Hey, I think you're going to get a lot of responses telling you to eat more protein and calories. You could do that, I guess, but I'm going to go against the grain right off the bat and suggest doing some weight resistance training-- whether it's body weight or actual dumbells-- to get past this plateau, instead of limiting a food group or upping calories significantly (though if you find you're feeling deprived or sluggish, you might find eating more in terms of raw veggies throughout the day will make you feel a ton better). I would certainly try eating normally (near maintenance levels, or around 2000 calories) once a week, too, just so you don't feel deprived and your body stays happy. I know when I stall after a while at a low-cal level, a spike day with a resistance workout usually kicks my body back into gear. Make sure you're accountable for everything you eat, too. Don't allow little snacks and bites of things go unaccounted for, or else you won't have the deficits want and are recording. On another note, are you going through stress? I can't lose when I'm under pressure. Perhaps trying some breathing exercises before bed will help, too!

Oh WOW! I want some of that magical stuff! ... Just kidding, Reported.

Pam-u-la, quinoa is an excellent source of vegan protein if you're sick of beans and tofu for the time being. It's very versatile, too. You can use it as a side dish, a salad, in soup, or a whole meal! Beyond that, there's always nuts and other legumes. Lentils, fresh green beans, the list goes on. I sometimes add a few tablespoons of miso to vegetable soup for extra flavour and protein, too. And miso is cheap at Asian grocery stores! The truth is, while protein is definitely important and you shouldn't be eating all refined carbs or all fat as a vegan (or as anyone else, for that matter!), it's not difficult to get enough protein on a vegan diet so long as you're eating balanced meals. Just make sure your meal is healthy and has some sort of protein source, whether that's beans, tofu, or just some broccoli and brown rice, and you should be okay. There are dangers of eating too much protein, and I would do some research to determine the amount of protein that's right for you... You might find it's easier to get there than you think!

The main reason I went vegan for a few months last year was to save food money-- not lose weight. I actually lost 20 pounds while eating healthier than I ever had. I focused on never really leaving the produce section of my grocery store. If you want to save money, skip the "diet" foods which are marked up because they're marketed to make you think they're healthier (when many times they have little nutritional value), and buy in-season vegetables (I second danihyde's notion of farmer's markets-- not only do you save money, but you're helping farmers out directly), and only buy bulk grains (think quinoa, barley, brown rice, millet). You have to want to COOK to make it work, both diet-wise and budget-wise. I made a ton of soup every Sunday and froze it in lunch-sized containers for the week, made a bunch of beans to last me, and "fun" things like granola bars and pilafs. I've since added dairy (always organic though), which has increased my budget by a little, but when I was vegan I was eating very comfortably spending around $40-50 a week on food, which is outrageously cheap where I live. Another thing I realized is that food is what makes us all function. It's the body's fuel and is WORTH budgeting a little more for. I was very short on cash while I was vegan, and decided to buy the best food I could instead of going out with friends and buying new clothes. I had never felt better! Oh, and most vegan pre-packaged foods are very expensive, and not as good as what you can make at home. So I actually WOULD recommend buying beans (though I must say, I rarely eat tofu). Good luck!

Alberta, Canada