So, after months of procrastinating, I've become a vegetarian

[Downtown Hound]

Went all last week without eating meat (thank you seitan!). Y'all need to understand, I was born in the Midwest. Steak, corn on the cob, and whole host of artery clogging goodness was what I was weaned on. So for me to take this step is huge.

I would love to hear anybody's advice on how to stick with this new regimen of mine, and if any of you have any good recipes, I'm certainly down to hear them. And thanks to all of you for showing me that there is another way we humans can exist, and we don't even have to give up good taste in order to do it!

[flvegan]

1. I grew up in Massachusetts.

As in "Cape Cod area" of MA. Everything is seafood. I had a tough time completely giving up some of my favorites. Eventually, I just got used to not eating it.

I think that as far as sticking with it, it's just one meal at a time. I've found that after giving up meat, that I really learned how to cook and appreciate food more. If you like to cook, I think that going veg is a blessing in disguise.

As for recipes, I always recommend the cookbook "Vegan Vittles" (don't fear the vegan label). Also, as I'm sure you've noticed, we've got a great thread that Elad has been kind enough to pin to the top of our front page that's nothing but recipes. Check it out.

Congratulations on your vegetarianism. It does sound like you've made a huge step, but one that will probably be a good one for you at least health-wise.

[Downtown Hound]

6. Beautiful place, Cape Cod.

Been there twice. I think it will be great for me health wise. I already feel lighter, and it's only been a week.

:hi:

[Tumbulu]

2. I think for me the reward was the lightness

I felt that grew into a general happy state. Not giddy, silliness, just feeling better and more free and agile. My mind seemed clearer the longer I stayed off of the meat. I agree with Flvegan that it is one day at a time. But you may find that it is not so much about what you are doing without, but what you are getting to enjoy and how in general you seem to feel better about things.

[Downtown Hound]

7. I've noticed the lightness already

It feels like a strange mix of both physical changes and karma, like good karma coming back to you for making this choice to live without causing the suffering of other beings.

[Ignis]

3. Right on!

I think the most important thing to remember for a new vegetarian is this: Don't beat yourself up.

Now that you've started down the rabbit (food) hole, it's very easy to drive yourself crazy with a million questions, concerns, worries, etc. about ingredients. But lasting change is often gradual, so cut yourself some slack! :)

You've made a tough decision to buck the status quo and to work against your own conditioning, so take whatever gradual, easy steps you can to make sure that your new dietary/lifestyle choice will really stick. Give yourself a transition period to get used to your new diet. If that means eating more sweets than you normally do, or eating 4 smaller meals instead of 3 big ones, or overdosing on faux meats, or eating lots of fatty nuts/cheeses, etc., then don't be afraid to be flexible. Before you realize it, you won't even miss meat anymore.

I was lucky enough to go veggie in a college town, so I had access to lots of ethnic food. You should be able to go into any Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian restaurant and ask them to make you a vegetarian dish, even if there are none on the menu. Try new things, learn what spices work best with the staples of your new diet, and then bring those recipes home and improve them!

Finally, you should know that you're going to get grief from someone over your decision. Don't sweat it. Only you know what is right for you, and you've made your decision to eat without killing animals. If you need more help along these lines, there's a good book called Living Among Meat Eaters that should help you understand why people are giving you grief, and what to do about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Among-Meat-Eaters-Vegetarians/dp/1590561163/ref=ed_oe_p

Welcome to the good life! :hi:

[Downtown Hound]

8. Thanks for the advice

One of the things I'm dreading is going to a Chinese restaurant, because I know I'm going to want all of my old favorite meat dishes. Hopefully, when I've given it more time, I'll be able to go into one and not lose my willpower.

Thanks again for the tips and the welcome! :hi:

[nankerphelge]

13. Vegan/vegetarian options are always available at the Chinese restaurants...

and they taste better than the meat dishes. Bean Curd Family Style is available pretty much universally available.

