New Vegetarian (well Kinda) and advice?

Today I have decided to go vegetarian.  I was raised as a vegetarian. It was my decision but my parents supported it. However for the last 6 years while living with my fiance I have been eating meat. I have gained 50 lbs and have felt miserable in so many ways.  So for my own health, the enviroment, and my love of animals I am officially a vegetarian again.  Would anyone like to share their reasons for being a vegetarian or any yummy vegetarian meal ideas that are low cal. Thanks:)

Hi there :)

I am vegan for animal rights and environmental reasons.  Have you ever considered being vegan? 

Some delicious low cal vegan foods I love:

hummus without the olive oil or tahini

soups

oatmeal

lettuce wraps with beans, a little avocado, salsa, or whatever you like

Hi,

I am nearly but not quite veg but for many reasons. Mainly because I have less energy when I eat meat and if I eat pork or beef my stomach hurts. I find poultry more digestable, but I've seen to much Discovery Channel to enjoy chicken. I do enjoy fish and shellfish and eat about 50% raw food. I also am lactose intolerant so milk is out, besides I think its gross for an adult to drink milk (and from another species, try to picture a person trying to feed from a cow, eeewwwww...) Overall I just feel better physically and mentally when I eat this way.

hello!

It is exciting to hear that another person is going vegetarian.  It is so good for you, the animals and the planet in general.  You are helping to reduce greenhouse gases, saving energy, and making the world a less violent place.  I have been a vegetarian for over 25 years and a vegan for about 17.  I don't push my choices on anyone, but the kids at my school are always interested in seeing what I eat.  I provide healthy snacks for them all year (fruit, chips, salsa & veggies).  I have trouble keeping supplied!! 

I am currently struggling with weight because I eat too much veggie food.  However, some low call things that are good include:

it's all good entrees (I just discovered these) - try the Veggie chick'n Good Stuff (160 calories per serving) - but it is a great meal

keep celery and carrot sticks around and dip them in herb seasoning or a little vegenaise

Brown rice snaps (70 calories for 9 crackers) & try them with salsa which is also low cal.

You will find all kinds of low cal things to eat.  Just cutting out the meat eliminates all the saturated fat and cholesterol. 

have fun and good luck!

I have considered going vegan eventually. Possibly a raw food vegan. I think I will take it one step at a time though. I don't eat fish or eggs so it would mainly be dairy products that I would need to cut out. I already find it difficult to drink milk when I think of where it comes from. I agree with you 499461 drinking from another species grosses me out too. Does anyone know the benefits of a raw food diet? and Monkey Hippie what is tahini? kimicol, are the it's all good entrees a prepared meal? Are they frozen?

Thanks for all the replies.

Hello again,

I purchased the it's all good entrees at my local food coop and they are in the refrigerated section.  They are kind of expensive, but if you need a quick, healthy meal, they can't be beat.  One of the things that is sometimes difficult is if you take herbs or use any medications that have capsules - unless they are veggie capsules, they usually contain gelatin, which is an animal product.  Many fake meats contain egg whites - which isn't a problem unless you are a vegan, but read the labels.

Original Post by tia_lee:

I have considered going vegan eventually. Possibly a raw food vegan. I think I will take it one step at a time though. I don't eat fish or eggs so it would mainly be dairy products that I would need to cut out. I already find it difficult to drink milk when I think of where it comes from. I agree with you 499461 drinking from another species grosses me out too. Does anyone know the benefits of a raw food diet? and Monkey Hippie what is tahini? kimicol, are the it's all good entrees a prepared meal? Are they frozen?

Thanks for all the replies.

rawfoodexplained.com has tons of articles about the benefits of raw foods diets

Tahini is sesame seed butter, it is always used in hummus, but I enjoy hummus without it for less calories

OP- is kinda vegetarian similar to sorta pregnant?  Are you, or are you not?

Hi!  I have also decided to beome a vegetarian and have been doing well for the past two weeks.  Right now I'm still eating fish, but I'm a poor college student so I can't really afford fish that much anyway!  I'm working in an office this summer -- does anyone have good ideas for lunch?  I used to always bring turkey sandwiches but that won't work...lately I'll be bringing Thomas' pitas and filling them with hummus, lettuce, tomato, and chopped up portobello mushrooms.  Any ideas for a filling/easy to assemble lunches? 

Welcome to the healthier, wealthier vegetarian world! I've been a vegetarian for many years, so I've got lots of great food ideas. First, there's an amazing cookbook by an excellent writer that has literally tons of fabulous, easy and cheap recipes, so please check out How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman.

