Welcome to the group, Sara.

January 8, 2003

Good to have you in our midst. As to your conversion to

vegetarianism,

bravo. It can be challenging to live in a small family and added to

that being

the only one eating a meat-free diet. Many recipes make too many

servings

for just one person, but often times recipes can be cut down with a

bit of

math conversion. I keep telling my son I use basic math every day, so

he'd

best master that skill from school. *lol*

While using those convenience vegetarian foods is helpful, it can

become

quite boring if eaten every day, as I am sure you are discovering. Do

check out

our recipes in the files section here for some ideas. You may even

find

something there your mom will enjoy trying.

May I ask, is she resistant to your choice to be a vegetarian or is

she

openminded to this change? If my child was trying to cook a meal at

home, I

would support their efforts by trying the food at least. Hopefully

she is

supportive of you in this and will come around. Many are afraid to

try foods

labeled vegetarian based upon misconceptions that it is all bland

healthfoodish stcks and twigs or that they will only leave the table

feeling

hungry and deprived. All of us here know this to be far from the

truth, but

many meat-eaters still struggle with this type of belief, so be

patient. When

your parent smells that good food cooking, she will come around.

Enjoy the

adventure in your kitchen and don't hesitate to ask us questions.

Many of our

members are experienced cooks.

~ P_T ~

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.

-William R. Inge, clergyman, scholar, and author (1860-1954)

~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~>

, Studabaker17@a... wrote:

> Hi!

> I'm 17, and I have been a vegetarian for about 8 months now.

Anyways...I

was

> wondering if you guys could give me some help on eating. My family

eats

out a

> lot, so for dinner I usually eat a lot of subways, cheese pizza,

and

> vegetable sandwiches. For lunch I generally have some chik-nuggets

or

those

> corn dogs made by Morningstar. It's just me and my mom at home, but

my

mom is

> not a vegetarian. I've made some different vegetarian dishes, and

she

hasnt

> tried any yet. ....

> ~Sara

January 9, 2003

Thanks so much for all your advice and support!

My mom and I are quite close. My father is in prison (long story, but

he had a mental breakdown. been there for 11 years, 3 to go, I'm used to it,

my mom is married and waiting for him), so most of our time is spent

together. She's fine with my being a vegetarian, and she understands why I

don't want to eat meat, so she doesn't try to convert me back or anything.

She's very easygoing, and as long as I eat whatever I buy/cook/order, she is

fine. She's just really against wasting any food. A big problem with my

cooking for the two of us is finding something both of us will like. We eat a

lot of " hobo meals " which is just a bunch of stuff wrapped in tin foil and

cooked in the oven. I eat them with carrots, potatoes and onions, whereas she

usually eats them with just the carrots and potatos. She actually eats a lot

less meat. She doesn't buy any from the grocery store at all. She says they

sell it in too big of packages. Which really doens't make sense, because she

could probably eat it fast enough if she kept it frozen, but I'm just glad to

not have to smell a hamburger cooking! I became a vegetarian because I

absolutely love animals. I'm actually thinking of becoming a veterinarian.

The only thing that stands in my way is my queasy stomache.

I know exactly what you mean about people being afraid to try anything

veggie. A few months ago I had some veggie hot dogs. My brother made 2 and

was eating them. He told me he felt like he was at the Twins. (Mn baseball

team) I smiled at him and said " Do you like those vegetarian hot dogs? " He

asked me if I would eat the other one, because he was suddenly full. This

from the 22 year old who eats an entire large pizza by himself for dinner and

doesn't gain an ounce! Another instance is at my high school, one of my

teachers is a vegetarian. ALl the kids know it, and he is constantly bugged

about it and teased about it. I just roll my eyes and wish that people could

open their minds.

~Sara

> May I ask, is she resistant to your choice to be a vegetarian or is

> she

> openminded to this change? If my child was trying to cook a meal at

> home, I

> would support their efforts by trying the food at least. Hopefully

> she is

> supportive of you in this and will come around. Many are afraid to

> try foods

> labeled vegetarian based upon misconceptions that it is all bland

> healthfoodish stcks and twigs or that they will only leave the table

> feeling

> hungry and deprived. All of us here know this to be far from the

> truth, but

> many meat-eaters still struggle with this type of belief, so be

> patient. When

> your parent smells that good food cooking, she will come around.

> Enjoy the

> adventure in your kitchen and don't hesitate to ask us questions.

