Vegetarian Diet Transition
taylorwatson1
Posts: 30 Member
I've just started moving into a vegetarian diet, at a very slow pace. At the moment I'm trying out different meat replacements and just generally swapping products containing meat for vegetarian products.
I'm trying also to lose perhaps up to another stone (14 lbs) and tone so perhaps I won't lose that many - I'm yet to decide as I progress.
Can anyone give me tips on making the transition easier - or perhaps useful resources and recipes?
Thanks
I'm trying also to lose perhaps up to another stone (14 lbs) and tone so perhaps I won't lose that many - I'm yet to decide as I progress.
Can anyone give me tips on making the transition easier - or perhaps useful resources and recipes?
Thanks
1
Replies
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Please don't get caught up in the meat replacement products. Many are highly processed and unhealthy... full of salt and other chemicals, binders, fillers and can be heavy on the fat and calories. I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there. Add a lot of beans/legumes, brown rice, sweet potato and a healthier option for a pasta. Lentils are your friend! The one good quality brand that I've had in terms of meat replacements are products made by Gardein.5
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Why are you going vegetarian? Let's start there1
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cushman5279 wrote: »Please don't get caught up in the meat replacement products. Many are highly processed and unhealthy... full of salt and other chemicals, binders, fillers and can be heavy on the fat and calories. I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there. Add a lot of beans/legumes, brown rice, sweet potato and a healthier option for a pasta. Lentils are your friend! The one good quality brand that I've had in terms of meat replacements are products made by Gardein.
Meat replacement products are fine, in fact they make meeting protein goals a lot easier. Also, fish aren't a part of a vegetarian diet...and most meat replacement products I buy are low in fat. And why not the whole egg?
To the op, I just kinda went cold turkey and skipped a transition period. That's just me though. I do find meeting protein and fat requirements tricky but thankfully cooking Quorn products in oil can solve that. Tofu is tasty and versatile. I've also just discovered seitan.
Skinnytaste and the bbcgoodfood site have some great vegetarian sections. I go to both regularly for inspiration.5 -
cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
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If you're going vegetarian because you think it'll be easier to lose weight, it's probably not a good idea. Been there, done that, gained weight, back to eating meat because I was sick of all of the meal prep and casseroles.2
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littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
You're not being serious right?
She said "vegetarian". Not vegan. She could be Flexitarian, Pescatarian, Lacto-Ovo, Ovo, etc.
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I wouldn't make a point of avoiding meat substitutes, some of them can be quite tasty and they can also be part of a healthful diet that helps you meet your nutritional needs. I've been vegan for ten years and I eat them regularly. But also don't think that you have to buy products made specifically for vegetarians to transition -- lots of the greatest plant foods aren't special products but things like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans.
If you're doing this for weight loss (it isn't clear from your post), be aware that weight loss for vegetarians is the same as it is for non-vegetarians -- it comes down to calories in versus calories out. It's just as easy to gain or maintain weight as a vegetarian as a non-vegetarian.7 -
cushman5279 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
You're not being serious right?
She said "vegetarian". Not vegan. She could be Flexitarian, Pescatarian, Lacto-Ovo, Ovo, etc.
Vegetarians don't eat fish. Pescatarians do. Just trying to nip this in the bud. I'm vegetarian and when people find out the first question is if I eat fish.
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Hi there. I have been vegetarian for 30 plus years now. I recommend the meat substitute products (my favourite is quorn, the range is really good) as they are a very good source of protein especially when you are starting off. They are also tasty so make the transition easier.
I also cook a lot with beans, lentils and peas, quinoa, tofu nuts, seeds etc.
I am from Ireland so my biggest challenge is finding nice places to eat out, that cater well (& healthy) for vegetarians.4 -
Why call it vegan, when the real word for that is herbivore?
Because it would make people think of themselve as a cow?
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Just take it slow. Try not to rely on dairy for protien or you might feel sick.0
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Why call it vegan, when the real word for that is herbivore?
Because it would make people think of themselve as a cow?
