[100% veg*n ] Vegan substitutes for old favorites

February 19, 2009

gee, i dunno..making spaghetti without dairy...the horrors

sheesh....

i made pasta without dairy or meat looong before i was even vegetarian, nevermind vegan.............

"swpgh01.t21" Feb 19, 2009 1:56 AM vegan-network [100% veg*n ] Vegan substitutes for old favorites

http://www.examiner.com/x-2633-Chicago-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m2d17-Vegan-substitutes-for-old-favoritesWhat do you do if, say, you want to make spaghetti for your next dinner party and you've just recently let go of meat and dairy products in your life? Many alternatives are available today, and some of them are even available in traditional grocery stores. If you are new to the vegan way of life, the idea of trying to identify and find suitable alternatives can be daunting.Sometimes, it helps to begin by taking stock of where you are along the path to veganism. For example, if you've been a vegetarian for a few years, you likely know how and where to find meat substitutes. You have probably tried several of them and know which ones you like for which dishes and so forth. I know that, for me, I can't eat some of them because the smell, texture, and/or taste are so much like meat that I can't stand them. They are, however, wonderful for people who may have recently been told by a medical practitioner to change their ways or else. Becoming vegan is much harder for people who say things like "I had to give up meat." It's much easier for those of us who refer to becoming vegan as "having a great weight lifted off our shoulders." If you are a newly minted vegan, sometimes having transition foods helps, foods that are almost like what you were eating last week, for example.Not all meat substitutes are vegan, however, so reading labels is important. As I write this posting, I am eating an original vegan Boca Burger, which I bought at a traditional grocery store across the street in Oak Park. Not all Boca burgers are vegan, however, so always read the ingredients. Also, some Boca crumbles are vegan, and some are not. I also enjoy LightLife Original Smart Ground for spaghetti sauce, chili, and sloppy Joe's. I usually find LightLife products only at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. I also recommend Yves Meatless Breakfast Patties and Nate's Meatless Meatballs, both of which I usually find at Whole Foods. No, I wouldn't call them inexpensive, but at least there's usually no waste, such as bones and so forth.A future posting will discuss what to do about dairy substitutes. So stay tuned.

So, men are scattered and smeared over the desert grass,

And the generals have accomplished nothing.

-Nefarious War

Li Po (Circa 750)