How do I become a vegetarian?

[Breathe]

Ok, well... yeah.

Sounds stupid, I know.

But, I'm sadly more or less a carnivore; I don't want to be, I just hate vegetables and most fruits! I think it's because I wasn't forced to eat my greens when I was younger.

I have to admit, I've become better, though; I'm eating more vegetables nowadays; but I want to make the "switch" and stop eating it all together. Only I'm worried that if I do, I won't be eating enough, and because when I make my mind up, it's very difficult to get me to change my mind, I'd probably make myself ill.

So, any vegetarians on here?
How did you do it?
How can I do it, since I hate most vegetables and fruits?

Any recipies you can give me?
What do you make of imitation meat (e.g., mycoprotein, tofu, tempeh, etc) - saintly or sinful?

And ... how do I cook tofu?

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

If you want to be successful at becoming a vegetarian, stay away from tofu!

I'd start with meat substitutes like veggie burgers and faux chicken patties. I'm not a vegetarian but I end up eating lots of vegetarian things since there are so many vegetarians at our church. As for receipes, I know there are some in the Food section of RF. I bet if you posted a request for everyone's favorite veggie receipe you'll get a lot.

Edit, I just noticed, we are in the Food section. Just shows you how well I pay attention.

 

[sandandfoam]

Go for it.
We're all vegetarians in this house - myself, my wife and our 3 kids.
Have a look here
The Vegetarian Society
Let us know how you get on. Once I quit eating meat (about 15 yrs ago) it dawned on my how 'yuck' it was and I felt better straight away.

 

[Andal]

i would also recommend not eating a ton of straight up tofu but meat substitute are excellent. you can get fake burgers, fake chicken, fake hot dogs (Morning Star has some good fake dogs ) also look into ethnic foods that are vegetarian. you can get good Chinese and Indian vegetarian food.

As for tips remember to keep your diet balanced. you still need some of the things that are in meat so you have to find alternatives for them. for example the combo of rice and black beans gives you a nice amino acid. you can get a good amount of protein in those fake meats, nuts, and eggs and dairy(if you still eat those, i do). be very careful too about the meals you eat (salad and french fries is not a healthy meal) watch the starch intake (and refined sugars). if you're not a fan of vegetables, find new ways of making them. you can make al sorts of sauces and toppings for those veggies that are healthy and good.

best of luck

 

[Valjean]

Pay no attention to Trey's tofuphobia, Odion, and If you crave the look, taste or feel of meat, go ahead and try the meat substitutes krishna mentioned, though I think they're rather silly and overpriced, myself.

If you're coming off a standard western diet, try this transtional tactic: Scrape the meat off your plate onto your wife's, then add a bit more of the potatoes, veggies, &c to yours.

No change but the elimination of meat. Everything familiar. Extra non-meat entrees ensure satiety.

Piece of (vegetarian) cake!

 

[zenzero]

Friend Odion,

How do I become a vegetarian?

Just by being *CONSCIOUS*

Old habits die hard.
To change the mind's pattern of such reflexive acts one has to be very very conscious / aware. As soon as such thoughts crosses the mind by being conscious / aware; the urge will slowly dissipate.

So, whenever the urge to eat non-vegetarian comes to mind, just be conscious / aware of what such an act will have on the body that you live in and environment. Besides the animalistic tendencies of the mind which is still living in the stone age. [just a suggestions, lol]

This process of awareness / consciousness is all LIFE is about.

LOve & rgds

 

[Don Penguinoini]

Ok, well... yeah.

Sounds stupid, I know.

But, I'm sadly more or less a carnivore; I don't want to be, I just hate vegetables and most fruits! I think it's because I wasn't forced to eat my greens when I was younger.

I have to admit, I've become better, though; I'm eating more vegetables nowadays; but I want to make the "switch" and stop eating it all together. Only I'm worried that if I do, I won't be eating enough, and because when I make my mind up, it's very difficult to get me to change my mind, I'd probably make myself ill.

So, any vegetarians on here?
How did you do it?
How can I do it, since I hate most vegetables and fruits?

Any recipies you can give me?
What do you make of imitation meat (e.g., mycoprotein, tofu, tempeh, etc) - saintly or sinful?

And ... how do I cook tofu?

I have been vegetarian my WHOLE life... First thing is first, if you are looking for meat subsititues, you have already failed. A vegetarian does not need a meat subsititue. We are not just restricted to fruit and veg lol If you have any Indians in your area, you need to ask them. We are the best when it comes vegetarianism.

Just eat Indian food. Not that take-away ****. Proper stuff.

 

[Andal]

I have been vegetarian my WHOLE life... First thing is first, if you are looking for meat subsititues, you have already failed. A vegetarian does not need a meat subsititue. We are not just restricted to fruit and veg lol If you have any Indians in your area, you need to ask them. We are the best when it comes vegetarianism.

Just eat Indian food. Not that take-away ****. Proper stuff.

I agree Indian veggie food is the best! Don't be too harsh on fake meat though, it's good especially for westerners making a transition. or if you're in a situation with all meat eaters. people who didn't grow up veggie can run into health problems because they don't know where to get the protein, B12, and amino acids.

man i wish i could make some decent indian food

 

[The Neo Nerd]

If you want to be successful at becoming a vegetarian, stay away from tofu!

LOL i totally agree.

