Vegetarians - help me please!

[ChickenNoise]

I have been officially traumatized into being a veghead :speechless:. I think I might starve (starting tomorrow...my stomach would FLIP if I ate anything at all right now) until I find out the correct ratios of protein/carbs/fats and how to get them.

I will not eat tofu and I'd like to stay away from soy generally speaking (some is fine). Beans, nuts, legumes, seeds, quinoa, are all great IMO. I will still eat eggs that come from a farm up the road (cage free and totally natural everything...even the boy chicks get to live out their life, cage free as pets). I might need help finding cheese that is not processed with the animal derived rhennett. American cheese? whats the scoop on that...I 'could' use that if its acceptable.

I have lived my whole life learning how much 'meat' etc is a serving. No clue how to replace that with other sorts of proteins (listed above).

Also, how do you stay sane while researching every bit of everything to make sure every item in your life falls under this lifestyle?

Please help. I will be running to the library tomorrow or even bookstores to find whatever books are recommended. Good thing dh is home tomorrow so my kids won't get neglected while i scour the earth for info on how to change it up and quick! :err:

[Rocket Queen]

I just always replaced meat with beans in casseroles and such. Beanie sloppy joes, tacos and soups are sooooo damn good. Also, see if you can find texturized vegetable protein. It has a texure more like ground meat and is not soy based (I think... it's been a while since I've bought it obviously). Eggplant is awesome breaded and fried (think instead of chicken patty sandwich) and is also just a good filler veggie that is healthy.

[ChickenNoise]

Thank you Jessi! So just portion for portion then? I can handle that...maybe I won't starve...if I even get my appetite back any time soon, anyway.
~~~~~~~
and geez, you are hawt, mama! Love that sexy belly!

[Rocket Queen]

Thank you Jessi! So just portion for portion then? I can handle that...maybe I won't starve...if I even get my appetite back any time soon, anyway.
~~~~~~~
and geez, you are hawt, mama! Love that sexy belly!

Yep, pretty much just portion for portion. Recommended DV of protein is actually higher than most people need as long as they are eating complex carbs and fiber.

Thank you, doll! :blush:

[justbishop]

If you have a Whole Foods that you can shop at, their store brand (365 brand) block cheeses aren't made with animal rennet and are actually pretty comparable in price to block cheese in normal grocery stores.

Also, if you want to stay away from too much soy, try the Quorn brand fake chicken stuff (patties, nuggets, etc.) I think they're mushroom based or something. if you don't mind a bit of soy here and there, the Morningstar brand corndogs are great!

[CommieVegan]

Yep, pretty much just portion for portion. Recommended DV of protein is actually higher than most people need as long as they are eating complex carbs and fiber.

Thank you, doll! :blush:

What Jessi said.

No need to get too rigid about servings of proteins. Just eat some beans/nuts/quinoa/eggs etc. a couple of times a day and you're set.

There's a great recipe for chickpea cutlets in Veganomicon (but it's since been posted all over the web so you don't even need the book) that only has soy sauce for flavoring in it--no other soy. They are delicious and easy to make.

A lot o

[gypsymama22girls]

If you have a Whole Foods that you can shop at, their store brand (365 brand) block cheeses aren't made with animal rennet and are actually pretty comparable in price to block cheese in normal grocery stores.

Also, if you want to stay away from too much soy, try the Quorn brand fake chicken stuff (patties, nuggets, etc.) I think they're mushroom based or something. if you don't mind a bit of soy here and there, the Morningstar brand corndogs are great!

They're discontinued :(

Also if you live anywhere where you can buy kosher cheese....it is always animal derived rennet free.
You should be able to find TONS of recipes online too ...just type in things like...vegetarian meat loaf, or veg, sloppy joes...or whatever you would normally make but put veg in front of it...lol...there is likely a recipe online for it.
Good luck.
BTW what's your traumatic episode? :popcorn:

[pinkflamingos77]

Cabot cheese has no rennet, it is the only cheese I buy.

Morning star is revamping their ingredients. They will not be using eggs in their products. This is supposed to be completed by the end of 2010.

stoneyfield yogurt uses pectin instead of gelatin in their yogurts, just in case you are a non gelatin eater.

[imjustagirl]

I just always replaced meat with beans in casseroles and such. Beanie sloppy joes, tacos and soups are sooooo damn good. Also, see if you can find texturized vegetable protein. It has a texure more like ground meat and is not soy based (I think... it's been a while since I've bought it obviously). Eggplant is awesome breaded and fried (think instead of chicken patty sandwich) and is also just a good filler veggie that is healthy.
TVP is definitely soy.
One of the many things that my dad decided to just put in our food because I'm a nut. :rolleyes: so I'm sure.

