What should a vegetarian eat if i don't like tofu?!

What should a vegetarian eat if i don't like tofu?

Im new a being a vegetarian. My friends and dad arnt supportive. My mom is woried ill run up the food bill. If i dont like tofu or any other meat supplements, what should i be eating to provide me with the right nutrients? Also, what are some good recipies that dont get borring if eaten often?

If anyone can help of offer some incouragement, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

If you're going to go veg you may as well just adopt a whole, healthy lifestyle. You only get one body. It sounds like you're young so why not start some other good habits, too? If I could do any one thing in my life differently I would change the habits I picked up when I was young. Here's some random tips that come to mind...
Try and limit the amount of protein you get from "fake meat" - there's plenty of protein from other sources. I made the mistake of eating way too many fake processed meats and cheeses and my health suffered for it. You don't need nearly a much protein as a lot of people will tell you - if you are getting enough calories for your height and weight then you are very likely getting enough protein. There is protein in all vegetables and grains. If you like beans and rice you are definitely in luck! They are cheap and tasty. Invest in some spices and you can use some staples for a lot of different tasting meals. Big, fresh salads (don't use iceburg - it has little nutritonal value - use leafy lettuces like romaine or red leaf) are cheap, very nutritious, and it's easy to do different things to them. Try shredded cabbage and carrots and an asian dressing with sliced almonds. Or a lot of tomatoes with cucumber and soy bacon bits (plain old Bacos are vegan, but us them sparingly - they're not exactly all natural) with a vegan thousand island. You can totally get creative with salads. Just be sure to add a lot of vegetables to keep them nutritious.

I would highly suggest counting your calories the first month you are a vegetarian. It is very, very easy to eat too little and if you're not getting enough calories you can make yourself ill, especially if you are still a growing girl. I used a chart where I had little bubbles for each serving and category on the vegan food pyramid and filled them in throughout the day to make sure I was getting everything I needed. Try and have a varied diet - notthe same thing every day. That gives you a good chance of getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. Eat a handful of nuts every day - snack on them or throw them in your salad. Or try raw almond butter on taost...mmm! Nuts are a good way to get protein and healthy oils. But they're packed with calories so don't overdo them. Try and reduce the amount of white processed foods you eat. Go for whole grains and brown rice instead. White processed foods are devoid of much nutrition when compared to whole foods. Don't be afraid of carbs. Whole grains, starchy foods like potatoes, and sugary foods like fruit are ALL good for you, despite what crazy people will tell you. Just don't eat fruit all day long or eat ONLY potatoes and ,make them a part of your heathy diet. If you drink sodas, just stop. They're poison. They really are. Synthetic sugar and phosophoric acid, caffeine, or ack, artificial sweeteners - your body doesn't want that crap. Get fruit juices and add a splash of mineral water for a treat, otherwise, drink plenty of water.

A vegetarian (and especially a vegan diet, but that can be hard while you are still at home without support, but if you can swing it, DO IT!) are VERY healthy! Meat (and dairy and eggs) really do contribute to diseases. Your chances of getting some cancers and heart disease go WAY up when you eat those things. Also, it's a good thing to not contribute to the horrendous suffering that animals go through just so people can stuff their faces with unhealthy "food". So, stay strong! This is a very good place to ask questions. Google your little heart out and you'll get to know a lot of veg websites. Take everything you read with a grain of salt and if something strikes you as hard to believe, research it yourself. Be critical, but have an open mind. The internet is a valuable tool in research, but there's some wacky stuff out there. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! Let people get you curious, but when it comes down to it, search for your own answers, look at the sources,and satisfy YOURSELF.

It sucks your parents aren't more supportive. If your mom makes a vegetable as a side dish see if she can't make a little more so you can have double. See if you can do some odd jobs to earn a bit of money so you can pick up specialty items like Vegenaise (you don't want mayo filled with egg aka cholesterol) and rice milk (if you buy soy milk, please buy organic). If you're not buying vegetarian junk food, but mostly eating fresh produce and grains you shouldn't be making any grocery bills go up. The equivalent in meat should cost as much if not more. Talk to your parents heart-to-heart and tell them your reasons and ask them to please support you in this and trust that they raised you smart enough to know what you're doing.

A good website to browse and get a lot of answers is http://veggieboards.com
Use the search function before asking questions there, though. A lot of information is already there if you just search for it.

Good luck! You're on the right path.