VEGETARIANS: Help Me Join Your Ranks

[Placebo]

I've been putting it off for too long, and now when I eat meat I feel like I'm going to puke, so it's better late than never.

Any helpful tips for a young lad such as myself just starting down the veggie path? Personal experiences you'd like to share? Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

[Maple]

1. Yes, I'd also like to know how

someone becomes a vegetarian.

[H3Dakota]

30. We all have different stories!

Personally, I never was much of a meat eater anyway, so it was natural for me to go without it once it dawned on me that I could go veggie.

Many folks start off by taking their regular recipes & simply replacing the meat ingrediants with vegetarian ingrediants. Replace meat based broths with vegetable broth; ground beef with veggie burger crumbles or tofu; chicken recipes - replace with Quorn nuggets or perhaps Morningstar Farms Chik Patties.

After awhile, you can start expanding out into more organics. Before you know it, you'll be craving bbq Seitan or Tofu stir fry! ;)

I also found after becoming a vegetarian that my tastes changed quite a bit. I started making my food more spicy & eliminated salt almost entirely.

When I made the leap, I was also going through a very stressful time in my life - both factors led to a dramatic weight loss. But I found that becoming veggie had SO many benefits - my weight was perfect for me, my cholesterol was great, I had *tons* of energy and the weekly migraines I had been suffering from just went away.

[RoeBear]

2. Don't stop at being a vegetarian...

...go all the way and be a vegan.

Here's where to go:


http://www.vegsource.com/

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. my cholesterol is 118; it's very healthy for you. Find lots of tasty

veggie dishes; don't try to just eat raw vegetables or you will fail. Get a steamer and put lots of herbs on your veggies when you steam them. You won't miss meat. I guarantee.
I lso alove Tofu and stir fry. I also eat fish--you may want to start out eating fish and then drop it off, too

[Skittles]

6. ooh

I could easily give up meat but not my fish, I eat fish almost every day

[Placebo]

7. I'm not a fan of the fish...

It just feels weird thinking about the lil fishy. :)

[girl gone mad]

4. Do you like Indian food?

I eat a lot of Indian and Thai food.

It's really important that you get enough protein. Tofu, lentils, nuts and dairy are good sources of protein. To really get the health benefits out of a vegetarian diet, you need to actually eat a lot of fresh vegetables and whole grains. I know a lot of vegetarians that don't eat very healthily.

Learn to cook four or five basic dishes that you enjoy and take the time to perfect them rather than buying a big vegetarian cookbook and trying a different recipe every night.

I d on't have any stories to share. For whatever reason, just the mere act of being a vegetarian seems to offend a great number of people, despite the fact that I've never been judgemental towards meat eaters.

[Rob H.]

16. Seconding Indian and Thai, and recommending Vietnamese, too

There are a couple of local Vietnamese restaurants that I go to on a regular basis that make good vegetarian dishes. My favorite is tofu stir-fried with lemongrass and other spices--I always tell myself I'll try something different every time I go there, but "the usual" is just too good to pass up. :9

I went vegetarian late October/early November 2003, and don't miss meat at all. Now I'm trying to go all the way to vegan.

[hollywood926]

28. I'm so glad you brought up the hostility!!!

I've only been vegan (I'm not eating any animal products) for just over 2 weeks and if I dare mention it, people just get nuts. WHAT'S WRONG WTH EATING MEAT! HUMANS ARE SUPPOSED TO EAT MEAT!

All this after I made it clear that I had no problem with what others ate - I'm doing this for ME.

[Rob H.]

31. You and hollywood926 bring up excellent points re: hostility

I have friends who just don't get why I'm vegetarian and act as if it's something about me they're entitled to lecture me over. I don't give any of them any grief about eating meat, but I have one friend who almost never orders a meat dish when we're out together without making some kind of "Wow, this sure is good. You don't know what you're missing" comment. I finally had to say, "Actually, I know exactly what I'm missing, which is why I don't eat it." He's settled down a bit since then.

[NNadir]

5. Get some real good cookbooks.

Hang out with good vegetarian cooks.

I stopped eating meat about 25 years ago, when I was living with someone who was making meals so fabulous, I didn't even notice that they were meatless.

Also, give yourself some time to allow your tastes to change completely. There was, incredibly, a time in my life when I couldn't imagine life without meat. Now, sometimes, at a party or restaurant, I'll accidentally end up with meat in my mouth. It tastes to me like something that's rotted or gone bad.

