advice for my interest in vegetarian eating

[Guest guest]

I eat a lot of animal protein, and I'd like to start incorporating more

vegetarian sources of protein into my life. I think my body is tired of

processing the animal sources. But I'm not quite sure how to start doing this.

Can anyone help me take a step in the right direction?

 

Like, what is the concern about a " complete protein " from people? Do I need to

combine a vegetarian source of protein with something else to make it a complete

protein?

 

I've read Kathleen's article about soy, but I don't know how much soy protein is

too much where I'll get the estrogenic effect.

 

Is there a very basic book about gradually easing into more vegetarian eating?

The books I've found at Borders (and doing a google search) sort of tend to

overwhelm me, plus this is the most informed ss source relating to vegetarian

eating.

 

I'd just like a high-level pass at information right now. What would you say to

someone like me who's just starting out and is somewhat overwhelmed by

information?

 

I don't know what I don't know, is what I'm struggling to say.

 

Anyone have any general thoughts?

 

Thanks for any help,

Sky

[Guest guest]

Hey Sky - cool to have you here!  You are asking such great questions and I look

forward to the responses to those who are more experienced than I, but I can

tell you that I have been weening off animal products and it is a fun and

creative process.  I

 

I was lucky and given a gift of gourmet dried beans from my SIL who is from the

Southwest.  It got me into learning about cooking and using beans, which are a

great source of protein (and fiber!).  I started substituting beans for meat in

many dishes.  I often combine beans with brown (and sometimes wild) rice in

recipes.  I have two books on beans.  I am at work and don't have them with me,

but one is called 'More Fabulous Beans'.  The other is 'Calypso Bean Recipes'

(or something close to that).  They give easy recipes on cooking and using

them.  That may be one place to start.

 

I also use lentils.  They are quick cooking and come in many colors and sizes. 

 

I noticed that when I made the shift, my body had to get used to processing the

beans...if you know what I mean!  But the body is remarkable and adjusts itself

quickly! 

 

So these are some of my random thoughts...as I mentioned above, it is a fun and

cool process.  I am lucky because my BFF is a vegan and she always has great

ideas for meals!  So if you know anyone who is a veg or vegan, it makes for

great conversation.

 

Have a great morning,

Karyn

 

 

 

 

Nora Henderson <norahenderson

 

Monday, September 29, 2008 5:05:26 PM

advice for my interest in vegetarian eating

 

 

I eat a lot of animal protein, and I'd like to start incorporating more

vegetarian sources of protein into my life. I think my body is tired of

processing the animal sources. But I'm not quite sure how to start doing this.

Can anyone help me take a step in the right direction?

 

Like, what is the concern about a " complete protein " from people? Do I need to

combine a vegetarian source of protein with something else to make it a complete

protein?

 

I've read Kathleen's article about soy, but I don't know how much soy protein is

too much where I'll get the estrogenic effect.

 

Is there a very basic book about gradually easing into more vegetarian eating?

The books I've found at Borders (and doing a google search) sort of tend to

overwhelm me, plus this is the most informed ss source relating to vegetarian

eating.

 

I'd just like a high-level pass at information right now. What would you say to

someone like me who's just starting out and is somewhat overwhelmed by

information?

 

I don't know what I don't know, is what I'm struggling to say.

 

Anyone have any general thoughts?

 

Thanks for any help,

Sky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Sky, welcome to the group .  For me when I started eating more vegetarian

it was a  slow process.  I started by just substituting a few meals a week with

vegetarian proteins.  There is actually a great list of protein sources in the

files section of this list that you might want to check out.  As for soy, I find

that I can't have more then 5 times a week (that's an estimate) or I start to

get hot flashes. I think it is probably personal, though, and your journal will

help guide you.  I think shifting into vegetarian eating is much like RR--baby

steps always seem to work best.  Maybe you can pick one night out of the week to

consciously have a vegetarian meal?

Heather

 There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

--Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

Nora Henderson <norahenderson

 

Monday, September 29, 2008 5:05:26 PM

advice for my interest in vegetarian eating

 

 

I eat a lot of animal protein, and I'd like to start incorporating more

vegetarian sources of protein into my life. I think my body is tired of

processing the animal sources. But I'm not quite sure how to start doing this.

Can anyone help me take a step in the right direction?

 

Like, what is the concern about a " complete protein " from people? Do I need to

combine a vegetarian source of protein with something else to make it a complete

protein?

 

I've read Kathleen's article about soy, but I don't know how much soy protein is

too much where I'll get the estrogenic effect.

 

Is there a very basic book about gradually easing into more vegetarian eating?

The books I've found at Borders (and doing a google search) sort of tend to

overwhelm me, plus this is the most informed ss source relating to vegetarian

eating.

 

I'd just like a high-level pass at information right now. What would you say to

someone like me who's just starting out and is somewhat overwhelmed by

information?

 

I don't know what I don't know, is what I'm struggling to say.

 

Anyone have any general thoughts?

 

Thanks for any help,

Sky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Sky!

 

So nice to see you here.

 

I second the suggestion (Heather's?) to check out the protein sources

file in the Files section of this list. Really helpful, I think.

 

The " complete protein " concept has evolved over time. It used to be

thought that one needs to have a complete protein (that is, with all

amino acids present) at each meal. Because most individual vegetarian

sources of protein do not contain *all* of the amino acids (and they

vary in their amino acid profiles), it was thought that you'd have to

have an appropriate combination of protein sources at each meal.

Beans and rice, for example.

 

I believe animal protein sources generally contain all of the amino acids.

 

Anyway, now it's generally accepted that you just need to have a

variety of protein sources over the course of a day and you're fine.

 

As for how to eat more vegetarian proteins, I'd say " baby steps " !

Yah, you've heard that one before, eh? Maybe try replacing one or two

" animal " meals a week with a veggie one. And hang out here to get some

ideas <smile>.

 

Cinzia

 

, Nora Henderson

<norahenderson wrote:

>

> I eat a lot of animal protein, and I'd like to start incorporating

more vegetarian sources of protein into my life. I think my body is

tired of processing the animal sources. But I'm not quite sure how to

start doing this. Can anyone help me take a step in the right direction?

>

> Like, what is the concern about a " complete protein " from people?

Do I need to combine a vegetarian source of protein with something

else to make it a complete protein?

>

> I've read Kathleen's article about soy, but I don't know how much

soy protein is too much where I'll get the estrogenic effect.

>

> Is there a very basic book about gradually easing into more

vegetarian eating? The books I've found at Borders (and doing a

google search) sort of tend to overwhelm me, plus this is the most

informed ss source relating to vegetarian eating.

>

> I'd just like a high-level pass at information right now. What

would you say to someone like me who's just starting out and is

somewhat overwhelmed by information?

>

> I don't know what I don't know, is what I'm struggling to say.

>

> Anyone have any general thoughts?

>

> Thanks for any help,

> Sky

>