Hi ladies ... I know I've seen at least a few vegans in the boards before, and thought I'd start a thread where we could share meal ideas, nutrition questions, and vegan philosophy.
How long have you been vegan?
If you have kids, are you raising them vegan?
Is your partner vegan?
Any struggles lately?
Favorite vegan blog?
pear / 1799 posts
**How long have you been vegan?
I've been vegan since June. I was vegetarian for 6.5 years, and had dabbled with a vegan diet since my baby was born in January. June was my transition, and I'm loving it.
**If you have kids, are you raising them vegan?
We are planning to raise our children as vegans. Our family doctor is vegetarian, and fully supports us with studies, research, and nutrition advice. I fully support our daughter making her own decisions once she's at an age where she can do that. I don't have unrealistic ideas that she'll always be vegan. I just hope to guide her, and if she ultimately chooses something different, I'm ok with it.
**Is your partner vegan?
Nope! My husband eats 80/20. 80% being vegan. Our home is vegetarian, and he will buy eggs for his breakfast. If we're out, he'll likely eat meat.
**Any struggles lately?
I am breastfeeding, and I've been struggling with that since my daughter was born. I am currently learning as much as I can about supplements, and ensuring I'm eating enough good fats into my diet. Since my supply is so low, I'm going through testing to determine if I'm insulin resistant ... have vit deficiency ... etc. It's tiring. Worth it, but still tiring.
**Favorite vegan blog?
Post Punk Kitchen - http://www.theppk.com/
nectarine / 2600 posts
How long have you been vegan Since last winter, vegetarian since I was 9.
If you have kids, are you raising them vegan? No kids yet.
Is your partner vegan? Yes, but he eats fish once in a while. He was omni til last year.
Any struggles lately? I do have low iron. I've had to have one Iron IV a few months ago, and I go for my 2nd tomorrow. But I think there is something wrong with my body, where it just doesn't absorb iron, because I do eat a lot of iron rich foods, and I was taking supplements orally and I still had low iron.
Favorite vegan blog? Hmm, bakeanddestroy.com? Don't really have a fave. I get a lot of stuff from Pinterest, so from all over the web.
pear / 1799 posts
@TheSwissWifeStyle: I was hoping I wasn't the only one!!! I struggle with iron too. My iron got so low during pregnancy, I was almost disqualified from home birth ... Like you, I eat a lot of iron rich foods. I started taking Vitanica Iron Extra last year, and it's really helping. The only iron supplement I've found that actually makes a difference.
And, yes to Pinterest. It's how we meal plan!! 
pea / 17 posts
Hi There! I am so excited to see this thread. I am vegetarian, and my husband is vegan, so I am about 85% vegan myself. Can I still join the group? Lol! I am pregnant with my first and am so excited to find a community here! I'd love to have support and lend support to other veggie/vegan mamas!
How long have you been vegan? I stopped eating meat about 5 years ago.
If you have kids, are you raising them vegan? Pregnant with our first, but we definitely plan to raise them on a mealtess, plant-based diet.
Is your partner vegan? Yes! He also went to culinary school so I'm a lucky lady.
Any struggles lately? Not yet, but none of our friends and family are veggie, and I'm already fielding questions about my being vegetarian, people telling me all these stories they've heard about how "bad" it is to not eat meat during pregnancy. It's very frustrating! I struggle with not biting their heads off for being judgmental and not educated. lol!
Favorite vegan blog? I love the Post Punk Kitchen (I see you do too, @vegmama!) as well as Oh She Glows (http://ohsheglows.com/) and Thug Kitchen (http://thugkitchen.com/ - this one cracks me up!)
nectarine / 2600 posts
@Vegmama: Cool, I will have to look that one up. I started taking blood builder because I heard that was really good as well. And I've been trying to add a lot of blackstrap molasses to things. Molasses latte anyone? lol
@dancingbee: I love Thug Kitchen as well. I want to get their new book!
clementine / 927 posts
Hello! I've been vegan (about 90% of the time) for about 6 years now. I do have dairy from time to time (especially during my pregnancy). My husband is strictly vegan. My stepdaughter eats vegan at home (that's all I cook) but is allowed to eat dairy and eggs, even fish on occasion, outside the home. We plan to raise our 6 month old vegan for the most part, but I don't mind allowing him treats of ice cream/pizza and the like from time to time. I think we as a family obsess a bit too much over our bellies, so I don't want it to be a big deal. I also have beta thalassemia so I have to be careful about iron. Lots of green leafy veggies for me.
coconut / 8279 posts
@Vegmama: We're not vegan but we're a family of vegetarians. Can I join too?
How long have you been veg? Since around 9/10 years old
If you have kids, are you raising them veg? Yes. DS is 2.5 and has been vegetarian from the start.
