like to be able to keep it up, just wondering if you guys could offer some tips on making it a bit easier.

Make your own food as often as possible. Buy fresh fruits and veggies and keep them on hand. Cravings are difficult, but you need to remind yourself of why you want to eat a vegan diet, or find a really strong reason. So after the craving has subsided, or you find some vegan appropriate food to consume, and you are thinking rationally, grabbing some nutrient dense food will usually curb whatever cravings your body has for a good while.

Some of my favorite things are 3 bean salad with spinach and broccoli.
red beans, black beans and grabanzos in a bowl with some fresh spinach and broccoli. You can toss in cucumber, carrots, or pretty much anything else that is tasty to you.
This is both nutrient rich, but also really yummy. You can top it with whatever dressing you enjoy.

I also recommend taking it easy on the carbohydrates. As a vegan/vegetarian, you may find yourself consuming a fair amount of carbs as an alternative to meat, dairy, cheese, and egg you would be eating otherwise. The modern western diet tends to be too carb heavy as it is, so try to pick foods with a larger variety of macro-nutrients.

mmmm that salad sounds fabulous.

i haven't eaten any fish since posting this thread. been getting some cravings..... but didn't give in.

it's all about will power and consciousness.


been eating a lot less dairy.... but still need to cut it out completely. i think after christmas it will be a lot easier, i've already accepted an invite to a christmas dinner with vegetarian option but i'm pretty sure it will include some form of dairy.

Cheese was the thing that ultimately made me switch to a completely vegan diet, as I had discovered I was lactose intolerant. Cutting the stuff out entirely has made a wonderful change to my overall health and well being.

I have also just recently discovered raw agave syrup. That stuff is heavenly.

ugh.

i don't know why i let it get to this point. i kept thinking oh, after christmas i'll go vegan, so then i have time to "enjoy" all the shit i used to eat.

so i've eaten some eggs and cheese the past few days and honestly it made me feel gross. physically and mentally. duno if its just cos i've been thinking more about it or not.

i feel guilty for letting it go on like this for so long, knowing what i've known for so many years and being apathetic and lazy. and using all sorts of things as an excuse, like not having much money.... now i'm realising there's little difference to my finances when i don't buy animal produce... in fact it's cheaper if you know what to buy.

how can i make up for all the pain i've contributed to by giving money to these assholes??????