WHAT KIND OF FOODS CAN YOU eat as a vegetarian that replace the nutrients that meat give your body? =)?!
Anyway, I'm asking because Matthew Lush (gotta give him credit!) made a very good point in that the way animals are treated and killed today for food, is ridiculous. He made a good enough point so that now I'm really considering becoming a vegetarian... or vegan, whatever. (I'll look up the official terms later.)
I've never tried it before and I figured it's a healthy choice right?.. The problem is, is that every single meal I eat throughout the day (few exceptions) have MEAT somewhere in it! So basically I would be redoing my ENTIRE diet! My family has always been big meat-eaters lol. I can handle the change.. buttt I know meat is important for the body too - Which brings me to wanna know what kinda foods can I get the same nutrients from, as meat?
Thanks. If you can, I'd really like some sources provided. =)
Answers: I capitalized the beginning of the question to get your attention. =)
Anyway, I'm asking because Matthew Lush (gotta give him credit!) made a very good point in that the way animals are treated and killed today for food, is ridiculous. He made a good enough point so that now I'm really considering becoming a vegetarian... or vegan, whatever. (I'll look up the official terms later.)
I've never tried it before and I figured it's a healthy choice right?.. The problem is, is that every single meal I eat throughout the day (few exceptions) have MEAT somewhere in it! So basically I would be redoing my ENTIRE diet! My family has always been big meat-eaters lol. I can handle the change.. buttt I know meat is important for the body too - Which brings me to wanna know what kinda foods can I get the same nutrients from, as meat?
Thanks. If you can, I'd really like some sources provided. =)
That's great you're considering vegetarianism. Vegetarians get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains.
Check out this site for a list of veg foods that are high in protein, iron, and calcium:
http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...
Another good nutrition site is:
http://goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutrition...
(Scroll to Essential Nutrients)
Good luck!
http://www.bocaburger.com/
http://goveg.com/
http://www.vegcooking.com/
Awesome! There is a great brand called Boca and they make veggie burgers, soy chicken, and a ton more vegan stuff. FIY vegetarians don't eat meat and Vegans don't eat animal products (Including milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) Tofu is also really good but not alone. Good Luck!
Hey!
This site helps alot!:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.j...
Any immitation meat products usually contain soy, which has lots of protein "soy protein". Brands like Morning Star, Boca, and "garden burger" are all good.
You can also eat peanut butter, and regular nuts they have a lot of protein.
Actually, meat is not important for the body. There are nutrients in meat (protein, iron and some b vitamins) that are important, but they can all be gotten elsewhere and very easily. Protein is a non-issue as long as you are eating a varied diet and getting enough calories. Iron is available in legumes, fortified grain foods, dark green vegetables, seeds (sesame, pumpkin and sunflower, in particular,) dried apricots and blackstrap molasses. The b complex vitamins are all widely available in a variety of plant foods (mainly grains and vegetables,) except for b12, which is produced by a bacterium and only reliably available in animal foods. If you're eating dairy and eggs, there's no need to fuss over it, but if you're contemplating veganism, you probably want to look into a supplement. The rest of what meat offers is stuff you don't want to replace, like saturated fat and cholesterol.
A great book on vegetarian nutrition is "The New Becoming Vegetarian" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina.
It depends on how far you want to go. Cheese, for example, has protein and many other nutrients, but some vegans do not include dairy products. The same is true for eggs. What you can do to improve the quality of what you eat, is to eat organic eggs from chickens that do not get antibiotics, steroids, and other nasty things in their diets.
Nuts are a very good source of protein and other nutrients, as are legumes, that is, vegetables from pods, like peas, beans, green beans and so on. Soy is also rich in protein and can be had in things like tofu which you can stir fry with other great vegetables for a tasty meal. Rice, if you get brown rice, has good value as well. Felafel is a great source of protein from which you can make veggie burgers.
You have lots of choices if you decide to make the switch. I gotta go now cause I made myself hungry talking about it!
I'm sure there a ton of things to take but meat provides lots of protein. MY favorite food when I'm avoiding meat is Peanut Butter. It's balanced as far as protein and carbo's (50/50).
You could sub Albacore but I'm not sure if it's allowed for vegans or veggie's but it is high in protein but might have a bit of mercury and lead to contend with but is wicked good for you.
Beans are good for you. Unless veggie burgers have improved a LOT in the last few years they totally SUCK.
I remember one time I quit meat for about a month. I went back to meat after that and the first time I ate a steak I got really zapped energy-wise and felt almost sick. There are a lot of toxins and chemicals and anti-biotics in meat. Plus, when a cow is slaughtered it secretes a chemical into it's body that is not good for you but most people get used to it after they eat it for a while.
The whole thing with giving up meat is you have to make sure that you get enough protein and iron in your system. You could become anemic but raisins have iron and you can take supplements.
You might also consider cutting WAY down on meat but eating a small amount to give you what you need. But there has to be a source on the internet for this or a book "Vegetarianism for Dummies" ? or something like that. You could also inquire at your local health food store. Ask for the nutritionist since all large health stores are required to employ at least one on staff. Whole Foods or Clarke Nutrition should have one.
:-)
Peace y'all
bocca burgers
veggie burgers
tofu
veggie hotdogs
veggie corndogs
veggie bacon
veggie sausage
veggie nuggets
veggie chicken patties
veggie ribs
veggie deli meats
veggie cheese
tofurkey
peanut butter
beans
have you ever been to a slaughter house? have you ever seen how the animals are treated....ive got news for you ...people make up crap...
its not the least bit inhumane how they do it
thats what livestock is raised for
u should do some more research before you make the mistake of depriving yourself from necessary nutrients