Much of eating is textural too. It takes some getting used to the change.

Don't let anyone tell you the first time you get sick that your "lack of protein is the cause." I'll bet the person who is telling you gets sick too, and their protein intake has nothing to do with it. Basically plants contain all the twenty amino acids. They're a little less concentrated, but believe me, all the amino acids are there. If they were not, all animals would be carnivores, which, of course, they are not.

I have a friend who claims (dubiously) that she restarted eating meat because she was "sick all the time." She is still sick all the time, heavier, less healthy, and still sick.

Enjoy your decision. You're making a wise choice for your health, your environment, and your ethical standing.

[welshTerrier2]

8. a few ideas

many new vegetarians make the mistake of adding tons of dairy to their diets to replace lost proteins ... a diet too high in fats is probably not a good diet whether you're a meat-eater or a vegetarian ...

proteins are made up from amino acids (i think there are 16 different amino acids) ... different grains, beans, fruits and vegetables contain various combinations of amino acids but rarely contain all the amino acids necessary to build a complete protein ... BUT, by eating a variety of grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, you can "build" a complete protein ... you don't need to become a chemist to do this ... just remember to eat a wide variety from the above categories ...

many soy products and foods like tofu and tempeh tend to be high in protein and low in fat ...

i think vegetarian dishes are far more interesting then a dead slab of meat ... sauces, seasonings and food combinations easily outclass a big hunk of dead cow ... it can be difficult when you're invited to thanksgiving dinners or you go out to a restaurant ... i agree with the poster above who talked about indian and thai food ... we have a fantastic vegetarian indian restaurant very nearby ...

do some reading on this subject ... eating in a healthy way is important and being a vegetarian doesn't automatically mean you are ... learn a little basic nutrition ...

let us know if it works out for you ... after 3 months, you're eligible to learn the secret handshake ...

[candle_bright]

9. Keep eating what you like

and find substitutes for the meat part. Veggie crumbles in spaghetti sauce, Gardenburger Riblets if you want a BBQ sandwich, veggie meatloaf with the normal side dishes you'd have, etc.

It doesn't have to be a dramatic switch, and please do not try to go vegan right away. That's too much, too soon. You'll have to learn about what ingredients are in what things, and even what many ingredients really ARE that you never thought about. Some of those are veggie but not vegan.

As far as "easy food" the choices in tv dinners have gotten waaaay better.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

10. I'm not a vegetarian, but do enjoy Linda McCartney's frozen dinners

(I find them in Kroger supermarkets here in VA) as well as soy 'bacon,' 'sausage' and 'hamburgers.' The Linda McCartney frozen dinners are very good; try them if you can find them.

[Flaxbee]

14. what's the sodium content in the Linda McCartney dinners?

I've checked out some of the gourmet veggie frozen dinners as well as some of the meat substitutes and they're often REALLY high in sodium, which isn't great for a person. I'd love the convenience of a frozen dinner now and then but have balked at taking in so much sodium, when I otherwise consume very little. I have lived without the frozen dinners and meat substitutes for 5+ years eating mostly vegetarian (though I will eat farmed fish) and haven't missed either, but ... the convenience of good veggie quick dishes is appealing.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

26. Sorry; I popped out of here and then checked "My Posts" today

to see you'd asked a question. I think I may be out of my frozen dinners. You're right about frozen dinners and sodium content (in general, they tend to be high).

Apparently, Heinz owns the Linda McCartney brand.



http://www.linda-mccartney.com/

http://www.linda-mccartney.com/Linda_McCartney.aspx

Limit Sodium

Many consider the worst offense of TV dinners to be their high sodium counts, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Although healthier versions cut sodium levels drastically, many are still high, says Dina Aronson, R.D., a registered dietitian in Boston. "But you're not going to get a low-sodium meal. It's really tough to find and it might not taste very good," she adds.

To be realistic, look for frozen meals that contain no more than 800 mg of sodium. But aim for those in the 500 mg or lower range. (Sodium levels can be reduced if you skip some of the sauce, which typically uses sodium for flavoring, explains Khader.)


.

[flvegan]

11. First, start slow

Gradually replace the meat items with non meat items. Get a couple good cookbooks with easy to make meals. I say gradually because your body will go into detox mode, and you may feel sluggish. Your body ridding itself of the crap that's been put into it.

