Don't knock it til you've tried it.?!
Now don't get too excited, ye haven't got a convert on ye're hands, but I just wanted to let ye all know that I managed to put together a filling and nutritious meal using all the fresh produce I bought at the market and I also managed to keep it strictly vegan. We ended up with a gorgeous lunch of stuffed field mushrooms, a very interesting salad incorporating fresh fruit and nuts as well as the usual suspects and some store cupboard ingredients that I checked for animal by-products and vegan compatibility.
All in all it was very enjoyable and my commited carnivore husband was and still is very full after it. I never realised that vegan food in particular could be so tasty and easy to prepare, I often make veggie dishes but never like this.
Answers: Since I've been invading this forum and taking note of lots of veggie and vegan ideas and ideals, I decided that on my usual trip to my local farmers market this morning I would pick up a few bits and pieces to make a vegan meal for my family.
Now don't get too excited, ye haven't got a convert on ye're hands, but I just wanted to let ye all know that I managed to put together a filling and nutritious meal using all the fresh produce I bought at the market and I also managed to keep it strictly vegan. We ended up with a gorgeous lunch of stuffed field mushrooms, a very interesting salad incorporating fresh fruit and nuts as well as the usual suspects and some store cupboard ingredients that I checked for animal by-products and vegan compatibility.
All in all it was very enjoyable and my commited carnivore husband was and still is very full after it. I never realised that vegan food in particular could be so tasty and easy to prepare, I often make veggie dishes but never like this.
I have had many satisfying "vege" only meals and the older I get the less meat I desire. But I still would not commit to a vege diet and certainly not the cause. I still like my steaks and sausage and eggs.
Isn't beautiful fresh produce simply food from the gods? I adore the farmer's market. Makes me wonder how anyone could not love shopping for vegetables! (I know, I'm a nerd!)
I'm so glad you had a great experience with vegan food! When your'e ready to be adventurous, get yourself a great vegan cookbook. Anything by Dreena Burton is awesome.
Best of luck!
It really isn't that hard, is it?
Something that you will actually help your grocery bill is buying things when they are in season vs. as we usually do - which will end up costing us more since they have to ship it from places most def. not local.
Right now in Texas, grapefruits are in season - and they are cheap - as in under $2 for a bag of them (about 7-10). I can figure out something that is great tasting, good for me to eat, while filling - and it is costing me less. Same thing with strawberries in the area - and I get to pick them out in the fields to get the ones that I want. Corn is .10 cents an ear - who can't find something great to do with ears of corn?
Compare the cost above to meat - and the savings is easy to see - and as you pointed out - tasty and easy to prepare.
Honestly I am happy for you. I encourage you to further experiment to see if this might be a lifestyle you might be ready for.
You do realize you did not ask a question. I'll just assume you wanted people to tell you want they thought about you recent experience.
Farmers markets are a great way to support local foods and farmers. Vegan meals have a trifecta of benefits (i.e health, environmental, and ethics).
I'm heartened to hear your experience was a positive one.
Agape (A kind of spiritual love)
Here are some web sites with some great vegan food.
http://amys.com
http://gardenburger.com
http://yvesveggie.com
http://sunshineburger.com
http://rightfoods.com
http://veganstore.com -they have chocolate!
If you have a dog here is a site to get vegan dog food: http://www.v-dogfood.com/
Here are some good recipes:
Stir fry- You need cut up tofu, olive oil, steamed veggies, and cooked rice
Get a frying pan and coat it with olive oil. The put the tofu in the pan and brown each side of it. Next, add the veggies. Add a little more olive oil and put in the rice. Mix everything up and then let it sit on the stove, occasionally stirring it to make sure it doesn't burn. After about a minute and a half of that put it in a bowl and enjoy!
Hummus- chick peas, lemon juice, paprika, black pepper, and any other spices/seasonings you like
Puree the chick peas. Then add a little lemon juice, paprika, pepper, and other spices. Then stir. Serve with a pita, with cucumbers, or on a veggie wrap.
Here are some snack and dinner suggestions:
Snacks:
Celery with peanut butter
Apples with peanut butter
Pita with hummus
Raisins
Amy's Apple Toaster Pops
All natural popsicles
Natural Valley bars
Fruit Leather
Silk Chocolate Soy Milk
Naked Juice
Apple chips
Dinners:
Tofu Stir Fry
Amy's Pizzas
Amy's entrees
Sandwiches made with Yves meatless deli slices
Tofu Scramble
Gardenburgers
Natural Oven's bagels
Dr. McDougall's Soups and Noodle Soups
Soy Cheese Quesedillas
Veggie Wraps
Whole foods is a great store for vegetarians/vegans, so I recommend grocery shopping there. You also can get a lot of the things I listed above there.