Beginner Vegetarian

[Guest guest]

Starting out going Vegetarian is hard. I haven't had much meat for the last few

days and in fact would maybe not eat any if I could think of what to eat.

I enjoy eating, so I have to have something fulfilling. I a big on cooking from

scratch. I also love to nibble. Is there an easy way to come up with a one or

two week menu plan that does NOT call for recipes with a thousand ingredients

lol. This is part of what hinders me, just not knowing what to eat. I really

can't afford to go out and do a pantry makeover of ingredients.

I think I need a vegetarian personal nutritionist or something!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Barbra

[Guest guest]

[Default] On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:35:10 -0000, " athomemom56 "

<countrymama24 wrote:

 

>Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Buy some TVP and you can make all your usual recipes, just substituting

TVP for meat.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbra!

Something that I fix often for us, that is protein rich, and very filling and

easy to make, is beans over rice. We especially like black beans over rice. I

cook basmati rice, and while it is cooking, make the black beans. I open a can

of black beans, and add some onion powder, and some garlic salt and a whole lot

of cumin. Like a tablespoonful. Then I let it cook down some until the rice is

ready. Meantime I chop some scallions (green onions) and chop some tomato, and

shred some cheddar cheese. Then when the rice is ready, I plop some rice on the

plate, put some black beans on top of the rice, and then add a topping of the

scallions, the tomatoes and then the cheese. Easy and delicious. Sometimes, if

I am in the mood, I start a pan of cornbread to go with it all first. This is a

very filling meal.

HTH,

Hugs,

Annie

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

one way as is suggested by someone else in this group is to do your regular

recipes but use the veggie meat substitutes. there are many out there and some

are very good. my family is very much NOT vegetarian and i use the subs

including the vegan cheeses sometimes and no one has complained (or noticed for

the most part). also look to other types of cuisines ie chinese, middle eastern

(italian is very veggie friendly), etc. For nibble foods i like to have around

things like pita chips or bread and hummus which can be a snack or often a

quickie meal. i hope this helps

[Guest guest]

There are a lot of vegetarian & vegan recipe blogs online and several of the

online recipe databases will let you search by Vegetarian and also by

ingredients on-hand. There are some pretty hearty, tasty meals out there that

don't involve meat or meat substitutes. I'm still learning to cook and prep

takes me forever. It sounds as though you have the chops to try a lot of the

recipes I drool over but never get brave enough to attempt.

 

I recently bought the book Veganomicon and have tried the Cholent and the Potato

and Kale Enchiladas. I thought both were pretty hearty. The Cholent recipe calls

for TVP chunks (not crumbles) and I couldn't find any so I chopped up some Boca

burger. It turned out really great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Think of all you CAN eat! Take a few minutes to research protein requirements,

then look at all the foods that do contain protein (above and beyond beans) TVP

is an excellent suggestion, keep in mind that tempeh and tofu are relatively

easy to work with. As vegetarianism gains mainstream acceptance, there are tons

of resources and ready made ingredients out there. Such as, meat-free meatballs

to use with spaghetti - and while we're on the subject, spaghetti doesn't always

have to have tomato sauce on it. Try a butternut squash sauce or a simple pesto.

The noodles contain protein as well, especially if you select whole grain

varieties. If you like to experiment in the kitchen, make up your own batch of

whole grain noodles and freeze in individual servings for quick meals; they can

be thrown in soups, too.

HTH

Blessings,

Beveg

[Guest guest]

Sounds good. Might have for dinner

 

Angel Fajardo

Sent from my iPhone

 

On Jan 26, 2010, at 2:40 AM, " Annie Littlewolf " <mkdebord wrote:

 

Hi Barbra!

Something that I fix often for us, that is protein rich, and very filling and

easy to make, is beans over rice. We especially like black beans over rice. I

cook basmati rice, and while it is cooking, make the black beans. I open a can

of black beans, and add some onion powder, and some garlic salt and a whole lot

of cumin. Like a tablespoonful. Then I let it cook down some until the rice is

ready. Meantime I chop some scallions (green onions) and chop some tomato, and

shred some cheddar cheese. Then when the rice is ready, I plop some rice on the

plate, put some black beans on top of the rice, and then add a topping of the

scallions, the tomatoes and then the cheese. Easy and delicious. Sometimes, if I

am in the mood, I start a pan of cornbread to go with it all first. This is a

very filling meal.

