Switching to Vegetarian, help!

sierrajordon

Hi I'm Sierra (: I've been making the switch to vegetarian since summer 2011 i have been alittle of track for awhile but now I am fully committed to making the whole switch. I was raised on meat, like every day and almost every meal had a animal protein! (yikes!) but after reading a few books and doing research I really want to switch. I'm down to one animal protein two or one time out of the week ( mostly dinner). Any tips to making the switch? And when I visit my dad his girlfriend always making dinner with meat in it! I don't want to be rude and I don't have a problem going home and cooking for my self, any advice?

Yakisoba

I ate a lot of foods that had a meaty texture (like mushrooms). I did go into faux meats, but they're just as chemically processed, so I only have them a few times a week.

I would tell your dad's girlfriend that you're trying to make the switch. If she feels like it she can tweak her recipes or you can even offer to cook a vegetarian meal for three. =D

sierrajordon

Thanks (: I was thinking about trying some of the "meat" substitutes but now I'm deff not! And I love mushrooms (: so I will try that!

erickirb

here are a lot of protein ideas to fill the gap left from leaving out meat:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/403124-vegetarian-struggling-to-get-his-protein-levels-up-any-sugg

Yakisoba

Thanks (: I was thinking about trying some of the "meat" substitutes but now I'm deff not! And I love mushrooms (: so I will try that!

I mean, not all meat subbies are bad. They can really help if you need to transition. ;o I love making chili out of Quorn beef crumbles. Plus, no one can tell the difference.

queenpushycat

Wow! That's really super impressive, girl! I have been a vegetarian most of my life but not all because I ate meat, until I totally stop eating meat 8 years ago. It wasn't that hard for me because my family are vegetarian and because my grandma was pushing meat to me when I was young and I couldn't understand the meaning of being vegetarian, my parents didn't say anything. Anyway, for your situation, I would suggest that you don't totally switch to vegetarian right away. It might backfired if you have a sudden change of lifestyle. What I would suggest is, starting from alternate meals, gradually one vegetarian day per week turns alternate days and slowly keeping it to one meat day per week or one meat meal per week. Don't just jump right ahead to be vegetarian, a lot of people feedback to me that they tried jumping straight to be vegetarian the next day and they can't even last for 2 days.

For your questions that your dad's gf cooking meat, you can eat it but just take the meat out (unless it's all mixed like Chili. lol) if it's me, i'll brush the meat aside and eat the rest.

alecta337

After a while of eating no meat, you will actually become ill from eating meat. Just let everyone know that you are not eating meat anymore and they should respect that.

I am currently totally off red meat and I eat poultry twice or three times a month. A few weeks ago I was cooking with red meat for my bf and accidentally had a taste and I got so sooooo sick.

Just warning you to be careful, because once you make the switch, your body stops being able to process it.

IndigoVA

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years. When I go to a family meal where I know meat will be served, I bring my own food. Not just for me, but enough to be shared with everyone. So like for Thanksgiving, I'll bring a Tofurkey to my in law's house. Generally my husband, myself, and our kids are the only ones to eat it, but there's always extra if anyone else wants to try.

As far as the switch in general, I think it's easier to do fake meats in the beginning. As time goes on, you'll learn more about how to cook different types of foods, and you won't need to rely on the processed stuff as much. We eat a lot of Indian, Thai, Chinese, veggie pastas, Mexican with beans rather than meat, etc. It's just a leaning process of finding what foods you like that don't contain meat, and then learning how to prepare them.

jraps17

i did a step down process on a monthly basis i would stop eating a certain protein, i dropped red meat, then poultry, then all seafood, then all animal byproducts i went vegan but i eat cheese again and egg whites now. there is a point when if you decide to do this you'll just have to stop eating it and never look back. I think that if you make your intentions known to your family they may accommdate your choices. They'll be a time of pressure and push back where people in your life are going to question your motives and try to make you or trick you to give up being a vegetarian. at least that was my experience but after a while like with everything else people accept it and they work around it or with you. I dont miss meat or crave it if I did i would just eat it but i don't. I'm going into my eight year now.

sierrajordon

Omg great advice! Right now it's really easy for me to just eat at least 5 days out of the weeks vegetarian because I cook for my self and I love making salads and pasta and many other things. It's when the weekend hits and I got out with my dad or go to their house. My mom is supportive of me and so is my boyfriend it's great (: but I'll deff try to pick the meat out of the dish, with the things she makes most of the time that's really easy!

caitindabx

I am a vegetarian but I do eat fish and dairy products although I steer towards organic, free range, wild caught stuff. This definitely helps me to get the protein I need. I know that for me if I didn't eat fish & eggs I wouldn't feel well and would end up eating a lot more junk food and sugary stuff.

