I'm thinking of becoming a vegetarian but...?!
I'm thinking of becoming a vegetarian but...?
My mother is a huge meat and potatoes kinda woman, and it's only me and her and I really have very little say in what we eat. Mostly, I eat just to keep from starving. I have a huge dislike for meat except for sea foods like crab and shrimp. I just despise the taste and feel. Another reason I don't like other meats is the knowledge that the animals were bred to die. I'm a huge animal lover, and it makes me guilty.
I LOVE veggies and healthy food, and would have absolutely no problem dropping meat from my diet...But my mom is a busy woman, and doesn't want to take alot of time on meals, and fast food is often our only choice.
My question is, are there things I can get my hands on easily, that don't take too much time and effort to prepare for a vegetarian diet?
Or, even some that do? I LOVE to cook, and i'd have no problem making myself dinner every night, if i knew what to buy!
Answers: Here comes Veggie[FTW]
1) You should also cut seafood from your diet because its been proven that they can feel pain too. Don't hate on crustaceans!
2) Being vegetarian is pretty easy. When I come visit home from college my mom is all about meat, meat, meat! So instead of using meat in recipes, ask your mom to cook tofu! Everyone says, "oh my god, tofu tastes bad!". Think about meat ... you have to add seasoning and sauces to it. CUZ IT TASTES BAD.
Here are a few websites with really easy, simple recipes:
http://www.theveggietable.com/recipes/ea...
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/everyday-c...
http://www.exploreveg.org/resources/reci...
Also, I'm sure if you asked your mom to buy veggie burgers and hot dogs (which are freakin' AMAZING) she would buy them for you. They are really healthy (as long as you aren't frying them up in oils) and, again, are FREAKIN' AMAZING.
3) FAST FOOD! Woman! Did you know that if you go to most fast food places, they'll make you a vegetarian sandwich? I go to Mc Donalds and get a bun loaded with tomatoes, pickles, onions, lettuce, ketchup and mustard. It costs me between $0.80 and $1.00 depending on how nice the people are. They usually pile those veggies on. AND ITS DELICIOUS! we were all born to die and for every animal you dont eat Im gonna eat 2 maybe 3 Honestly, I feel that a person needs to be really rich to be vegetarian. Why I said that? It's because apart from vegetables, they have to live on pills to keep their health up to date. This is not assumption or anything but I have tons of vegetarian friends that's like that (living on pills). I also used to have a house mate who is a vegetarian and it's really unbelievable the amount of pills he needs to pop every morning before he goes to work. Maybe he is a weak person in general, I don't know but he said he can't get any Zn, Mg, etc nutrient from vege so he needs to rely on the pills.
So my advise to you, if you can afford your own bills and have the courage of not burdening your mom, then you go convert yourself into a vegetarian else just stick to what's meant for you. The other thing, ask yourself honestly. Do you think can a person can grow especially during their teenage stage without protein? If you have exceeded your growing age, then it's ok. If you have dreams to be like the next miss universe or something, eat proper meal. Don't be like those anorexic models or a stunt. They are honestly not hot or sexy. I am a stay at home mom and am vegan. My family eats meat (don't get me started). I have to cook for them as well as myself. Try the health food stores (Henrys,Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc.) They have so many meat alternatives, many just heat and serve. Also veggies steam real fast. I eat a lot of soy yogurt. Your doing yourself a huge favour becoming vegan or vegetarian. Give it time, you will become a pro at it.
Maybe your mom will join you one day. Here is a great article on the growing trend to be a Flexitarian Vegetarian.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/...
Flexitarian Vegetarianism is a healthy alternative especially when you are growing and it is a growing trend. It truly is important to get a good foundational diet to avoid problems later on in life.
I've seen so many young people who have really hurt themselves--with their busy schedules, stresses of growing up, figuring out relationships, school, family, etc. you don't have time to add another stressor to your life.
If you adopt a Flexitarian diet, you can still eat the seafood you love and occasionally when you are out in a social setting may eat some meat without laying a guilt trip on yourself or feeling socially awkward.
The idea of Flexitarian Vegetarianism or Flexitarian Veganism is to reduce your meat intake to anywhere between 25, 20, or 20% of your diet. You can even choose to exclude all "red" meat and just be a White Flexitarian. That is you would eat only seafood, fish, or poultry. My mum 'cooks' stuff like:
-pasta with tomato based jar sauce
-tacos with refried beans - just ready made tacos with a heated up tin of refried beans
-packet curries, just heat in the microwave
- soy meat, such as hotdogs
You can even substitute soy meat products, such as fake chicken, etc. Don't listen to people who tell you to be "flexible" (I would never take advice from a person calling themselves Mr Meat). I became vegetarian when I was 10, so I know exactly what it's like being a young vego. But it really does become the easiest thing, and I don't even have to think about it any more - it's just become natural! my mom is a meat eater and i'm a vegetarian, she cooks a lot of vegetarian foods because she use to be one, but sometimes she doesn't like cooking 2 different meals, so I have to cook my own food and i'm only 14. I have vegetarian cookbooks I got from a book store and everything works out all right. Go to allrecipes.com they have good vegetarian meals too! And now I know how to cook! (I always wanted to be a chef) lol.