Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this group! It seems pretty amazing! Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess knowing where to start first and what's the most important would really be helpful! Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! Danielle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Here are my suggestions: Don't try to be perfect. Just do the best you can. Even if you just start off with one meal a day or one day a week and go from there it's better than nothing. Try meat substitutes from the grocery store. My hubby refuses to consider going veg, but he will eat faux meat tacos, chili, etc. that I make for dinner. Relax about the nutritional part of it. If you eat a healthy, whole foods diet, you will likely eat all you need. Most people eat way more protein than they need, anyhow. Take supplements if you are worried about a particular thing. If you eat junk food, you won't be healthy if you are a veg or a meathead. Experiment!! Try new vegetables. Try cooking them in many different ways. Try tofu many times in many ways before deciding if you like it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Explore the web for recipes. There are tons out there. There is a podcast I like on itunes called Totally Vegetarian. It's a veg cooking show that you can watch on the ipod or your computer. The host also has the same show on PBS. Lastly, have fun with it. My kids and I are really enjoying ordering off menu at restaurants and thinking up new ways to make our old favorites in a veg way and funky things to do with tofu. Hope this helps!! Barb Deggans _____ On Behalf Of cdstalling1 Friday, March 28, 2008 1:57 PM New vegetarian with questions!! Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this group! It seems pretty amazing! Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess knowing where to start first and what's the most important would really be helpful! Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! Danielle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Congratulations on the choice you are making for you and your family. I am vegan, and raising my sone vegan as well - DH eats a lot less meat than he ever used to, but is still omni. If you base your diet on a variety of whole foods, you really do not need to worry about making sure you are getting proper nutrition. We try to do the rainbow a day - eat a fruit of veg from each color of the rainbow. There are a lot of great resources out there - I like vegfamily.com - very helpful with lots of recipes. Don't let the vegan thing scare you off - there is a lot of good advice whether you are vegetarian, or vegan. They even have a great article on getting the 5-a-day into your child's diet (good for a veg or omni) http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-children/give-your-children-five-a-day.htm Go to your local library and do a search on vegetarian/vegan cookbooks - you'll be surprised what they have, and you won't be spending tons of money on cookbooks right up front. There are also some great recipes online. I think people think the transition is hard, but I found it easier if you just jump in - go cold-tofu as they say If you slowly give things up, then I think you crave them more than if you give up lots of things all at once. PETA has a great amount of literature for kids http://www.peta2.com/livevegpak.asp - as well as a vegetarian starter guide that you can download or hae snail mailed to you. No matter what your reason for going veg - this is a good resource, even if you are not interested in the animal rights part of it. The way I was able to get DH to eat less meat an more veg was to replace some of his favorite comfort foods. I don't really care for the soy meats/cheese, but he likes them. He also really likes seitan on a sandwich - we make club sandwiches with lots of veggies and a few thin slices of seitan. I also found a great recipe for vegan mac & chees in the New Farm Cookbook - he actually prefers that now to real mac & cheese. If you can replace comfort foods for your kids, then they will embrace the change better. If they currently eat chicken nuggets and fries every Friday night, then just make the change to a veg chik'n nugget and maybe sweet potatoe fries. They are still getting a familiar meal, just a little different. HTH, Susan Susan On 3/28/08, cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: > > Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this > group! It seems pretty amazing! > Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to > becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely > overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I > don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 > years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at > least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto > here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all > of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me > some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had > meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess > knowing where to start first and what's the most important would > really be helpful! > Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! > Danielle. