HELP! New at this vegetarian stuff!

September 2, 2007

Greetings to everyone! My name is Mia, and I just joined this group.

I am trying really hard to become a vegetarian. I was raised a meat

eater, and even though I really don't like red meat (I eat chicken

sometimes) I make red meat meals because I just don't know how to

cook healthy, good tasting vegetarian meals. I'd like to get rid of

meat in my diet all together. I have some questions that I hope

people will help me with. There is a lot of unfamiliar ingredients

floating around in these seemingly tasty recipes. First question,

what is TVP? And what is reconstituted TVP? Second, I live in

Chesapeake, VA, is there a good vegetarian grocery story around here,

or Virginia Beach? Or a store that sells vegetarian items? Next, I

read a recipe that had " Vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce " apparently

the non-vegetarian kind I just pulled from my fridge " contains

anchovies " . I had no idea. I am sure that there are tons of things

out there that contain meat. I was wondering if I could get a list of

common items that I wouldn't even guess had meat in them but do, and

where to get good replacements that don't taste like cardboard.

Lastly, I would like a vegetarian cookbook, any ideas? I really am

concerned about becoming a vegetarian, what kinds of things can I do

to keep healthy as far as vitamins go? I am under the impression that

vitamin B-12 is in meat, and it's difficult to replace that without

taking supplements. Am I going to need to get tested by my doctor

(seeing as how I plan on changing my diet) to make sure that I don't

have a vitamin deficiency? Answers will be much appreciated. Thank

you all so much! -Mia-

September 3, 2007

Welcome, Mia. I am glad you are concerned abour Vitimin B-12. You are right,

it is almost impossible to get without supplements. I suggest you take those.

The best way to get a cookbook you like is to go to the library and look at

all their vegetarian cookbooks and find a couple you like and then look for them

on Amazon or ebay. You can also get some really good ones in second hand

stores. Lots of people buy expensive books and then never take the step, so

just give them away.

There is one question everyone askswhen they start looking through our recipe

files, so I will tell you right away, EVOO stands for extra vergin olive oil.

TVP is Textured Vegetable Protein. It is a soy product and reconstitutes sort

of like a ground meat. I don't use it cause I don't use soy, but lots of

vegetarians eat a lot of it. The first couple days will be the hardest, when

you are figuring out to make satisfying meals without the part that most people

feel is the venter of the meal. I suggest you start with simple things like

spaghetti with a tomato sauce with no meat. Whether you make your own or buy it

premade doesn't matter. If you feel the need for something to chew, try

portabella muchrooms and kidney beans. Many vegetarians, myself included,

prepare a lot of one dish meals. A big green salad with lots of raw vegetables

in it finishes off almost every meal. Don't even try to maintain the

traditional 4 dish meals unless you want to rely heavily on expensive meat

substitutes.

Most larger grocery stores will have a health food section. That is where

you will find a lot of the vegetarian things. There are lots of prepackaged

vegetarian stuff to keep you fed while you learn. Start cooking with

ingredients you are familiar with. As you get more comfortable you can branch

out into unfamailiar ingredients and combinations.

You found the group to help you and we welcome you.

Dont' worry about asking questions

Katie in Alaska

perrys_babyducky <perrys_babyducky wrote: