Staying healthy without eating meat?!


Question: Staying healthy without eating meat!?
Ive completely gone off meat, but I still want to stay healthy!.
How can I get the proper nutrients that i need, that I would usually get from meat!?

I don't eat fish!. :)
should I be taking some sort of vitamins!? ahah, im so new at this!.
any advise would be appreciatedWww@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
You need to do more research from sources that aren't wikipedia or here (get a book on vegetarian diets, read up on veggie diets on the Mayo clinic web site, etc) because not everything is going to fit in one answer!. To start with, though, the things meat provides are:

Protein - you don't need to worry about this at all unless you're on a starvation diet (anorexia, living in the third world country) Protein is made of amino acids, which are in pretty much everything you eat - veggies, beans, nuts, whole grains, soy, legumes, seeds, dairy and eggs!. Most Americans get too much dairy, which is bad for your kidneys, bones, and leads to other heath issues!. Just eat regular meals and protein is covered!.

B-12 - Unless you go vegan you do not need pills for this - it's in dairy and eggs plus fortified foods like cereals, juices, crackers and some pastas!.

Iron - beans, green veggies, whole grains, nuts, soy, blackstrap molasses!. It's best to eat iron with vitamin C as it helps your body absorb the iron!. Tannin (red wine and black tea tea) locks your bodies absorbtion!.

Other then that, just try and eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and veggies in a variety of colors (different colors have different nutrients generally) Whole grains are better for you then bleached white flour (same goes for sugar - raw or florida crystals are better then refined, but anything is better then Splenda, Equal or Sweet and low)

Get a couple of cookbooks full of vegetarian recipes!. Get a good basic book like Going Vegetarian for Dummies or something like that that will tell you about all the vitamins and where to get them!.

Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com

You dont need vitamins, just eat properly!.

Veggie Spaghetti Bolognese

1 onion
1 carrot
1 stick of celery
1 red pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
100g red lentils
400g can tomatoes
600ml vegetable stock
2 tsp dried oregano
? tsp ground cinnamon
350g spaghetti

1!. Roughly chop, then whizz the veggies in a food processor until finely chopped!.
2!. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the veggies for about 8 minutes until soft!. Stir in the lentils, tomatoes, stock, oregano and cinnamon!. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes!. Season then simmer for a further 5 minutes!.
3!. Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions!. Serve with the sauce and grated cheese!.



NUTRITION=484 kcalories, protein 19g, carbohydrate 90g, fat 8 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 6g, salt 0!.66 g

See how much protein you would intake!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

You want to be sure you are getting all the essential amino acids by eating a wide variety of grains and legumes!.

Quinoa is an inexpensive grain with all the amino acids!.
How to cook quinoa:
http://www!.healthaliciousness!.com/recipe!.!.!.

Like people have mentioned here, be sure you are getting enough vitamin B12!.

Natural vegetarian sources of vitamin B12:
http://www!.healthaliciousness!.com/articl!.!.!.

Vegan sources of B12 (includes supplements):
http://www!.healthaliciousness!.com/articl!.!.!.

Basically don't stress too much, plants have most of what you need, including calcium and iron!. The top ten foods highest in calcium are plant foods(except cheese)!

As a point of personal advice I would prepare tactful ways to turn down roasts and other things loved ones or friends may have spent all day cooking for you!. Don't forget about meat holidays like 4th of July and Thanksgiving!. Think ahead of ways to turn down meat on these days with style!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

http://www!.healthaliciousness!.com/articl!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Take a B12 supplement oherwise as long as you're eating a healthy varied diet you're fine!.
BTW, Spirulina has B12 that isn't digestable, there's different varieties of B12 and the fact is we can't use that kind, it actually might harm the good B12 in our bodies so don't be using spirulina for that!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

http://www!.beyondveg!.com/billings-t/comp!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

http://www!.vegetariantimes!.com/2007/pdf/!.!.!.

this is a realllly good source for vegan or vegetarian nutrition!. it's helped me out a lot!.


to answer your main question of being able to stay healthy without meat!.!. no need to worry about it really, the average person eats twice as much protein as they need, and even the leanest cuts of meat have wayy more saturated fat then we need, and meat is lacking in fiber, so it doesnt keep you full anyways!.!.

the pamphlet can explain it a lot better than i can!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You don't need vitamins, except for a little B12, and vitamin D if you don't get enough sun!.

As for ways to get all your nutrition, look at what vegan athletes enjoy as their protein source:
http://www!.associatedcontent!.com/article!.!.!.

also, you might want to try green smoothies!. Every one who tries them thinks they are awesome:
http://www!.associatedcontent!.com/article!.!.!.

Eat enough fruits, greens, some nuts and seeds, and some grains and beans, and you'll get more than you need!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Many vegetarians eat eggs and dairy!. The foods high in veggie protein are: beans, peas, nuts, seeds and whole grains!. Get the Vegetarian Starter Kit from -
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
http://www!.pcrm!.org/health/veginfo/vsk

Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutrition
http://www!.mayoclinic!.com/health/vegetar!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

vitamins!? what!? inert material!.

meat!? huh!? inert material!.



fish!? that's meat!.!.!. inert material!.



fresh fruits and veggies ok!? tons of soluble proteins, vitamins and minerals!.


that easy!.!.

wow, imagine that!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

vegan, 34 years!.!. and still alive!Www@FoodAQ@Com

nope your fine!. Meat doesn't do you much good anyways!. Protein,fat,and cholesterol, not much!.

Eat fruits,veggie,nuts,seeds,beans,and whole grains!. I also reccomend drinking silk soy milk or taking spirulina to get your b12!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

For you to know check this l website here is the vegetarian diet pyramid picture:
http://www!.mayoclinic!.com/health/medical!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You should definitely check out the "healthy" or the "veggie" section on http://www!.dailyyummy!.com!.

It has a lot of interesting food concepts that seems pretty simple to make!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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