BFing Veg Newbie needs some help/ideas/support please!

[jwoodbri]

Hi Ladies!

I just joined in the 21-day Vegan Kickstart yesterday. I've been trying to eat more vegetarian as it was so I thought I would give it a try. In the end I think I will be either vegetarian or mostly vegetarian (maybe still fish??) with lots of vegan meals thrown in. But I am worried that since I don't know what I am doing that I will end up accidentally harming myself or my breastfeeding 8 month old nutritionally while I figure out how to do things right vegetarian/vegan. (Not so worried about the 2 1/2 yo that still nurses once a day.) Help?!

I'm so clueless I'm not even sure what I'm worried about leaving out! Protein? Necessary vitamins? Calcium? What do I absolutely need to include each day? What amounts? (I know there isn't one answer I'm sure but some guidelines or resources for guidelines would be helpful.)

Also I am hungry often now... maybe knowing some good snack food would help? And it could be my imagination but I don't think I'm producing as much milk. (And to make this make more sense... I started a few weeks ago trying to stop eating processed foods, sugar, meats, dairy and gluten when I have an option so I don't just mean since my vegan trial that I started yesterday!

Any help or reassurances would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

My back story in a nutshell: diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in Nov. been through surgeries and now most likely will choose the "watch and wait" method of further treatment instead of the very toxic with less than 10% chance of delaying a recurrence treatment. In addition I want to boost my immune system through nutrition, exercise etc. which leads me to here...

[BeanyMama]

Congrats to you on start the 21 day vegan kickstart! How are you feeling at this stage in it?

Sorry to hear about the melanoma. I think you're on the right path to boosting your system.

Best of luck!

[SundayCrepes]

I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian with dreams of going the vegan route. Because I have a toddler, I'm sticking with being lacto-ovo until she's at least 3 since I, too, am worried I won't do it right.

I just got this book from the library: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

It has specific chapters on what you need during all stages of life, especially pregnancy, lactation, infancy through 3 and childhood. Maybe your library has it as well.

[KimL]

you maybe should consult a veg nutritionist as you do have special medical needs?

but, in short.... snack. i found when i was bf'ing i was so hungry all the time and craved fat/protein so much. Eat avacados! i know some babes have side effects to moms that eat too much bean protein, mine was fine but I've heard stories otherwise and avacado has lots of good fats! Don't go crazy on the soy and fake meat products... keep it simple and real. just eat often and take your vitamins. maybe a flax/borage oil supplement too?

[somegirl99]

Just seconding the recommendation for the Becoming Vegan book, it's full of lots of really helpful nutritional info.

[lilyka]

i would advise you to start slow. If you feel ok about holding onto fish eggs and cheese then I would do that. buy the highest quality meats, eggs and cheeses you can afford. Once you see that you are feeling fine and doing well, maybe eliminate one and see how you feel, see if you are making up for things ok. then once you feel good about that eliminate another. etc if at any time you eliminate something and start to feel poorly and can't rebound after tweaking your diet add it back in. you are nursing two children right now and fighting cancer. That is a lot for your body to handle. to say the least!! radically altering your diet suddenly is not neccesarily the best plan. Although gradual positive changes will eventually get you to where you want to go while you body adjusts slowly. good luck!!

[jwoodbri]

Thanks for the responses ladies! I'm doing pretty well now but still feel clueless... learning as I go. I've ended up doing a vegetarian 21 day challenge instead of a vegan one. But I'm happy with that. I've been doing lots of vegan meals too. I've decided to keep eggs and cheese most of the time but have switched to rice and almond milk.

Once I complete the challenge I will keep fish too and probably occasionally do organic chicken. It's hard for me to not change the kids diet at the same time... how do veg mamas do it? Do your kids eat the same things you do or do they eat a different diet? Currently my 4 yo in particular is refusing to eat many of the new meals we have been preparing especially anything with beans, lentils, nuts... you know all the good veg protein sources. I hope it's just a stage.

I have a gazillion books in my shopping cart on Amazon (mainly vegetarian/vegan cookbooks) which I need to pare down but feel free to throw more suggestions my way. I find them very helpful!

[susumama]

Congrats on taking the challenge. I second what a previous poster has said about seeing a dietitian - one who specialises in veg*nism, not just anyone as they can be as prejudist against veg*n diets as the next person.

Read a few books & eat a variety of foods. It's natural to worry about deficiencies with a veg*n diet when the propaganda machine constantly tells us we could be lacking but just think of the average meat & dairy eating diet & how devoid most are of fruit & veg (our main vitamin & mineral sources) & how full of processed crap they are & you see that MOST standard diets are far more lacking than most veg*n diets, as most veg*ns take their health far more seriously. I saw research recently that found just 4 vitamins & minerals as commonly lacking in veg*ns but 15 in meat eaters because of the lack of fresh fruit & veg in their diets.

[lilyka]

I did force my kids to switch with me (at least at home. when eating out they may choose their own food most of the time including school lunches). Just keep offering and offering. eventually you will find something they like. and I do compromise and give them things like boca chicken and morningstar farms ribblets and other fake meats occaisionally.