becoming a vegetarian...

bethrs

Another great book is called "Okay, so now you're a Vegetarian" by Lauren Butts. It gives a lot of information about good sources of various nutritional requirements as well as some general definitions of words that new veggies may not know (such as what tempeh and quinoa actually). There are some awesome recipes in there. The first time I dropped meat, it was a life saver for me. Now I have a little larger budget and own my own kitchen and I rely on "Vegetarian Planet" by DiDi Emmons. It has a few more exotic ingredients and assumes that you can cook, but it's also got a bunch of recipes, so you can pick and choose. Many mainstream cookbooks, such as some of the Rachael Ray titles have options to alter the recipe to leave out the meat or may have a vegetarian section. It takes a bit of work sometimes, but that's part of why I like being a vegetarian. Sometimes we have to plan ahead and that makes me make better choices, before I would find myself eating Cheeseburgers and chicken wings because I had no real rules about what I would or would not eat. :drinker:

lisalocket24

Another question I had was becoming vegeterian is will there be a noticeable weightloss. Other than feeling better, i have probally lost a pound or two.

srtakelch

I have been a vegetarian all my life (vegetarian parents) and right now I'm thinking the opposite. I want to start eating meat so I can increase my protein, have a more balanced diet and lose weight.

I would say: DO NOT become a vegetarian only because you think it will help you lose weight. It probably won't. If you have moral or emotional objections to meat or you want to be healthier (which is different than losing weight) or if you think that vegetarianism is more environmentally sustainable, fine. But simply being a vegetarian will not automatically make you lose weight.

If you want to be a vegetarian, you need to be prepared to:

1. shop at multiple stores & spend more time shopping - ALDI is my one stop shop for the rest of my family. Then, for my food I have to go to Wal-mart and sometimes yet another store to find soy products, TVP, veggie burgers, etc.

2. spend more money on food - prepared foods like frozen dinners cost way more when they're marketed to "vegetarians." It's five bucks for four Boca burgers, or four morning star corndogs. My weekly food budget for me is easily double that of my meat eating finace.

3. deal with people - besides the constant questioning about WHY you're a vegetarian, people will also ask "do vegetarians eat chicken?" and other stupid questions. My extended family also makes me feel bad by trying to accomodate me at family dinners, which usually results in them making something either really nasty or really unhealthy that I then have to eat and pretend to like.

moe64

Hi, I'm new to this site but I had read your vegetarian request for quick easy meals. I made a salad tonight that was out of this world, Quinoa Salad with Corn and Black Beans! If it sounds interesting google it and you will come across the recipe. It has of course quinoa, corn, black beans, feta, grape tomatoes and a lovely mexican dressing. If you decide to try it I hope you enjoy, I did.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

amicklin

We were created to eat meat. Our eyes are in the front of our head and we have canine teeth.

True...but God also gave us free will. We have the option to eat meat or not. Animals go by instincts not reasoning.

Bravo! Love you response!! Yes, we have the teeth but if you use that logic you would then believe that we cannot go above and beyond how we were born? Then those who were born heavy shouldnt even try??? .... Im fine with people who think differently and eat differently, just interesting how the train of thought inst really though out just regurgitated back...

TheMaidOfAstolat

We were created to eat meat. Our eyes are in the front of our head and we have canine teeth.

True...but God also gave us free will. We have the option to eat meat or not. Animals go by instincts not reasoning.

Bravo! Love you response!! Yes, we have the teeth but if you use that logic you would then believe that we cannot go above and beyond how we were born? Then those who were born heavy shouldnt even try??? .... Im fine with people who think differently and eat differently, just interesting how the train of thought inst really though out just regurgitated back...

Thank you. The truth is simple...it's the acceptance that takes time.

Kidvicious28

Well said girls....well said.

firepixie

Hi all,

I'm vegan so even dairy and eggs are out, which really limits eating out in most restaurant. Hemp seed are a complete protien with 11gr of it in 2 tbsp, at 160 calories, not to mention omega fatty acids. I put them in my cereal or as the protien in smooties, just blend them in. They took a little getting use to so start out small, now I love them. I just started on this website and I always wondered if I was getting enough protien. I have hit or gone over my protien everyday so far. Everything has protien in it, it just depends how much. I don't think just becoming vegetarian will make you lose weight, it is a matter of calories in vs calories out, just like the meat eaters.

karibari

wow, great to know there's so much veg support on this site!

i was veg most of my life, even vegan in grad school but then got cancer and quit caring about what i ate. I have recently (two weeks ago) re-converted back to veganism...mostly because that is what the Physician's Committee of Responsible Medicine recommends to prevent cancer from starting or recurring.

