I am a new vegan entering week 3 with very basic questions.

[Lost-in-FL]

And please, pardon my ignorance on the subject.

I thought I was following a %100 vegan diet until I checked some of the "vegan" products that I purchased.

For example, I bought a very tasty, rice based cheese that I later noticed that contained casein. If I really wanted casein, I would have bought the real thing... right? Because of this finding, I went ahead and checked many of the products I bought and to my disappointment, some of the products had in some way or another, animal products (i.e. eggs, whey and casein).

I really thought I read the labels thoroughly but I guess some of the ingredients are not so obvious... or maybe (silly me) trusted these companies to be a bit less... misleading maybe?

So my question is... What are the most reliable brand names that are know to be 100% animal free? Are there any other guidelines besides the V in the back of the package I should check? How much do you care about a vegan product that also says that the product "is made in a facility that also process milk or dairy products"? Sorry if my questions are elementary, but I want to do this right. I don't really feel I should be paranoid about this but I don't want to feel like I have been cheating either.

Also, how do you deal with discovering that you mistakenly eat a non-vegan-vegan product? Is this common? Do you just blow it off and don't touch the product again?

A happy newly vegan.

[flvegan]

1. First off, congrats on your new veganity.

Is that a word? Anyway...

You really do need to read labels closely until you're sure of what products you're buying. As far as brands go, there are really only a few brands you might find that 100% of their stuff is vegan. I think (and don't quote me on this) all of the Turtle Island Foods (the Tofurky people) are vegan. That's about the only brand I see in a supermarket that's always vegan. Regardless, you'll get the hang of it in no time. We've all been there.

Personally, I don't care that much if something is made somewhere that dairy products are. As long as my vegan stuff is kept away from the dairy stuff and its equipment, I'm fine.

Back in the day, if I mistakenly ate something non-vegan, I didn't sweat it. Like you right now, I didn't know all the non-vegan ingredients. How would I have known that something was red because of crushed beetles being used as the coloring? Who would suspect something like egg-wash on your fresh baked bread? Have to learn somehow.

Lastly, there's doing this wrong. You do the best you can while you learn. While you learn, you really get to know what you're putting in your body. You become more food aware, which I think is invaluable.

Hope you stick around the forum here. We need to liven this place up!

[Lost-in-FL]

2. Thank you!

It has been 1 and a half month and if feels great. I am actually losing some weight, but not complaining!!

[The empressof all]

3. Here's a link to Peta's Vegan Shopping Guide

http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/vegetarian-shopping.aspx

Sad thing is though just because it's Vegan doesn't mean it isn't Junk....Damn those Oreos....and the Paul Newman Ginger Creams.....Right to my Thighs....

[Lost-in-FL]

4. Really, I know exactly what you mean.

:hi:

[Ignis]

5. Oh, now you've done it.

I'm stuck at work and thinking about the Newman's Ginger Creams.

DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

[The empressof all]

6. Honest to goodness I don't know which is worse

Those damn Ginger Creams or the fricken jar of SunButter. We call it Crack in a jar in my house. I have to keep it hidden out of sight...and still it's gone in a week. If you haven't tried it Please--- for your own good stay far far away....