Transitioning to vegetarian/vegan w/major life changes

[des]

Hello there! I'd love to get more support for going vegetarian/vegan as I'm moving back to the Bay Area (where I was born and raised) from WI. Along with relocation, searching for a new job, etc., etc., I'm transitioning to veganism after more than a decade and a half of not eating beef or pork products. So far, I haven't found it too difficult to avoid meat (though sushi's a big temptation), but it's been a lot of salads and veggies more than anything. In small town Wisconsin, options are few. I'm planning on just sticking to not eating meat for the remaining couple of months I'm here, then transitioning to vegan fully when I get back home. It will be a lifestyle change, but I'm looking forward to trying new recipes and being more mindful of what I eat. With the busyness of life (and as a natural born procrastinator to boot), I'm concerned about not having the time to plan ahead and getting stuck continually eating something unfullfilling and uninspired. I bought "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone recently, but am wondering about the availability of many of the ingredients in her recipes, such as umeboshi plum, brown rice syrup, etc. Can anyone provide suggestions on where to get some of these seemingly rare items around the San Jose area? Thank you and I look forward to meeting some of you at the BAV events when I come home!

[tammy]

Hi Des, congratulations on your decision to go vegan!

In the San Jose area, you should be able to find many of the specialty foods you're looking for at Whole Foods.

For vegan eating while in a small town in WI, perhaps you should see if you can find "The Peaceful Palate" by Jennifer Raymond. It's entirely vegan, but uses foods commonly food at local grocery stores (don't need to have a natural foods store).

You can also buy alot of the specialty vegan foods online or try Asian food markets for some things (not been to WI, don't know if that's possible)

For example, they sell alot of specialty items
http://www.healthy-eating.com/

I wasn't sure if you are already here in the Bay Area, or if you will be moving here soon?

Tammy

[des]

Hi Tammy - Thanks so much for the book and web recommendations, I'm going to order that cookbook today! There is a Whole Foods market not too far from my work, so I'll need to make an effort to get out there more, just try to make it more of weekly routine.

I'm not yet back in San Jose, I'm still job hunting but will be back around mid- to late May. Thanks again for the response, I hope to meet you in person when I'm back home!
- Desiree