If you don't want to eat any animal products then I would recommend trying to cook tofu to replace meat. It can be hard to prepare but it makes a good filler in a lot of recipes that would include some meat such as stir fry or sandwiches. Some people who try to be vegetarians don't eat enough veggies which is a big mistake. If you're a vegetarian fresh veggies should be that focus of your diet. They will fill you up and give you lots of nutrients!

Be careful on a vegetarian diet not to eat too many carbs. That is actually how I gained so much weight over the past year. I ate lots of vegetarian pasta dishes and I ate rice almost every day and BLEW UP!!! Since cutting out pastas, breads, and most carbs oevr the past 2 months I've lost 15 lbs.. so if you're trying to lose weight just go easy with the carbs.

Friend me if you'd like my diary is open and I can answer any questions you may have!

As for your dad's girlfriend always making dinners with meats in them, next time you are going to dinner just let them know in advance that you are not eating meat and maybe offer to bring a vegetarian dish to share? They should respect your decision and will hopefully prepare something for you that doesn't contain meat.

Good luck!

sierrajordon

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years. When I go to a family meal where I know meat will be served, I bring my own food. Not just for me, but enough to be shared with everyone. So like for Thanksgiving, I'll bring a Tofurkey to my in law's house. Generally my husband, myself, and our kids are the only ones to eat it, but there's always extra if anyone else wants to try.

As far as the switch in general, I think it's easier to do fake meats in the beginning. As time goes on, you'll learn more about how to cook different types of foods, and you won't need to rely on the processed stuff as much. We eat a lot of Indian, Thai, Chinese, veggie pastas, Mexican with beans rather than meat, etc. It's just a leaning process of finding what foods you like that don't contain meat, and then learning how to prepare them.

Do you know any good tasting fake meat? The company's names? I'm kinda nervous trying tofu and such.

sierrajordon

i did a step down process on a monthly basis i would stop eating a certain protein, i dropped red meat, then poultry, then all seafood, then all animal byproducts i went vegan but i eat cheese again and egg whites now. there is a point when if you decide to do this you'll just have to stop eating it and never look back. I think that if you make your intentions known to your family they may accommdate your choices. They'll be a time of pressure and push back where people in your life are going to question your motives and try to make you or trick you to give up being a vegetarian. at least that was my experience but after a while like with everything else people accept it and they work around it or with you. I dont miss meat or crave it if I did i would just eat it but i don't. I'm going into my eight year now.

Yeah my dad said it was bad for my health and such, I don't miss it or crave it. But I have been craving peanut butter lately (: haha
But I never really thought of the step down process. That's good idea!

caitindabx

There is a brand called Gardein that has awesome fake chicken and they even have these fake beef tips that are great in stews or stir frys

also MorningStar has awesome products

Just go to your local supermarket and visit the frozen food aisle.. there are a bunch of vegetarian meat alternatives to try. Just watch the carb and salt content!

sierrajordon

I am a vegetarian but I do eat fish and dairy products although I steer towards organic, free range, wild caught stuff. This definitely helps me to get the protein I need. I know that for me if I didn't eat fish & eggs I wouldn't feel well and would end up eating a lot more junk food and sugary stuff.

If you don't want to eat any animal products then I would recommend trying to cook tofu to replace meat. It can be hard to prepare but it makes a good filler in a lot of recipes that would include some meat such as stir fry or sandwiches. Some people who try to be vegetarians don't eat enough veggies which is a big mistake. If you're a vegetarian fresh veggies should be that focus of your diet. They will fill you up and give you lots of nutrients!

Be careful on a vegetarian diet not to eat too many carbs. That is actually how I gained so much weight over the past year. I ate lots of vegetarian pasta dishes and I ate rice almost every day and BLEW UP!!! Since cutting out pastas, breads, and most carbs oevr the past 2 months I've lost 15 lbs.. so if you're trying to lose weight just go easy with the carbs.

Friend me if you'd like my diary is open and I can answer any questions you may have!

As for your dad's girlfriend always making dinners with meats in them, next time you are going to dinner just let them know in advance that you are not eating meat and maybe offer to bring a vegetarian dish to share? They should respect your decision and will hopefully prepare something for you that doesn't contain meat.

Good luck!

Great advice (: I stick to Alot of organic foods! I LOVE horizon no fat milk (: thanks for the tip on carbs tho I never really thought of that and I LOVE pasta and breads, ect. But Iam gluten free (: which will probably help a tad. I'll add you!!

sierrajordon

After a while of eating no meat, you will actually become ill from eating meat. Just let everyone know that you are not eating meat anymore and they should respect that.

I am currently totally off red meat and I eat poultry twice or three times a month. A few weeks ago I was cooking with red meat for my bf and accidentally had a taste and I got so sooooo sick.

