Vegetarian Meals (lots of photos!)

pocketmole

So it's not quite a recipe (though if anyone is curious about how anything here is prepared just ask) but for the past 2-3 years I've photographed everything I've eaten. Since May of last year I was doing this as an alternative to calorie counting and it worked great for holding myself accountable, but I've plateaued out a bit and needed to get more strict. That's how I ended up here, to start tracking my caloric intake.

I really enjoy cooking and for the most part my dietary requirements have been to reduce my processed sugar and carb intake and just to eat less of everything. I allow myself two "cheat" meals on the weekend, one entree and one dessert. This method doesn't work for everyone but it's been one of the main things that's kept me on track for over a year. Whenever I start craving something bad I like looking forward to Saturday night when I can have the best of the best of whatever it is I want.

Anyway, I thought I'd introduce myself with a whole bunch of pictures! This is basically just a summary of how I've eaten since May of last year to lose around 45 pounds.

Polenta rounds stacked with mascarpone spinach and marinara with a side tomato salad



Whole grain thin crust pizza with veggie sausage, mushrooms, and fresh arugula



Rosemary tomato soup with grilled cheese on ezekiel bread



Handmade mushroom raviolis with a brown butter sauce, fresh thyme, and toasted walnuts



Bananas foster muffin with pecan streusel and butter rum glaze (made with whole wheat flour and apple sauce in place of butter)



Caprese salad with rosemary parmesan crisps (super easy and reduced carb)



stuffed zucchini boats with baked portobella mushrooms "fries" and marinara



seitan and broccoli with pesto and cherry tomatoes



wasa with cucumber and cheese with fruit on the side



seitan with green beans and slivered almonds



savory oatmeal made with sausage, spinach, herbs, and parmesan. my cat is intrigued.



Veggie sausage, spinach, tomato, and feta cheese.



White bean, tomato, and spinach soup with lots of fresh basil, Ezekiel croutons, and Parmesan cheese.




Ezekiel greek style wrap with veggies, hummus, and feta. Side of carrots and strawberries.




Spaghetti squash with marinara and a side of garlic broccolini.



veggie turkey and caprese salad on wasa



cinnamon peaches and oats



Avocado rotini with tomatoes and parmesan.



i know this is just unfair to post, but this is one of my cheat desserts. Fudgey brownie soaked with a bit of rum, topped with bourbon vanilla ice cream, homemade hot fudge, vanilla rum whipped cream, and toasted pecans. Eff yeah.

hopsywopsy

So when's your next dinner party? Looks delicious, and although I'm not vegetarian I try to make sure we have vegetarian meals 2-3 times a week. Great inspiration, thanks.

KStyleFitness

I guess I shouldn't have looked at these before I ate breakfst! Now as I go off to enjoy a bowl of Kashi cereal (NOT) I'll think about all these good food I am missing out on.

Sweet_Potato

You are giving me so many great ideas!! Do you have a blog? I cook and photograph a lot of vegetarian meals myself (if you were very ambitious you could dig though the general food photography thread and find them).

pocketmole

hopsy - unfortunately i don't like to clean as much as i like to cook, so i don't have many dinner parties! thank you.

kstyle - haha, i've had plenty of mornings where i just pour a bowl of cereal as well.

sweet potato - i don't have a blog but friends have been pushing me to start one for years. i keep telling myself, "one of these days..."

Aross83

Love these!

DeTaart

Amazing meals, thanks for posting. Could you post the savoury oatmeal recipe? I'm going to experiment with savoury porridge this afternoon hopefully!

Cute cat too!

Kamnikar64

Looks delicious! I never thought of using polenta that way. My daughter does not like eggplant so that might work out great. Will you share the tomato rosemary soup recipe?

20carrots

Um, can I HIRE you?? Meal delivery service?? :flowerforyou:

jen_2286

Wow, every single one of these looks amazing and not like "diet food" at all. Congratulations on your weight loss!

Mad4282

OMG I want one of everything you just posted! I wish I was that creative in the kitchen!

TKHappy

Mmmmm, these all look absolutely wonderful!! If you don't host dinner parties could you cater LOL!!

Rubie81

Yummy! Thanks for sharing.

gshoemaker06

Wow, almost all of these look delicious. Marking for later

Briszler75

Looks so good! Thanks for sharing.

CassandraMarie3

these look AMAZING!!! I am going to have to request recipes

PonyTailedLoser

This is amazing I've been a vegetarian for almost 10 years and if I posted pics of my meals it would be mostly of Boca chicken patties. I envy your skill with cooking.

chocolateandpb

Thanks for the ideas!!!! Unfortunately I hate, hate, HATE tomatoes and mushrooms, but I know I can improvise with other veggies. Love the pic with your intrigued cat, lol!

Keightisgr8

hopsy - unfortunately i don't like to clean as much as i like to cook, so i don't have many dinner parties! thank you.

kstyle - haha, i've had plenty of mornings where i just pour a bowl of cereal as well.

sweet potato - i don't have a blog but friends have been pushing me to start one for years. i keep telling myself, "one of these days..."

Please, for the love of god start a tumblr and then tell me the name of it! All the recipes in my weightloss/fitspo blogs are the most popular things and they get re-blogged like CRAZY. (www.dudeletsburn.tumblr.com)

briyowes

Bump...need to check at home, pics not showing up at work.

Gilbrod

Your skills are amazing. But LOL @ savory oatmeal made with sausage, spinach, herbs, and parmesan. my cat is intrigued.