Vegetarians/Vegans please

[RockosMaid]

Ugh... I don't know how to start this and I don't want to offend anyone. I just want to try the lifestyle. I have my own personal reasons (nothing bad or anything just don't really no how to explain it...) but I just need help with some recipes/products.

On October 15, I am going to choose a strictly vegetarian diet cutting out all meats with the exception of eggs and maybe fish (although I have never been a big fish eater). I am lactose intolerant so that cuts out all of the dairy.

So if any of you ladies/men can provide me some good recipes and in general some real support that would be awesome!! I am going to try this for a month and if I can do it even longer then that would be just as cool. I don't know anyone that is vegetarian or vegan so you guys are going to be it!

Thanks for the support in advance!

[flowerchild]

I recommend three books:

Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson

Try the Vegetarian Times website or you can get a subscription to it. It's a really good magazine.
You can also try PETAs website. I know that they are too extreme for most people, but they have great resources for vegans and vegetarians.

[RockosMaid]

Originally Posted by flowerchild I recommend three books: Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson Try the Vegetarian Times website or you can get a subscription to it. It's a really good magazine. You can also try PETAs website. I know that they are too extreme for most people, but they have great resources for vegans and vegetarians.

Awesome awesome... ya I understand about the PETA peeps but if that can give some good recipes I will use them. Thanks for the books!!

[flowerchild]

Originally Posted by RockosMaid Awesome awesome... ya I understand about the PETA peeps but if that can give some good recipes I will use them. Thanks for the books!!

No prob. I was vegan for a year. It was a great experience. I stopped when my dad got really sick and I could no longer spend the extra time and money it takes to be vegan/vegetarian and healthy in a meateaters world. But I plan on going back to it someday. I felt so much better and I lost weight!
Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[Amber]

i have been somewhat interested in being a vegetarian for a while. i have tried it before, but i always went back to meat. i may have to buy some of those books flowerchild recommended and do a "somewhat" vegetarian diet.

[RockosMaid]

Originally Posted by flowerchild No prob. I was vegan for a year. It was a great experience. I stopped when my dad got really sick and I could no longer spend the extra time and money it takes to be vegan/vegetarian and healthy in a meateaters world. But I plan on going back to it someday. I felt so much better and I lost weight! Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Yes I am going to go to the book store and pick your recommendations up... you will definitely here from me when I get to reading.

[goldilockz]

If you're going to do an entire food intake change, I recommend "weaning" yourself off of meat. It will help with the cravings, and prevent a complete crash when you REALLY want some pepperoni pizza, kwim?

[BLBnJVB3]

Oh, boy no cheese, ahhhhh. LOL

Ok, let me think here.

Vegetarian Chili: Use vegetarian broth and the add the peppers, celery, onion, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, etc. I do eat this with cheese but you absolutely don't have to.

Stir-Fry: Make your fav recipe but don't add in the meat. I just saute the veggies and make some rice. Very minimal seasonings. Soy sauce retains water so limiting that is good.

Stuffed Peppers: Cut red peppers in half and top with a rice mixture of rice, black beans, taco seasoning, corn, and tomato sauce (I do add in cheese but you don't have to).

Pizza: Make your own dough, top with veggies and sauce, no cheese

Meatless Sloppy Joes: I'm going to write you the exact recipe for this.
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped green peppers
2 gloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard
1 can kidney beans mashed
1 can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
cider vinegar (optional)

slow cooker. Combine all ingredients except rolls in slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low 5-5 1/2 hours or until vegetables are tender.

I hope that helps some.

ETA: If you don't have a pizza dough recipe this is the one I use:
1 cup hot water
2 1/2-3 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 packet active dry yeast
pinch of salt

roll it out, top with your sauce and toppings and then bake at 350

[RockosMaid]

Originally Posted by goldilockz If you're going to do an entire food intake change, I recommend "weaning" yourself off of meat. It will help with the cravings, and prevent a complete crash when you REALLY want some pepperoni pizza, kwim?

Weaning???? You mean cold turkey (pardon the pun) is bad... Hmm... I don't know how to wean. Can't I just come on here an cry to every one and to make my cravings go away?

All jokes aside, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOU: I think I will be fine. It is a manner of knowing what I can and can't eat that is going to get to me especially when it comes to being healthy and not sulking into the junk food aisle (candies, chips, etc). I don't really do red meat. Chicken will be tough because I eat that with everything.

[RockosMaid]

Originally Posted by BLBnJVB3 Meatless Sloppy Joes: I'm going to write you the exact recipe for this. 2 cups chopped onions 2 cups chopped green peppers 2 gloves of garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon mustard 1 can kidney beans mashed 1 can tomato sauce 1 teaspoon chili powder cider vinegar (optional) slow cooker. Combine all ingredients except rolls in slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low 5-5 1/2 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Delicious... and yes that helps out a lot!!