[ChickenNoise]

Thank you for all things helpful!

Well, I have always secretly wanted to be veg but have always just shoved it aside because I love the taste of meat. Also, I have always believed that humans were meant to eat meat (make up of our teeth)...I just don't think animal cruelty adds anything spectacular to the end result on my plate.

I watched Food Inc a while ago and pledged to only eat grass fed beef and free range chicken (although I wasn't all that impressed with the humane farmers on there either). Then I watched 'Earthlings' last night and about pissed myself while puking. I've never cried so hard and had to stop watching several times (and I KNOW this movie was made with the intention of getting the emotions flowing so I puffed up my chest through most parts of it...but the reality is, actual footage doesn't lie, period, end of story). I just can't do it anymore. My brain has been spinning with ways to live better for myself and for every other living thing involved and I just figured I could avoid hurting anything at all while still maintaining a perfectly healthy lifestyle by going veg so why hurt myself thinking about it anymore (you liked that run on didn't you :giggle: ).

Thank you for the cheese rec pink...and we already only ate stonyfield yogurt so thats good. I am not really into the 'fake' stuff anyway...I will probably just end up eating SOOPER DOOPER healthy from now on since that is the easiest way for me to figure things out (whats there to think about with a plate of fresh greens sprinkled with seeds/nuts/eggs for lunch and sauteed quinoa/veggie pilaf for dinner?). I'm also nixing cow's milk and opting for almond or rice milk.

Wish me luck...I am dragging the kids along with me but dh won't budge just yet.

[imjustagirl]

Cabot cheese has no rennet, it is the only cheese I buy.

Morning star is revamping their ingredients. They will not be using eggs in their products. This is supposed to be completed by the end of 2010.

stoneyfield yogurt uses pectin instead of gelatin in their yogurts, just in case you are a non gelatin eater.
Yoplait regular and kids are kosher gelatin (is that pectin? I noticed it isn't animal derived gelatin and didn't worry about it any farther from that point lol.)

[pinkflamingos77]

Yoplait regular and kids are kosher gelatin (is that pectin? I noticed it isn't animal derived gelatin and didn't worry about it any farther from that point lol.)

Kosher gelatin is made from fish bones or beef skins. Kosher has nothing to do with vegetarianism/veganism.

Pectin is naturally found in fruits when mixed with sugar it becomes thickened... like jam and jellies. A lot of vegetarian/vegan brands use it in their items.

[Rocket Queen]

TVP is definitely soy.
One of the many things that my dad decided to just put in our food because I'm a nut. :rolleyes: so I'm sure.

i swear I had a soy free one... but like I said, it's been a while and we rarely used it anyway. Definitely could be wrong on that one. :toofunny:

[CommieVegan]

Agar agar is a seaweed-derived thickener that some food companies use. You can also buy it for making your own Jell-o-like things.

Seitan is a wheat-based meat analog that can be made to have the taste and texture of a lot of foods. It's basically wheat gluten--not good if you have celiac disease, but great otherwise. And high in protein. You can make it yourself, though it's a bit labor intensive. You can also buy it in the refrigerated/frozen seci
~~~~~~~
Agar agar is a seaweed-derived thickener that some food companies use. You can also buy it for making your own Jell-o-like things.

Jessi, maybe you mean seitan? Seitan is a wheat-based meat analog that can be made to have the taste and texture of a lot of foods. It's basically wheat gluten--not good if you have celiac disease, but great otherwise. And high in protein. You can make it yourself, though it's a bit labor intensive. You can also buy it in the refrigerated/frozen section of natural foods stores.

[Rocket Queen]

Agar agar is a seaweed-derived thickener that some food companies use. You can also buy it for making your own Jell-o-like things.

Seitan is a wheat-based meat analog that can be made to have the taste and texture of a lot of foods. It's basically wheat gluten--not good if you have celiac disease, but great otherwise. And high in protein. You can make it yourself, though it's a bit labor intensive. You can also buy it in the refrigerated/frozen seci
~~~~~~~
Agar agar is a seaweed-derived thickener that some food companies use. You can also buy it for making your own Jell-o-like things.

Jessi, maybe you mean seitan? Seitan is a wheat-based meat analog that can be made to have the taste and texture of a lot of foods. It's basically wheat gluten--not good if you have celiac disease, but great otherwise. And high in protein. You can make it yourself, though it's a bit labor intensive. You can also buy it in the refrigerated/frozen section of natural foods stores.

Might have been that, actually. It was tasty, we just decided to go the way of unprocessed foods rather than processed substitutes so we stuck to beans and nuts and lentils.

[imjustagirl]

Kosher gelatin is made from fish bones or beef skins. Kosher has nothing to do with vegetarianism/veganism.