>

Entertainment-World/

TRL-artists-picsNfun/

TheWB-Chat/

January 10, 2003

Sara,

I know how hard it is to be a veg where you live--it appears we are probably

from the same area. It's always amazed me that veggie hotdogs give

carnivores the willies--do you have any idea what's put in meat hotdogs?

All the junk meat: lips, entrails, bits of the head, and rat parts get in

there! OK now I've got the willies myself. When people give me a hard time

about veggie hotdogs I tell them " It's better than eating lips and

***holes. " That shuts them up quick. Of all the meats in the world, the

LAST thing I would ever eat would be a hot dog. I wish the Twins had a

veggie hotdog in the dome--although they are considering it.

Anyway, for those who may be interested:

http://www.soyhappy.org/venue.htm

This link is for an organization trying to get all the MLB ballparks (and

minor league too) to carrie veggie dogs. It lists all parks currently

carrying veggie dogs and those that are considering it. Hey maybe I'll

write a letter to the Twins and ask them to decide in favor of veggie dogs.

All ball parks should be as veggie-friendly as Pac Bell Park in San

Francisco IMHO. Not only the most beautiful park I've ever gone to, but I

was astounded by all the great food: japanese, pizza, veggie burgers, veggie

dogs, donuts, garlic fries, veggie wrap sandwiches, salads. Oh boy I'm

hungry now and wishing it were summertime.

Studabaker17 [studabaker17]

Friday, January 10, 2003 2:01 AM

Re: Welcome to the group, Sara.

Thanks so much for all your advice and support!

My mom and I are quite close. My father is in prison (long story, but

he had a mental breakdown. been there for 11 years, 3 to go, I'm used to it,

my mom is married and waiting for him), so most of our time is spent

together. She's fine with my being a vegetarian, and she understands why I

don't want to eat meat, so she doesn't try to convert me back or anything.

She's very easygoing, and as long as I eat whatever I buy/cook/order, she is

fine. She's just really against wasting any food. A big problem with my

cooking for the two of us is finding something both of us will like. We eat

a

lot of " hobo meals " which is just a bunch of stuff wrapped in tin foil and

cooked in the oven. I eat them with carrots, potatoes and onions, whereas

she

usually eats them with just the carrots and potatos. She actually eats a lot

less meat. She doesn't buy any from the grocery store at all. She says they

sell it in too big of packages. Which really doens't make sense, because she

could probably eat it fast enough if she kept it frozen, but I'm just glad

to

not have to smell a hamburger cooking! I became a vegetarian because I

absolutely love animals. I'm actually thinking of becoming a veterinarian.

The only thing that stands in my way is my queasy stomache.

I know exactly what you mean about people being afraid to try

anything

veggie. A few months ago I had some veggie hot dogs. My brother made 2 and

was eating them. He told me he felt like he was at the Twins. (Mn baseball

team) I smiled at him and said " Do you like those vegetarian hot dogs? " He

asked me if I would eat the other one, because he was suddenly full. This

from the 22 year old who eats an entire large pizza by himself for dinner

and

doesn't gain an ounce! Another instance is at my high school, one of my

teachers is a vegetarian. ALl the kids know it, and he is constantly bugged

about it and teased about it. I just roll my eyes and wish that people could

open their minds.

~Sara

> May I ask, is she resistant to your choice to be a vegetarian or is

> she openminded to this change? If my child was trying to cook a meal

> at home, I

> would support their efforts by trying the food at least. Hopefully

> she is

> supportive of you in this and will come around. Many are afraid to

> try foods

> labeled vegetarian based upon misconceptions that it is all bland

> healthfoodish stcks and twigs or that they will only leave the table

> feeling

> hungry and deprived. All of us here know this to be far from the

> truth, but

> many meat-eaters still struggle with this type of belief, so be

> patient. When

> your parent smells that good food cooking, she will come around.

> Enjoy the

> adventure in your kitchen and don't hesitate to ask us questions.

>

Entertainment-World/

TRL-artists-picsNfun/

TheWB-Chat/

January 10, 2003

Maija, thanks for the link. Hah, Minute Maid Park is veggie friendly. They

need to update their site though, because Ruggles restaurant will not be in

the Park anymore. Minute Maid Park broke relations with them. Anyway,

great site. Thanks.

Peace,

Shawn

" If, at first, you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment. "

" If, at first, you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. "

" The last four letters in " American " spell out " I Can " . "

" Everything's ok in the end, if it's not ok, it's not the end. "

----Original Message Follows----

Maija.Ray

RE: Welcome to the group, Sara.

Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:26:58 -0600