Some meal ideas: I love pitas filled with soy cheese, avocado, tomato and sprouts. Throwing some nuts (sliced toasted almonds or pine nuts are my faves, but cashews and chopped peanuts are great too) over a salad is always a great meal and adds much needed protein. I also am crazy about Lentil Roast, which is on the back of the package of red lentils. You can probably google it too. I also adore sesame noodles; there are lots of recipes; I use natural peanut butter, ginger, scallions and sesame oil over soba noodles. There are great packaged veggie foods too. Dr. Praeger's has spinach cakes, broccoli cakes, and veggie burgers. I love Smart Dogs and Morningstar Farms' southwestern veggie cakes. I could go on, but hopefully this will give you a good start.

Thanks everyone! I am on day 3 of my vegetarian diet and I am just loving it. I lost about half a pound already too. I live in a small town so it has been hard to find a lot of vegatarian items at the local grocery store. I did get some Yves veggie burgers and I really liked them. I will have to go to a bigger store on the weekend to try some of your other ideas. Thanks for the rawfood website monkeyhippy it has some great articles. I am going to keep researching this but I do think I will be going vegan in the near future. Again, thanks soooo much everyone. all your tips were really awesome.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I sure love some of the food my vegan friend makes. I also like the vegetarian bacon, morning star's mushroom burgers, polenta with onion. mmmnnn it's all good.

i have a blog called www.cooking4carnivores.com where i (vegetarian) share my recipes and food ideas. my hubby is a carnivore but we make it work. it can be a good source for ideas on how to transition back as well. today i have posted about fruit salad which is figure friendly and fresh. it is sure to make you feel better! i wish you much luck!

Hi 

I gave up meat about 4 months ago, and I did it entirely for my love of animals.  I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian...I think I've been more of a "crap-atarian".  I have never gained so much weight so quickly in my whole life!  I'm up about 20lbs from where I was last year.  I know I need to get rid of the "crap" and start planning my meals better.  I suppose getting off my sorry rear and doing some exercise would probably help!  I'm hoping that I can get some advice on meals from people here.  My husband is still a meat-eater, and he always will be...but at least he's supportive of me and of my reasons.

I do truly feel yucky, though.  Filling my life with cheese and pasta has not done me a bit of good (ooh, there's a shocker, right??).  And, I just simply feel fat and uncomfortable. 

Many of the responses you got are of great help to me, so thank you very much!!

Good luck to you=)

Wendy

PS...One animal product that a lot of people forget is gelatin.  Hooves and hides...gross.

Original Post by emilygollop:

Hi!  I have also decided to beome a vegetarian and have been doing well for the past two weeks.  Right now I'm still eating fish, but I'm a poor college student so I can't really afford fish that much anyway!  I'm working in an office this summer -- does anyone have good ideas for lunch?  I used to always bring turkey sandwiches but that won't work...lately I'll be bringing Thomas' pitas and filling them with hummus, lettuce, tomato, and chopped up portobello mushrooms.  Any ideas for a filling/easy to assemble lunches? 

No offense intended, but I can't stand when people refer to themselves as vegetarians then confess that they eat fish. You're not a vegetarian if you eat seafood; that makes you a pescetarian.

As far as lunch goes, bring a Smart Balance peanut butter sandwich with some natural strawberry jam (preferably without high fructose corn syrup) on Ezekiel whole wheat bread. Delicious.

Hi,

I also recently decided to go vegetarian.  The older I have gotten and the more I have read and seen the more I felt I could not longer support eating animals. It is bad for us, the environment and also the animals.

I am only on day 3 but had already given up cheese and was only drinking organic Milk and eating Cage free Eggs before this, so it hasn't been bad yet.  My long term goal is to be Vegan although I do like honey. 

Hummus is great, and I also have found that adding Red,Green,Yellow peppers to anything makes it taste better. I wish I liked squash and zucchini but I just can't do it.

One recipe I have tried is a White Bean, Portobello Wrap.  You use Tofu or Fake Cheese in place of regular (or real cheese).  The beans are food processed so they kind of make a spread. You can also add spinach. It was in my Betty Crocker cookbook.

When first starting was there any time anyone hit a wall, or fell off the wagon?

I like honey, too. And I like fish, and cheese, and filet. But since I am vegan, it doesn't matter if I like them! :-P

I know you posted this in June but I am new to this site and wanted to know how your vegetarian life is working out? :-)