Is your partner veg? Yes. It's important to both of us.
Any struggles lately? The typical toddler mom struggles of a picky eater. Sometimes I worry that J isn't getting enough variety in his diet. He gets really picky about vegetables. He doesn't like sauce, so it's not like I can sneak things in that way either. And like DH, the kid doesn't like avocado - this is especially troubling 
I love them so, soo much and it's such a good source of nutrients and calories for the little picky ones.
Favorite vegan blog? I don't have one - but I don't read many blogs - subscribing to this thread so I can find more!
pear / 1799 posts
@dancingbee: Welcome!! How awesome that your partner is a vegan chef!! I went through a veggie pregnancy, and had a perfectly healthy baby ... It's funny how people would rather you eat a cheeseburger than a really nutritious meal. Ugh! Best wishes to you!!!!
pear / 1799 posts
@rachiecakes: You're like a veggie OG!!! I love that your husband is a vegetarian too. I wish mine was, but he supports me, and I'm okay with that.
Does your baby like any sauce?? I'm a sauce person!! I wonder if you could make a cashew Alfredo. The nuts would have a lot of awesome fat. I'm not sure what baking does to nutrients, but maybe black bean brownies, zucchini bread, and little bean meatloafs (with carrot, onion, and bell pep) would be a good way to get in veggies. You could do a kefir smoothie, which would give a ton of nutrients and good bacteria for the belly.
The good part is that most kids are so picky or finicky about food at some point, and they grow out of it.
pear / 1799 posts
@Leah: The part about obsessing over your food really resonates with me. Before committing to vegan 100%, I was looking at it from a lifestyle/health point of view, and it felt like an obsession. Everyone's journey is different, but for me, I found my "why", and it had to do with animal welfare. Since then, it doesn't feel like an obsession as much as a choice.
You're so passionate about feeding your family healthy, nutritional foods, so maybe that's your "why". I think it's wonderful!!
coconut / 8279 posts
@Vegmama: no he hates sauce! any kind. he is a HUGE fan of baked good though. I made him apple cinnamon bran muffins that he told me looked like "caca" but I'm going to keep trying, lol
What's everyone's go-to while you're on the road? That's always a challenge for us. Road trips.
If you pack some snacks for hotels, car, etc., what do you bring?
bananas / 9229 posts
Not vegan but I went to law school with http://www.happyherbivore.com - highly recommend her, her cookbooks and her recipes!!
honeydew / 7589 posts
How long have you been veg? Former vegan here (12 years vegan), 8 years vegetarian.
If you have kids, are you raising them veg? She is 90% vegetarian. I give her bone broth for extra minerals. She eats fermented dairy only (kefir, yogurt, soft cheeses) and eggs.
Is your partner veg? He is, lifelong vegetarian.
Any struggles lately? Vi has teeth issues (genetic) and trying to make sure she gets enough minerals takes careful planning.
Favorite vegan blog? I don't have one, I need to check out some of the ones listed up thread though!
pear / 1799 posts
@rachiecakes: We pack lots of healthy snacks: fruits, but butters, bread (for sandwiches), chips ... Basically, picnic food. Also, we'll splurge when on the road sometimes, and stop at Chipotle or Qdoba. Sometimes, Taco Bell wins (there are several vegan options). When we hike, we pack pb&j, carrots, larabars, lots of water, and kettle chips. When our baby is older, I'll probably pack some of those food pouches.
pear / 1799 posts
What's for dinner tonight??
We are doing a vegan bean salad (white beans, black beans, tomatoes, red onion, red pepper, cilantro, black olives, green peppers, and corn mixed in a vegan chipotle ranch. Served with cornbread with honey.
*do you guys eat honey? I do! I've wondered if it's something I should cut out since it's technically not vegan.
clementine / 927 posts
We had tofu in a creole sauce (lots of tomatoes, onions, peppers, creole spice) with brown rice and cucumber cashew sauce. And salad.
We have honey too.
pear / 1799 posts
@Leah: Yum!!! I've never thought of a dish like that. Do you sauté the tofu first?
nectarine / 2600 posts
@rachiecakes: larabars and vega bars mostly. And you know, chips and Oreos of course! lol I hate going to hotels in Europe that have breakfast for free, because usually all we can eat is bread with jam on it. Ugh! Last time we traveled, I thought about it, but was too lazy to bring little drink-box sized soy milks. At least we could have had cereal.
@Vegmama: I do eat honey. I know there are a lot of vegans who don't though.
I say if we happen to make a really rockin' recipe we should share it here! We went out to eat last night, to a Thai place. I had a tofu in red curry sauce with coconut cream. It was to die for!
clementine / 927 posts
@Vegmama: yes, just a little. I love Trader Joes extra firm tofu, it doesn't get mushy at all.
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