Check out www.thecancerproject.org for great recipe ideas as well as cooking classes that might be in your area. they are offered free to cancer survivors, caregivers, friends etc. It's all vegan but the recipes and suprisingly good.

I am also a mother of 3 and want my children to choose whether or not they eat meat. My husband also eats meat. So we try to make dinners that accomodate both of us....
Mexican (he has beef burritos or tacos, I have bean), burgers (i get Bocas), chili (vegetarian), sandwich/soup, salads (he adds grilled chicken, i add garbanzo beans).....

I have met my protein requirements without any problems just eating beans almost every day. I can't stand tofu or any mock meat, including tempeh or TVP. I choke down a boca burger every now and then but otherwise i pretty much only eat fruit, veggies, and whole grains.

good luck to you! i can't wait to find the veg page on here! i'm new and still figuring this site out!

Alafia22

I have been a vegetarian all my life (vegetarian parents) and right now I'm thinking the opposite. I want to start eating meat so I can increase my protein, have a more balanced diet and lose weight.

I would say: DO NOT become a vegetarian only because you think it will help you lose weight. It probably won't. If you have moral or emotional objections to meat or you want to be healthier (which is different than losing weight) or if you think that vegetarianism is more environmentally sustainable, fine. But simply being a vegetarian will not automatically make you lose weight.

If you want to be a vegetarian, you need to be prepared to:

1. shop at multiple stores & spend more time shopping - ALDI is my one stop shop for the rest of my family. Then, for my food I have to go to Wal-mart and sometimes yet another store to find soy products, TVP, veggie burgers, etc.

2. spend more money on food - prepared foods like frozen dinners cost way more when they're marketed to "vegetarians." It's five bucks for four Boca burgers, or four morning star corndogs. My weekly food budget for me is easily double that of my meat eating finace.

3. deal with people - besides the constant questioning about WHY you're a vegetarian, people will also ask "do vegetarians eat chicken?" and other stupid questions. My extended family also makes me feel bad by trying to accomodate me at family dinners, which usually results in them making something either really nasty or really unhealthy that I then have to eat and pretend to like.

I've been a Vegetarian for about 7 years (on and off vegan), and I understand wanting to eat meat to up your protein levels but it sounds like (from the advice you offered) that you eat alot of processed foods. If that is the case then all 3 of your points are valid ones.

However, I only shop at the health food store for things like Nutritional Yeast or exotic ingredients like chinese five spice or umeboshi plums...ect. Everything else I find at either a local supermarket or Walmart. So I don't have to make multiple stops.

Also because I prepare most of my food myself, I don't spend a ton of money on food. (as a struggling college student, i would know) I make lots of yummy food for a fraction of the price of Amy's frozen dinners or Kashi's food (which by the way is pretty gross to me)... Soaking dried beans to make soups, stews, chilli, curries, dips etc. is just one way to save. A bag of dried beans is less than a buck.

And lastly, you can't allow others to run your life for you. I get the dumb questions (multiple times from the same people, lol) "Why don't you eat fish?" "..but chicken isn't meat, it's poultry!", lmao. I have eaten a plate of side dishes at restaurants so many times is not even funny. I have had family members take me out to eat and bring me to a steakhouse (no lie). It's about why you do it.

If you are really passionate about the reasons why you choose to give up meat, that should outweigh the stupidity of others....

trimlaw

I, too, couldn't eat meat for at least 1 1/2 months after reading Skinny ***** from cover to cover on a flight from NYC to Sacramento. And I never felt better in all my life. My no-meat decision caused quite an uproar in my red-neck, deer hunting family. I now eat at least one no-meat meal per day and wish I had the will power to go back to no meat (and the time to plan meals etc.). In my house, my husband is the cook (GOD BLESS HIM) and he tried to accomodate me but you can't simply cut meat out of a regular diet and still get enough protein. Good luck to your vegetarian adventure. My experience taught me I feel so much healthier no eating meat