New vegans/vegetarian: having any difficulties?

[femmedem]

I thought it might be nice to have a thread where people could post any questions/problems they're having making the switch.

[calico1]

1. I am having some problems.

For example, thinking of something quick to take to work for lunch. Putting together a meal. Cooking on weekends. My SO is a meat eater. I don't even want to buy the stuff anymore so I am having some difficulty with that.

[Critters2]

2. One easy (though a bit expensive) way to start is with fake meats

There are fake cold cuts to take to work (there's a fake pastrami I completely love); and you can build a meal around other fake meats. I have Seventh Day Adventist friends who completely live on fake meats--even though they've never tasted the real thing.

When I need to take a sack lunch anywhere, my default is usually peanut butter and all fruit spread (thus, no worries about bone charred sugar, etc) sandwiches. But that would get boring if you had to do it every day.

[femmedem]

3. Do you have a microwave at work?

If you do, leftovers from the previous night's dinner are easy. If not, a hummus wrap is quick and tasty. In the summer, grain and bean salads work well. My usual summer lunch is a brown rice/chick pea/tomato/cuke/parsley/scallion/feta/black olive sort of salad. (I'm not vegan.) I make a big batch and eat it for three or four days.

I'll think about the rest of your post, and get back to you soon. I'm just about to go to sleep tonight.

Last night we had black bean soup, kale, and roasted butternut squash. Tonight we ate the leftover soup over brown rice that I cooked in the a.m., topped with scallions and cilantro, with sides of broccoli and sauteed plantains.

Hi Calico :hi:

[femmedem]

5. I was wondering what makes cooking on weekends harder

than cooking on weekdays? Is it because you're out and about later, and come home ravenous?

Also, here's another of my insta-meals. Marinated firm tofu is a decent snack on its own, and it can also be the basis for a stir fry. I press firm tofu for about half an hour to get rid of excess water (I just stack a plate and a bag or two of beans on it.) Then I cube it, and marinate it in a garlic, soy sauce, grated ginger, rice vinegar, honey and dark sesame oil concoction. Make the marinade in the morning, and it's when you come home from work. It's even good raw.

As far as eating and/or shopping for a meat eater: my SO eats meat too. At first he'd ask me to buy him some meat when I did the shopping. I said, "Fine. But you'll have to cook it if you're going to eat it." Night after night, he'd opt to eat my veggie meals rather than cook for himself. Now I cook, he cleans up afterward, and the only meat he asks me to buy is the occassional can of tuna. It took us a while to reach this point, though.

[calico1]

6. Oh no, I meant "cooking on weekends"

as in what to cook now that I don't eat meat anymore. It is not harder. Actually it's harder to cook on weekdays. I like to cook on weekends and before I usually would cook 3 or 4 things so I could have leftovers for the week.

I have tried the fake coldcuts but I didn't like the ones I tried. It's from the same company that makes "Gimme Lean." I like the "sausage" they make but the coldcuts left much to be desired. I do like the Boca Italian sausages though I can now only get them at one health food store that carries them. They used to have them at the supermarkett but I guess they don't sell good anymore. I was surprised this Monday. I had bought a couple of packages of Morningstar "Riblets" and my boyfriend liked them enough that he had two. He likes some veggie meats but not all the time.

[CrispyQ]

7. Here's a list of the fake meats I like:

Tofurky smoked deli slices -- it is actually quite good -- much better than the Tofurky loaf that people cook on T-day.

Nate's Meatless Meatballs -- found in the frozen food section. Bake these in the oven & do not let them sit in sauce or they get mushy. Serve with a toothpick & a dish of Annies BBQ sauce for a quick appetizer.

Yves baloney slices -- tastes just like real baloney to me.

Boca Chik'n patties -- very good. These have not always been vegan, so check the label, but in my area there are no more non-vegan ones left.


I cook alot on the weekend. Like you, it makes my week easier to just take stuff out of the fridge. I wash & dry all my greens so we have salad or sandwich toppings. I cook up a bunch of pasta, a nice casserole or a big pot of soup, tofu scramble or tempeh crumbles gravy (vegan with a vengeance) & a batch of muffins or biscuits. That gets us through pretty good.

I've heard lots of good comments about Riblets. I will try them sometime.

[calico1]

8. I will check out the deli slices you mentioned

when I go to the health food store tomorrow. When I read you mention "Nate's" I went to my freezer to check the "meatballs" I had gotten at another health food store I go to. They are Nate's! They are delicious too! I think if I fed them to my SO he wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The Boca chikin patties were on sale at Stop & Shop so I stocked up. I don't like most Boca products but these are very good!

I am really appreciating all the suggestions! :)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Nate's "beef" taquitos...

are amazing! They are so good, my meat eating Mom devours them when I make'em. The black bean ones have almost no taste to them (bleck) and the chicken ones are very hot (spice-wise).

If you can find them, get'em -- I know you will love them. Just be careful to not overcook them -- they dry out and get a little less amazing. :)

[Critters2]

9. The riblets are wonderful!! nt

[peacebuzzard]

4. I have lots of trouble because I travel 25 days out of a month.

I work for the airlines; and often have extended duty days and short layovers.
Good food is scarce; and although I try to pack for a 4 to 5 day marathon with soy milks, organic fruits; oatmeal; it is very much a challenge when you have to carry the weight along with the usual travel gear.

As a result, I have found myself fasting many days drinking only water and eating garden salads,(and I often wonder about the sources of the fast food restaurant garden salads) rather than shove unsuitables down my throat. It is very difficult to try to sleep on an empty stomach after a fast-paced, stressed-out day.

I just went full vegan this past year

Good news is: I can retire this year!