Recently I know I have mostly been posting my day to day meals - partially to keep record, partially to hold myself accountable - but today I would like to share with you a recent experience I had: visiting a nutritionist.
When I decided on going vegan, I was fully aware that my eating habits would have to change drastically. That said, I was not completely sure about the details - which vitamins I would have to make up for, things to actively eat more of, etc.
Thankfully, there is a nutritionist on campus who I was able to visit without any additional fees, and she had a lot of valuable information I would like to share with those of you who might be contemplating veganism, already vegan and worried about your nutrient intake, or those of you who are just curious!
Going into her office, I was slightly intimidated. It was a small but pristine space, obviously kept neat. After walking in, I was invited to take a seat in one of three chairs in what was probably an 8x10ft room and also asked if I would mind if the nutritionist allowed a graduate student to sit in on our meeting. I didn’t mind, so as she went to fetch the grad student, I was left alone in the room. There was a basket by my feet with small rubber food models and a zen garden on the small table in front of me.
When she returned, instead of launching into the specifics of the vegan meal plan as I assumed she would - I had indicated in my email that my purpose in arranging a meeting would be to discuss veganism - the nutritionist began to probe me about my eating habits, past and present. She asked about any weight loss or weight gain, medical history, medication and drug use, etc, including whether or not I had any issues with body image and the way I look. Overall, it was a very comprehensive examination, and one I had not expected, although, in retrospect, it is quite...
After running through the above, she came to the conclusion that considering I have lost about 5 lbs since coming to college and about 2 since going vegan, I need to boost my caloric intake, especially my protein content, my B12 intake, iron, and vitamin D. In specific, she recommended snacking more and heavier - counter-intuitive, I know - particularly suggesting peanut butter as it is offered in small prepackaged containers at the dining hall for free. After hearing my dilemma about breakfast and my sad story about the frequent appearance of the terribly mustardy tofu scramble at the freshman dining hall, suggested pairing a piece of toast or English Muffin with peanut butter to my daily oatmeal, as well as replacing my normal tea or almond milk with soy milk which is higher in protein. For lunch, she recommended actually eating a balanced lunch, perhaps by picking up a bean soup from ABP, relatively affordable cafe on campus. And for dinner, she stressed the importance of centering my meals around my protein source and supplementing with vegetables, as well as the value of accompanying foods heavy in iron with foods high in vitamin C as they it easier for the body to absorb iron. Nuts were another suggestion for a healthy snack as well as source of healthy fats, and olives as a dinner addition to make my meals more well rounded.
All in all, I would recommend going to see a nutritionist if you are considering a vegan lifestyle change. While they do include broad information about common areas of caution for vegans, my nutritionist at least was very interested in my life and how to best address the intersection of my eating habits, life circumstances, and health history.
Breakfast: Oatmeal, fruit plate (melon, blueberries, strawberries, a banana), granola, gluten-free toast, granola, and a glass of soymilk.
Lunch: A cup of vegan chili, side of steamed broccoli, and a red delicious apple
Dinner: A bowl of curried chickpea salad, apple, 2 oranges (I am actually on a train right now and didn’t have time to pack anything more substantial before I got on :/ )
Snacks: frozen banana, dried dates, dried pineapple, dark chocolate
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