Vegetarians - help me!

[Chop]

I'm not vegetarian and I've never been one but I'd like to change my diet habits and reduce my meat consumption.

Currently I eat Salmon or Chicken once a day, and beef occasionally, and I'd like to change it to once a week so I need some help

What are the key products for your meals? Heard lentils but I want to hear some more!

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

My husband and I went without meat for awhile. I did ok, but we weren't getting any protein and that had to change. I would think you would be alright being vegetarian. Just make sure you're getting enough fish or beans in order to make sure you're getting enough protein in you.

 

[lara1234]

use vegetarian proteins in your diet, like soya , lentils , sprouts , dairy products. this should fill your daily protein needs. If your hunger buds trigger eat nonveg twice a week for beginning.after a month reduce intake.

 

[Crohns08]

I'm not vegetarian but I know a lot of them that grill portabella mushrooms similarly to steaks and then of course there is tofu.

 

[empressentrails]

I've been vegetarian for over 15 years now. I ate a little meat when pregnant and that happened to be right when my flare began. So now, I'm back to my strict vegetarian diet and feel great. My favorite meals are: stuffed peppers, eggplant parmesean, veggie fried rice or stir fry, tacos with beans and avocados instead of meat, sesame tofu, homemade vegetable soup, hummus or roasted chickpeas, fruit smothies. I try to eat at least one type of bean and rice everyday if possible, beans and rice in combination are perfect protein. When I first became vegetarian the food was bland, but your taste buds quickly adjust and vegetables will taste as good to you as meat does to meat eaters. I love making coconut milk gravy loaded with spices to put on mashed potatoes or biscuits. Always load up your grocery cart with lots of canned beans, fresh fruit, avocados, frozen fruit, etc. A rice cooker is a must for me! Good luck!! I hope you stick with it, I know vegetarianism makes me feel fit and healthy, it just takes some planning to make sure you're properly nourished. I cook small amounts of meat for my kids, but they eat mostly vegetarian, too. Check of The Vegan Black Metal Chef's you tube videos for entertaining cooking ideas!

 

[empressentrails]

I also always keep veggie boullion, veggie broth, sesame oil, cumin, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, lemons and limes on hand all the time to add to every dish. I use to make my own soy milk, but now I just buy rice milk and canned coconut milk to cook with.

 

[Tuff]

I take a B12 supplement, since you mostly get it from meat. I also eat dairy and eggs, but no red meat. I don't eat a lot of beans.
Protein Sources for Vegetarians & Vegans : If you’re lacto, ovo or lacto-ovo vegetarian, go heavy on eggs, milk, whey and cottage cheese. Other protein sources to meet your daily intake:
Beans. Black, garbanzo, hummus, kidney, fava, winged, mungo, lima, … Legumes. Lentils, peas, peanuts, peanut butter, …
Nuts. Walnuts, almonds, pistachio, cashew, …
Seeds. Sesame, pumpkin, hemp, flax, …
Milk. Soy milk, almond milk, …
Soy. Soy beans, tofu, deli-style soy meats, soy cheese, …
Whole Grains. Brown rice, quinoa, granola, oats, breads, …
Veggies. Broccoli, asparagus, spinach, kale, collard greens, … Protein Powder. Soy protein, hemp protein, rice protein, …

I love Chinese & Asian style foods, rice and stir fries, spring rolls, vegetarian sushi rolls, Italian pasta dishes, soups and casseroles. Soy mock "chicken" nuggets and chicken burgers are really tasty.
It's been about 18 months now, and I feel really good.
Good luck!

 

[lenny]

I've been vegetarian for about 25 years and my advice would be to experiment with vegan recipes (PPK and Vegweb) and as you find new favorites, your old meals will fade away. In the mean time, Gardein makes good faux meats, esp. chicken.

I have a few simple go to meals that take less than 30 minutes. A stir-fry with only tofu and bok choy, but it tastes like take out, because I cook the rice with a piece of ginger in it. I make a big batch of green chili and freeze in single use containers, which makes my not 100% homemade burritos taste homemade. I love lentils, esp. red. Alton Brown's lentil soup is amazing, but sometimes I just cook lentils with an onion and cumin or chile powder and serve them with rice. Unlike other beans, lentils don't need to be soaked and red ones cook in 20 to 30 minutes. I eat a lot of veggie burgers..served on whole wheat buns with more veggies and instead of fries, I often serve them with baked sweet potatoes, healthy and easy.. I'm not a big fruit eater, so I try and have a smoothie every day with fresh or frozen organic fruit.

 

[VeganOstomy]

Here's some info on protein:

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.php

As you can see, there are quite a few options (try the ones that agree with your tummy), but I think it must be stressed that most people are eating too much protein these days - we don't need a lot, and it's extremely rare to see a protein deficiency in someone who's eating enough calories to support a healthy weight.

Good luck.