Just warning you to be careful, because once you make the switch, your body stops being able to process it.

Thanks I didn't know that!! And I'm having trouble with people laughing I my face about the whole going vegetarian thing is kinda a demotivator but I always keep going because I know it better for my health and I want too(:

jraps17

i did a step down process on a monthly basis i would stop eating a certain protein, i dropped red meat, then poultry, then all seafood, then all animal byproducts i went vegan but i eat cheese again and egg whites now. there is a point when if you decide to do this you'll just have to stop eating it and never look back. I think that if you make your intentions known to your family they may accommdate your choices. They'll be a time of pressure and push back where people in your life are going to question your motives and try to make you or trick you to give up being a vegetarian. at least that was my experience but after a while like with everything else people accept it and they work around it or with you. I dont miss meat or crave it if I did i would just eat it but i don't. I'm going into my eight year now.

Yeah my dad said it was bad for my health and such, I don't miss it or crave it. But I have been craving peanut butter lately (: haha
But I never really thought of the step down process. That's good idea!

Bad for your health is a classic - my parents went as far a requesting i get blood work and medical testing done because when i frst did it i lost a lot of weight espcially going vegan for a year - once they saw how healthy i was on paper they left it alone. One thing i don't understand is how people call themselves vegetarians and still eat animals. there are other classifications like Pescatarians - people who only eat fish as an animal protein, flexetarians - people who eat meat on special occassions such as thanks giving and such.

Don't be afraid of tofu its pretty good and takes on the flavor of what ever you season it with. you could also look into Seytan (wheat gluten) as long as you are not allergic to gluten.

IndigoVA

Generally good tasting products: Quorn, Morningstar Farms, Boca, Gardein, Tofurkey.

These are super-processed foods, so you don't want them to be the staple of your diet, but I think eating them occasionally is fine. There's also tofu, tempeh, and seitan, but it does take some time to learn how to prepare them.

sierrajordon

Generally good tasting products: Quorn, Morningstar Farms, Boca, Gardein, Tofurkey.

These are super-processed foods, so you don't want them to be the staple of your diet, but I think eating them occasionally is fine. There's also tofu, tempeh, and seitan, but it does take some time to learn how to prepare them.

Thanks (: I think I will help though coming off of the meat!

brit49

After a while of eating no meat, you will actually become ill from eating meat. Just let everyone know that you are not eating meat anymore and they should respect that.

I am currently totally off red meat and I eat poultry twice or three times a month. A few weeks ago I was cooking with red meat for my bf and accidentally had a taste and I got so sooooo sick.

Just warning you to be careful, because once you make the switch, your body stops being able to process it.

Really your body stops!! I don't eat red meat, I love fish, I haven't had chicken for months, I don't really miss it, but it would be harder to give up fish

sierrajordon

i did a step down process on a monthly basis i would stop eating a certain protein, i dropped red meat, then poultry, then all seafood, then all animal byproducts i went vegan but i eat cheese again and egg whites now. there is a point when if you decide to do this you'll just have to stop eating it and never look back. I think that if you make your intentions known to your family they may accommdate your choices. They'll be a time of pressure and push back where people in your life are going to question your motives and try to make you or trick you to give up being a vegetarian. at least that was my experience but after a while like with everything else people accept it and they work around it or with you. I dont miss meat or crave it if I did i would just eat it but i don't. I'm going into my eight year now.

Yeah my dad said it was bad for my health and such, I don't miss it or crave it. But I have been craving peanut butter lately (: haha
But I never really thought of the step down process. That's good idea!

Bad for your health is a classic - my parents went as far a requesting i get blood work and medical testing done because when i frst did it i lost a lot of weight espcially going vegan for a year - once they saw how healthy i was on paper they left it alone. One thing i don't understand is how people call themselves vegetarians and still eat animals. there are other classifications like Pescatarians - people who only eat fish as an animal protein, flexetarians - people who eat meat on special occassions such as thanks giving and such.

Don't be afraid of tofu its pretty good and takes on the flavor of what ever you season it with. you could also look into Seytan (wheat gluten) as long as you are not allergic to gluten.

Wow! I think your parents went a little overboard but they were just looking out for ya (: and yeah I had a friend that called her self a vegetarian but then she would eat chicken in a heart beat. I just tell people I'm switching right now (:

rml_16

People in my life know I'm vegetarian and I'm not going to eat something they made with meat in it. They know it's not about their cooking. I don't think it's rude to not eat something someone made if you don't eat the ingredients.

As for going veg, cold turkey (excuse the pun) was the way for me.

rml_16

After a while of eating no meat, you will actually become ill from eating meat. Just let everyone know that you are not eating meat anymore and they should respect that.