"Herbivore" refers to those creatures that are physiologically adapted to a plant diet. Humans aren't herbivores, we're omnivores. As omnivores, we can choose to eat a plant-based diet and we can thrive on it . . . but that doesn't magically transform certain humans into herbivores. Some vegans, however, do use it informally to refer to themselves (which I don't have a problem with, I even do it myself sometimes).3 -
I would suggest introducing more purely vegetarian dishes to your diet. Include the staple vegetarian foods like legumes, grains, vegetables..etc in recipes that don't need meat replacements. I'm not against meat substitutes, but it's good to have a solid base of vegetarian to-go recipes and preferences for when a substitute is not easily available. You'll be surprised how amazing some vegetarian dishes taste without needing to add any meat or meat subs.littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
You're not being serious right?
She said "vegetarian". Not vegan. She could be Flexitarian, Pescatarian, Lacto-Ovo, Ovo, etc.
Vegetarians don't eat fish. Pescatarians do. Just trying to nip this in the bud. I'm vegetarian and when people find out the first question is if I eat fish.
Vegetarian is commonly used by people as an umbrella term for all plant based diets. I wouldn't get hung up on definitions. Most people just don't feel like keeping up with the names of all the different diets, some of which can be too foreign sounding. "Vegetarian" is just fine in my opinion.1 -
littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
I know quite a few vegetarians who also consume eggs and dairy...what plant do eggs and dairy come from...they also don't feel the need to go around calling themselves octo-lacto vegetarian, they just call themselves vegetarian. Also, in many cultures and religions, fish is not meat and would be perfectly acceptable in a vegetarian diet.
As to the OP, my wife and I never fully made the transition, nor will we. We started transitioning months ago with meatless mondays and then added other days...ultimately we decided that what we were doing was pretty good for us and didn't see the need to fully transition...we eat vegetarian 3-4 days per week..."meat" days are usually fish and sometimes chicken...we don't eat much beef, but I do enjoy a good steak or burger from time to time.
I'd suggest just transitioning slowly and keeping an open mind as to what exactly you're trying to accomplish, why you're considering vegetarian, etc and whether or not a different WOE would work better for you. Also, if you're doing this to lose weight be forewarned...many of my vegetarian dishes are more calorie dense than my meat, poultry, or fish dishes.4 -
I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
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littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
I know quite a few vegetarians who also consume eggs and dairy...what plant do eggs and dairy come from...they also don't feel the need to go around calling themselves octo-lacto vegetarian, they just call themselves vegetarian. Also, in many cultures and religions, fish is not meat and would be perfectly acceptable in a vegetarian diet.
As to the OP, my wife and I never fully made the transition, nor will we. We started transitioning months ago with meatless mondays and then added other days...ultimately we decided that what we were doing was pretty good for us and didn't see the need to fully transition...we eat vegetarian 3-4 days per week..."meat" days are usually fish and sometimes chicken...we don't eat much beef, but I do enjoy a good steak or burger from time to time.
I'd suggest just transitioning slowly and keeping an open mind as to what exactly you're trying to accomplish, why you're considering vegetarian, etc and whether or not a different WOE would work better for you. Also, if you're doing this to lose weight be forewarned...many of my vegetarian dishes are more calorie dense than my meat, poultry, or fish dishes.
So you are basically a flexitarian! Just wanted to use the term because someone called me that and I had no idea what it meant. I found it fascinating.
As for the bolded, you are very correct... Most of the calorie dense foods I absolutely love are vegetarian. I'm assuming she is trying to transition while losing weight, not for the purpose of losing weight if I understood correctly. OP, if you are doing this for the sake of weight loss, know that it's not necessary and that you will have to control your intake either way. Vegetarian does not automatically mean low calorie.1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...
I don't travel out of the country much so why? And after going to Canada and how it sucked trying to find food there, I'm not looking to venture much further as much especially in countries that don't speak English.0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »cushman5279 wrote: »I'd recommend sticking with the egg whites and maybe some fish here or there.
What plant do fish come from?
I know quite a few vegetarians who also consume eggs and dairy...what plant do eggs and dairy come from...they also don't feel the need to go around calling themselves octo-lacto vegetarian, they just call themselves vegetarian. Also, in many cultures and religions, fish is not meat and would be perfectly acceptable in a vegetarian diet.
As to the OP, my wife and I never fully made the transition, nor will we. We started transitioning months ago with meatless mondays and then added other days...ultimately we decided that what we were doing was pretty good for us and didn't see the need to fully transition...we eat vegetarian 3-4 days per week..."meat" days are usually fish and sometimes chicken...we don't eat much beef, but I do enjoy a good steak or burger from time to time.
