New Vegetarian

Hey there! Best of luck with your vegetarian adventures! I'm vegan, so always looking for more friends on here who don't eat meat!
Feel free to add me!:)

ajmoreno24 wrote: »

EmBurney wrote: »

Hey there! Best of luck with your vegetarian adventures! I'm vegan, so always looking for more friends on here who don't eat meat!
Feel free to add me!:)

I had a lot more on here and I guess it didn't post it!
I basically created this forum to get some tips and advice on being a new vegetarian. I decided for health purposes and I wanted to see how my body would react to the change! So if you have any tips please feel free to share =]

Hi all
New vegetarian here. I'm looking for tips and non-meat eating friends too!! We can learn together (: How long have you guys been on this journey??

Add a new recipe each week to your repertoire:
http://www.foodwise.com.au/recipes/lentil-chickpea-cheddar-and-onion-burgers/

For this, the cheese is key.

http://www.foodwise.com.au/recipes/lentil-chickpea-cheddar-and-onion-burgers/
Lentil, Chickpea, Cheddar and Onion Burgers

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
400g can lentils, drained and rinsed
400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon tahini paste
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
1 large organic egg, beaten
100g fresh breadcrumbs
100g grated Gruyère
100g feta, crumbled
plain flour, for dusting
salt and freshly ground black pepper

I've been ovo-lacto vegetarian for 41 years (yes, since 1974). Warning: I dislike vegetarian fake-meat products (many are highly processed, some high in fat/salt/carbs), and I find them non-tasty and not satisfying, so I won't recommend them.

My best advice for happy eating: Shift your mindset from the meat-eaters' "one big protein per meal" to a philosophy of eating lots of different protein-containing things, in lots of different ways, woven throughout your meals & snacks. Almost everything I eat (especially things that are higher-calorie) have at least some protein.

You still need adequate protein in order to stay strong. And it will be a little harder to get it. You may even need a few more grams daily because most vegetarian sources are not complete (in their amino acid complement) But you'd be surprised how quickly it adds up, a gram or two or five at a time, if you have lots of different sources, each of which may add only a little. And varied sources can help balance out the essential amino acids.

So, take a look at the more calorie-contributing foods you consume. Are there equally tasty and satiating alternatives that contain more protein?

So, quinoa (or one of the other ancient grains like teff or kamut) instead of rice. Puree white beans or sunflower seeds into "cream" soups. For crunch on salads, use a reasonable portion of pepitas, sunflower seeds, or nuts. Dress the salad with something that includes protein (pureed beans/nuts in the vinaigrette if you're vegan, yogurt-based dressings or cottage cheese if not). Think about beverages with protein (soy or dairy milk products, and even coffee & matcha each have a little!). Snack on Indian puppodums or dry-roasted edamame instead of chips. Pick veggies with some protein (broccoli, spinach, asparagus, peas, others) over veggies that have none.

I'm not saying you should eat things you don't like: Life is too short. But try new things, and look for protein contributors that you *do* like.

There are some (whole-foods-ish) "big proteins", relatively speaking: Beans, soybeans, tempeh, greek yogurt (if you allow milk products), etc. Those are good features in a vegetarian way of eating, too, of course. But I've found the "small stuff adds up" approach to be extremely helpful personally, and not often pointed out by others.

If you want to see what I actually eat, friend me. My diary is open to friends.

I like Loma Linda's vegetarian meat substitutes, especially the taco filling. I don't mind tofu in Miso soup, but dislike it otherwise. I still eat fish and I will never give up cheese...I'm lucky in some ways, because red meat always makes me feel sick. (From infancy, even. I wouldn't eat the meat-flavored baby food.) Nuts, eggs, cheese, yogurt, fortified pasta (some have 12+ grams protein/serving) are all good ways to meet the protein goal.

I swtiched to flexitarian a few months ago purely for health reasons. But my diet is largely meat free at this point. AnnPT77 makes a very important point. The greatest benefit to going vegetarian over "eating more vegetables" is the change in culture. My food culture has shifted from animal protein plus accessory dishes to delicious, interesting, and in some cases, complex plant based meals. I'll cook things that I'd never had made as side dishes. Chick pea picatta over mashed cauliflower and potato. Amazing. But it's only going on the center of the plate. The "eat more veggies" culture would have tossed a few lonely, mealy, boring chickpeas into a salad.

Personally if a vegetarian or vegan meal is delicious and filling I feel perfectly satisfied.

My best recommendation for testing the vegan waters is Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Wonderful recipes, no exotic ingredients, and all very practical.