How to transition to being vegetarian?!
After a discussion with a friend who is an endocrinologist who does research on the effect of animal hormones on people, I was disgusted and I am seriously contemplating switching to being mostly vegetarian!. The problem is, I like the taste of meat!.
Was anybody else in my position!? Is there anything I can do to make myself not miss the taste!? I am aware that I will slip occasionally, but I would like to limit my meat intake as much as possible!. Is there any substitute besides Bocca that tastes palatable!? I don't like Morning Star and commercial veggie burgers!.
I do like beans and legumes, and I've made vegetable patties at home, so recipes for homemade veggie "burgers" or "sausage" are wellcome!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Was anybody else in my position!? Is there anything I can do to make myself not miss the taste!? I am aware that I will slip occasionally, but I would like to limit my meat intake as much as possible!. Is there any substitute besides Bocca that tastes palatable!? I don't like Morning Star and commercial veggie burgers!.
I do like beans and legumes, and I've made vegetable patties at home, so recipes for homemade veggie "burgers" or "sausage" are wellcome!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
I too have recently transitioned to being a vegetarian(well vegan actually), after reading extensively on topics such as the one your friend is researching(I am a nutrition student)!.!.!. also there is also that little twinge of guilt you experience when chopping into an animal!.
I think being vegetarian can be sooo much more interesting than being a meat-eater!.!. if you put a bit of time a-side to plan a weekly menu and do some cooking!. It opens you up to new recipes and foods you would have never tried otherwise!.
I think that girl who posted those recipes proves just that!!
From a nutrition point of view a vegetarian (or vegan) diet can be extremely healthful!. The most important thing is to ensure you are getting sufficient iron/calcium in your diet which means a bit of planning!. High iron plant foods include soy beans, tofu, lentils, spinach, kidneybeans and potato/peas and brocolli are the best of the veggies!. For a pre-menopausal female the RDA for iron being obtained from non-meat sources is 33mg!.!. which is quite a lot and really requires you to do some planning!. It is important to consume vitamin C at the same time as consuming a source of iron as this increases absorption on non-heme iron (iron contained in plants) by 6 fold!!! Vit C is contained in most vegetables and a tonne of fruits!.!. have an orange of slices of watermelon for dessert!. The beauty is if you eat those above listed foods every day you will be fuelling your body with so many other amazing micro-nutrients and putting it in a great place for avoiding cancer and other diseases!. If you are to take vegetarian/veganism seriously you need to be pretty careful not to deplete your bodies supply of iron and other minerals, which means if you are a sweet tooth heavily reducing the amount of sugar/refined grains in your diet is paramount to success!. Wholegrains is the only way to go if you want to include grains in your diet!.!. so stoneground wholegrain breads/brown rice/wholegrain pasta!.!.!. this will fuel your body not starve it while simultaneously putting on fat stores!. If you currently are eating heavily refined starches ie white bread/rice/pasta, this may seem a bit scary but trust me you soon come to appreciate the far more flavoursome nature of the superior wholegrain options!.
Vegatarinism/veganism is a great way to live your life!!! Good on you for taking steps to improve your health and your environment!. Just remember you have to do it right if you want to avoid becoming lethargic etc if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!. Having the occasional biscuit/cake is fine particularly if you are fuelling your body with a variety of natural foods most of the time!.
Enjoy your new lifestyleWww@FoodAQ@Com
I think being vegetarian can be sooo much more interesting than being a meat-eater!.!. if you put a bit of time a-side to plan a weekly menu and do some cooking!. It opens you up to new recipes and foods you would have never tried otherwise!.
I think that girl who posted those recipes proves just that!!