I'd suggest just transitioning slowly and keeping an open mind as to what exactly you're trying to accomplish, why you're considering vegetarian, etc and whether or not a different WOE would work better for you. Also, if you're doing this to lose weight be forewarned...many of my vegetarian dishes are more calorie dense than my meat, poultry, or fish dishes.
So you are basically a flexitarian! Just wanted to use the term because someone called me that and I had no idea what it meant. I found it fascinating.
As for the bolded, you are very correct... Most of the calorie dense foods I absolutely love are vegetarian. I'm assuming she is trying to transition while losing weight, not for the purpose of losing weight if I understood correctly. OP, if you are doing this for the sake of weight loss, know that it's not necessary and that you will have to control your intake either way. Vegetarian does not automatically mean low calorie.
Ah...yeah, I guess so...
I enjoy my veg days, but in doing this for several months, I've realized that I could never really be full on vegetarian. My uric acid levels are in check though which is what I was shooting for.0 -
littlechiaseed wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...
I don't travel out of the country much so why? And after going to Canada and how it sucked trying to find food there, I'm not looking to venture much further as much especially in countries that don't speak English.
I'm not sure where you were in Canada, but I was there a few years ago and had no trouble eating (and I'm vegan).
I mean, it's your life and your loss, but the world outside the US is full of awesome places and there is food for vegans and vegetarians in the vast majority of them.4 -
Congratulations on trying to make the transition to vegetarian! Although personally I made the switch for personal reasons due to my love for all animals, not just cats and dogs. I do have to say I made the transition pretty quickly and I am not looking back at all. I have been eating a plant based diet for 10 months now and I absolutely love it! I love all beans, quinoa, and tofu. I try to get plenty of fruits and veggies into my diet and focus on how I feel with what I am putting into my body. I have lost over 15 pounds in the last 10 months with my transition to a plant based diet and I am almost at my goal weight. I love the diet choices I have made and you will too! Just keep experimenting with different foods. Try out some good vegetarian online blogs or cook books and don't be nervous to try something new. I personally have read the book, Kind Diet and I try a lot of recipes on Pinterest.2
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littlechiaseed wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...
I don't travel out of the country much so why? And after going to Canada and how it sucked trying to find food there, I'm not looking to venture much further as much especially in countries that don't speak English.
Because maybe understanding that different cultures are going to view "vegetarian" a little differently than you might make it not so annoying for you when people bring up fish...which is common to many "vegetarian" diets in different cultures...because they don't consider fish to be meat...
I trust that you are also not Catholic...Catholics are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all of the Friday's of lent...but fish is acceptable...1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...
I don't travel out of the country much so why? And after going to Canada and how it sucked trying to find food there, I'm not looking to venture much further as much especially in countries that don't speak English.
Because maybe understanding that different cultures are going to view "vegetarian" a little differently than you might make it not so annoying for you when people bring up fish...which is common to many "vegetarian" diets in different cultures...because they don't consider fish to be meat...
I trust that you are also not Catholic...Catholics are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all of the Friday's of lent...but fish is acceptable...
I was catholic and never understood why fish wasn't meat or why "don't eat meat on friday" somehow translates to "we have to eat fish on fridays" at least where I live in Texas that's how it's translated.. Boggles my mind to this day.0 -
baleighbee wrote: »Congratulations on trying to make the transition to vegetarian! Although personally I made the switch for personal reasons due to my love for all animals, not just cats and dogs. I do have to say I made the transition pretty quickly and I am not looking back at all. I have been eating a plant based diet for 10 months now and I absolutely love it! I love all beans, quinoa, and tofu. I try to get plenty of fruits and veggies into my diet and focus on how I feel with what I am putting into my body. I have lost over 15 pounds in the last 10 months with my transition to a plant based diet and I am almost at my goal weight. I love the diet choices I have made and you will too! Just keep experimenting with different foods. Try out some good vegetarian online blogs or cook books and don't be nervous to try something new. I personally have read the book, Kind Diet and I try a lot of recipes on Pinterest.
For your weight loss did you still track your calorie intake? Or did it happen naturally as you switched up your food choices?0 -
As a Canadian vegan, I feel compelled to chime in and say that I have plenty to eat!
