Hi New to being Vegan :-) Had Some Questions
Posted by cindy427 on Nov 23, 2009 · Member since Nov 2009 · 3 posts
Hi Everybody i went vegan 3 weeks ago after being a vegetarian for 4 years. I am 30lbs over weight and i wanted to know what foods to avoid on being vegan. I know i need to eat more fruits and veggies but are there any vegan foods that are bad too?
Welcome!!
No food is really "bad" but there are foods you should eat in moderation. If you are trying to lose weight, just make sure you don't eat a TON of avocados, oils, nuts, nut butters, seeds, and full fat coconut milk. You still need some fat in your diet so don't avoid them completely, but don't go eating nuts on your breakfast, a whole avocado for lunch and something deep fried for dinner...does that make any sense?
Veganism is just like any other way of eating- it can either be healthy or not depending on WHAT you eat. Eating French Fries, Peanut Butter sandwiches, and Fried tofu all the time is technically vegan....but not the healthiest. Aim for whole foods: Whole grains, Beans, fresh fruits, steamed/roasted/raw veggies. Try not to rely to heavily on the "meat substitutes". Some is okay, but a lot of people overdo it and it widens the belt and breaks the bank a lot faster than eating whole foods.
I hope this helped!
Thanks i will keep it i mind thank you for your help ;D
What fufu said!
You can definitely be an "unhealthy vegan", but on the whole if you eat well with fresh food and whole grains even 75% of the time you will feel the benefits :)
Welcome on board!
Nice to meet you.
Since committing to veganism, I've naturally lost about five pounds without effort. Obviously things like chips and sweets, Oreos and Skittles, are vegan foods that should be avoided. Also limit the amount of processed foods you eat such as TV dinners, mock meats and the like. They are loaded with sodium and calories. Like the others have said, try whole foods, grains, legumes and soy products that aren't overly processed like tofu and tempeh and you'll loose weight easily if you watch portion size and exercise.
Welcome cindy427! I'm enjoying reading the excellent answers to all of your questions. I think the best advice I ever got was, "Everything in moderation. Even moderation." Hehe. I didn't lose weight when I became vegan but I did start feeling SO much better. I rarely get sick and I just feel good all the time.
Congrats on your transition and enjoy VegWeb!