How do I avoid nutrient deficiency as a vegan? (Part 2)

October 18, 2015 Ashley 0 Comments

So, we’ve already covered some of the vital-for-vegans foods.

Stuff that’s high in iron, B12, omega-3, calcium…

But what remains… is the question that started this all for me:

Q: WDYGY…Protein?

A: Lentils, garbanzos, chickpeas, and soy beans. And nuts. And maybe tempeh. And seitan.

Yes, beans are yet another smart choice to have on deck.

If for no other reason than to chuck all of it rapidfire style at the omnivorous troglodytes when they ask you dumb things like, “Where do you get your prooooteeeein, tho?” And that’s mostly because beans like lentils, garbanzos, and chickpeas are a great source of it. But if you’re like me – who loves eating but doesn’t have the time to make it recreational – let’s cut to the chase. Which choices are highest for us in protein? Well, soybeans and lentils seem to have the highest protein content as far as beans go (check and check). However, even higher than those two appear to be some stuff called “tempeh” and “seitan”. And… I actually dunno what any’a that is. So I hafta go look them up. For both of our sakes.

(And the sake of our glistening tresses and unbreakable claws.)

I’ll clearly need to do some extensive research….

(…Fast forward five minutes. Which might as well be one million years…)

And the verdict?

Well, tempeh, they say, is like tofu –soy derived. However, it’s described as being a bit more textured and nutty in taste than its popular cousin. While I’m willing to try (almost) anything once, I’m wondering how “worth it” supplanting my occasional chunk of flavorless, opaque, soy Jell-o with this thing would be. On the other hand, I’m not a huge fan of food that has to undergo processing of any kind prior to arriving on my plate to begin with. So the next blue moon I’m in the mood for tofu, I’ll try tempeh instead.

As for seitan?

Which I’m still not sure how to pronounce?

Well, for those of you who’re legit gluten intolerant, it might as well be.

‘cause the stuff – though high in protein as promised – is derived from wheat gluten, the main protein of wheat. If you’re allergy free, however, this stuff is said to be an exceptional meat stand-in. In fact, hard core vegetarians and vegans who’ve come to hate tastes remotely reminiscent of meat will avoid the stuff. It’s that comparable to the carcasses you ate in your former life. I myself don’t miss meat too much. But if you find yourself nostalgic about your barbecue days and only following veganism as a compassionate penance, then mayhaps seitan’s the thing missing from your life.

You know, it’s interesting – how compartmentalized people’s thinking can be.

Where do you get your protein? Where do you get your iron? Where do you get…?

It’s typical of the separatist Western mindset. I suppose I can’t fault any of ‘em. I, mean, I used to be ignorant about that too. We don’t like holistic answers. We’re not raised that way, most of us. We’re used to one pill for one problem and another for the next. But, the truth is, we wouldn’t need any pills if we zoomed out on the bigger picture. I’m rarely ill any more. Why? ‘cause I live out the old Hippocrates quote of “Let thy food be thy pharmaceuticals”. (Or something like that.) The stuff I’ve got in my fridge and cupboards collaborate to meet all the requirements I need on a daily basis.

Where one nom’s not high enough in one thing, another ingredient can supplement it later – while also providing the next thing on the list I need. (Protip: if you don’t fill up on junk food, it’s easier to accomplish this.) As hinted above, I didn’t even need to do this article breakdown to prove that. And, as I replied after a coworker’s caustic line of inquiries the other day about “where I get my iron”… “I dunno – but I sure as shiz get it. I run twice a day, do strength training daily, and do kickboxing twice a week. I woke up at 4 today, did some yoga, wrote an article, ran, and did my weekly grocery shopping – all before a nine hour workday on my feet. I’ve got the energy to fit two work days into one.” Then I wondered, “How much exercise do you do on your non vegan diet?”

The answer I usually get is one issued through derpy chuckle: “Well, I’m just lazy.”

To which I can’t help but retort:

“Yeah. I used to be too. Before I went vegan.”

Talking about veganism is something I don’t bring up voluntarily in a non-article conversation. It only happens when someone offers me food that doesn’t jibe with my diet or asks me a food specif question. Yet, once I do, I often become a source for ridicule. Generally it’s in jest – in which case I can play along and don’t get too smartypants on ‘em. But some people take it too far. These are the ones worth putting on your geek specs for and dropping some knowledge bombs on.

And I understand that convo will be tough to accept – not just because it creates cognitive dissonance for the asker about the fact that they thought they’d asked a really clever, unanswerable question that pokes a flaw hole in your dietary choices… and quickly realized they didn’t. But also because the yes-and to that is that – if we’re totally healthy as non-animal product consumers – then maybe they might have to question how they’re gonna keep justifying their own dietary choices. You don’t even need to point that out to them. They’ll start to wonder it on their own after you lay the educational smack down on ’em.

I say all this because, once you make the change and start loving how you feel, you’ve gotta remember:

Haters only taunt you when they feel insecure about something they’re doing wrong.

They know full well that they aren’t going to change our minds with chiding. That’s not the aim. They just feel badly deep down because they’re accustomed to their own bad habits and can’t change them. When someone’s that unhappy, often a good outlet’s to try and destroy other people’s pleasure. That way, they can at least feel less alone. Which is exactly why you’ll only ever hear me invite you to make this amazing change – not shame you for the programming installed into you by a corporation governed society that benefits from it.

But you’re allowed to make the change any time you wanna start marinating in greatness.

Be fit. Feel light. Have glowy skin. Enjoy endless energy.

Give it a try, if you like.

I can’t handle all this awesome by myself.