Vegetarianism Questions?!
Vegetarianism Questions?
I want to become a vegetarian, but fear that I will not get enough protein. Veg heads-- Why did you become vegetarians? I need to be reminded of the animals to give me the power! Has anyone found really good 'burgers'? Boca burgers are OK but not the same. And what about main courses-- If I can't have chicken, I wont have the lean protein filler.... Help, additional veg. info would be appreciated :)
Additional Details2 months ago
fake meats are $$$
Answers:
2 months ago
fake meats are $$$
This should help: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html... :-)
I was a vegetarian for about 4 days until someone took me to a real good soul food resturant and screwed it up! I'm going back vegan 'cause I can do w/o the meat for the most part. I found that Boca Burgers are the best bet. Garden burgers are gross to me. Try beans. Black beans are really good. and remember Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever its cooked with. Peanut butter? Cheeses? I haven't tried the veggie chicken and other meats in the Vegetarian section yet.
i'm not a veg. but i do know a great veg. dish. put enough olive oil to coat the pan and turn on medium-high. chop cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, green beans and cabbage. you will also need about a cup of chicken stock.
Let the cucumbers brown slightly and add the broccoli and carrots. let them cook to what ever preference you like and add the chicken stock and the cut cabbage. cover and let steam untill the cabage is soft.
Serve with peper, salt, or soy sauce.
this is not out of anny cook book or online recepie.
gool luck
There are plenty of protein sources out there and it does not have to be meat.
I personally think boca products are gross!
Morning star farms burgers the prime veggie burger version are good especially if you cook them in a pan or on the grill, just use cooking spray for no sticking. Their hot dogs are good when you dress them up on the bun, relish, cheese, onion. Their fake chicken nuggets are also good. I use their burger crumbles or sausage crumbles in recipes all the time. From tacos and chili to pepper pasta to home made pizza. I can fool a meat eater (if I wanted to). Spices and how to use them will be an important part of your new lifestyle.
Nuts, some seeds, beans, tofu, soy yogurts, nut butters (peanut, cashew, almond), avocado are all impressive protein foods some cheese too if you are including it and also eggs if you are including them.
I make stir frys with tofu, it has a plain taste and you have to get a feel for cooking it and flavoring it. There are different ways of preparing it. Allrecipes.com has some good ideas to try for tofu starting out. They also have veggie friendly recipes.
Some people think that the above may not all be a lean protein, however, the fats in nuts or avocados, when replacing meats is excellent. They are healthy fats. Read up on nutrition so you will learn and know.
Check out some health food stores in your area or Krogers, they carry a variety of vegetarian products to try. See what you like.
Silk makes a good soymilk (soymilk also has protein). The chocolate, vanilla and regular. There are lots of others on the market too that are yummy. Currently I am using costco kirkland brand vanilla. Try to find Non GMO products. So you know the soybeans were not changed genetically.
Once you get some basics down, you will learn to be more creative and think of things that are healthy and that you enjoy. Search the web for ideas, recipes and knowledge!
P.S. Knorrs makes a good vegetarian bullion cube, to be used in recipes say like an asian tofu vegetable soup. Or a meatless recipe that calls for a broth.
All you have to do to be "reminded" about the ethical reasons for becoming a vegetarian or vegan is go to PETA's website or Farm Sanctuary's website!! Seriously!
As far as getting enough protein, that's EASY! You really only need 40-50 grams of protein a day. So, if you have a tall glass of milk or soy milk with dinner you already have half your daily protein!! Hard to believe, huh? Even rice and pastas and veggies have some protein in them. Of course the meat substitutes (Morningstar Farms are fabulous!!!) are tasty and really do taste like you're eating meat. However, you can have beans (make a burrito with sauteed veggies, rice, and refried beans), tofu substituted in almost any chicken recipe, dairy, nuts, lentils, etc. There are SO many sources of protein and you really need so little that it's really easy to get enough.
When my husband and I became vegetarians I subscribed to Vegetarian Times which was the best thing I could have done for us. I have found more awesome recipes in that magazine than I have found in any veggie cook book.
Feel free to email me any time with any questions!
I, and the animals, and the Earth thank you for considering becoming a vegetarian!!
I like to mix soft tofu and eggs together with salsa for protein. Beans are good too--I like to mix it up and eat hummas, make soup, tostadas, whatever. Cheese is good protein as well. Goat cheese is fairly lean, although pricey.
Really, lots of people in the world are vegetarian because they can't afford meat. Rice and beans are a staple in many countries. It can be a really inexpensive way to eat.
Fry some soft tofu and eggs together with a bit of oil and sprinkle abit of white/black pepper. It tastes really good and you get alot of protein from the tofu and egg white. Nuts like macademia are an important source of protein and act as a substitute for meat. Try stir fried vegetable dishes with macademia or almonds sprinkled on top and serve with rice.
Well, put a picture of a cute little calf on your refrigerator!! I became a veg because I had a pet cow that I raised from a calf. I bottle fed it and everything! My dad butchered it and I found him in the freezer!!! No veggie burgers will taste like a burger that youre used to! I like Garden Burgers better. Grillers are also really good with A1 sauce. There are great alternatives for all recipes. There are MorningStar Farms Burger Crumbles which are like ground beef. You can use them for tacos, spagetti, lasagna, chile, meat loaf, or anything. Just skip the "browning step" Also if you make tacos, dont' use the whole pack of taco seasoning. It makes it too spicy. Use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the pack. Also if you add it to spagetti, don't use a whole pound..it dries up the sauce. As far as lean protein filler, veggie burger crumbles are lower in fat than regular chicken. But chick'n patties and nuggets by morning star farms are great!! They also have a meal starter that is "chicken". As far as price, a lb of beef is around 3.00/lb. and a lb of veggie crumbles is like 3.76/lb where i live, so it's not that much more. But if you think about the money you'll save on cholesterol meds later in life, it kinda evens out!!! Good luck...oh, also try the Peta web site. They have a vegetarian starter kit they'll mail to you for free and they have some videos for purchase that will change your mind forever with out reminders!!!!!!!!! (i think one is called meet your meat!)
Yes..Fake meats are expensive..If you have a Trader Joe's, they seem to be the cheapest option. That is where I get all of my vegetarian meals. Morning Star makes great vegetarian products that taste really good! They aren't the LOWEST in fat, but if you are looking for good tasty vegetarian meals, they are always a good option.