Going vegetarian

[orchidrose]

So, I think I'm finally gonna bite the bullet. I've been interested in going vegetarian ever since I can remember, but.. I didn't used to like veggies. For most of this year, I've been on a diet of sorts that has basically just been eating a lot of whole foods and keeping away from processed foods as much as possible. This has led to a great broadening of my horizons in terms of vegetables (I already loooved fruits, dried and fresh), and I'm now eating vegetarian maybe 70% of the time.

 

I'd like to try going full vegetarian for the month of May, then think about being pescetarian - I adore sushi, so that would be tough. I also really enjoy a good burger or steak now and then, but I think I could go without.

 

Any tips on getting started? My weekly grocery list has been almost all fruits and veggies for awhile now, so that's not going to be tough.

[HouseKitten]

My sister is a vegetarian. My mum just tends to make her a veggie version of our meals. She eats a lot of quorn burgers, lentils and beans.

 

Definitely try some of the substitute stuff to see what you like, so if you get a craving for something meatier than veggies then you don't have to revert back to actual meat!

 

Of course, my sis is also allergic to nuts, so that makes it harder for her to get protein!

[orchidrose]

My sister is a vegetarian. My mum just tends to make her a veggie version of our meals. She eats a lot of quorn burgers, lentils and beans.

 

Definitely try some of the substitute stuff to see what you like, so if you get a craving for something meatier than veggies then you don't have to revert back to actual meat!

 

Of course, my sis is also allergic to nuts, so that makes it harder for her to get protein!

 

Yikes! I can't imagine going veggie without nuts. I always have almonds in the house, and usually at least one other type of nut.

 

I do adore Quorn's fake chicken products, but I haven't tried their burgers or other stuff. I should.

[Notreadyet87]

Vegetarian food is actually quite good. There is this website my mom goes to which has a TON of really good recipes for everything from pancakes, to cookies and there all vegetarian. The Boca burgers are delicious, and so are the chicken patties--they are also low in calories and healthy as well.

The food is pretty good, my mom doesn't miss meat at all. And you can get creative with the veggies.

[jengh]

I was a vegetarian for YEARS, a vegan for awhile (my god, never again with the vegan though!!!).

 

I LOVE boca burgers and morning star products. Their foturkey and veggie burgers are fab. You can still get vegetarian sushi even though it kinda defeats the purpose.

 

Be sure your protein intake is high enough.

 

My FAVORITE vegetarian dish...

 

1C brown rice, cooked in vegetable bouillon, with carrots, celery, and onion

1 can of black beans, rinsed

1C cooked corn

1 package of ground "beef" (both Morning Star and Boca make it)

1/2-1 can of tomato sauce

 

Sautee 1/4-1/2 an onion in a little bit of olive oil, add in the rice and fry it up a bit, stir in the corn and "beef" and tomato sauce and heat until hot. Add in hot sauce or chili powder if desired. Put the mix on whole grain tortillas with a bit of sour cream and cheese. They're really filling!

[whattodo87]

Join link removed

 

It's a facebook for vegetarians. You can connect with people and get advice on how to stay strong

[DanDee]

I'm a pescetarian - couldn't live without my prawns and tuna!

 

Go for it it's really really easy. But just remember to take multivitamins because your diet changes a LOT.

[FathomFear]

The only thing you need to be careful of is not to over-consume on empty calories. You can eat a vegan diet just by eating rice/potatoes/breads/oils with some pseudo-meats like tofurkey, and it wouldn't be very healthy. Green or non-starchy vegetables should be making up the vast majority of a vegetarian or vegan's caloric intake.

 

To that end, assuming they aren't already, beans should become a big part of your diet. I highly recommend the brand Eden organic -- link removed

 

They have a fantastic line of canned beans with no salt added. Extremely healthy and you can heat some up in minutes. I have a can almost every day.

[Ginger1]

One of my good friends became a vegetarian over a year ago- mostly because she has turned into a bit PETA person. But her diet SUCKS. And now she is always complaining how bad she feels and she hates eating because she just doesn't want to do it.

I am probably 90% vegetarian. Or more. I go weeks without meat, but it's summer now and if I want a hot dog I'm going to eat one!

 

But for all the other times when I'm not eating meat I am actually paying attention to what I eat! Most of my veggie friend just eat mac and cheese or cheese pizza- just a bunch of crap basically.

I go out of my way to make sure I'm getting protein and iron and also fiber because that keeps you full in the way that meat does.

For example- fortfied cereals like Total are good, you get 100% of your daily minerals and vits. I also eat a lot of shredded wheat and grape nuts- lots of fiber.

 

I eat yogurt at least once a day- usually has 6-10g protein.

I also have a rice/bean mix that I cook up and keep in my fridge. It blend together dry brown rice, lentils, barley, split peas- then I cook it up and its a really good grain medly with lots of protein and keeps you full. I put a seasoning salt on it and it's great, healthy and nutritious.

 

Just keep tabs on your fish- it's healthy and all but a lot of sushi fish are types that have Hg and PCBs built up in them.

[orchidrose]

Thanks, Ginger! This all came about because I was on a diet, mostly to eat healthier. I eat Greek yogurt everyday, usually a few times a week for breakfast and almost everyday with lunch. The rice and beans sounds really good. I always have beans in my cabinet and I bought bulgur for the first time today, so maybe I'll mix that up later this week.

[Ginger1]

Thanks, Ginger! This all came about because I was on a diet, mostly to eat healthier. I eat Greek yogurt everyday, usually a few times a week for breakfast and almost everyday with lunch. The rice and beans sounds really good. I always have beans in my cabinet and I bought bulgur for the first time today, so maybe I'll mix that up later this week.

 

mm bulgar is great. If you have a trader Joes around you, they have great rice mixes that you hardly need to add butter or salt to because they are natually nutty and delicious.

and greek yogurt is my fav!!