Advice on becoming vegetarian for a very picky eater?!
My big problem is that I don't really eat very much of anything. Whenever I go to a restaurant, people generally know that I'll order chicken fingers. I have never liked salads.. and I wish I did. I suppose I have a problem with trying new things, and I have a very weird problem with certain textures of foods.
I absolutely adore animals. I see videos of how slaughterhouses operate and it brings tears. I can't stand to support this any longer, but I worry about becoming completely unhealthy. I know that I am already, as I don't eat much, but I'd like to learn a few tips.
My question, I suppose, is how would you recommend I transition? Has anyone else with an appetite like mine done this? Are there any interesting recipes you've found?Any advice you can give would be wonderful
Answers: I've wanted to become a vegetarian since I was a little girl. It's been difficult, and I've had periods where I've succeeded, but I've always fallen back. I'd like to go vegan.. but that's a lofty goal for now.
My big problem is that I don't really eat very much of anything. Whenever I go to a restaurant, people generally know that I'll order chicken fingers. I have never liked salads.. and I wish I did. I suppose I have a problem with trying new things, and I have a very weird problem with certain textures of foods.
I absolutely adore animals. I see videos of how slaughterhouses operate and it brings tears. I can't stand to support this any longer, but I worry about becoming completely unhealthy. I know that I am already, as I don't eat much, but I'd like to learn a few tips.
My question, I suppose, is how would you recommend I transition? Has anyone else with an appetite like mine done this? Are there any interesting recipes you've found?Any advice you can give would be wonderful
I was the world's pickiest eater before I went vegetarian. I was definitely part of the chicken finger and fries crowd, and I was very hesitant to venture out of my comfort zone. I hated salads and tofu and anything that I wasn't used to.
I was lucky enough to have a girlfriend who is a wonderful cook and was able to sneak things in gradually for me. What I would recommend to you, if you don't have a cute little blonde girl bouncing around dying to cook for you, is for you to vegetarianize a lot of the food you normally eat. Schneiders makes excellent frozen "chicken" nuggets (they come in a green and white plastic bag, marked Au Naturel), and they're packed with vegetarian protein and very tasty. (I dip them in BBQ sauce :3)
The best suggestion I can make is to take all your tried-and-true favourite meals and substitute fake veggie meat for any real meat. I like Yves Ground Round because you can use it instead of ground beef in pretty much anything - I like sloppy joes made with Ground Round and Manwich sauce - and Schneider Au Naturel .. well, everything. (They make frozen "chicken cordon bleu", with veggie chicken and veggie ham, which the previously mentioned cute little blonde girl is cooking right now and smell wonderful.)
Gradually ease into your new diet by replacing your meat with meat substitutes, and branch out from there into new tastes and flavours. There was one thing I kept telling myself as I tried new things, as I was extremely picky: The worst thing that can happen is that I won't like it. And it's really not a big deal if you don't! There is a vegetarian diet for everyone, and you will find the perfect balance for you.
If you don't like fruits or vegetables, you're already an unhealthy omnivore.
Learn to like new things.
I guess the only transition to make is to just stop eating meat. But there is a problem with that. I was once a vegetarian myself, but without meat, it is pretty hard to get the proper amount of protein in your diet. I have a lot of tattoos and I noticed that without the right protein, it was taking me A LOT longer to heal a tattoo and I felt weaker. There are complete proteins and incomplete proteins. Complete proteins are in meat and dairy, and incomplete proteins are in other foods, like grains and certain veggies (beans/legumes), so to get proper proteins, make sure you eat your dairy and to combine incomplete proteins to make a complete one, like a bean burrito (grain + bean = complete protein) GOOD LUCK!
i definitely dont have an appetite like yours. I seem to have the opposite problem, I luv food waaaayyy too much. but maybe you can try those immitation meats. they're pretty good for transitioning. I liked them when I was transitioning, but not so keen on them now. much prefer a salad wrap with avocado.
Maybe try mixing it up with the salads. Salads dont have to just be boring old luttuce, cucumber and tomatoe. Try mixing broad beans, avocado, even grapefruit... you'll be suprised how yummy they are.
Here's an interesting recipe
Quinoa salad with grapefruit and Avocado:
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 cup quinoa, washed, rinsed and drained - 250ml
(when cooking quinoa: 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water)
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tsp granulated cane suger or raw sugar
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup vegetable oil - 75ml
1 red grapefruit, peeled, sectioned and each section cut into thirds
1 avocado, pelled, pitted and cut into cubes
sliced red spanish onion (as much as you want)
____________
1. In a pot boil water.
2. Add quinoa, stirring to prevent clumps, and return to boil. Cover and reduce to simmer for 15mins or until tender and liquid is absorbed.
3. Remove from heat, let stand uncovered for about 5 mins.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together mint, lime juice, sugar, pepper and oil.
5. Add grapefruit pieces, avocado, onion and quinoa. Toss lightly to coat in dressing.
__________
You can use oranges if you dont have/like red grapefruits.
I like to throw in some baby spinach leaves or rocket.
Its yummy, healthy, vegan and packed with protein.
Enjoy ......
=0)
ps. you dont *need* dairy to have 'complete protein' you can get all the protein you need in a balanced vegan diet.
Find yourself an Indian friend (or rather his mother :)). A major proportion of Indians are strict vegetarians (and that means no eggs either). But at the same time their food palate isn't lacking in any sense. Once you have tasted their sambars, dosas, curries and sweets, you will never miss meat.
i am also picky... i just grin and bear it. it is a worthy sacrifice...