Pectin is naturally found in fruits when mixed with sugar it becomes thickened... like jam and jellies. A lot of vegetarian/vegan brands use it in their items.I know what Kosher is..but I'd asked someone at three different companies that make things that say kosher gelatin and they said it was no animal parts even after I asked were they sure it was not only no pork. :sigh:

I knew what pectin was but I thought they wrote it differently for some things because some people might not know what kosher means or something.

[pinkflamingos77]

I was answering your question and explaining the differences for others that don't know.

Since I have been veg, I have learned to never trust what anyone says, always double check everything and look up info on your own. It sucks that it needs to be like that but I have had people tell me so many different things and later I find out they were full of crap. Now I check everything people tell me.

[imjustagirl]

Yeah. :sigh:
Most of the time I do look up everything. Since I figured they just used it as a name I didn't worry about it. Now I'm mad about it though. Luckily I'm not totally veg yet or I'd be a lot more pissed. Mainly now it is because I was lied to about it.

[leM]

These are all good suggestions and I just wanted to add that I found seitan pretty easy to make, so maybe it depends on the recipe!

[pinkflamingos77]

Yeah. :sigh:
Most of the time I do look up everything. Since I figured they just used it as a name I didn't worry about it. Now I'm mad about it though. Luckily I'm not totally veg yet or I'd be a lot more pissed. Mainly now it is because I was lied to about it.

I totally feel you on this one. :hugs:

[Mrs.Nicolian]

:cry: Oh my god...............................



I just googled 'Earthlings'. I really feel like I'm going to be sick. I had to stop the preview.

[melirod]

Oh yeah, Earthlings. I've watched it more than once.

I have a recipe somewhere for GF seitan, if anybody here needs GF.

[pinkflamingos77]

The first time I watched earthlings I was disgusted. I have watched it a few times more and now I am just disappointed by it all.

If you can watch food inc, that is another movie that will make you look at food differently. The omnivore's dilemma is a good book to read, if you want to know in depth info about food.

[justbishop]

They're discontinued :(

Also if you live anywhere where you can buy kosher cheese....it is always animal derived rennet free.
You should be able to find TONS of recipes online too ...just type in things like...vegetarian meat loaf, or veg, sloppy joes...or whatever you would normally make but put veg in front of it...lol...there is likely a recipe online for it.
Good luck.
BTW what's your traumatic episode? :popcorn:

:overact:

Oh, and one of my FAVORITE "sure, it's vegetarian" lies...the fact that the rice in Mexican restaurants is in the combos on the vegetarian menu. IT'S SEASONED WITH CHICKEN BROTH!!

[imjustagirl]

:overact:

Oh, and one of my FAVORITE "sure, it's vegetarian" lies...the fact that the rice in Mexican restaurants is in the combos on the vegetarian menu. IT'S SEASONED WITH CHICKEN BROTH!!
I got told the refried beans were veg once.

I guess that should've tipped me off to the gelatin thing but I thought it was a language issue. :sigh:
~~~~~~~
Oh and no, thoserI didn't eat anyway.

[gypsymama22girls]

FYI gelatin is by definition animal derived.
It's made from boiled bones, skin, organs and intestines :puke: It's derived from the collagen.

[imjustagirl]

There are vegetable derived things that are called gelatin. That is why I didn't think about it much like I said earlier! Bah.
~~~~~~~
I've seen that as an ingredient in a few things. Like vegan marshmallows that weren't the fluff stuff that doesn't have any gelatin period.

[kitscha]

Indian food, if you're a fan, is a great place to look for inspiration - lots of lovely dhals and lentil/pea inspired dishes. A trip to any natural foods store should give you some ideas too - there are always new non-soy protein sources coming onto the market. Oh, and vegetarian sushi - yum! As for how to stay sane... LOL it's no biggie to me anymore, I'm just a compulsive label reader. I don't worry too much about how much protein I'm getting, I just try to get some in at every meal (well, in theory - with DS#2 teething his molars and leaving me horribly sleep-deprived, I'm currently counting chocolate and fries as protein sources). Don't drive yourself crazy or lose a love of food - just focus on wonderful things to do with what you do choose to eat.

[mommytoonegirl]

:cry: Oh my god...............................



I just googled 'Earthlings'. I really feel like I'm going to be sick. I had to stop the preview.
i was determined to get through it. i don't know if i could watch a whole movie like that. :( honestly it makes me wonder about the people that think this kind of behavior is acceptable.