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 A great way to transition is by preparing ftheir amiliar favorites using mock meats. They are so easy! You'll save a ton of time cooking too because you don't have to worry about bacteria because it's not real meat. Plus, since your family already likes your recipes, it won;t be a sacrifice just to switch out a few ingredients with delicious substitutes. I LOVE Boca Burgers and Boca chicken style patties. I always keep plenty of boxes of those on hand in the freezer. I chop them up and use them in any regular recipe. Or, I just eat them as-is or with vegetarian gravy on top and served over rice or pasta. My husband loves when I make meatballs with Boca burgers for a sub or for spaghetti. The chicken is great in chicken salad. You can buy these at almost any grocery in the freezer section. I like Giant food because they have a big selection of meat substitutes including sausage. Look also in the produce section for some mock meats and for tofu. Experiment with tofu in stir frys. I like to crumble it with mayo and Old Bay for a mock seafood salad that is great on crackers or bread. Beans are a cheap and delicious way to get protein. They can make great sandwich spreads, wraps, and dips--great for kids' lunches. You'll save a lot of money by using dried beans, but the canned kinds are more convenient because you don't have to soak them overnight. Canned garbanzo beans are great over a salad. I also mash them with curry powder for sandwiches or a dip. Chili is one of my favorites using beans and boca burgers. Sloppy joes. I even make hot wings with the White Wave brand chicken style wheat-meat that I buy at the health food store. Smoothies are fun, too. Soymilk is a very healthy protein. Blend it with frozen banana chunks and strawberries (and a little sugar if you like). Deep dish pizza loaded with colored peppers, pineapple, and mock pepperoni is always a hit with kids. I like Lightlife brand veggie brand. I also like to make tacos with Boca crumbles seasoned with taco seasoning. You won't have a hard time making delicious and healthy meals for you and your kids, so don't worry. Good luck and have fun! cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this group! It seems pretty amazing! Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess knowing where to start first and what's the most important would really be helpful! Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! Danielle. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Read Becoming Vegetarian if you want tips on how to get the right amount of protein and all that. but honestly, if you are eating whole grains and staying away from processed foods, you are so much better off and don't have anything to worry about in giving up meat. What I did when I first became a vegetarian was I started by only eating fish. It worked great for a while until I realized the environmental impacts weren't so favorable and I wasn't really doing my system any good by eating it. I make home made granola with lots of nuts and flax seed for my breakfast. I often eat a veggie sandwich for lunch and then just mix it up at dinner. You can make so many different kinds of sandwiches with all sorts of veggies. Try not to substitute your meat with cheese. That is a common mistake that a lot of people make. Cheese isn't good for you. I love it, but I really try to stay away from it. :-) _____ On Behalf Of cdstalling1 Friday, March 28, 2008 10:57 AM New vegetarian with questions!! Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this group! It seems pretty amazing! Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess knowing where to start first and what's the most important would really be helpful! Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! Danielle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Welcome! This is a wonderful decision to make! I don't know how anyone makes the change without having their spouse/partner on board, but it is possible. We have been vegetarians for a while and only just made the switch to begin vegan just over a year ago. For us that was an easy jump since we'd already been off dairy (son has a milk protein allergy, so we had to cut out all dairy anyway, and it was easier if we just made it a household thing rather than just for him, so cutting out eggs was all we had left, and I never liked them so we never had them much, so it was a minor adjustment from there). It seems easier in little steps as others have mentioned. I'd say either way mentioned (transitioning a few meals a week to just jumping in feet first, so to speak) are good ways. There's also probably a few things you already eat that already are, or could easily be made vegetarian (like pasta with marinara), tacos (you can do just bean tacos/burritos we sometimes have vegan cheese with it, but really, we like them without as well), there is also an enchillada casserole that we've made (we got the recipe from someone at one of our vegan potlucks) and it's really good, I think maybe we did it without the cheese as well. What else...some soups (split pea is easy - just add a tsp or less of liquid smoke and it's perfect - maybe you might need to add extra olive oil or canola oil to get the right mouth feel/taste if you're used to it with meat in it). I've found that also getting really good spice blends can really add depth to dishes (we have a Penzey's spices nearby and we use some of their sausage seasonings - bratwurst and Krakow are my favorites). There's plenty of tofu scramble recipes out there - I do something like a skillet, only with tofu instead of egg (I like my tofu scramble to be simple (turmeric, salt seasoning-I like the adobo ones or soy sauce- thyme, oregano, or poultry seasoning) though if I add the potatoes/onion/peppers under it it is much more rounded out and quite a large breakfast! We use it for MacGuffins. At first I know menu planning helped me, since it did feel overwhelming at times. I also got a lot of cookbooks from the library, and found some we really liked and some we didn't (as with anything, right). I also really like that podcast (delicioustv.com I think it is) there's also a couple other vegan/vegetarian ones you can find free from itunes, but I think my husband said one of them wasn't so good (it didn't give him any actual recipes, just 'look at us make this food' so it might be on their website, but then it might not, I don't know which one he's referring