[Liz-z78]

Hi,
I've been veggie for awhile now and have been trying to go vegan for the past couple of months. I think I've finally came to conclusion that I need to change to vegan "cold tofu". I've been on vacation this past week and have gone out to eat ALOT. I usually don't go out to eat alot because I find it easier to make healthier veggie meals at home. Well with going out I ended up eating alot of cheese covered crap. I'm sure some of you veggies out there have realized that alot of times if you want something vegetarian at a restaurant some cholesterol laden cheese covered crap is your only option. Well I for one am sick of it. I loved hanging out with friends, my boyfriend etc. while I've been on vacation but I don't love the 3 lbs. I gained that I attribute largely to the cheese covered crap. Well that and I am very active at work and have not been all that active while on vacation.

Anyhow all this rambling comes down to the fact that I'm looking for some veggies going vegan or new vegans, or any vegan for that matter for a buddy. I don't know any vegans in real life so this transition seems to be a little harder then it needs to be. I know I need to go vegan for my health but am having a hard time handling social situations. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[GoingGoal]

Hi Liz,

I am a newbie vegan as of July 23rd. If you want to buddy up feel free to PM me.


Theresa

[Yogini]

I've been vegan for many years and am always open to helping out

[Liz-z78]

Hi Yogini thanks for the offer to help out. I'm sure I'll need it.
Day 1 as a vegan has been a success. And I ate healthy too! My local natural food store has Vegan desserts! Cake, cookies, pastry oh my! I need to stay away from that. Good thing the store is over a half hour away or I'd be in trouble
My biggest concern is the eating out. I meet my mom for lunch on Wednesdays and go out to eat with my boyfriend about once a week as well. I've had a hard time finding healthy vegetarian options in the past (note my rant about cheese covered crap) and am hoping to find vegan options that don't end being a chicken salad without the chicken. Yes I've had to order that one since Applebee's doesn't seem to want to offer salads without meat on their menu.
In the past I have gone several days without dairy and eggs and have felt healthy and energetic doing it. So I know that I can do it, I just need to stick with it. Plus I've been reading so much vegan literature lately that the whole thought of meat, dairy etc. makes me sick.

[shananigans]

I know what you’re saying about all the cheese covered crap. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 12 years and have been dabbling in veganism for about the past year. Going out to eat and social situations are definitely the hurdles that have prevented me from going “all the way”. I’m pretty much vegan at home, I live with my omni bf so we do still have dairy and eggs in the house (no meat, never have been able to stomach the idea of animal flesh in my kitchen) but I don’t eat them much any more. If I’m cooking, which is most of the time, it’s vegan.

Going out to eat vegan can be almost impossible at some restaurants, that’s why I very rarely eat out anymore and if I do I try to push for vegan restaurants (there are several good ones in our area) or at least veggie friendly restaurants. But once in a while I’ll have to do a work luncheon or something where I feel like a pain in the behind because I won’t eat the chicken or fish option on the pre-fixe menu and I just ask them to make me something vegetarian. I don’t want to go into the whole vegan thing in those situations because I don’t want to draw anymore attention to myself than I already am. It’s sad, but that’s kind of how I deal with it right now.

Do yourself a favor and get the cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance if you don’t have it already. I’m totally in love with this book. Good luck with your "cold tofu" conversion and keep us posted.

PS - Applebee's is a vegetarian nightmare! Would like chicken or steak with that...or ckicken with steak? How 'bout some cheese covered carbs!

[Liz-z78]

Hi Shananigans!
I do have Vegan with a Vengeance. Yum! Haven't made a bad thing from there yet. Even my omni boyfriend liked them, most of them he didn't even realize that they where vegan.
I live alone with my two cats so being Vegan at home is definately easy. My bf moans occasionally about there not being anything at my house to fill him up when he stays over but usually he is cool. He will eat my tofu dishes and drink soy milk without complaining too much.
I know what you mean about making a fuss. At work whenever we have an eat in meeting or whatever I end up having to draw attention to my vegetarianism as well. Usually they are pretty cool about it. Since I've been converting to vegan the past couple of months I've even been able to get them to get me my own personal cheeseless pizza when there has been pizza ordered.
I'm not aware of any exclusive vegetarian/vegan restaurants near me. There are a few that do have sections catering to vegans and vegetarians but unfortunately even those restaurants are over a half hour away.
In my quest for more vegan options I did happen upon a natural foods market in the area while cruising the net. It seems to sell alot of vegan speciality items. I'll have to check them out soon... I think they are less then 15 minutes away... yes!
Day 2 "Cold Tofu" was a success!

-Liz

[Tori]

im vegan. and i found at applebees, you basically have to ask for a meat, egg and cheese free salad. thats about it. I have found at mexican resturants to have better luck. black bean and rice. with a salad. kinda like a taco salad (hey its better than what i get at applebees lol) eating out is a challange i agree!

[mellybelly]

I've been vegetarian for 12 years now and though not considering going vegan at this time, I just wanted to add to the Applebee's hate goin on here! I too am irked about their lack of vegetarian/vegan appropriate items, and have even voiced my concern to no avail. Watch out for the tomato soup fellow veggies...it's made with beef stock! Liz, best of luck in your vegan future! You may want to check out this blog http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/
It's no longer updated regularly, but the author is coming out with a cookbook soon, gives tons of resources on vegan eating, and made vegan school lunches for her 1st grade son for a year. Maybe the pics and menus can give you some ideas

[Mych]

I know what you mean about Applebee's. I work there and they aren't very veggie friendly. That really makes it so hard for me to make the switch. I mean, if you are lacto-ovo, you can just get the food without the meat. But, there really is nothing for vegans. They have a "Veggie Patch pizza" on the appetizer menu that has no meat on it, but it does have lots of cheese. I haven't tried it yet, though. They need to add a veggie burger onto their menu. I do think it stinks that you have to order the food without the meat and it's all the same price. They really should have a "no meat" price under the regular entree, y'know?

You know what? My family used to take us all out to Tony Roma's for dinner knowing that I was a vegetarian. Talk about hard to find something to eat!

[GoingGoal]

My standard order when going to a difficult dinner restaurant is a baked potato with salsa and a side of steamed veggie's hold the butter. Most steak houses can accomodate that.

[skinnyminnynow]

Originally Posted by GoingGoal

My standard order when going to a difficult dinner restaurant is a baked potato with salsa and a side of steamed veggie's hold the butter. Most steak houses can accomodate that.

I'm relieved I'm not the only veggie or vegan who feels like steakhouses are actually a decent option! When going out with a group (esp for business dinners), I am pretty happy to go to a steakhouse. I know with 99% certainty that they will have salads, baked potatoes, and steamed veggies. All of which can be easily made veggie or vegan.

My friends and colleagues laugh that I'm a vegetarian who doesn't mind going to steakhouses!

[eebede]

www.happycow.net

I love this site because it lists at least some of the vegetarian/vegan restaurants in any given area. It's great.

[applecake]

I'm vegan too and would love a vegan or vegetarian buddy! PM me if you're interested ...

[Julie S]

I decided to go vegan cold turkey over the summer. It's been great and I don't miss much. I thought i'd lose weight since I've been eating so healthy, but I only lost a few pounds . One of the things that has helped keep me on the "wagon" is there are a few vegan/veggie restaurants in Orlando where I live. And they're good enough that my non-veggie friends don't mind eating there with me.