As for the protein myth, you'll be fine so long as you eat a decent, balanced diet (no vegging with tater tots and cheese pizza). The soybean is the only vegetable that contains every one of the amino acids.

Now, should you take the smart route, be ready. In two or three months, you'll probably have lost a decent amount of weight (if you have any to lose) and you'll probably have more energy and feel better all around. Going vegan, albeit a much bigger jump due to the addictive properties of dairy, will reap a tenfold reward.

Please feel free to join the veg ranks in DU's own vegetarian/vegan group, here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231

Also, PM me anytime for anything. One small step for you, one giant step for our planet.

[liberalmuse]

12. It's not as hard as you think.

Going vegetarian is easy. There are so many veggie items in the supermarkets that taste good enough to satisfy a former meat eater--bbq ribs, chicken patties, soy taco meat, veggie sloppy joes, and there's a new philly steak veggie burger by Garden Burger that tastes very good. I've never missed meat.

The only think about going vegetarian is, you shouldn't eat a lot of junk food--you have to make the food you eat count. Most vegetarians do not eat enough vegetables, believe it or not. It's not hard to get enough protein. Animal protein is more soluable, but there's plenty of protein in beans, nuts and veggies, and if you eat eggs and dairy, you'll likely get plenty of vitamin B12, which is more of an issue with vegans. I'm glad to read you're considering it.

I'm now going vegan, which I tried to do years ago with little success, but like you and meat right now, eggs and milk started grossing me out, so I cut them out a couple years ago, and finally, cheese and the other dairy products. Now it's just educating myself on how certain foods, clothing and other materials are processed and being able to spot dead animal parts and/or insects in the ingredient labels.

The best of luck to you!

[smbolisnch]

13. That's great placebo!

There are so many great things and so many rewards from going veggie! The hardest thing for me is dealing with people who feel they have the right to attack my beliefs simply because I am a vegan. You will run into that with anything, though! You should come by the veggie board here on DU.. There are a ton of great threads, resources and great people!

If you are very apprehensive, take the transition slowly! Although you seem eager to switch to a veggie lifestyle, so if you are comfortable, go for it! There are meat substitutes for just about everything you can imagine, although I only eat the veggie burgers.

Like someone else said, find some recipes that are easy for you and that you enjoy and perfect them for yourself! I think we all do that, although new and challenging recipes are fun too!

And anytime you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask! :)

[6000eliot]

15. Take a B 12 supplement

[Debbi801]

17. This is great info... Would it work with a 12 year old?

My 12 yr old son informed us over the weekend that he wants to become a vegetarian. He is already border-line underweight due to ultra high metabolism. I am worried that he won't get the nutrition he needs for the adolescent/teen age years. I asked him to at least wait until he has his 12 yr check up with the pediatrician later this month.

What can he (I) do to ensure that he is getting all the protein and nutrients needed for his growing body?

Thanks,
Debbi

[Merope215]

19. I stopped eating meat when I was 17...

which is almost 2 years ago, and I also have a pretty high metabolism. I was lucky enough to have parents who were really understanding and went out of their way to cook food I could eat (my younger sister is always happy when I go back to school so they can have meatloaf again). I generally ate things like pasta in olive oil with steamed vegetables on top, with a salad and, usually, bread (I probably eat too many starches...).

I've found that eating small snacks throughout the day is really helpful and keeps me from getting really hungry. The thing you have to be sure of, especially since your son's metabolism is so high, is that all the food is nutrient-rich and not full of empty calories. I usually much on things like plain nuts, corn chips with salsa, fresh fruit or vegetables when I can get them, and peanut butter on crackers. Pita chips with hummus are great too, and a good source of protein since the hummus is made from chickpeas. If you're really worried about nutrients, you can make sure he gets a multivitamin.

Most people actually get more protein than they need, and as long as your son doesn't eat lots of junk food, it'll be pretty hard for him not to get enough. Whole-grain breads and oatmeal are good choices, and so are corn and beans.

A good site for recipes and such is http://www.vegcooking.com/. It's a PETA site, so everything is vegan, but there are tons of vegetarian recipes out there too. Congrats on being such an understanding mom! I think your son will really appreciate it.

On edit: Congrats Placebo!! It's not very hard, you'll see.