From a nutrition point of view a vegetarian (or vegan) diet can be extremely healthful!. The most important thing is to ensure you are getting sufficient iron/calcium in your diet which means a bit of planning!. High iron plant foods include soy beans, tofu, lentils, spinach, kidneybeans and potato/peas and brocolli are the best of the veggies!. For a pre-menopausal female the RDA for iron being obtained from non-meat sources is 33mg!.!. which is quite a lot and really requires you to do some planning!. It is important to consume vitamin C at the same time as consuming a source of iron as this increases absorption on non-heme iron (iron contained in plants) by 6 fold!!! Vit C is contained in most vegetables and a tonne of fruits!.!. have an orange of slices of watermelon for dessert!. The beauty is if you eat those above listed foods every day you will be fuelling your body with so many other amazing micro-nutrients and putting it in a great place for avoiding cancer and other diseases!. If you are to take vegetarian/veganism seriously you need to be pretty careful not to deplete your bodies supply of iron and other minerals, which means if you are a sweet tooth heavily reducing the amount of sugar/refined grains in your diet is paramount to success!. Wholegrains is the only way to go if you want to include grains in your diet!.!. so stoneground wholegrain breads/brown rice/wholegrain pasta!.!.!. this will fuel your body not starve it while simultaneously putting on fat stores!. If you currently are eating heavily refined starches ie white bread/rice/pasta, this may seem a bit scary but trust me you soon come to appreciate the far more flavoursome nature of the superior wholegrain options!.
Vegatarinism/veganism is a great way to live your life!!! Good on you for taking steps to improve your health and your environment!. Just remember you have to do it right if you want to avoid becoming lethargic etc if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!. Having the occasional biscuit/cake is fine particularly if you are fuelling your body with a variety of natural foods most of the time!.
Enjoy your new lifestyleWww@FoodAQ@Com
I say just plunge into it! Don't worry about transitioning or anything!. Just stop eating meat from today onwards!. Yes, you might slip up once in a way, but that is part of the process!. Don't let it discourage you!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
When I went vegetarian I just stopped eating meat from the time I decided and didnt look back!. I went and got some iron supplements for the transition but find I didn't need them with a balanced diet!.
You honestly dont need fake meats to have a good vege diet!.
This is what I have:
Mexican night:
Burrittos/tacos with chilli beans and salads
Indian Night:
curries like vege dahl (this recipe is vegan and soo easy to make)
In a large pot cook the following for around 5 minutes on a high heat until onion is clear!.
· 3T Oil (I use rice-bran as it resists heat and has a neutral flavour)
· 1 Large Onion diced
· 3 cloves garlic
Add the following and cook for around 20 minutes or until lentils cooked (they should be unrecognizable)
· 1 Cup Red Lentils
· 2 Cups Boiling/Hot Water
· 1 red capsicum cubed
Add the following and cook for around 5 more minutes to let the flavours mingle
· 1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
· ? Can Coconut Cream
· 2t salt (or to taste)
· 1 cup frozen peas
· ? cup chopped parsley
Serve on brown rice!
Japanese night
Stirfry with udon noodles!. Homemade vege sushi
Middle eastern night:
Falafel on salad or in rolls!. Antipasto platter!. Filo pastries
Italian night:
Pasta or homemade pizza (you can chuck ANY veges on it, yum!)
Thai/Chinese night
Tom yum soup (without the prawns, try tofu), red curry
Euro night:
vege sausages or burgers, Mashed potatoes and peas!
Good luck!! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com
You honestly dont need fake meats to have a good vege diet!.
This is what I have:
Mexican night:
Burrittos/tacos with chilli beans and salads
Indian Night:
curries like vege dahl (this recipe is vegan and soo easy to make)
In a large pot cook the following for around 5 minutes on a high heat until onion is clear!.
· 3T Oil (I use rice-bran as it resists heat and has a neutral flavour)
· 1 Large Onion diced
· 3 cloves garlic
Add the following and cook for around 20 minutes or until lentils cooked (they should be unrecognizable)
· 1 Cup Red Lentils
· 2 Cups Boiling/Hot Water
· 1 red capsicum cubed
Add the following and cook for around 5 more minutes to let the flavours mingle
· 1 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
· ? Can Coconut Cream
· 2t salt (or to taste)
· 1 cup frozen peas
· ? cup chopped parsley
Serve on brown rice!
Japanese night
Stirfry with udon noodles!. Homemade vege sushi
Middle eastern night:
Falafel on salad or in rolls!. Antipasto platter!. Filo pastries
Italian night:
Pasta or homemade pizza (you can chuck ANY veges on it, yum!)
Thai/Chinese night
Tom yum soup (without the prawns, try tofu), red curry
Euro night:
vege sausages or burgers, Mashed potatoes and peas!
Good luck!! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Doesnt matter!. Do what you want and what feels comfortable!. Fish and chicken would be good to start b/c I think some vegitarians eat fish and chicken!.
Maybe!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Maybe!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Check out www!.vegweb!.com for recipes!. There's also a Vegetarian Loaf Studio website where you click the ingredients you want and it shoots out a recipe for a veggie loaf!.
