Giving up Meat

Leapy75

There are so many veg options, it's hard to even know where to start. Since it's winter, I'd think about trying some great warm dishes, such as spinach lasagna (low-fat ricotta, lots of spinach, light on the mozz cheese), vegetarian chili, roasted root vegetables (yams, parsnips, carrots, etc.), lentil tacos (yummmm!) and veggie shepherd's pie.

A few words on tofu... I agree that it's a great alternative, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have enjoyed it a lot sooner than I did. For instance, tofu comes in different packaging. The first (and more common in mainstream stores) is tofu packed in water, which is a little sponge-y. Start with firm or extra firm--soft can be weird for beginners, in my opinion. Once you open it, slice or dice it (whatever your recipe calls for) and drain it VERY well by pressing between tea towels under some heavy books for about 15 minutes. Tofu is delicious raw, but if you've never had it before, I recommend sauteing or baking at first. The other kind of tofu is aseptically packaged and is much slimier, for lack of a better word. It's still awesome baked or sauteed, but the texture is much different raw than the water-packed tofu.

Good luck! Have fun!

vjrose

I do agree with the Quorn user, it is a clean vegetable (well fungus protein) designed to look like meat but hasn't had a lot of stuff added, you can check out t heir website.

daffodilsoup

The Post-Punk Kitchen, Oh She Glows and The Vegan Stoner are some great websites to start at. They're mostly vegan recipes, but if you don't want to use the vegan milks, cheeses, etc., you can always replace them with whatever you like. They are easy and delicious!

Also, there are lots of great threads on the MFP boards about animal-free proteins - my biggest faves are seitan, tempeh and tofu, but mushrooms, especially portobellos, have a very "meaty" texture and savory taste.

RedHatPatti

WOW that is amazing ...Good for you!!

oneandtwentyfive

Good for you! Before anything else, I recommend reading the books The China Study and (if you'd like a lighter read and a bit of a laugh) Skinny *****. As for recipes, I get most of mine from vegetariantimes.com/recipes because they have the best search options and variety! You certainly don't have to rely on tofu. I get most of my protein just from having a balanced, varied diet most of the time. Learning what protein is helps a lot, and the same goes for all of your other necessary vitamins and nutrients! The more you educate yourself, the easier it will be and the less stress you'll feel about your choice overall!

Shock_Wave

Well, I gave up red meat because it really just seems to not be that great for my health. It's been tied to cancer etc. Then, I just decided I wanted to give up the rest of it and really focus on getting a lot more veggies into my diet. I don't know if I will keep it up forever, but I just needed to shake up my diet a bit so I can lose some more. : )

breathing the air has been tied to cancer but you dont stop breathing.

tidmutt

Nice people don't eat animals

The Post-Punk Kitchen, Oh She Glows and The Vegan Stoner are some great websites to start at. They're mostly vegan recipes, but if you don't want to use the vegan milks, cheeses, etc., you can always replace them with whatever you like. They are easy and delicious!

Also, there are lots of great threads on the MFP boards about animal-free proteins - my biggest faves are seitan, tempeh and tofu, but mushrooms, especially portobellos, have a very "meaty" texture and savory taste.

I'm a nice person and over Christmas my wife and I had a party where we marinated a whole pig, had to crack it open with a hatchet to flatten it out and then slow cooked the entire pig for 4 hours. Was delicious. In other words, I LOVE meat but yet I'm still a nice person.

CharlieLopez2005

Nice people don't eat animals

The Post-Punk Kitchen, Oh She Glows and The Vegan Stoner are some great websites to start at. They're mostly vegan recipes, but if you don't want to use the vegan milks, cheeses, etc., you can always replace them with whatever you like. They are easy and delicious!

Also, there are lots of great threads on the MFP boards about animal-free proteins - my biggest faves are seitan, tempeh and tofu, but mushrooms, especially portobellos, have a very "meaty" texture and savory taste.

In a way, I get that some people just don't like the taste of meat. I despise the taste of egg plants, for some reason. Everyone has their weird food preferences.

But in terms of ethics or niceness, from a big picture perspective, there is no way to get around contributing to animal slaughter, even if it's more indirect than a red meat eater or omnivore. Consider the number of sentient creatures that must be killed in order to change an ecosystem into commercial farmland to produce vegetables and grains for sale. In fact, there is a good argument to be made that vegetarianism and veganism unwittingly contribute to more overall animal slaughter than omnivorousness:

http://theconversation.edu.au/ordering-the-vegetarian-meal-theres-more-animal-blood-on-your-hands-4659

ninerbuff

Well, I gave up red meat because it really just seems to not be that great for my health. It's been tied to cancer etc. Then, I just decided I wanted to give up the rest of it and really focus on getting a lot more veggies into my diet. I don't know if I will keep it up forever, but I just needed to shake up my diet a bit so I can lose some more. : )

Where are you getting your info?

