any vegans/vegetarians out there?

I'm not, but I tend to naturally lean that way in my food choices! I know for sure beans are a great source of fiber and protein... I LOVE garden veggie burgers but you have to watch sodium... Good luck! :happy:

Correction: I lean vegetarian.. I love dairy too much!

I'm a pescatarian. The only meat I eat is seafood since it's full of good stuff for you and low calorie, etc. We tried being vegetarian but my protein levels were way low. Either way it was really easy for me to switch.

I eat only seafood and dairly products and have for about 15 years. My food log is public, so feel free to take a look at it for ideas. The one word of caution I would give you is that being "vegetarian" does not necessarily equal healthy eating / weight loss. I still managed to get myself 40 lbs overweight without meat! You still have to watch the junk food and portions, etc...

I'm vegan and the hardest part about it is making sure there isn't whey or eggs in what I buy, especially (frozen) meat substitutes and bread. If you aren't already vegetarian, I might give that a go first, as the transition to veganism can be difficult for someone who is used to eating primarily meat and dairy, as most Americans do.
I have found that Isa Chandra Moskowitz has the most delicious recipes. There are a lot of blogs out there and cookbooks. Supermarket Vegan and Appetite for Reduction are the only ones I use regularly, and Moskowitz's blog, http://www.theppk.com .
If you do it right, you'll likely lose weight as a bonus and feel a lot healthier/energetic. You won't have all the weight of meat weighing your system down and another positive benefit is the likelihood of you becoming ill is less, and if you do, it won't endure as long (I've found in my own experience and in others).
Veganism is just as satisfying as an omnivorous diet. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
If you have specific questions, feel free to ask me, or add me as a friend. I don't have any yet.

I have been a vegetarian since I was 18 (so 6 years now). I did have to take a break from it when I went to Ecuador for a semester, but for the most part, I really like it and I really find it not so hard.

My husband and I are now considering giving up dairy and eggs at home (he can't follow it all the time). I think the most important thing is continuing to choose to eat whole foods. Fritos are vegan, but that doesn't mean they are good for you. Fill yourself with real foods and you will feel satisfied.

Check out some food blogs for more ideas for cooking.

One of my favorites = ohsheglows.com

Also, for a good meal plan = drmcdougall.com

I will second the ohsheglows.com website!! She has a wonderful healthy way of thinking/eating!

Well, if you start off lacto-ovo vegetarian, your protein can come from yogurt! Even if you are vegan, protein is sooo easy to get. I am a pescetarian, but I don't eat that much seafood and manage to always fulfill my requirements.

Tofu is so good for you and packed with protein. I make a really delicious vietnamese dish called tomato tofu, which is that perfect tangy, sour, and spice that Vietnamese food seems to perfect. It's authentic, because I got it from my favorite restaurant, when I moved away. A trick to getting the tofu a little crispy, is to slice it fairly thin 1/4" to 1/2", toss in a little bit of oil and bake it on high heat, flipping it.

BBQ tempeh is really delicious! I slice it into strips, make a home-made bbq sauce using liquid smoke (LIQUID SMOKE is a product I highly recommend!) bake it in the oven with tin foil for about 30-40 minutes. I top with a home-made light slaw, pickles, on a whole wheat bun. So satisfying.

Nutritional Yeast is sooo good for you, packed with vitamin b and protein. I add it to just about all soups I make. It really "wows" a veggie broth, making it seem kind of like a good quality chicken broth. It's tasty stuff. Try it on popcorn. I put some on my sauteed green beans for lunch today.

Chickpeas, lentils, and black beans will be your friend. I would suggest attempting seitan wings or sliced thin for "cheeze steaks".

Oh, and look up the recipe for ananda fuara's neatloaf. Great left-overs, and you can substitute skim ricotta. It's so satisfying! If you need any other tips, I am always open to ideas.

Found this link for you on google.
http://www.theveggietable.com/articles/protein.html

I try to be vegetarian at home. I never have meat in my refrigerator. The only time I find it hard is when I'm out with friends and they want to get, say, a pizza with meat on it or I'm eating at someone else's house and they've prepared a meat dish. I'm not about to turn down free food! haha. I enjoy being vegetarian a lot and never feel like I'm depriving myself.

My FAVORITE veggie resources are the Moosewood cookbook and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest both by Mollie Katzen. Soooo many fun and delicious veggie recipes with whole ingredients and low fat. And its all stuff that you would usually have with meat like lasagna and soups and casseroles. YUM!

I was vegetarian for 11 years and I have developed an overall well-balanced diet. Over the past year, I've become more of a pescatarian, as I do occasionally eat fish to bring variety into my diet. I'm veggie because I simply don't like meat - no ethics involved (except the thought of factory farming is quite off-putting!). It makes the occasional meat ingredient discovery less gut-wrenching if you just don't like it vs. being ethical about it!

It took a while to find what I like and what works for me. My favorite recipe site is vegetariantimes.com. I love Indian and Asian food. Edamame, or any beans and bean products (soy), are my main protein source. Black beans and rice, for example, is said to create protein that's similar to animal proteins. I also love snacking on mixed nuts and adding small portions of dairy to meals (sour cream, cheese, etc).

My hubby is not vegetarian, but he just prepares meat on the side and adds it in separately, so it usually works out well for homecooked meals.

I take calcium supplements, a multivitamin and joint health supplements now that I'm working out.

Good luck!