But don't discount all commercial veggie burgers!. Amy's makes excellent vegetarian convenience food from veggie burgers to entrees to bowls (such as a pasta bowl), to snacks to pasta sauces to soups!. I'm a big fan of her Texas Burger, a savory patty with a tinge of barbecue!. Gardenburger also makes some pretty good veggie burgers and other analogues!.
But you don't have to eat analogues to be vegetarian if you don't like them!. It just makes the transition easier and, I think, makes being veg more enjoyable!. It also will help you not miss the taste and texture of meat!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
But don't discount all commercial veggie burgers!. Amy's makes excellent vegetarian convenience food from veggie burgers to entrees to bowls (such as a pasta bowl), to snacks to pasta sauces to soups!. I'm a big fan of her Texas Burger, a savory patty with a tinge of barbecue!. Gardenburger also makes some pretty good veggie burgers and other analogues!.
But you don't have to eat analogues to be vegetarian if you don't like them!. It just makes the transition easier and, I think, makes being veg more enjoyable!. It also will help you not miss the taste and texture of meat!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Move away from red meat!. Test yourself to see how well you can do without it, I think you'll feel better!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I only like chicken, and that even grosses me out sometimes!. But I switched to Vegetarian about two weeks ago!. But, on my point of view, you have to be in the right mind set to be able to give it up!.
I was tired of eating junk, so I became a vegetarian that doesn't eat anything (almost) processed (like cookies, cakes, pies, ect!.)!. The days before I became one, I was so focused on becoming one, that I readied myself!. I ate more veggies, weaned myself off junk food!.
I haven't had a potato chip, cookie (excet organic/all natural ones), meat, milk, or snack food in a week and 5 days!. I know, it doesn't seem like a long time, but the point is is that I'm doing well!. I chose Silk over milk, Kashi cereals over all the rest, Soy Dream over ice cream, fruit over snack foods!.!.!.and-most importantly-health over taste!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I was tired of eating junk, so I became a vegetarian that doesn't eat anything (almost) processed (like cookies, cakes, pies, ect!.)!. The days before I became one, I was so focused on becoming one, that I readied myself!. I ate more veggies, weaned myself off junk food!.
I haven't had a potato chip, cookie (excet organic/all natural ones), meat, milk, or snack food in a week and 5 days!. I know, it doesn't seem like a long time, but the point is is that I'm doing well!. I chose Silk over milk, Kashi cereals over all the rest, Soy Dream over ice cream, fruit over snack foods!.!.!.and-most importantly-health over taste!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I was a huge meat eater before I became vegetarian!. There are so many imitation meats out there, and they are delicious!. Before becoming vegetarian I researched a lot about and!. I was disgusted to find out how the animals are killed!. I also learned what is in meat etc!. I was absolutely disgusted that I went vegetarian 2 days after that, and have been for 1 year!
also, you like beans and legumes which is great, because they are super healthy and yummy!. You don't have to eat just veggie burgers!. You can eat a lot of the food you enjoy like rice, pizza, etc!. Just meatless!.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey to vegetarianism!. It will be the best decision you will ever make!.
=)Www@FoodAQ@Com
also, you like beans and legumes which is great, because they are super healthy and yummy!. You don't have to eat just veggie burgers!. You can eat a lot of the food you enjoy like rice, pizza, etc!. Just meatless!.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey to vegetarianism!. It will be the best decision you will ever make!.
=)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Here is a site to help you transition to being vegetarian, it is a vegan site, but it shows how easy it is to transition!.
http://www!.peta!.org/accidentallyVegan/de!.!.!.
I googled transition to being vegetarian, and here are a few sites I thought would be helpful:
http://www!.geocities!.com/djwuhrman/
http://www!.vegcooking!.com/transition!.asp
There are sites like vegcooking!.com and goveg!.com that can help you make the transition!. Buying a veg cookbook would be an excellent idea!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.peta!.org/accidentallyVegan/de!.!.!.
I googled transition to being vegetarian, and here are a few sites I thought would be helpful:
http://www!.geocities!.com/djwuhrman/
http://www!.vegcooking!.com/transition!.asp
There are sites like vegcooking!.com and goveg!.com that can help you make the transition!. Buying a veg cookbook would be an excellent idea!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com