to) Here's a couple of websites I really like, too: http://www.everydaydish.tv/homepage.html http://www.vegan-food.com http://www.vegweb.com http://www.fatfreevegan.com I've usually just searched for " vegan (insert whatever food I wanted to make here) recipes " and usually get a few things I can use or a couple I combine for my own thing. Oh, I also looked for meet-ups for those in our area that were vegan (though I think the same groups came up for vegetarian, too) on meetup.com as well as on . Of course, you can also try starting your own if there is not one in your area, It's really nice to have the support and just a place you can relate to others on your journey or already have gone through it. Even here is good, too, of course - but having playdates and chatting in person is amazing for boosting your confidence, especially when starting out! Good luck, and there's usually someone around here that will help answer your questions. Missie On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 12:56 PM, cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: > Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this > group! It seems pretty amazing! > Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to > becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely > overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I > don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 > years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at > least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto > here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all > of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me > some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had > meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess > knowing where to start first and what's the most important would > really be helpful! > Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! > Danielle. > > > -- http://mszzzi.zoomshare.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/mszzzi/ ~~~~~(m-.-)m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi Susan, I have never found a vegan mac and cheese that my family will eat (my daughter will eat the Amy's frozen, but it is ridiculously expensive). When you have a chance, will you please post the recipe that you mentioned? Thank you!! Robin Susan Williams <virgo.vegan wrote: Congratulations on the choice you are making for you and your family. I am vegan, and raising my sone vegan as well - DH eats a lot less meat than he ever used to, but is still omni. If you base your diet on a variety of whole foods, you really do not need to worry about making sure you are getting proper nutrition. We try to do the rainbow a day - eat a fruit of veg from each color of the rainbow. There are a lot of great resources out there - I like vegfamily.com - very helpful with lots of recipes. Don't let the vegan thing scare you off - there is a lot of good advice whether you are vegetarian, or vegan. They even have a great article on getting the 5-a-day into your child's diet (good for a veg or omni) http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-children/give-your-children-five-a-day.htm Go to your local library and do a search on vegetarian/vegan cookbooks - you'll be surprised what they have, and you won't be spending tons of money on cookbooks right up front. There are also some great recipes online. I think people think the transition is hard, but I found it easier if you just jump in - go cold-tofu as they say If you slowly give things up, then I think you crave them more than if you give up lots of things all at once. PETA has a great amount of literature for kids http://www.peta2.com/livevegpak.asp - as well as a vegetarian starter guide that you can download or hae snail mailed to you. No matter what your reason for going veg - this is a good resource, even if you are not interested in the animal rights part of it. The way I was able to get DH to eat less meat an more veg was to replace some of his favorite comfort foods. I don't really care for the soy meats/cheese, but he likes them. He also really likes seitan on a sandwich - we make club sandwiches with lots of veggies and a few thin slices of seitan. I also found a great recipe for vegan mac & chees in the New Farm Cookbook - he actually prefers that now to real mac & cheese. If you can replace comfort foods for your kids, then they will embrace the change better. If they currently eat chicken nuggets and fries every Friday night, then just make the change to a veg chik'n nugget and maybe sweet potatoe fries. They are still getting a familiar meal, just a little different. HTH, Susan Susan On 3/28/08, cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: > > Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this > group! It seems pretty amazing! > Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to > becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely > overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I > don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 > years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at > least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto > here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all > of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me > some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had > meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess > knowing where to start first and what's the most important would > really be helpful! > Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! > Danielle. