I’ve recently been diagnosed with hypertension or high blood pressure. I had an allergic reaction to the medication that I was given. After this and several health concerns that my husband has for himself, we decided to try a no oil Vegan diet. We realized when we did this that this would be more than a "lose some weight and then go back to what we used to eat" diet. This would be a life change.
My husband and I switched to a vegan diet last spring (read my blog about it: "Going Vegan"). We have traditionally hosted my family’s Thanksgiving dinner at our house. This year, we have been discussing how to satisfy the wants and needs of my family’s traditional Thanksgiving dinner and our new vegan diet. I have decided to buy a pre-cooked turkey from our grocery store. Whatever is left of it, I’ll send home with everyone. Mashed potatoes are no problem using soy milk and no butter.
Last year in June, I wrote a blog called Going Vegan about my husband and I switching to a low-fat Vegan diet. Well, it has now been a year, and we are still going strong with our diet. We have found several products at our grocery store and at specialty stores that make fixing meals a snap. For a treat, we occasionally buy vegan chocolate cupcakes (they’re not so low-fat, so that is why they are a treat). For our regular chocolate craving, I’ve found non-dairy chocolate chips and chocolate chunks.
Thinking about making the switch? If you are, MCPL can assist you with your change in lifestyle. Vegan Teens, a web resource we offer on our website, offers helpful advice for teens who want to go vegan. Once on the site, you can find articles on how to make the switch, vitamin supplements to keep you healthy with your lifestyle change, and even how to talk to friends and family who are not vegan-friendly.
