Meathead Wants To Be A Veggieface

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Well, I've thought about it and thought about it some more... I would like to either become a vegetarian full time, or at least three fourths of the time. Now I don't mean I want to start eating fake chemical meats (although they taste good), sweets...mmm, a bunch of bread *licks lips, pizza or any of that other silly stuff. I'm doing this for health reasons, and part of that means I will not be eating "crap". No offense to my fellow crap eaters... I love the shiz too! I also love animals, but I like to eat them a lot, and I have experienced the karma of eating them too much (I'm a big fatty! ...Kind of)

Problem is I've been eating meat for most of my life, nearly every day since the day I could chew and digest it! It's just what was there on the dinner table at the beginning and now I find myself buying it again and again. I would like to stop that, but it's hard. I've gained quite a liking for delicious juicy steak, pork ribs, lamb, and the list goes on. Seriously its a kindhearted vegetarians nightmare...Cats and Dogs are on my list too, but fortunately for them it's against the law to eat Man's Best Friends, in the US. Hi Korea! Nice dogs you have there... do I seem like an evil meat eater yet?

Basically what I am looking for is some tips and tricks about how to cut down on the meat, and get more veggies in my diet. I've managed to cut out sweets, most bread, fake sugar junk, junk food like chips, and other bad things... for the most part it just doesn't taste that good to me anymore. Yet meat still does. Dunno what it is, but I could eat a bowl of BBQ or broiled steak fat like it was cereal, every morning I get up, until I die. I need to eat more veggies though. Some days, even weeks I will eat mostly veggies, but I will relapse back into my fatty meat eating ways and it's hard to get back into being a veghead every time.

Any helpful tips, recipes, and comments are appreciated!

Oh and not to confuse anyone: I have not eaten cats or dogs.

I used to be a lot like that as well. I still love my meat (steaks, chops, bar-b-q, etc), but these days I only eat it about once a week, maybe a bit more during the grilling season...

What I mostly eat these days is a semi-vegetarian, Mediterranean Diet.

I eat lots of beans, couscous, and veggies, with a lot of spices to keep things interesting.

For me, the trick to sticking to the new diet was finding a handful of recipes I really liked.

Besides that, it just takes discipline.... keep trying and eventually you'll succeed.

Easiest method is to sample the great vegetarian cuisines of the world and pick some recipes you like. Near my house there are Italian, Indian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern restaurants... that's got to be over 100 different vegetarian dishes, ranging from cheap, filling, on-the-go options like veggie burrito or falafel, to hearty stick-to-your-ribs entrees like eggplant parm or palak paneer masala.

One really important tip to feeling full and satisfied on a vegetarian diet is high-quality fats. Nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, if you are not full vegan then eggs and dairy in moderation. If you are OK with a little seafood then salmon, mackerel, anchovies have wonderful oils.

As to specific diets, a lot depends whether you're trying to gain, lose, or maintain weight.

I spent most of my life eating meat but for the past few years I haven't eaten any animal products. I don't use the faux meats very often although they are a nice treat at times.

When I switched I bought a lot of cookbooks that helped alot and I researched quality restaurants that served vegan meals. I also made sure to make sure I was getting all my important nutrients.

My last doctor appointment I was told my health has improved dramatically and that the doctor was even surprised how much help eating a vegan diet had done for me.

The only meat I eat is fish and shellfish, but my husband is vegetarian, so all our dinners are veggie or vegan.

Here are a few ideas:
Tomato risotto with cannellini beans or mushroom risotto with marinated tofu
Omelette - tomato and sweetcorn or Spanish (potato/peppers, etc) or mushroon
Lentil bolognese
Wraps - filled with falafel or baked beans or refried beans
Veggie sausages with baked potato and salad (or with fried egg and baked beans for lunch/breakfast)
Stir fry - broccoli/ chestnuts/ mixed veg/ Quorn pieces (fake meat good for recipes that require chicken), rice noodles
Broccoli/ cauliflower curry, served with brown rice and peas
Veggie chilli
Red peppers, stuffed with tomato risotto or couscous (I buy additive free packet mixes or you could make your own)

One of my main ingredients is Vecon vegetable stock. I use this when making risotto or lentil bolognese. I add a few dashes of veggie Worcester sauce at the end of cooking both dishes. I also use tamari, instead of ordinary soy sauce to jazz up the stir fry.