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 We love Boca, too. Just a quick warning, the non-organic Boca products are made with GMO soy (I know that not everyone cares about this). " Cindy P. " <cpfeff1 wrote: A great way to transition is by preparing ftheir amiliar favorites using mock meats. They are so easy! You'll save a ton of time cooking too because you don't have to worry about bacteria because it's not real meat. Plus, since your family already likes your recipes, it won;t be a sacrifice just to switch out a few ingredients with delicious substitutes. I LOVE Boca Burgers and Boca chicken style patties. I always keep plenty of boxes of those on hand in the freezer. I chop them up and use them in any regular recipe. Or, I just eat them as-is or with vegetarian gravy on top and served over rice or pasta. My husband loves when I make meatballs with Boca burgers for a sub or for spaghetti. The chicken is great in chicken salad. You can buy these at almost any grocery in the freezer section. I like Giant food because they have a big selection of meat substitutes including sausage. Look also in the produce section for some mock meats and for tofu. Experiment with tofu in stir frys. I like to crumble it with mayo and Old Bay for a mock seafood salad that is great on crackers or bread. Beans are a cheap and delicious way to get protein. They can make great sandwich spreads, wraps, and dips--great for kids' lunches. You'll save a lot of money by using dried beans, but the canned kinds are more convenient because you don't have to soak them overnight. Canned garbanzo beans are great over a salad. I also mash them with curry powder for sandwiches or a dip. Chili is one of my favorites using beans and boca burgers. Sloppy joes. I even make hot wings with the White Wave brand chicken style wheat-meat that I buy at the health food store. Smoothies are fun, too. Soymilk is a very healthy protein. Blend it with frozen banana chunks and strawberries (and a little sugar if you like). Deep dish pizza loaded with colored peppers, pineapple, and mock pepperoni is always a hit with kids. I like Lightlife brand veggie brand. I also like to make tacos with Boca crumbles seasoned with taco seasoning. You won't have a hard time making delicious and healthy meals for you and your kids, so don't worry. Good luck and have fun! cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this group! It seems pretty amazing! Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess knowing where to start first and what's the most important would really be helpful! Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! Danielle. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hi Robin. Some of us do care. Thanks for the information. , robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > > We love Boca, too. Just a quick warning, the non-organic Boca products are made with GMO soy (I know that not everyone cares about this). > > " Cindy P. " <cpfeff1 wrote: A great way to transition is by preparing ftheir amiliar favorites using mock meats. They are so easy! You'll save a ton of time cooking too because you don't have to worry about bacteria because it's not real meat. Plus, since your family already likes your recipes, it won;t be a sacrifice just to switch out a few ingredients with delicious substitutes. > > I LOVE Boca Burgers and Boca chicken style patties. I always keep plenty of boxes of those on hand in the freezer. I chop them up and use them in any regular recipe. Or, I just eat them as-is or with vegetarian gravy on top and served over rice or pasta. My husband loves when I make meatballs with Boca burgers for a sub or for spaghetti. The chicken is great in chicken salad. You can buy these at almost any grocery in the freezer section. I like Giant food because they have a big selection of meat substitutes including sausage. Look also in the produce section for some mock meats and for tofu. > > Experiment with tofu in stir frys. I like to crumble it with mayo and Old Bay for a mock seafood salad that is great on crackers or bread. Beans are a cheap and delicious way to get protein. They can make great sandwich spreads, wraps, and dips--great for kids' lunches. You'll save a lot of money by using dried beans, but the canned kinds are more convenient because you don't have to soak them overnight. Canned garbanzo beans are great over a salad. I also mash them with curry powder for sandwiches or a dip. Chili is one of my favorites using beans and boca burgers. Sloppy joes. I even make hot wings with the White Wave brand chicken style wheat-meat that I buy at the health food store. > > Smoothies are fun, too. Soymilk is a very healthy protein. Blend it with frozen banana chunks and strawberries (and a little sugar if you like). > > Deep dish pizza loaded with colored peppers, pineapple, and mock pepperoni is always a hit with kids. I like Lightlife brand veggie brand. I also like to make tacos with Boca crumbles seasoned with taco seasoning. > > You won't have a hard time making delicious and healthy meals for you and your kids, so don't worry. Good luck and have fun! > > cdstalling1 <cdstalling wrote: > Hi everyone! I just have to say that I am so glad that I found this > group! It seems pretty amazing! > Well, I am just beginning to look into transitioning my family to > becoming vegetarians. I believe wholeheartedly but I am completely > overwhelmed!! This may sound crazy but my husband is a hunter and I > don't think he is ready, which is his choice. But I have two girls (4 > years old and 11 months old) and I would like to transition us at > least. I am doing lots of research and that is how I stumbled onto > here! There is just so much information and making sure you meet all > of their dietary requirements. If any of you can help me and give me > some pointers, that would be amazing! My eleven month old has not had > meat yet and I will not give it to her. Better to start now! I guess > knowing where to start first and what's the most important would > really be helpful! > Thank you all for your help!! It means the world! > Danielle. > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.