I'm allergic to wheat, but I want to go vegetarian. Should I do it?!
Answers: I already have a limited amount of food to eat, but I feel that being a vegetarian is just the right thing to do. I feel that animal cruelty, such as the way they're treated and raised when their purpose is to be sold for consumption, is wrong. With all the hormones and other nasties their injected with, it couldn't be healthy either. So, I was hoping to get some opinions and maybe recipes I could use to get started as a vegetarian.
I am allergic to wheat, soy, gluten. corn, eggs, peanuts, and commercial dairy-AND I am a vegetarian. It takes some work, and some research, but it can be done. I have a very varied diet, and do alot of ethnic cooking. I use flour that I grind from buckwheat, millet, flax, and quinoa for baking breads, biscuits, scones, biscotti, and all of the other treats I was missing. If you email me, I can give you a link to my food allergy group, where you will find loads of wheat and allergen free recipes-many of them vegetarian. If you are still eating meat or poultry, then you are getting wheat in your diet-animals are fed a diet high in wheat, soy and corn, and the meat is injected with antimicrobials and sanitizers that contain wheat. Meat was the missing link for me when I first had to go wheat free years ago-I didn't realize that it was so prevalant in meat-once I gave up meat, I healed from a crippling illness completely. Learning about hidden sources of wheat (such as in the glue on postage stamps, envelopes, and in cosmetics, cleaners, etc helps also)
I don't have recipes but I'm sure your local library does. Also, goggle vegan and vegetarian.
My wife is allergic to wheat and even dairy products and is vegentarian. We both eat same foods and buy entirely at local health food stores that specialize in organics. My wife can drink organic whole milk with no problems. Eat organic wheat products also.
Suggest going to your local health food store and get recipes from them.
Not know your location, but can also try this site to see if can ship to your local. www.ada's.com
I think if you would like to you should try it out.
A lot of premade vegetarian meat replacements have gluten(which is what I assume your allergy is), but there are still many things you can eat.
They already have replacements for wheat things with rice and potato flours and such.
You could eat many vegetables, beans, nuts, soy products.
You can buy TVP or textured vegetable protein, which is made from soy, as a replacement for ground meat in chilis, soups, stews, sloppy joes, and things like that.
You can make bean tacos or burritos. Sandwiches. Lots of stuff. I'm not help.
Make sure you don't eat seitan, it is made from wheat gluten.
Go for it! I am allergic to wheat gluten also, and am a vegetarian.
There are a lot of recipes for you to eat. Bread is surprisingly easy to avoid if you eat the right things. Try to stick with a lot of produce, nuts, coconuts, and beans to acquire all of the necessary amino acids, and protien that you won't get from meat. Also, eat a lot of produce.
When I am with my immediate family, it is very easy to be a no-wheat, vegetarian, but when company is over--be aware! With spring break, every item had meat in it and chicken broth, so I was stuck cooking on my own. That's the ONLY downside to being a vegetarian.
Otherwise, it is very good for your health. It will help you lose a lot of unwanted weight (especially if the meat is supplemented with your required servings of fresh organic produce). Also, meat contains some, but not a lot, of cancerous carcinogens. This is however mostly found in red meat, so it is very health-conscience to avoid this.
Last but not least, you will need to find a way to get Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids without eating fish. DO NOT take vitamin supplements as these will NOT be absorbed and will cause more harm than good. Try to eat a lot of salmon, if you choose to be a pescitarian instead of vegetarian, or the one of the best non-animal sources is found in flax seed.
Flax can be eaten ontop of cerials, a little bit in pasta, or basically anything else.
(Also, if you do have urges to eat bread, you can always buy gluten free breads made from coconut flour or oat flour.)
Good gluten free recipes can be found here:
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/
Good luck, and don't be discouraged from your new diet!
Get wheat free recipes at http://www.vegetariantimes.com
Many vegetarian recipes do not have whea tin them, You may have to cook more at home, but that's a good thing. You'll be more healthy.
Congrates on making a great choice.
maby.
Being a vegetarian is tough and limiting at first, no matter what you can or cannot eat. However, a wheat allergy isnt really going to hurt you too bad.
Is wheat your only allergy, or are other grains a problem?
If wheat is your only problem then you may want to look into wheat free bread products, often available through specialty stores or mail order. Im not sure where you live, so I cant really suggest a certain company. However an internet search should help you find a company that can provide for you.
Other than bread you really dont have a big problem! There are tons of wheat free cereals and grain options! You could always go the asian way and eat lots of rice and millet. I live in Japan and we eat rice about two meals a day, sometimes more. There are many varieties of noodles made from rice and not wheat, and even bread-like and bun dishes.
Look for cuisines from areas that traditionally wouldnt have much wheat in their diet and you can probably find tons of dishes that you can love and enjoy without worrying about your allergy.
As far as vegetables and fruits go you have no problem with fresh veggies and fruits. Really you are probably used to and familiar with plenty of dishes and products that are wheat free that are either already vegetarian or can be adapted.
If you dont have any problems with soy there are tons of soy products that could be good for you, such as tofu. Tofu comes in a variety of textures and can taste like almost anything, just depending on how you prepare it.
You really should have no problem converting to a veggie- lifestyle. I suggest looking at websites such as those provided by PETA or GOVEG.com
Also try http://www.wheat-free.org/
its a great resource for people with your allergy
Good luck!
Wheat is not a requirement on a vegetarian diet. Google "celiac vegetarian recipes" and you'll find all sorts.