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

GymBunnyDG

Giving up meat is 100% the worst thing you can do for a diet! Clean protein like chicken and white fish is the best thing for you whislt dieting - give up carbs if you are serious about dieting and want to change your diet. Giving up all meat (for any reason other than vegetarianism) is very very stupid.

kennethmgreen

Giving up meat is 100% the worst thing you can do for a diet! Clean protein like chicken and white fish is the best thing for you whislt dieting - give up carbs if you are serious about dieting and want to change your diet. Giving up all meat (for any reason other than vegetarianism) is very very stupid.

Really? 100% the worst? What foods are only 50% the worst thing you can do for diet?

30in11

Check out the Post Punk Kitchen website: http://www.theppk.com/
Everything Isa makes is delicious.

melitsace

This is my choice!! Thanks for your input but you don't have to be negative!! : )

melitsace

Shock Wave Gym Bunny....I appreciate your input, but my mom's oncologists seem to think it is not a very very stupid thing to do. I appreciate your wanting to help but don't need the negativity!! If you were kindly inquiring that would be awesome but calling me stupid doesn't seem very encouraging!!

afugua0002

This is my choice!! Thanks for your input but you don't have to be negative!! : )

Different scares people....you are absolutely right though.

LaurenAOK

I'm a vegetarian as well (since October) and I love it so far! I chose it for both health and ethical reasons. Feel free to friend me so you can see the sort of stuff I log in my diary (I've been bad at keeping up with it lately, but starting today I'm logging everything, I swear ) Good luck!

sagetracey

Following up on my original question about why you were giving up meat....I got the gastric lapband in April 2011 and have not been able to eat red meat since due to difficulties in getting it past my band. I eat a lot of chicken and fish and have lost 53kg. I am feeling great and hope you do too.

Shock_Wave

Shock Wave Gym Bunny....I appreciate your input, but my mom's oncologists seem to think it is not a very very stupid thing to do. I appreciate your wanting to help but don't need the negativity!! If you were kindly inquiring that would be awesome but calling me stupid doesn't seem very encouraging!!

Thats super duper but maybe you should read my post and see that I never called you stupid and that would be against the rules to directly call you that. PUT ON YOUR GLASSES LADY. My post was simply that it doesnt seem to be a good idea was all because many things can cause cancer, but with your nasty attitude in that post it seems like your mind is made up because of what your mom tells you and at this point now honestly I dont really care what you do.. Have a great day.

Saezimmerman

There are some great websites on this thread that I'm looking forward to trying. My hubby and I try to eat vegetarian a few times a week.
My doctor suggests that meat should be used more as a garnish on your plate if you're eating it. He was counseling me on my weight and family history of heart disease.

There are a lot of great ways to get healthy protein. I do recommend checking sodium carefully if you're going for a meat substitute in the store.

One way to try tofu is to buy the extra soft and blend it into a fresh fruit smoothie. This makes a tasty breakfast.

If you find that you are desperate for a burger, try a portabella mushroom burger. Sauteed in a non-stick skillet with a little Marsala wine... even my carnivorous husband loves them.

Redladystl

BUMP for info

TheKitsune6

Nice people don't eat animals

The Post-Punk Kitchen, Oh She Glows and The Vegan Stoner are some great websites to start at. They're mostly vegan recipes, but if you don't want to use the vegan milks, cheeses, etc., you can always replace them with whatever you like. They are easy and delicious!

Also, there are lots of great threads on the MFP boards about animal-free proteins - my biggest faves are seitan, tempeh and tofu, but mushrooms, especially portobellos, have a very "meaty" texture and savory taste.

In a way, I get that some people just don't like the taste of meat. I despise the taste of egg plants, for some reason. Everyone has their weird food preferences.

But in terms of ethics or niceness, from a big picture perspective, there is no way to get around contributing to animal slaughter, even if it's more indirect than a red meat eater or omnivore. Consider the number of sentient creatures that must be killed in order to change an ecosystem into commercial farmland to produce vegetables and grains for sale. In fact, there is a good argument to be made that vegetarianism and veganism unwittingly contribute to more overall animal slaughter than omnivorousness:

http://theconversation.edu.au/ordering-the-vegetarian-meal-theres-more-animal-blood-on-your-hands-4659

I don't like how this post is being ignored, so I'm quoting it because it's worthy of discussion.

TheKitsune6

Well, I gave up red meat because it really just seems to not be that great for my health. It's been tied to cancer etc. Then, I just decided I wanted to give up the rest of it and really focus on getting a lot more veggies into my diet. I don't know if I will keep it up forever, but I just needed to shake up my diet a bit so I can lose some more. : )

Where are you getting your info?

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I'm going to guess it's NOT from actual scientific journals.

MaximalLife

I can't give up meet; that's insulting to God.
If God did not want us eating animals, why did He make them out of meat?

shreddin_mama

This is my choice!! Thanks for your input but you don't have to be negative!! : )

Way to go! There is a great group called happy herbivore on mfp you should join us. I enjoy this website http://vegetarian.about.com/ has a lot of great recipes. The first week is hard but once you start seeing all the different variety of foods out there you will love it. Also a few documentaries forks over knives, food inc, and earthlings. You can watch earthlings for free at http://www.earthlings.com/ but beware you will never go back to meat

dcarreno

Well life has been tied to cancer its all tied to it. Just eat your meat how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.... I would just make sure you eat enough living food and cut back on your meat I think meat is great. Just don't eat red meat as often and when I do it's lean! Good luck especially in the summer when your friend are BBQing.:ohwell:

sarahness

I have given up red meat and pork! I am still eating chicken but would like to stop eventually. Good luck!