HTH,

Hugs,

Annie

 

 

[Guest guest]

I am going to have to borrow this it sounds great and really easy I love

easy lol

 

----

 

Annie Littlewolf

1/26/2010 10:44:31 AM

 

Re: Beginner Vegetarian

 

Hi Barbra!

Something that I fix often for us, that is protein rich, and very filling

and easy to make, is beans over rice. We especially like black beans over

rice. I cook basmati rice, and while it is cooking, make the black beans. I

open a can of black beans, and add some onion powder, and some garlic salt

and a whole lot of cumin. Like a tablespoonful. Then I let it cook down some

until the rice is ready. Meantime I chop some scallions (green onions) and

chop some tomato, and shred some cheddar cheese. Then when the rice is ready

I plop some rice on the plate, put some black beans on top of the rice, and

then add a topping of the scallions, the tomatoes and then the cheese. Easy

and delicious. Sometimes, if I am in the mood, I start a pan of cornbread to

go with it all first. This is a very filling meal.

HTH,

Hugs,

Annie

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbra,

 

I have a huge roasting pan and I dice and chop up veggies and then roast them at

about 350-400deg F for a few minutes until they look tasty. I just roasted a

purple cabbage sliced thin with some mushrooms chunked up nicely. I added a

little sauce made from some hoison sauce and some garlic. I put my roasted

veggies in the fridge and use them for tons of stuff. They go well on soba

noodles or in lettuce wraps or with a little salt just plain. My daughters and

I had a big plate of roasted beets and turnips diced up the other night for a

snack.

 

The thing I like about vegetarian food is that it is so cheap. I can buy an

entire grocery cart of vegetables and soy protein for way less than I can meat

and pre-prepared food. After years of trying to get my husband to switch over I

finally pointed out that while beef in anywhere from $2.25-$6.00 a pound and up

I can buy a pound of tofu for less than $1.99 a pound - he was an instant

convert. I do keep Boca Burgers and Morning Star Farms veggie burgers on hand

most of the time for convenience!

 

If you like the idea of roasting veggies you might try " The Roasted Vegetable "

by Andrea Chesman - a magnificant book!

 

-Susan

[Guest guest]

I'm sure you won't have a problem after just a few weeks.  Here's a few ideas I

hope will help you

 

Breakfast - bagel, pita with peanut butter, cereal, fruit, granola bar

 

Lunch - I love Progresso Lentil soup or spread some refried beans in a tortilla,

I make my husband a sandwich of 'turkey', cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato and

mustard almost every day.

 

Dinner - salad, rice and beans, pasta, rice and bag of mixed frozen veggies,

perogies.

 

 

 

 

________________________________

athomemom56 <countrymama24

 

Mon, January 25, 2010 6:35:10 PM

Beginner Vegetarian

 

 

Starting out going Vegetarian is hard. I haven't had much meat for the last few

days and in fact would maybe not eat any if I could think of what to eat.

I enjoy eating, so I have to have something fulfilling. I a big on cooking from

scratch. I also love to nibble. Is there an easy way to come up with a one or

two week menu plan that does NOT call for recipes with a thousand ingredients

lol. This is part of what hinders me, just not knowing what to eat. I really

can't afford to go out and do a pantry makeover of ingredients.

I think I need a vegetarian personal nutritionist or something!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Barbra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Barbra,

 

I'm a relatively new vegetarian myself (5 months). I slowly weaned off of meat,

so that it wasn't a huge shock. In the meantime, I joined every vegetarian

recipe forum, website, newsletter, etc. that I could find. I get tons of email

now, but I read through any & all recipes that look even remotely good & I save

them immediately. I keep all of them in both a folder on my computer and I

print them off & put them in a binder at home. I browse through my collection

of veg recipes periodically & make a list of what I'd like to have & the

ingredients I need that I don't already have stocked. Then I put those things

on the grocery list. I also search the web periodically for " theme "

recipes...pasta, rice, specific vegetables, recipes with few ingredients, etc.

Sites like Allrecipes.com and Meals.com are good for this. I also find a few

staples that I really love (like hummus & pita) & make them regularly (and keep

the pantry stocked with the ingredients), so I rarely feel like there's nothing

I can eat. And I try to keep quick snacks like fruit & nuts around me

constantly, so that I don't get hungry & desperate.

 

Hope this is helpful!

Ashley