Going vegan, advice?

[Beef03]

Our paper has embarked, for better or worse, on a series of first person stories of it's editorial staff taking on challenges or experiencing something new -- we've had reporters take belly dancing classes, go bungee jumping, etc. I got talked into going vegan for a week.

To be clear, I can't remember the last meal I had where meat or an animal product was not involved. I lost close to 100 pounds on a paleo diet. I love meat. It is delicious. I am not morally opposed to it at all. I know many meat producers -- ranchers, pig farmers, etc. -- who are great people. Beef is more than just an online handle, it is a true life nickname.

The story will be easy to write, and I will have a vegan at my disposal to help me out -- one of our reporters is a strict vegan. My biggest concern is actually being able to stick to it for one week.

Any suggestions on making the quick and drastic change? Recommended recipes? Late night easy meals -- I work a 3-11 pm shift and usually eat when I get home? I start on Saturday.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I don't think it would be that difficult to do it for a week. I'll sometimes unintentionally go a few days without eating meat. It's not a conscious decision, and I certainly don't want to do long term, but the occasional string happens where you have a PB&J sandwich for lunch, pasta for supper, salad for lunch the next day, then leftover pasta that night. With it getting colder, throw in a few cans of tomato soup, Ramen noodles, some more pasta, salads, a big thing of breadsticks, etc., and you have a week covered.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I am not quite a vegan, but I don't eat any meat, have something with egg in it really infrequently and can go whole weeks without dairy. One major key for us is that we do 99 percent of our own cooking, don't eat a lot of processed stuff and don't eat out very much.

One thing we do, which you might consider for the week, is create a couple of meals in bulk over weekends -- it's part of our routine. That way I have ready to go lunches for the week. This week it was a bean and veggie chili. I was up early Sunday, cut up everything (onion, garlic, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc.) and got it slow cooking for a couple of hours. A bit goes in a tupperwear bowl each day for lunch. We have any number of those ready-to-go meals in the fridge that we do. A lot of salads when the weather is warmer; roasted veggies, stir fries, soups, that chili, etc. when it is colder.

Not sure if that will help, but good luck.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Change your SJ handle.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Don't go to a party at 93Devil's house.

 

[JackReacher]

Find a good middle ground and call it a day.

 

[YankeeFan]

I have a good shrimp recipe if you need one.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Next week you should have to eat nothing but veal, and foie gras.

 

[Beef03]

Thanks everybody.

Ragu that's a good idea with premaking meals. I was really struggling with what would be convenient, as strange as it sounds. Always liked veggies, but being a single guy, I've always struggled with eating them before they go bad.

YF, I may take you up on that offer, but I'm told no shell fish or seafood. Still always open to a good recipe, especially once this vegan thing is done in a week.

Mizzou, I plan to get my fill of meat in the next few days, already have my return to meat meal figured out, a local burger joint that has a great burger with bacon and pulled pork on it. It is delicious.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Change your user name.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

If I had to go vegan for a week, I would eat as much rice as possible.

 

[Beef03]

Change your user name.

Don't think I can, though I suppose I can create a new account and post under it for a week

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I think that I would reach out to two or three vegans in the community, perhaps through vegan restaurants or natural food stores.

Having a fellow reporter to consult it good, but getting wider input might be better. And it would allow you to meet folks and have experiences you might not otherwise.

You'll probably have to read ingredient lists on any prepared foods for nonvegan stuff you might not have thought would be in there.

 

[93Devil]

Don't go to a party at 93Devil's house.

No, if I come to yours, it will not be happily.

 

[93Devil]

Find a good middle ground and call it a day.

Or once again show lack of understanding about something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianism

 

[SpeedTchr]

Advice? Don't start thinking you're better than the rest of us...

 

[Beef03]

Advice? Don't start thinking you're better than the rest of us...

For one week, I will be be

 

[Beef03]

I think that I would reach out to two or three vegans in the community, perhaps through vegan restaurants or natural food stores.

Having a fellow reporter to consult it good, but getting wider input might be better. And it would allow you to meet folks and have experiences you might not otherwise.

You'll probably have to read ingredient lists on any prepared foods for nonvegan stuff you might not have thought would be in there.

They do want a first person account, but I will be hitting up a nutritionist and trying to track down other people as well.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Find a good middle ground and call it a day.

Or once again show lack of understanding about something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianism

You REALLY want to revisit one of your stupidist moments on here (and for it to reach the top of that list, it must have really been dumb)?

People who eat fish aren't vegetarians. By definition.

They obviously aren't vegans either.

Only a dolt would serve fish to a vegetarian and sincerely think he was accommodating the person's dietary wishes.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I think that I would reach out to two or three vegans in the community, perhaps through vegan restaurants or natural food stores.

Having a fellow reporter to consult it good, but getting wider input might be better. And it would allow you to meet folks and have experiences you might not otherwise.

You'll probably have to read ingredient lists on any prepared foods for nonvegan stuff you might not have thought would be in there.

They do want a first person account, but I will be hitting up a nutritionist and trying to track down other people as well.

I think you may be overthinking it.

That said, you can go on an all oreo and pop tart diet and call yourself a vegan. (Oreos and pop tarts really are vegan; so are Doritos, but only the "sweet spicy chili" flavored ones).

So it depends how you want to go at it.

You can be a really unhealthy vegan, eating a variety of crappy, processed foods. And you would be fulfilling your assignment. But you wouldn't be getting the same experience if you use the week as an opportunity to eat mostly whole, natural foods. You might want to try it that way. Just eat lots of fruit and veggies and whole grains. Rice is fine, but don't go for white rice, which is processed (and didn't exist until relatively recently). Eat natural wild rice or brown rice, which doesn't have all the nutrients stripped out. Rice and beans. Rice and veggies. Fruit. You can get through just a week doing that, even if you aren't used to it.