Mushrooms are you friend, they soak up the flavours of what you are cooking them in. Plus they maintain a chewy firm texture which makes up for the lack of meat in recipes.

You will probably miss oily salty foods at first but that will fade after a couple of months.

And yeah forget tofu.

-Q

 

[rainchild]

I'm only a pescatarian vegetarian. ( My husband sometimes calls me a pesky vegetarian) It might help to slowly start eliminating some meat ( start with red meat and replacing it with beans) and when you see how much better it makes you feel you wont go back. Don't forget to substitute other forms of protein. You can train yourself to like other foods like veggies just by eating more of them. I drive truck over the road so I eat out a lot. But it really hasn't been a problem. Just order stuff without the meat and x-tra veggies. Occasionally I get someone that feels sorry for me and they give me a discount. L.O.L

 

[blackout]

Actually a good way to have tofu is mashed with pressed garlic,
lightly sauteed and over pasta with beans. mmmmmmm.
So why haven't I made that in so long?

"begins planning this weeks menu....*

 

[blackout]

Nanda and I shared a REALLY GOOD Veggie Heaven dish the other week,
"fake chicken" and pineapples, veggies
and a yummy yummy light sweet sour kind of sauce.

Wish I knew how to make it for mySelf.:drool:

 

[Andal]

I'm only a pescatarian vegetarian. ( My husband sometimes calls me a pesky vegetarian) It might help to slowly start eliminating some meat ( start with red meat and replacing it with beans) and when you see how much better it makes you feel you wont go back. Don't forget to substitute other forms of protein. You can train yourself to like other foods like veggies just by eating more of them. I drive truck over the road so I eat out a lot. But it really hasn't been a problem. Just order stuff without the meat and x-tra veggies. Occasionally I get someone that feels sorry for me and they give me a discount. L.O.L

ahaha lol on rare occasion i get the discount but i usually just get strange looks. i was in olive garden a few weeks ago and i wanted the pasta scampi without meat and the lady looked really mad and felt the need to clarify that i would still be charged for the chicken lol. :run:

 

[sandandfoam]

We are the best when it comes vegetarianism.

True. mmmmmmm Best food in the world

 

[monta]

I would not go straight to immatation products for a while as no matter how good they are they just don't taste the same, admitedly it was 20 years ago but when I first became veggie I found the substitutes disgusting, and then wouldn't try them again for ages. I don't mind them now, but don't really bother with them, a lot of them seem way to salty.

Tofu = Bleugh, it's like eaten some kind of fermented bean curd

 

[Halcyon]

Quorn is good in my opinion, it doesn't really taste like meat (even the chicken flavoured type) but it has a flavour of it's own that I enjoy. Although it is quite expensive, so I don't get that much.

I'd actually ditto raindance's comments, cut it out bit by bit, starting with red meat (that includes pork btw), then when you're used to that cut out the poultry and finally the fish.

Also, spices are your friend. I find a lot of vegetables dull, especially some of the root and leaf ones (cabbage, yam, turnip etc) but cooking them up with some tasty spices like they have been doing in India for years really helps. The more exotic the recipe the better.

 

[Breathe]

If you have any Indians in your area, you need to ask them. We are the best when it comes vegetarianism.

There's a Sikh gurdwara about ten minutes limp away from my house, I could go there, maybe?

Just eat Indian food. Not that take-away ****. Proper stuff.

You're not the first person I've heard say that! What would you say is proper stuff though?

 

[Breathe]

I suppose now I've said it on here, I've got to become vegetarian! Otherwise, I'll look silly!!

I've got some Quorn in the freezer: burgers, chicken, etc. I'm scared to cook it though! (Dunno how to or what with) I also have 2 blocks of tofu [thank you wifey for spotting a bargain and buying a dozen of them.. ], so I have to, I repeat, have to use it!

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I've got some Quorn in the freezer: burgers, chicken, etc. I'm scared to cook it though!

Quorn is one of the best but it's a little more expensive here. We tend to use Boca and it's very good. Sometimes I'll have a Boca chicken pattie and some nuked mashed potatoes for a quick and easy meal. Of course I ruin it all by adding chicken gravy from a jar but like I said, I'm not a vegetarian.

 

[DallasApple]

I would love to become a vegeterian myself.I know I would miss the meat and crave it at first..But everything I have read indicates you stop missing it..eventually..

My problem really more about having lived a life where meat in an everyday part of meals.Its in all of my "main entrees" ...Even lunch..whats in a sandwich?Its the only way I know how to cook.

I would be like an infant lost in a see of ignorance.

For me if I was honest...the alternative woud be just cutting back.So many people who eat meat..dont just eat meat..they eat too much meat.Meat for breakfast meat for lunch and meat for dinner.And portion sizes too.A portion size of meat at any one sitting should be about the size of a deck of cards from what I read.About 4 oz..But people will sit down and eat a steak that weighs a pound.

I definately know I could cut back.Especially because I happen to love vegatables.

Also from what I read most people think that you won't get enough protein if you are a vegetarian.But from what I understand there is some protein in just about every food we eat.It said as long as you are eating enough in calories and variety...you are going to get enough protein.

I think if everyone would just cut back on meat..making it the smallest % of food we eat..We would be healthier..as well as the lower demand would I assume make for the more ethical treatment of animals..as well as possibly eliminate the need to pump them up full of all the hormones and stuff.

Good luck Odion..!!

Love

Dallas