GoonSquad- I agree, it is very helpful finding recipes that you really enjoy. Unfortunately, I very much dislike beans, except for the green ones. I have never heard of couscous, but I will have to research it. I'm going to need to find some tasty recipes involving mostly veggies or veggies by themselves. That has been part of my problem, I can't find many. I like a lot of spice too, as it does make and keep things interesting.

neerdowell- That is good to hear about your health. Can you recommend any cookbooks and/or inexpensive restaurants? I too intend on getting all of the nutrients I require. I try to do that even when eating a lot of meat.

Mummy_of_Peanut- I like fish and seafood. Thank goodness it is healthy in moderation. Thank you for the recipes. A couple things you listed I don't even know what they are. It will be fun reading about some of these and eating them. I've never used vegetable stock, it will be interesting to try it out. Thanks again for the recommendation.

MasterJedi: "I have no polite words to describe you"... You're not the first to feel that way. It means nothing to me though, so you may be better off not feeling anything about me at all.

Right now, I am eating Honey Teryaki Chicken and Long Grain White Rice W/Vegetables. It's pretty good. I made it myself.

I like Sarah Kramer cookbooks alot.
La Dolce Vegan
How it all Vegan

I also enjoy
Veganomocon
Vegan Brunch
Vegan cupcakes take over the world
Vegan with a Vengeance
Vegan Lunchbox

My other piece of advice is stock your pantries with different types of beans, pastas and grains. Also have some frozen veggies so if you ever need to make a quick meal you will have stuff available.

You are going to have a difficult time on a veggie diet if you don't find some beans or bean products (tofu, tempeh, miso, etc) that you enjoy. I suggest visiting many restaurants and trying a wide variety of bean dishes until you acquire some favorites. Do you really not enjoy a delicious black bean burrito? My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

neerdowell-Thanks for the books to read. I like my frozen veggies too. So fast and easy to steam them in the microwave.

GoonSquad- I have not tried chickpeas or lentils. To be honest, they don't look good either. I'd be willing to try them, though, maybe as a first I'd order it at a vegetarian establishment. This couscous sounds interesting, and for only 13 dollars for a 10 lb bag, seems like it's a steal! Thanks for the site, I'll be looking at it all week. I can't deal with chilli paste, powder, and chilli anything sounds bad to be honest. Call me picky...

mushroo- Well, like I said, I don't have to be a full time vegetarian. Just most of the time. I do enjoy tofu and tempeh though. Never tried "miso". The thought of a black bean burrito makes me not want to eat. I can't eat any of those pasty chewy soft beans. It reminds me of eating well you don't want to know, and no I have never eaten.. "that" before but I can only imagine the similarities they share.

[quote="Pondering"]Mummy_of_Peanut- I like fish and seafood. Thank goodness it is healthy in moderation. Thank you for the recipes. A couple things you listed I don't even know what they are. It will be fun reading about some of these and eating them. I've never used vegetable stock, it will be interesting to try it out. Thanks again for the recommendation.
quote]
If you want any more details about how to prepare any of those dishes, let me know. They are my own recipes and you could do your own thing too.

If you prefer tofu and tempeh to whole beans, fair enough. I have a lot of sensory issues around food too.

One of "nature's convenience foods" I recommend is Edamame, these are whole soybeans in the pod (you don't eat the pod, just the bean inside) sold in the freezer section. You boil then for a few minutes then salt them and eat them like peanuts. A great snack with a cold beer!

I also reccomend seitan as a protein. You can make it easily yourself and you can make alot at a time. If you want I can give you a basic recipe for it.

Mummy of Peanut- Thank you. I have tried the stir fry with walnuts and garlic chicken (I don't have chestnuts ATM) very tasty.

mushroo- Thank you. I'll have to try that tomorrow when I go to get some food, beer included. mmm

neerdowell- I will look for it next time I go out to a health store. It does sound temping reading the description I last read "The wheat of meat"... Please give me a recipe.

recently I made this: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Garl ... reen-Beans
which was shown to me by a friend. It's delicious! Before I had fresh green beans, I used broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots W/garlic oil and crushed walnuts which was also very yummy and healthy.

I don't know that beans are essential for good (mostly) vegetarian health-
a handful of nuts or seeds are packed with protein, for instance.
And they're awesome in trail mix or sprinkled over a cooked dish.