A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts, and fruits) and foods made from plants. Vegans don't eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs. Are you interested in the idea of a vegan diet, but not sure how to start? If you want, you can dive right away and remove all poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products at once. Or, take a more gradual approach and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat at each meal.
This is perhaps the most common question about veganism. A vegan diet includes all the grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits and the almost infinite amount of foods prepared when combined. A person on a vegan diet doesn't eat meat, eggs, or dairy products. While some people may think that this greatly restricts their protein sources, there are still a lot of vegan-friendly proteins that they can consume.
Some babies, especially those who are starting out on a vegan diet, supplements may be recommended to ensure that some essential nutrients that animal foods usually provide are provided in adequate amounts (such as iron and vitamin B1). Many vegans also don't eat foods processed with animal products, such as refined white sugar and some wines. If you're breastfeeding and following a vegetarian diet, you can get all the nutrients and energy you need as long as you include a wide range of foods from all five food groups each day. After reading the list of things that vegans can't eat, you might think that this vegan diet thing seems a little terrible.
This means that the label is important for people with dairy allergies, but for vegans who don't want to consume dairy products or spend money on them, the food is completely appropriate to buy and eat. Plant-based foods are fine, but animal-based foods are banned, including common ingredients such as eggs, cheese, milk and honey. And finally, choosing vegan options reduces the number of animals that suffer harm in order to feed us, something that worries many vegans a lot. With these recipes alone, you can start to see that vegans eat a wide variety of different foods.
Although there is some debate about whether certain foods, such as honey, fit into a vegan diet, if you cook for other vegans, it's best to be cautious and avoid these foods or ask your guests. Around six months, solids from the five food groups should be introduced gradually, being the first foods rich in iron, protein and energy for growth. It's important to identify any food or food chemicals that may trigger asthma, but this should be done under strict medical supervision. No special diet or “miracle food” can cure arthritis, but some conditions can be alleviated if certain foods are avoided or included.
Vegans also eat many of the same common and familiar everyday foods as everyone else, such as green salad, spaghetti, peanut butter sandwiches, cornbread, French fries, and salsa. People who consume or are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet may worry about getting enough protein from their food.
