I'm a vegan and there is something really helpful you should take a look at... The vegan food pyramid - use this a guide of what types of food options you should eat: *The Vegan Food Pyramid: http://www.nutrispeak.com/veganfoodguide... *Additional information on vegan foods options: http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack... As with any other diet, try to keep it balanced & varied - there are a lot of great alternatives out there for you to discover!!

They say beans and rice make a perfect protein, and it also makes a tasty meal. Enjoy 3-5 fresh fruits a day and 5-7 fresh vegetables a day if you can. Then add something with protein, like a peanut butter sandwich or some tofu, or if you're hankering for something a bit more "normal" go to the local health food store and grab some vegan meatballs or veggie burger. It's all about finding a balance, and after a while you should figure it out. Also consider vitamins like iron and B12, so take a multi-vitamin or drink fortified soy milk. There are also some great vegan cereals (many you probably enjoyed in childhood) that are fortified with the things you need. Read "Skinny B*tch," it is an excellent book about the vegan diet and will tell you exactly what a vegan should eat to be healthy (it's not really about being skinny).

The foods that you should eat as a vegan to meet your optimal health should include fruits and vegetables that contain all the nutrition that a body needs to be healthy. Proteins are best obtained from soy milk or tofu and sugar can be obtained from sweet fruits such as cherry.