P.S. V/V/AR Group members, I've been lurking forever, but I haven't donated yet so I can join the group...you're all wonderful! :hi:

[justiceischeap]

22. Grab yourself a free vegetarian starter kit

http://www.vegetarianstarterkit.com

As far as nutrition is concerned, you don't have to worry about that too much. There have been great improvements in veg foods over the years and, if he's interested, lots of "mock" meats (many mentioned in this thread).

Just like to throw out there that the idea that vegetarians/vegans are sickly is a misnomer. Anyone who doesn't watch what they put in their mouths is going to be "sickly" or without energy. There is something to that whole balanced diet thing, you just have to work a wee bit harder when veg or vegan.

Oh yeah and if you eat fish/poultry, you aren't a vegetarian.

[Dastard Stepchild]

24. I was 11 when I decided to go veg...

my family just planned my meals very carefully. It can be done :)

[paula777]

18. Boca Burgers, Morningstar Farms Breakfast Links & Better-n-Burgers

Those are my favorites as far as 'meat substitute' dishes. There a a ton of them in the frozen food section. They are so good you will not even miss meat AT ALL!!! (Eating these, of course, with fruits and veggies)

[CalebHayes]

20. Read the book "Diet for a new America"

If you read the whole thing I guarantee you'll change your eating habits.


Oh yeah, I'm a veggie since the age of 6, so you can do it.

[H3Dakota]

29. Also, "Fast Food Nation"...

If you haven't read it already, do so! I read just a small part to my boys, then ages 8 & 10 - after hearing that small bit, they both swore off their Happy Meals happily! They haven't once asked me to take them for fast food since, although I believe their father still takes them when they have their visits with him. :(

[yewberry]

21. Shouldn't be too hard

if eating meat makes you want to puke!

Seriously, I'd read Howard Lyman's "The Mad Cowboy." It is a good (albeit somewhat biased) look at the effects of a meat-based diet on human health & the environment, and on the politics of meat production. Lots of scary stuff in there, though, so be warned.

I've been veg for long enough now (geez, 19 years, I got OLD!) that meat just doesn't look like food. I can't really even get interested in most mock meats because some of 'em are too realistic.

Helpful tips?
*make friends with legumes/beans (if you want my black bean salad recipe, let me know...it's really cheap and so good for you)
*be familiar with spices-don't flavor with fat
*there's chicken stock in that there soup (just like a sneak attack on your lower digestive system! Kablooey!)
*gelatin. yuck. in lots of things.

[Stuckinthebush]

23. You'll feel healthier when you take the plunge

But it really isn't much of a plunge especially if you already are disgusted with meat.

I was a reluctant vegetarian 6 months ago (I had to change due to HDL issues). I am now a rather committed vegan - although the cheese is hard to give up!

Once you start looking at different vegetarian recipes, you'll see that there is much, much more than broccoli and tofu (although those are good). There is a wide range of wonderful and tasty foods to try.

Do it! You'll never go back.

Good luck!

[Dastard Stepchild]

25. Supplementation helps a lot...

I like to throw this in my cranberry juice and mix it up in my little hand mixer. I drink it every other day. Also take a multivitamin and 3 calcium tabs a day. I'm a vegan, mind you, so I like to supplement to ensure I am reaching my nutritional goals.

[Guy Fawkes]

Read "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclare

[Cobalt Violet]

27. Join the DU Vegetarians and Vegans and Animal Rights Group.

If you haven't already.
You can get lots of help there.

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Here's a site that you may find helpful

Vegetarian Times. I started reading it in my doctor's office (which should tell you something right there) and have subscribed for years. They have all kinds of recipes, though, to be honest, it's not always easy to find some of the ingredients if you don't live in a city, but they also have personal stories, stories about health care and about animals. It's a really great resource. The best of luck!:D

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/index.cfm

[4_Legs_Good]

33. You can start small...

Cut out mammals first. They're the most, obviously, morally objectionable for tons of reasons. That's a great first step. Once you do that for a few months you'll realize how easy it actually is and then it's only a step further to cut out birds. Then it's off to fish (which I admit I still eat once every couple years) and crustaceans and other bugs.

Being a Vegetarian is so much easier than it must have been just a couple decades ago. Once you realize how simple it is to do, you'll really wonder why you never did it before.

Then the big hurdle is all the stupid fast food calling to you. That hits maybe a couple years down the road.

david