Good luck to you! I'm on the same adventure lol

I also have an anxiety disorder. It would be nice if this helped. I read in a book "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" about foods that help keep you calm. I don't remember all of them as this was years ago and I've since lent it out (never to be seen again) but I do remember potatoes and I think bananas are supposed to be helpful! Also the B vitamins.

Thanks simplystated. I'm also on the anxiety board.

There is a theory that everything is energy and when we eat animals that have been anxious and frightened all their life, we take on some of that energy. No idea if that's accurate but it's an interesting theory.

If that's the case, if we stop eating meat and animal products, it should help with our anxiety.

I also have a great deal of cognitive dissonance around eating meat. It just doesn't jibe with who I am and my ethics. I imagine that also creates anxiety on some level.

Today is day 1 of attempting a vegan diet. This morning I had a Lara ALT bar and coffee with almond milk. Lunch was rice noodles with bok choy, green beans and carrots flavored with vegan spaghetti sauce and spices. Dinner is going to be lentils with quinoa and Rotel.

I'm finding that I need some vegan, gluten free sauces that are tasty. Ideas are welcome!

I will have to look for the anxiety board.

I hadn't heard that theory but I guess at some level it could definitely cause us anxiety, especially if empathizing w/ the animal causes distress. I also think that the hormones and other junk the animals are given can play a part in our own physical well being and anxiety.

Wow you're doing great! I pretty much am still stuck on protein bars and peanutbutter as my basic staples.

Well, perhaps we can share recipes here?

Hummus is pretty tasty but I had to try a few brands before I found one I really liked. And it's good protein. Yummy on pita or veggies.

My lentils came out well. Still feels like I'm missing the main thing at meals though... PETA suggests using the meat substitutes like tofurkey and tofu sausage and boca burgers. My issue is that I'm gluten free too and so many of those things have wheat in them.

I have trouble cooking tofu but I really like it so I need to learn how to do that. I also need to make friends with beans.

I have a BIG jar of quinoa in the fridge and a big jar of lentils with rotel (and one with curry) as well as a bunch of cooked veggies.

There is a growing group of people who are following a starch based diet based on recommendations of Dr. John McDougal. The whole food starches are what keep you satisfied.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/334508893298615

Thanks Bedhog. I'll look into it. I do like my starches!

Bedhog
Will check out the diet you mentioned soon as my Facebook page is fixed. I keep meaning to look at it then i finally do and cant. annoying.
Anyway,
about the energy from animals theory.....makes sense bc all things emit an energy. not only that, suffering causes actual toxins to be created and dumped into the bloodstream. that goes not just for animals either but when you eat those animals, you get a dose of toxic sludge.

as for sauces....i like tahina (or tahini). good for raw vegetables. I also like mushroom sauces. saute mushrooms of all kinds, onions, spices then blend. Add oil if you like (non inflammatory ones so they should be unprocessed like olive, sunflower, rice bran....no canola...totally processed and unhealthy-don't believe the hype)

As for health conditions, my niece has IBS and a vegetarian diet has helped quite a bit. as for the arthritis, joints are affected by processed sugars and especially processed oils. canola is so hyped up. it comes from a sickly green seed and is processed to death till it becomes an edible trans fat oil,....that is till it goes rancid.
anyway, corn, being a gmo, is out, so is soybean oil. all of these can cause joint issues and arthritis.
good oil options are olive, rice bran, coconut and sesame.

Reed.....as for IBS and vegan/vegetarian just remember that a lot of raw veggies will cause the urge to use the bathroom. (Pretty sure it's not just me!) Maybe add a daily probiotic?

This is Dr. John McDougall's recommendation on IBS:

http://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougall/021100puchained.htm

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it.

Day 4 of a vegan diet and it's going well so far. Lots of veggies but I'm cooking them. Loving the quinoa. Kinda getting tired of lentils but I got some beans so we'll try those tomorrow.

Well, the vegan thing didn't work out for me. I appreciate your ideas but my issue is that whenever I've tried to do this I wind up with pretty bad dizzy spells. I've been doing the vegan thing for 10 days now and I had two pretty serious dizzy spells this morning.

I've tried this several times in the past and each time I have this problem.

It really bums me out. : (

Sorry to hear about experience. I hate for you to give up.
You could try an elimination diet to figure out what your body is reacting to. Limiting fruit to two servings per day and not drinking smoothies (I don't know that you are, it's just a common newbie thing) might help as well.

http://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/common-health-problems/allergic-reactions-to-food/

I wish I could continue too. I was having a Lara bar for breakfast with coffee and almond milk. Lunch was tofu with veggies and rice noodles and vegan spaghetti sauce. Dinner was usually beans or lentils with rice or quinoa and veggies. I did make a fruit/veggie juice but I've been on that for years - a pint a day. Snacks were veggies with hummus or fruit. Not sure where I went wrong but this is how I get every single time I try to do the vegan thing. I don't eat eggs or dairy at all so I am either a meat eater or vegan.

There are many great health benefits for going vegan. Some important doctors to look up and examine their research. John McDougall, Dr. Esseltyn, Dr. Colin Campbell, Dr. Joe Furhman. There have been many examples of reduction of autoimmune disorders - diabetes, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Dr. Esselytn works at the Cleveland Clinic and has done studies where heart disease was reversed.

I've been vegan in the past and have recently gone back to it. I live in a great area that has many restaurants that offer good vegan choices and a world class vegan restaurant a few miles away. The biggest hurdle to being vegan is being prepared. The last thing you want to be doing is grabbing a bag of chips because its the only vegan thing you can lay your hands on. Have an "emergency kit" - nuts, fruit or veg so you can eat vegan food that is actually good for you.

Cooking is your friend. Most vegan recipes are crazy easy and don't take long to prepare because veggies cook a lot faster than meat. Soaking beans in advance instead of buying canned all the time will say you a ton. It really doesn't take any longer either except you have to remember to soak them the night before.

Otherwise - experiment and find 5-7 meals that you like and make those your staples. Make it something you can whip up easily. As you get better at things you can add other recipes.

Spices are your friends.....you can make the same bean dish a 100 different ways with just a few changes to the spices and adding a veg or two.