Soy ice cream and other substitutes made from soy and wheat gluten are very tasty. However, it is a lot healthier to eat a great variety of foods from various sources. Soy and wheat gluten should generally be limited, if not eliminated altogether, as they are highly allergic for many people and do not promote good health for those who are not technically allergic. The monotonous consumption of wheat products for example is linked to diabetes, and eating too much soy can lead to health problems such as hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism. Tofu is highly processed and should be regarded as a condiment; TVP and soy protein isolate are outright damaging to health and should be avoided altogether. Only tempeh is a naturally healthy form of soy, but even so should not be eaten more than once a week at most, maybe twice a week if you're of Chinese or southeast Asian descent (in which case your biology is better able to deal with it). Avoid GMO soy (always choose organic soy, or at least non-GMO soy), which is genetically modified to allow farmers to saturate fields in Round Up weed killer without killing the soy (we do not need studies to prove the hazards of stockpiling Round Up in your liver).
You can find rice-based and coconut-based ice creams, yogurts, and other foods that are really tasty and healthier as well. The saturated fat found in coconut (and chocolate too) is actually essential to incorporate on a weekly basis for vegans, as these are the only two major sources of saturated fats for vegans. We tend to get very, very little saturate fat as vegans, and getting some is actually quite critical it turns out (it promotes healthy thyroid functioning, for example).
During the past twelve years as a vegan, I found myself suffering some ill effects like chronic fatigue (from an underactive thyroid) and acid reflux. Allergy testing and a holistic health counselor scrutinizing my diet revealed moderate allergies to some tree nuts and wheat gluten, and the need to eliminate soy (which suppresses thyroid functioning) and vary my diet a lot more. I was eating a range of foods, but not enough; I now try to eat at leasty 40 different plant-based sources of foods in each week, and make every meal as colorful as possible, to ensure a healthier diet and avoid the problems I caused for myself with food monotony. The key to optimal health is to be as varied and natural as possible.
I really wish prepared vegan foods would stop being made exclusively out of soy and wheat gluten, and that they'd start using foods like chick peas and other legumes, as well as rice, quinoa and many other grains. Companies should really start doing this.
Vegetarian dishes that are chinese/vietnamese/thai ect. aren't always 100% vegetarian!!
I'm vegetarian and let me tell you that some of the places I've tried which are mostly chinese, vietnamese or thai places... I always end up finding a piece of meat in my food. I use to work at a chinese restaurant and the vegetarian dishes aren't 100% vegetarian because sometimes they use oyster sauce or fish sauce. I'm a very strict vegetarian and to me that's not acceptable. So if you have any questions about asian dishes let me know... from experience I don't trust eating chinese or any asian places.... oh boy i'm making my people look bad :P
Eating out is definitely the hardest part about being vegan. My suggestion is to think of it this way - most people only eat so many foods anyway (we tend to have small palates), so pick a handful of places you know have vegan options and then you won't be stuck wringing your hands over where to go for lunch or dinner. For example, I always get the 7 layer burrito with no cheese or sour cream at Taco Bell, their fresco options also take away all the dairy products they use as well. You favorite chinese place will have steamed veggies and rice or tofu lomein or certainly one or two vegan options. You get the picture.. For some reason, knowing a number of dishes and restaurants you can go to and be vegan makes it much easier because there's no long debate over where to go.. just do some research online - almost all fast food restaurants have their menus posted on their websites - and then you'll be set the next time some says, 'Let's do lunch!'
Seriously, eating out is a pain. But, hey, you'll get the hang of it! Over time, you'll know exactly what to get at any restaurant and exactly what to buy at the supermarket; it will all be second nature in no time! Possible challenge: IHOP. I just get hash browns. Bummer. Just don't attempt the ridiculous (I'm looking at you, Texas Roadhouse, Long John Silver's, and Baskin Robbins!).
I love soy ice cream! Somewhat better than dairy ice cream, in fact. It usually has less sugar, too.
On the ethnic restaurants list, Ethiopian is another kind that's very vegetarian/vegan friendly. In any Ethiopian restaurant, I've found I can count on at least half the menu being vegetarian, and all the vegetarian food either is vegan or can easily be made that way. Thai food also--most Thai restaurants have vegetarian versions of every dish on the menu, which are typically free of dairy and usually free of eggs, or can have the egg eliminated. In Indian restaurants, you may have to be extra careful if you want to avoid dairy... more Indian dishes than you might think have milk, butter, or cream as a base.
There is soy ice cream, which is very tasty. And there is also soy yoghurt. Maybe, if you are used to the dairy ice cream or yoghurt, it might take a little time to get used to the soy varieties, but it really is worth it because they are so good.
I find chinese and indian restaurants are safe places to eat, also soup n salad restaurants, so I can still eat out with friends.
I am really missing ice cream and some cheeses. I have not given into temptation but it is getting more difficult. Any advice or encouragement would be appreciated.
i keep it simple when I eat out. I will order fruit salad or side salad with oil and vinegar. Check out the side dishes, like plain baked potato, or maybe rice pilaf (check to make sure there is no butter in it), or steamed veggies. Salad bars and buffets are great because they usually have lots of fruit and veggies. At breakfast you can eat the hashbrowns too. Some places now have soy milk lattes, which are super yummy.
As very, very strict vegans for many years now, we have found that the only easy way to handle the problem of eating out is by not eating out!
I'm serious. Unless you go to a completely vegan restaurant (of which there are hardly any to none in existence), whatever you eat will have been cooked in pans or grills or pots in which meat or dairy was also cooked at one time or another.
For us, this is simply not acceptable.
Also, with food prices going up all the time, making restaurant meals more and more expensive, we have found that eating at home is cheaper. Besides, we know what we like and how to cook it, so why settle for somebody else's idea of 'vegan'?
