First day without meat. (Go me!) Am I doing it right?

I am fine, thankyou for your concern.

Totally agree with you Roy!

I originally turned vegetarian for ethical reasons and I didn't care about my health. But since becoming vegan, I've realised it's more than that, and when you eliminate so many food groups you need to make sure you are getting all the nutrients required.

Monster, I don't know if you have read up on B12 (?). If not, please do, but if you decide that it's not for you, that's fine.

I did a consultation with Amanda Benham, a dietician in vegetarian and vegan nutrition. She's based in Qld but does consultation in person or via email or phone. You basically tell her what you normally eat, supplements you take, exercise etc and she tells you what your diet is lacking. That's how I found out about B12, Iodine and Omega.

www.veg.onestop.net

As I said before, I'm fine. I don't have any health problems, I go for regular tests at the doctor, I'm fine. I don't need people lecturing me about the way I eat. It's sufficient and quite healthy. The day it starts to affect my heath, is the day I will consider taking supplements. I'm of the belief if you eat properly, you don't need supplements. And I think you will find that alot of people think this way. It doesn't make me ignorant.

Fair enough MISSMONSTER, that's your decision. What you believe contravenes what every vegan organisation in the world is advising. As for your regular blood tests at the doctor, they are unreliable (if you are curious, you may wish to see the link below).

However, to everyone else reading this, you must be made aware that every reputable vegan organisation in the world advises vegans to take a B12 supplement.
B12 does not occur in reliable levels in vegan food. There is no way to eat 'properly' and get vitamin B12. You will get sick without it, and the symptoms, including neurological damage may not be apparent for years.

EVERYONE: YOU WILL GET SICK WITHOUT B12 SUPPLEMENTS.

From the Vegan Society website, the oldest vegan society in the world:

http://www.vegansociety.com/lifestyle/nutrition/b12.aspx

Can you recommend a good B12 supplement, Roy?

I got mine from Queensland and are about to run out. So I'll have to see what are cheap & vegan.
I don't think there's a lot between them. I think vegan ones are made from fermented plum skins.

thats awesome congrats!!

to me, thats a better food intake then me.
me its ususally

Breakfast: Nothing
Brunch (usually eaten 2nd period of school): grapes or a juice box
Lunch: what ever is in the wrap my friend gives me
Snacks: Gluten free lollies.
dinner: tofu dogs or celery.

I don't eat much my body can't take it and if I do, I work it off.

^^ on the bright side
celery takes 10 calories to digest
it has 1 calorie each stick
you lose 9 calories everytime you eat a celery stick..

Nomnomnom =D


oh and I have an iron tablet at lunch and iron, calcium and B12 tablets at dinner.

I don't want to get back into the supplement thing but I did want to add that if you (like me) don't want to take supplements you MUST ensure that you're eating fortified foods in order to get the proper amount of B12.

I know that many people consider fortified foods as 'supplements,' but, as I think has been established, I do like to go the 'food not pills' path and so, the consumption of some fortified foods is required (and there are heaps of them.  I even drink a brand of water that contains B12.  As does Marmite.  So do heaps of Sanitarium products (although many of them aren't vegan, I believe.  I don't eat too many mock-meats - and those I do are all Fry's).

The fortified foods are a great, natural way to avoid taking B12 supplements.

I take Freeda B12 lozenges. And they're yummy too!

http://crueltyfreeshop.com.au/?main_page=index&cPath=1_11_37&zenid=666d006d8a78545773c8870b83e3bbec

And totally agree with you Roy... the only reason I take the tablet is because I don't drink milk and hardly eat mock meats fortified with B12. Better safe than sorry