It has been almost 90 days since we began our vegan diet adventure. As you already know, Aleta has discovered ways to reduce her arthritis pain, I have reduced my cholesterol, we have both lost 35 lbs between the two of us, and we rarely have the heartburn and lethargic feeling after eating a steak. Many of you still have concerns about eating a vegan diet. Below I have compiled the 5 most common questions and answers from our experience.
1) Do you get enough protein eating a vegan diet?
If you don’t eat a balanced vegan diet, sure. If you eat a balanced vegan diet full of beans, whole grains, nuts, and soy products, you will have no problems getting all your protein.
2) Do you get all your nutrients eating a vegan diet?
If you don’t eat a balanced diet, sure (notice a theme here?). A plant based diet provides every nutrient you need for your daily intake. The only nutrient you can’t get in a vegan diet is vitamin B12. This is only produced in the digestive track of animals. We need vitamin B12 for healthy brain and nervous system function. We only need a couple micrograms daily. You can get vitamin B12 in soy milk and supplements. We take a multivitamin every day (as everyone should regardless of diet). Check out my post on my bloodwork before and after my vegan diet.
3) Do you have to eat salads all day?
No, you don’t. Aleta and I eat a small salad once a day for dinner. There are vegan alternatives to all meat and dairy products. There are also many vegan recipes out there that use vegetables, vegan meatless products, rice, and noodles. Just about every meal can be replicated in a vegan form. Check out our recipes.
4) How do you go out to eat?
There are many fewer options for dining out as a vegan. Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Mediterranean restaurants all offer purely vegan meals. Also, there is bound to be a handful of healthy restaurants in your hometown.
5) How hard is it to buy all this special food?
You can get 80% of your vegan food at any grocery store. Many of the meatless products can be found in most frozen food sections. You will have to head to a specialty store like Whole Foods to get a small handful of items: soy cheese, soy yogurt, soy cheese, vegan cold cuts, and vegan porklike products.
Tags: cholesterol, health, protein, weight loss