Help with vegetarian diet

Xypher2

Sorry if I posted this on the wrong board.
I'm a vegetarian, but a very unhealthy one. I've never had issues with my weight until last year. I struggle to eat fruit/vegetables and I never have time to cook so I mostly snack. I can't find any active groups that would be able to help.

AliceDark

Hi fellow vegetarian! You should definitely check out this group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/45-happy-herbivores

Xypher2

Thanks, I'll try asking there.

AliceDark

Do you have specific questions that you'd like to ask? I'd be happy to answer any that I can in this thread.

Xypher2

I posted more details in the group but I'm mostly looking for recipes that require very little preparation/cooking that are filling and won't make me rely on snacks.

AliceDark

The first thing to keep in mind is that different people find different things to be filling. If it takes you a little while to figure out what makes you feel the most full, that's okay. The things that people tend to find the most filling are protein, fat and fiber.

I don't really like cooking, so my meals tend to be really simple. I like to pair a protein source with a serving of vegetables (or fruit at breakfast or lunch). My staples include:

Scrambled eggs with some kind of vegetable and cheese
Brown rice with black beans, some kind of vegetable, salsa and cheese (a burrito bowl kind of thing)
Brown rice with an egg, vegetables and spices (a fried rice kind of thing)
Cottage cheese or greek yogurt with tomatoes or fresh fruit
A bag of salad greens with flavored tofu, usually some kind of raisins or cranberries, a nut or seed of some kind and whatever vegetables I have in the fridge

I usually keep some kind of filled pasta (like a tortellini or ravioli) in my freezer, because cheese varieties usually come with a decent amount of protein and pasta is easy to cook.

I roast a ton of veggies in the oven (because, again, that's really minimal cooking). I buy pre-cut packages of broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, green beans, asparagus, whatever, toss it with a little bit of olive oil and then leave it in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Turn once during cooking. If you line the pan with foil, cleanup's easy too.

Xypher2

Thank you for the ideas. I don't have access to a kitchen often but I think I'll be able to make some of them.

janejellyroll

Xypher2 wrote: »

I posted more details in the group but I'm mostly looking for recipes that require very little preparation/cooking that are filling and won't make me rely on snacks.

I am a vegan who likes cooking, but if I didn't like it, I think I would have most of my meals center around canned beans (making quick chili or bean burritos), potatoes topped with baked beans or canned lentil soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pasta tossed with frozen vegetables, canned beans, and some tomato sauce.

AliceDark

janejellyroll wrote: »

Xypher2 wrote: »

I posted more details in the group but I'm mostly looking for recipes that require very little preparation/cooking that are filling and won't make me rely on snacks.

I am a vegan who likes cooking, but if I didn't like it, I think I would have most of my meals center around canned beans (making quick chili or bean burritos), potatoes topped with baked beans or canned lentil soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pasta tossed with frozen vegetables, canned beans, and some tomato sauce.

This was basically my diet in grad school. I'd batch cook brown rice and beans in a crock pot once a week, then sort of assemble my meals throughout the week.

janejellyroll

AliceDark wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Xypher2 wrote: »

I posted more details in the group but I'm mostly looking for recipes that require very little preparation/cooking that are filling and won't make me rely on snacks.

I am a vegan who likes cooking, but if I didn't like it, I think I would have most of my meals center around canned beans (making quick chili or bean burritos), potatoes topped with baked beans or canned lentil soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pasta tossed with frozen vegetables, canned beans, and some tomato sauce.

This was basically my diet in grad school. I'd batch cook brown rice and beans in a crock pot once a week, then sort of assemble my meals throughout the week.

Yes, OP, the Crockpot is a lifesaver if you hate cooking. You can make big batches of beans and grains and eat them for a week. If getting more vegetables is something you want, you can add frozen vegetables or chopped greens to round out the meals.

Xypher2

Thank you for all the replies, I will look into getting one of those.

Xypher2

Just thought I'd give an update.. I've never made rice before and the brown rice came out horrible and dry, just like brown bread, though I'll try again at some point. Still can't cook much so I've taken to mostly eating plain rice cakes, small nut packs and vegan protein bars.

alicebhsia

Do you have access to a microwave and a freezer?

Xypher2

I do have a microwave on hand, but also only a mini fridge, not a freezer.

RodaRose

Do you eat the rice cakes with peanut butter sometimes
Brown and white rice have almost the same nutritional profile. Eating the white is fine. Have you tried canned soups— lentil, also pea soup? : I buy canned chic peas, rinse them, and eat them cold.
I also buy tofu and eat it raw when I do not feel like cooking. You do not have to worry about fridge space of course if you eat the food when you bring it home.
Loook in the canned food isles for foods that could work for you.

lemurcat12

There are some pretty good packaged rice and beans options -- just add oil if you want (I never did) and boil in water, comes with pre added spices. I'd add sauteed vegetables (and feta cheese) -- this is what I lived on in my 20s when I didn't really cook and was a vegetarian.

If you have access to a kitchen occasionally you could try making one and see if you like them, there are a bunch of different kinds. I think you boil and then simmer for a while, not too long. You could batch cook and keep a bowl in the refrigerator and microwave it.

Another thing I ate a bunch back then were those pre-packaged salads, although now I'd add some kind of vegetarian protein to them (I didn't then, but I didn't focus much on nutrition then). Might work as a side. If you have a grocery store near you there might be decent salad bar options to get a big salad and keep it in the refrigerator.

Xypher2

I'd forgotten you could buy rice packs for the microwave, I only ever used pasta. Thanks for the ideas.
I have a bearded dragon so I always have some veg packs in my mini fridge, I guess I'll start sharing with him lol.

Jingsi84

I had a terrible veg diet too and don’t really cook. Now I still eat out a lot but I order things besides pizza or other cheese/bread combos. Pret has fabulous soups, chipotle rice bowls, subway veg delite or patties, cosi light salad w/tofu... I also recommend meat alternatives, especially Quorn. These meat alternatives tend to be high in sodium but high in protein and low cal. With fake ground beef you can make tacos or spaghetti with fake meat sauce, or throw in some fake meatballs. I also love Spanish rice-a-Roni with diced tomatoes and tofu. I also snack on nuts and drink Jamba Juice smoothies with two shots of soy or whey protein.

StevefromMichigan

Xypher2 wrote: »

I'd forgotten you could buy rice packs for the microwave, I only ever used pasta. Thanks for the ideas.
I have a bearded dragon so I always have some veg packs in my mini fridge, I guess I'll start sharing with him lol.

We use the Uncle Ben's microwavable rice a lot. Just tear open part of the top, microwave for 90 seconds, and it comes out great every time. I highly doubt I would even eat rice if I had to cook/steam it all of the time Gotta make sure you open a little to vent prior to microwaving. I have forgotten a couple of times, and it can explode!

readytoleave6393

Vegetarians add me!

hist_doc

I try to make vegetarian versions of the meat-based dishes I make for my husband and son. For example, I do lots of chilis or curries loaded with vegetables. I find that I will eat 1/4 of it and then freeze the other 3/4 so that I have rotating meal options in my freezer and at all times. I also have a six month old daughter, so it's really useful for days when I don't feel like cooking. For the "meat substitute," I've recently been adding bulgar wheat. It gives the chili a nice texture.

Like @AliceDark, I roast veggies in the oven and then eat them with quinoa or wild rice with an orange vinaigrette.