OP, there are so many amazing veg friendly recipes out there. I'd suggest looking on some blogs or just browsing some cookbooks at your local bookstore to see what appeals to you and seems tasty!3 -
Lentils, beans, and chickpeas ars your new beat friends, as they a lovely, cheap sources of protein. My main advice is move away from the idea of meat-centric dishes, and think more about makeing pulses and vegetables the 'star' of the dish. That way, you arent going to have to rely on meat replacements all the time. Also experiemnt and try new things, there is so much we dont try because we rely on meat, so test out new recipes and have fun exploring new tastes.1
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crzycatlady1 wrote: »baleighbee wrote: »Congratulations on trying to make the transition to vegetarian! Although personally I made the switch for personal reasons due to my love for all animals, not just cats and dogs. I do have to say I made the transition pretty quickly and I am not looking back at all. I have been eating a plant based diet for 10 months now and I absolutely love it! I love all beans, quinoa, and tofu. I try to get plenty of fruits and veggies into my diet and focus on how I feel with what I am putting into my body. I have lost over 15 pounds in the last 10 months with my transition to a plant based diet and I am almost at my goal weight. I love the diet choices I have made and you will too! Just keep experimenting with different foods. Try out some good vegetarian online blogs or cook books and don't be nervous to try something new. I personally have read the book, Kind Diet and I try a lot of recipes on Pinterest.
For your weight loss did you still track your calorie intake? Or did it happen naturally as you switched up your food choices?
As I mentioned before, vegetarian doesn't necessarily equal weight loss. There are plenty of healthy foods that are also calorie dense. I'm a flexitarian (new term I learned today) and my veggie main courses tend to be more calorie dense than if I were to eat meat...a lot of lean meat, poultry, and fish is really low calorie...legumes, lentils, and other pulses are fairly calorie dense and these things tend to be staples in a vegetarian diet...1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »baleighbee wrote: »Congratulations on trying to make the transition to vegetarian! Although personally I made the switch for personal reasons due to my love for all animals, not just cats and dogs. I do have to say I made the transition pretty quickly and I am not looking back at all. I have been eating a plant based diet for 10 months now and I absolutely love it! I love all beans, quinoa, and tofu. I try to get plenty of fruits and veggies into my diet and focus on how I feel with what I am putting into my body. I have lost over 15 pounds in the last 10 months with my transition to a plant based diet and I am almost at my goal weight. I love the diet choices I have made and you will too! Just keep experimenting with different foods. Try out some good vegetarian online blogs or cook books and don't be nervous to try something new. I personally have read the book, Kind Diet and I try a lot of recipes on Pinterest.
For your weight loss did you still track your calorie intake? Or did it happen naturally as you switched up your food choices?
As I mentioned before, vegetarian doesn't necessarily equal weight loss. There are plenty of healthy foods that are also calorie dense. I'm a flexitarian (new term I learned today) and my veggie main courses tend to be more calorie dense than if I were to eat meat...a lot of lean meat, poultry, and fish is really low calorie...legumes, lentils, and other pulses are fairly calorie dense and these things tend to be staples in a vegetarian diet...
Thanks! The whole animal for food issue is getting to me more as I get older, and while I still don't have an issue with eating the local, pasture raised beef we buy (we visit the farm and see how things are run), I am becoming more uncomfortable with the commercial farmed items I'm eating (I eat a ridiculous amount of canned chicken). I don't think I'd want to go full vegetarian, but I'll have to look into flexitarian
edited to clarify0 -
Beans, lentils, eggs, sweet potatoes and salads are my staples. Lots of Indian cooking with chickpeas, veggies, and lentils. Cottage cheese and fruit makes a good breakfast or snack. smoothies with almond milk or yogurt. Don't resort to eating pizza and bread all the time and you'll be fine! Hummus and veggies and occasionally tofu and rice. My boyfriend also became vegetarian a few years back after he realized it was cheaper than eating meat. He eats a lot... There's quite a bit of experimenting going on in our kitchen now 0
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littlechiaseed wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »littlechiaseed wrote: »I'm sure if you're not vegetarian then the fish thing seems like splitting hairs but when it comes up weekly in person, it's pretty annoying especially considering I didn't even eat fish before becoming vegetarian because it grossed me out. I can count on one hand the number of times I ate fish when it wasn't a fish stick broiled to an unrecognizable crisp.
perhaps you should broaden your cultural horizons...
I don't travel out of the country much so why? And after going to Canada and how it sucked trying to find food there, I'm not looking to venture much further as much especially in countries that don't speak English.
if you're really asking why should you broaden your cultural horizons, then i have so much sadness and pity for you as a huaman being.2
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