[MuseRider]

4. Midwest here and it is not popular but doable.

I am almost at a year, hooray! Cowgirl, attend cattle events with my horses but do not eat at the popular bbq's they always have for lunch. If needed I will eat some fries with bbq sauce. I catch some serious grief but I just shine it on. My choice, who cares?

It was amazingly easy for me. I wanted to do this for years, had not eaten red meat for years but chicken and seafood were hard to give up....at first. After just a short time I was so happy to have made the move that even when I considered something because I really wanted it I was able to say no to it. Try eating one of those steaks after you have been a veg for a while. One bite, maybe two and the thought just really does not sit well and the salad takes it's place easily. :) That was the only time I have ever gone ahead and ordered meat.

I use vegweb a lot. There are some really good recipes there and they will also tell you how long it takes etc. There are also some really good ideas in the comments on each of them.

Congratulations. You will not be sorry.

BTW, if you have not tried it get some Vegenaise. The Grapeseed Oil kind is to die for. I did not try it for a long time but once I bought it I was hooked.

[Downtown Hound]

9. A vegetarian cowgirl. Now, that's awesome!

Definitely going to have to check out some Grapeseed oil now. :toast:

[Ignis]

11. Have you read Howard Lyman's book?

http://www.madcowboy.com/

Oops, it's books now, apparently. I haven't read No More Bull, but Mad Cowboy is pretty awesome.

[MuseRider]

12. No I have not

but thanks, I will certainly look for it and check it out. :) Always looking for a good book, especially a set of good books.

[livetohike]

5. Congratulations on your decision!

:toast:

Check out the recipes thread at the top of the forum to start with. I have a couple of book recommendations if you can buy them or find them at your local library:

Diet for a Small Planet and Recipes for a Small Planet are the first two cookbooks I bought back in the early 70's when I started eating a vegetarian diet. Both have good recipes and in depth info on how to eat vegetarian regarding nutrition.

I love the Moosewood Collective cookbooks and all of Mollie Katzen's cookbooks. My copy of Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home is falling apart. The recipes generally take less than 30 minutes to prepare and you can find 95% of the ingredients in your local grocery store.

As far as how to stick with it, don't look at it as a sacrifice or something to give up (like giving up something during Lent). You're doing something great for your health, the animals and our planet. Experiment, if you like to cook. There are many great cookbooks out there and you will find a whole new world of vegetarian recipes from different cultures. Have fun and welcome to the group :hi:.

[Downtown Hound]

10. 30 minutes? I'll have to check that one out.

Sheesh, I sound like someone in a cleaning product commercial. LOL. Anyways, thanks for the advice and the welcome!

:hi:

[CrispyQ]

14. My two fave cookbooks are "How it All Vegan" & "Vegan With a Vengeance."

The best way to stay on the veg track is to buy or learn to cook good food. I came up with vegan replacements for some of my fave 'comfort' meals. They are generally high calorie, so I don't make them often, but they are perfect at those times when you want something that you always liked! I'm pretty sure I posted my recipe for vegan biscuits & 'sausage' gravy in the pinned recipes thread. We have some great cooks on this forum, so if you have a favorite recipe that needs veganizing, this is the place to ask!

The one thing I used to consider a treat but now consider an essential is vegan pesto. It makes everything special! I use the pesto recipe in VWAV cookbook, mentioned above. And if you add a batch of pesto to a block of finely crumbled tofu, you have a great ricotta replacement. Another thing I can't live without is baked tofu. The stuff in the stores is good, but expensive!! I think my baked tofu recipe is on that pinned thread too. It's so easy & I think baking tofu actually flavors it better than marinade.

And lastly, I want to share these wonderful vegan burgers I found - Sunshine Burgers, in the frozen food section of your health food store. They are quite tasty, but one of the things I like best is they have no soy. We eat alot of soy anyway, so it's nice to find something a convenient product without soy. The Southwest flavor makes a wonderful taco filling & the Garden Herb is divine.
http://sunshineburger.com/index2.html

Someone else mentioned www.vegweb.com Yes! They have a wonderful recipe section there! And lots of reviews & photos of recipes.

Good luck on your journey!