[Bumby]

I am in tears after seeing a few seconds, that is terrible. what is the matter with people? I have no issue with a quick death for food, but not that

[aschrimp]

Our modern diets contain way more protein than we need anyway. As long as you aren't paying no attention to protein at all, or going vegan, it will be difficult to really not get enough protein. You may want to add a good essential fatty acid supplement, though. Flax seed oil is as good a source as any. Those are easier to miss out on. Also, if you don't eat a lot of leafy greens, you may need a b vitamin supplement.

[crisscrossapplesauce]

If you have never read Laurel's Cookbook I highly recommend it. Tons of great info and recipes in there. I got my first copy from my vegetarian brother when I was 11. It served me well while I was a vegan until a few years ago. I still use it now although I've gone to the dark side.

[eapoosmama]

First noting that I am not veg or vegan and probably never will fully make the shift due to mal-absorption issues not having 1/2 of my intestines due to an emergency surgery. The complications that outweigh the bene's of being so are far greater.

I completely feel a serge in my health and my energy level when shifting into veg and vegan mode for periods of time so I am following my bil's tail and have been eating veg or vegan until 6:00 pm. I am usually eating veg and not vegan, but I love vegan foods so whatever fits the moment works fine for me.

Instead of Wholefoods you may want to see if you have a food cooperative. I am a member of our local cooperative and a locavore. having only once have stepped into Wholes. There is no comparison, I can eat organic, veg and not spend my entire paycheck so to speak at a cooperative. Also, our cooperative is largely geared towards a vegan lifestyle and you almost always find things easily, & of a nature content, inclusive of suppliments with no fillers, no soys, kosher, no animal product.
Utilizing your local harvest resources will also yeild some excellent alternative to the ever so popular and expensive Wholes, and for every $10 dollars not spend at Wholes and supporting local farmers via farmers markets and CSA's you keep an average of $720,000 extra dollars into your local community tax base...a little food for thought.

I don't do soy since I have "Graves" disease. 10 years ago or so the Soy industry did this HUGE push on soy products as a way to use their junk soy parts that were not being used. While there are great products in soy there are also products that are not as good. Sticking to "whole soybean" products is important if your looking to benefit your health. Just because it is soy and people attach the idea of soy to a healthy diet does not necessariily hold true. Also too much soy is very very bad for thyroid, always in moderations just like anything else.

In addition to cow milk cheeses that your looking at, keep in mind that their is an incredible line up of natural/organic Sheep and Goat Cheeses that are pretty readily available. Working with my Chinese Medicine Dr. and my Western Medicine Dr. I have found great success in eating "other" cheese and milks that are not Cow, inclusive of nut milks. Cashew and Almond milk offers an excellent substitute to just about any milk ingredient. I beleive both are also used in MacroVegan/Organic diets as well, that are non inclusive of grains only legumes. Many nuts are not considered fungus nuts and not considered acceptable in certain diets.

Instead of my long time relationship with Yopliat, I shifted entirely to Goats Milk Yogurt. I have a lovely food cocktail with it every morning, a couple handfuls of fresh blueberries or black raspberries, 1/2 a banana, and 2 handfuls of Organic Apple Granola topped with a 20 Billion 14 strain, vegetarian probiotic. Makes the body Great! Goat milk makes magnificant ice cream and smoothies too. It took me a long time to find sources for Raw Goat milk, but if you look, you can find them.

There are tonnes of resources for vegetarian or vegan diets on the web.

I have been a member over at www.theppk.com (http://www.theppk.com) for a couple of years now. Its always a great source for recipes and they have a disucssion forum as well to connect with others living the lifestyle.

Good luck.
~~~~~~~
edited to note/correct:

Many nuts ARE considered fungus nuts and are not used in certain diets.

[Veganmamma]

Dark leafy greens are a must every day, quinoa is amazing, beans, homemade seitan, hemp seeds, flax seeds ground...

flax seeds actually make an awesome egg replacer for baked goods. 1 TBSP ground flax and 3 TBSP water blended in a blender till it is starting to jel + replacement for 1 egg.

Follow Your Heart vegan Gormet makes a meltable vegan cheese.

Wildwood makes the most awesome soy yogurts ever with probiotics!

[kenasmommy07]

before I went vegan we ate veggie patties and veggie nuggets, hotdogs etc.

[gellybelly]

I'm addicted to homemade setan patties and tofu of course, just love tofu. My new fav veggie broth is osem chicken style consomme kosher it's so yummy. DO not buy knorr the 2nd time already I bought 14 boxes and they weren't vegetarian they smell like beef. I've been a veg for over 11 years now and just love it. I still haven't seen earthlings though I just can't do it :(

[Veganmamma]

before I went vegan we ate veggie patties and veggie nuggets, hotdogs etc.
I can't remember if I knew you were vegan. Have we ever talked about that?
~~~~~~~
eta: probably not since you just joined! :lol: