Going meatless -- Looking for recipe ideas

Just remember that a vegetarian diet is usually very high carb...so be careful, you need a protein source for each meal..look at tofu, soy, beans, watch the nuts, cause those calories really add up quickly, meatless protein substitues and whey powders to get your protein in. Protein keeps the body satisfied for longer periods, helps to prevent you from over eating and provides the muscles the protein to be able to grow....so don't leave it out!! whichever form you choose make sure it's at every meal

Great advise, I know the importance of protien, and want to make sure that it stays in my kids diet (as well as mine). But I am trying to reduce the unhealthy fats and high calorie foods that we have gotten into the bad habit of eating frequently. I have been substituting quinoa for rice, potatoes and other common carb sides in my meals.

I mainly want my girls to learn how to cook and eat healthier food with more vegetables. I've always struggled with weight, and I don't want them to.

Good for you being a role model for your kids!! It will certainly make their lives easier if they learn how to eat well from you! I never learned how to eat well and it's taken me 10 years to figure it out.

I totally agree protein is essential in your diet but meatless substitutes are just as crappy as eating any other processed food. So use them sparingly. And even though I'm mainly meatless (I eat meat 1-2x/wk) I make my protein requirement on beans and nuts everyday and I keep those carbs to around 150g/day. Generally speaking 125g carbs is considered low carb so don't believe that meatless necessarily means carbo-loaded! I still eat bread, rice and potatoes just not all 3 in a single day

Another awesome easy vegetarian dish is to take a small butternut squash, cut off the top and de-seed. Pre-bake in a 350deg oven about 10-15 mins. Fill the cavity with vegetarian baked beans and bake again until the beans are heated through. It's super simple and awesome. I then use the top of the squash to make roasted veggies or butternut squash soup! Good luck :-)

My Chilli

1 onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 tin of red kidney beans
2 tables spoons of tomatoe puree
150 grams of Quorn mince
salt
pepper
teaspoon of cinammon
teaspoon of coriander powder
teaspoon of cumin
chopped fresh coriander
half a teaspoon of chilli powder
juice of squeezed lime

works out to around 135 to 150 calories a portion not including rice

My bolognaise sauce
Throw all these into a bowl and use a blender on it

tin of chopped tomatoes
tomatoe puree
garlic
mixed herbs but some fresh basil too
salt and pepper
a splash of olive oil
lemon juice
splash of balsamic vinegar

the rest:
1 onion chopped
mushrooms
150g of quorn mince

this is between 120 and 130 calories per portion

I am a vegetarian. My wife is not. When we are having friends over, we often make vegetarian tacos substituting morningstar crumbles for ground beef. Our friends definitely eat their share and say they don't mind the substitution.

Here are a couple I've enjoyed:

Mexican Style Brown Rice Casserole: http://caloriecount.about.com/mexican-style-brown-rice-casserole-recipe-r544727

Vegetarian Taco Salad: http://caloriecount.about.com/vegetarian-taco-salad-recipe-r561230

Here are a few of my favorites-
Tomato basil soup http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-basil-soup-10000000225897/
Curry coconut lentil soup http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/coconut-red-lentil-soup-recipe.html
Black bean and butternut squash chili (good garnished with a little sour cream) http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/black-bean-squash-chili-50400000115488/
Kale almond pesto (I just make the pesto and don't do the beans part. Serve on pasta or make a pesto pizza) http://newhope360.com/food/spicy-kale-almond-pesto-and-white-bean-pasta

Bump This can help me also!!!!

Hi, I am changing my diet to include more vegetables and less meat. I am not doing this because I have any problems with the consumption of meat (moral, health or otherwise) I just want to eat healthier. I will still occasionally include meat in my meals, but am limiting it to a few times per month for now. I also want to keep dairy in my kids diet.

If you have any favorite recipies that you are willing to share, please post them here. I would love to get some ideas for healthy, plant based meals that are hearty enough to sate the appetite of my teenaged daughter, and still keep us within a healthy calorie intake for the meal.

All suggestions are greatly appreciated. (:

Does your sig know your going meatless....................................................................I'd be sad if my wife told me that.................


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