I am currently totally off red meat and I eat poultry twice or three times a month. A few weeks ago I was cooking with red meat for my bf and accidentally had a taste and I got so sooooo sick.

Just warning you to be careful, because once you make the switch, your body stops being able to process it.

Really your body stops!! I don't eat red meat, I love fish, I haven't had chicken for months, I don't really miss it, but it would be harder to give up fish

I haven't actually had any meat in almost three years, so I don't know if it would make me ill to eat it. But the THOUGHT of eating it makes my stomach turn.

I smell it cooking now and it still smells good to me. But then I think about biting into it and I just know I couldn't.

sierrajordon

People in my life know I'm vegetarian and I'm not going to eat something they made with meat in it. They know it's not about their cooking. I don't think it's rude to not eat something someone made if you don't eat the ingredients.

As for going veg, cold turkey (excuse the pun) was the way for me.

Very true, I never really thought of it that way as not being rude. Did you relapse at all after just going flat out vegetarian?

Yakisoba

Generally good tasting products: Quorn, Morningstar Farms, Boca, Gardein, Tofurkey.

These are super-processed foods, so you don't want them to be the staple of your diet, but I think eating them occasionally is fine. There's also tofu, tempeh, and seitan, but it does take some time to learn how to prepare them.

Awesome list. Lemme just add Vegetarian Plus. They came out with shrimp a while ago. I need to try it.

rml_16

People in my life know I'm vegetarian and I'm not going to eat something they made with meat in it. They know it's not about their cooking. I don't think it's rude to not eat something someone made if you don't eat the ingredients.

As for going veg, cold turkey (excuse the pun) was the way for me.

Very true, I never really thought of it that way as not being rude. Did you relapse at all after just going flat out vegetarian?

Nope. Once I made that final decision (I had cut out everything but chicken for a while already), that was it. I never looked back and I don't miss it.

One thing you'll find is that it's a learning process, especially if your motivation is moral rather than health. Honestly, I don't believe it's necessarily a healthier diet. People who eat a well-balanced diet who eat meat are just as healthy. But I just can't eat the little (or big) critters anymore.

So that means you have to check ingredients on EVERYTHING. Marshmallows and some yogurts have gelatin (you want to see pectin instead), gum and some soaps have glycerin (which can be plant-based, but unless you know for sure, best to abstain) -- stuff like that. Animal products are hidden in everything.

It's worse for vegans, but I don't think that's a lifestyle I could realistically live.

Moonbyebye

Veg life
I have been a vegetarian my whole life! My mom recently started dating someone who isn't and he is slowly making the change to our lifestyle.. I guess to impress her? ha, but anyhow.. what we have been doing for him is buying MorningStar Vegetarian products such as bean burgers and other meat substitutes to ease into it. So it's not too drastic.

rickyd88

I switched from meat-eater to vegetarian in 2 minutes by watching a video on the PETA website on accident and haven't touched it for 7 years now. I feel like throwing up just walking down the meat aisle in a supermarket. I used to eat meat for pretty much every meal and just stopped suddenly. I went straight into eating Quorn products and now it's just a way of life.

My parents didn't believe I'd never eat meat again (I was 16 at the time) but they started buying me quorn products and eventually learnt to cook my meals seperate from theres (eg: not putting meat fat into the gravy or putting my serving aside first before they did it *puke*).

sierrajordon

Veg life
I have been a vegetarian my whole life! My mom recently started dating someone who isn't and he is slowly making the change to our lifestyle.. I guess to impress her? ha, but anyhow.. what we have been doing for him is buying MorningStar Vegetarian products such as bean burgers and other meat substitutes to ease into it. So it's not too drastic.

Wow that's great (:

sierrajordon

I switched from meat-eater to vegetarian in 2 minutes by watching a video on the PETA website on accident and haven't touched it for 7 years now. I feel like throwing up just walking down the meat aisle in a supermarket. I used to eat meat for pretty much every meal and just stopped suddenly. I went straight into eating Quorn products and now it's just a way of life.

My parents didn't believe I'd never eat meat again (I was 16 at the time) but they started buying me quorn products and eventually learnt to cook my meals seperate from theres (eg: not putting meat fat into the gravy or putting my serving aside first before they did it *puke*).

Yeah I saw a video too on PETA, also I watched super size me! That movie doesn't really have anything to do with vegetarian but it shows you how bad fast food is! Ibut now I realized how easy it is to say no to meat and such and I feel better (:

rml_16

I didn't watch any video. A friend of mine saw the SPCA (I think it was) secret video of the slaughterhouse that came out a few years ago and was all over the news and very kindly described it to me in detail.

She still eats meat. I haven't touched it since.