Hi everybody, I've been vegan for almost a year now. I've been through some relationship crap during the last months and lost quite a lot of weight as I didn't feel like eating. I live on my own in a foreign country (studying here) and whenever I come home people tell me I have become so thin and that they're worried. So, the thing is, I hate eating alone and the "kitchen" I have to share (live as a subtenant) is cold, dirty, messy. I used to love cooking but it's just no fun under these circumstances. I'll move to a students house soon, but I don't think the kitchen there will be much better (except warm maybe). I think I don't eat enough. I usually start the day with a bowl of müsli. If I can convince myself I east about two slices of bread for lunch and then in the evening some vegetable dish. I can't imagine that makes 2000 calories? I don't eat when I'm hungry, I usually postpone eating till I'm REALLY hungry because I hate the kitchen so much and am not the best at caring for myself at the moment. Any suggestions how I could motivate myself to eat better or ideas for yummy easy-to-make vegan snacks that I could eat during the day? Thanks in advance. Rain PS: And no, there's no need to tell me that being vegan is the problem. I don't think it is.
Your problem is you don't know your way around a kitchen yet. When your surroundings improve, try making little things for yourself. No shortage of yummy things on the internet to make. But as a vegan, your diet really puts you on the spot. You have to balance your caloric intake with your level of activity, otherwise, your body starts to consume itself. No fat reserves means little time before that happens. If the whole point of being a vegan is to insure good health, you're doing yourself a great disfavor in not eating properly and letting the body starve. Learn to balance, or drop down to a vegetarian level. I've been one for over 26 years. My body loves me. x
I would think that the damage malnutrition can do to your body would be enough motivation... Your have probably gotten so skinny because if your body doesn't get enough nutrients from food it will get it from your bones...your muscles and so on. I would start slowly adding more wholesome foods to your diet to at least have 1500 to 2000 calories a day.
Easy to cook put on weight foods include: Prepacked burgers, nut burgers, tofu products etc (although its important to make sure theyre not junky or made out of cheap soya etc) Nuts Avocadoes Porridge oats Homemade bolognese (really easy, can post up recipes if you like) Homemade pizza (same. This ones great as you can pile loads onto the topping) Add seeds to your salads Roast dinners:drool5: Also I dont know if its the same over there, but there are lots of cereal bar type things you can buy here that are vegan. Theyre good to scoff as snacks between meals But the important thing is you eat ENOUGH as you know, and these foods obviously wont do anything alone. Really you should aim to eat them ontop of what youd eat anyway to gain weight. But transition slowly) Im really sorry youve been in a crappy situation But if youre getting thin its time to love yourself no matter what, so Id get in that kitchen and get making some yummies despite it all (know it sucks) My husband was underweight for his height. A few months of me stuffing food in his poor face later hes looking much better Good luck
Thanks for your replies. Yeah, I know it can be damaging my body, that's why I want to change my eating habits. I've changed my "to eat list" from 3 to 5 meals a day. And I will NOT save money on food anymore. I mean, of course I won't buy expensive processed stuff I don't need, but I won't restrict food intake because I "can't go shopping again before the end of the week". Cereal bar type things over here usually contain honey or yoghurt or milk chocolate or all of those and if they don't they taste nasty. Avocados are a good idea. Makes a yummy spread. I love homemade vegan pizza, but don't have an oven here (as I said, crappy kitchen that doesn't deserve the name). Maybe in my new place though. And I'd love to have that bolognese recipe!! I'm going hooome on Saturday, I'm so gonna stuff myself and cook for everybody around. I miss my home kitchen so much. I should set my browser starting page to a vegan cooking blog or something, maybe it'll make me feel like cooking more.
I got a vegan calendar from my pharmacy last year and every month it has a new meatless recipe and loads of home remedies and things. I'll see who publishes them and or see if I can get a couple for 2009 and I'll send you one. Everything in there looks tasty...
Get a jug of the solid coconut oil if you can. I used to make awesome peanut butter banana coconut oil sandwiches. Add maple syrup for extra delight. This is so dessert sounding. (use rice cakes for cheap vegan bread) Coconut is so good for you. I know what a crappy kitchen feels like. GO in like gangbusters with your incense/rocks/stuffed teddy (whatev makes you comfy) and a soapy rag and make yourself a little clean spot and cook. If it's still too grungy get some cardboard/cutting board and make a little counter top for yourself above the slime. Get you very own cookin' pan and keep it in your room if people can't figure out how to wash dishes. I hate messy kitchens, and have cleaned up for too many for slobs who mess it up five minutes later, so I don't sweat that anymore... Also crackers and stuff on top is a cool no cooking snacks. Find a nice hummus and load 'em up with pickles and pickled banana peppers, sprouts. Whatever veg you like. Think fats and oils. Kay, spelling is fucked, but you know Cassadea's? Take a flat tortilla spread refried beans (oh so cheap in a can) on top and some vegan cheese, bitta spinach/other soft veg. Slap other tortilla on top and fry in a pan with a bit of oil. Slice like a pizza and eat with salsa. Made that every morning before 4am for a 16hour truck driving day. And do be careful. I can remember the frustration with so many vegans looking sick/hungry and stuff and not wanting to eat what their bodies were telling them too. Their listlessness was disturbing to those that cared about them. There is a lady here who runs a health food store that was a vegan. She got a terrible rash that was unexplainable until a doctor figured out that her vegan diet was too simple for her body. It had actually forgotten how to digest food (first time I ever heard that!). The poor dame says she can't even eat a blueberry these days without breaking out in a rash. She has to be very careful and she says she's sorry folks she just can't be vegan. So yeah. It's a health choice, not a religion, I lived on the streets and after a year of veganese my partner got us some soups from a food wagon. I was deleriously starving that day and when he returned he realized it was meat chili. I know all the stories of how you'll be sick if you eat meat and he didn't eat his. But it went in and out the other end like normal. So yeah. Just stay healthy. Listen to your body. IT'S got better advice for you than ME. Good luck with the kitchen. Hope these are some handy no cook/cookin' options. Happy cooking this weekend. I totally miss kitchens full a bean soup and friends too. Good day.