MaximalLife

Well life has been tied to cancer its all tied to it. Just eat your meat how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.... I would just make sure you eat enough living food and cut back on your meat I think meat is great. Just don't eat red meat as often and when I do it's lean! Good luck especially in the summer when your friend are BBQing.:ohwell:

It is kind of mean to eat animals.
During the slaughter process, when an animal suffers in that gruesome operation, it secretes stress hormones that give the meat that fabulous taste.

It's something I think about every bar-b-q.

Haven74

One thing that I really don't understand, and probably never will, is people's incessant need to be troll-like when it comes to things they don't fully understand, or want to participate in for themselves.

The OP said "I have slowly been giving up meet since August. I gave up red meat and starting today, all meat together. I have never been one to really enjoy any bean recipes, but I am willing to give it a try!! If you know any great vegetarian dishes or ways to get more protein, please share!!" No where in this post did it say "I want your opinions and snarky attitudes towards my decision to try vegetarianism."

If you have no supportive, encouraging words to say, or no recipes to share, there is no need to bash this person's decisions. Just because eating meat is "the norm" according to society, and you don't agree with vegetarianism for YOUR PERSONAL decisions in life, then don't be a vegetarian, but don't go around bashing those who choose this lifestyle. Didn't anyone ever tell you "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?"... This is supposed to be a SUPPORTIVE community. So BE SUPPORTIVE!"

To the OP, there are loads of websites out there which have some great vegetarian and vegan dishes, but just like any recipe, or purchased foods, you want to check the ingredients list and nutritional information for hidden calories, fats and sugars. Just because it's technically vegetarian, doesn't mean it's always good for you.

I don't remember what all some of the other posters may have listed, but here are a few more sites to get you started...

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_vegetarian_recipes
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/healthy-recipes/main-dishes/vegetarian/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy_eating/healthy-vegetarian-recipes/pictures/index.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/

fteale

Do you still eat eggs? There are many tarts and omelette things to make that are amazing. I love sorrel omelette - one egg, one egg white, a handful of chopped sorrel leaves and a tablespoon of cream cheese. I could eat that every day. If you like things a bit spicier, try a cheese omelette with harissa spice mixed in, or a cheese soufflé with paprika. I make a lot of sformato - vegetables and whisked eggs. http://italianfood.about.com/od/tipstricks1/a/aa082301.htm
Red lentil dhal is a good basic - boil red lentils in vegetable stock, add a little butter and some fried garlic and turmeric. It is good on it's own, or as a filling for lasagne when mixed with tomato.
Lots of Italian soups have beans as a base, and white kidney beans are amazing cold with a bit of olive oil and salt, or again in tomato sauce.

I would look to some rustic Tuscan recipes. I find Italian food great for vegetarians. Middle Eastern cooking is mostly vegetable based too, but can be harder to get hold of the spices.

tidmutt

One thing that I really don't understand, and probably never will, is people's incessant need to be troll-like when it comes to things they don't fully understand, or want to participate in for themselves.

The OP said "I have slowly been giving up meet since August. I gave up red meat and starting today, all meat together. I have never been one to really enjoy any bean recipes, but I am willing to give it a try!! If you know any great vegetarian dishes or ways to get more protein, please share!!" No where in this post did it say "I want your opinions and snarky attitudes towards my decision to try vegetarianism."

If you have no supportive, encouraging words to say, or no recipes to share, there is no need to bash this person's decisions. Just because eating meat is "the norm" according to society, and you don't agree with vegetarianism for YOUR PERSONAL decisions in life, then don't be a vegetarian, but don't go around bashing those who choose this lifestyle. Didn't anyone ever tell you "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?"... This is supposed to be a SUPPORTIVE community. So BE SUPPORTIVE!"

To the OP, there are loads of websites out there which have some great vegetarian and vegan dishes, but just like any recipe, or purchased foods, you want to check the ingredients list and nutritional information for hidden calories, fats and sugars. Just because it's technically vegetarian, doesn't mean it's always good for you.

I don't remember what all some of the other posters may have listed, but here are a few more sites to get you started...

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_vegetarian_recipes
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/healthy-recipes/main-dishes/vegetarian/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy_eating/healthy-vegetarian-recipes/pictures/index.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/

I agree that some people have been "snarky" and that's not necessary, but the OP actually mentioned how she had seen red meat linked to cancer. Some responses, including my own, were merely correcting that mistaken claim and were not attacking her personal decision to decrease her meat consumption. Personally, I feel if someone wants to not eat meat that's their business but they shouldn't do it to avoid cancer or other such unsupported beliefs.