Help Me Go Veggie

[jnezmama02]

Ok, I can't make the switch to vegan at this point...but I've been slowly dropping my meat intake since I stopped nursing (I was craving it too much during pg and bfing). Now, that I'm not planning to be pg or bfing, I think this is a good time to switch.  I'm looking at being a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

So, I've only had meat like twice in the last few weeks.  My biggest problem is that I'm not really eating "healthy" either. I'm finding that I'm feeling hungry and fill up on too many carbs (homemade mac n' cheese, junk food, etc). This isn't good for my body either.  So, any suggestions you can give me to make quick, healthy veg meals would be great (w/o using tofu, which I've tried various forms of and can't stomach). Unfortunately, they have to be simple, b/c I still have to cook regular meat-based meals for the rest of the family (they all are big meat eaters, especially DH and the girls).

[kokonutmama]

Hey! How exciting!! 
Could you make up a big batch of a bean soup you like and freeze it in portions so you can just heat one up at dinner time? Or do borrittos up ahead and freeze them?  If you have a little time, I'm way into big salads with nuts and creamy dressing right now.  Make your grains whole grains, and reduce your sugar and it's hard to go wrong, I think, unless you're like me and just eat too much! 

That's all I've got for now.  I'm terrible, I never can tell people exactly what I eat.  It's hardly ever tofu, though

[moogie]

On the not feeling full thing, like Adrienne said, add beans or nuts to a dish.  kidney beans into a chilli dish, chickpeas or lentils into curry, cashews into stirfry.  That should help you along the way.  There are also some good veg alternative to meat.  Over here its the Sanitarium brand but Adrienne would probably know your brand.  There are veg roasts, fake chicken patties, sausages.  I've only been veg for 3 yrs so I know it can be tough when you start, so having some things that are substitutes for the taste/feel of meat are helpful.  Have you had falafels before?  kids love them too. 

I've started a blog recently on veg eating out but some of it may be of interest to you:
http://vegcritic.blogspot.com/

Some very simple meals can be to make your own basil tomato pasta sauce, with whichever pasta you like. 
Pretty much anything you are having right now you can just remove the meat and voila.

[kokonutmama]

Oh yeah, that's a good thought.  Try Tofurkey brand sausages, and gimme lean brand "ground beef."  I doubt they taste much like the real thing, but they do fill you up when you need that "meaty" sensation.

[jnezmama02]

Thanks, A & Megs!  I was trying to avoid those meat substitutes and focus more on fresh veggies, but I'm finding that it's been so crazy around here that I'm resorting to a lot of processed foods anyway.  Hopefully things will start calming down and I can eat more fresh foods. 

Another of my biggest challenges is that I'm supposed to be dieting, so I'm finding that switching to vegetarian and dieting is a big challenge. Unfortunately, I had hoped that the switch to veg food would help me reduce my calories b/c meat (especially beef) has a lot of calories...but I'm finding that I'm just replacing those calories w/ unhealthy carbs instead. Uggh! 

Anyway, I have a plan for breakfast and snacks, so if I stick to it, it will just be dinner that will be the challenge. I have to try to fix a "family meal" that includes our traditional meat meals for the rest of the family and yet, have substitute for myself. For example, things like spaghetti w/ meat sauce is easy...I just make the meat separately and don't put it on my plate (I already fix it that way b/c Jessie doesn't like meat in her spaghetti).  But, things like BBQ chicken w/ Baked Potatoes  or Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes are a little harder. Obviously, I'll still eat the potatoes in both meals and can add some salad, but I haven't figured out a substitute yet for the meat portion that is also low calorie. Oy! 

[kokonutmama]

I've been thinking about how hard it would be to cook a whole meal for meat eaters and then somehow also find time to make a veg option, too.  Tonight my folks were having lemon chicken and baked potatoes, so I asked them to throw in a couple of extra potatoes and made a quick curry with chickpeas to put over mine and K's.  (Ok, K wouldn't try it, but I offered)  When we have spaghetti, I do tofurky italian sausage in the sauce.  And I make whole wheat pasta for k and I. 

There's been a lot of talk on my veggie group about why we're all chunky (some really overweight) when veg is supposed to be so healthful.  There's even a book about it now, I think.  It's not all salad and sprout sandwiches, lol.

[jnezmama02]

Well, I've been making my normal meals for the family the last few weeks. Most of the meals, I'm just able to leave the meat off since it's not the focus of the meal. But, for those meals that meat is the traditional focus, I made substitutions. W/ Meatloaf, I made a bean loaf for myself that I really like, though I still need to tweak the recipe a little. W/ bbq chicken, I just warmed a boca burger and smothered it in bbq sauce (very yummy).   So far, I've been able to make this work. I've been completely meatless for about 2 weeks and mostly meatless the 2 weeks before that.

[kokonutmama]

I knew you could do it, and Wow, I'm so impressed with you!   

[jnezmama02]

Thanks, A!  You know, other than figuring out how this works w/in our "family dinner" structure (which is very important to me), this has been easy.  I really don't miss meat. I was never much of a meat eater until I got pg w/ Jessie. Matter of fact, when I was in college, I was pretty near to a veg anyway. But, things changed some as I got older and then I craved meat a lot when I was pg and nursing. But, now that I'm not planning on getting pg again and I'm no longer nursing, I just really don't have the desire for it.  So, the switch has been relatively painless, lol.  Now, like I said...I haven't gone vegan...I'm still using milk, cheese & eggs.  I don't know if I could ever go that far b/c it cuts out almost all convenience foods, lol. 

[moogie]

I'm glad you're finding it relatively easy Hope.  I found my toughest moments were when I was pregnant with Charlie.  the cravings are tough. 

I also found that once i really looked into the ethical side of it, that really kept me going.  I know you are mostly doing it for health( is that right?), but if you ever feel tempted by meat, having a backup reason for not going there can be useful.  just a thought. 

btw Adrienne, i'm thinking of converting to veganism.  Its hard to get my head around.  odd since we ate mostly vegan when you stayed with us, so i should be able to do it.  i wouldn't do it forever though.  just until we get a farm with a cow and chickens. lol. 

[jnezmama02]

I agree, Megs. Although I had been thinking about this for a long time, I recently watched "Fast Food Nation" and that kind of just sealed the deal.  However, I do have to say that I'm guilty of other things...I have a leather couch & chairs, I have leather seats in my van, I wear shoes w/ leather or suede. And, I still feed the rest of my family meat (DH especially refuses to go veg or give up his leather).

[moogie]

Don't feel guilty too much about the leather.  leather is mostly a byproduct of the meat industry, so in most situations they are not killing the animal for the leather, they're killing for the meat.  Still not great but i struggle with the idea of using plastic which is not good for the environment and i am comfortable that if you don't use the leather from a dead animal that it is a waste.  When people stop eating animals and therefore there is no byproduct except for natural deaths then i will look into alternatives.  that said, the only leather i use is in the odd pair of new shoes, and we mostly buy second hand shoes.

[kokonutmama]

Funnily enough,  my new man is one of the "definitely vegetarian, would be vegan but can't give up the convenience foods and want to have options in restaurants."  It's easy to understand.  I was vegan long enough still in high school where I ate or at least prepared all my food at home that it was a deeply ingrained habit before I left home.  And my college dining hall had awesome vegan options at every meal.  After that, it has at times been hard, convenience-wise, but it's something I just accept. 

it is a weird position to be in to prepare meat when you yourself are veg.  starts to make you feel a little detached about the ethical side of things, I found. 

[moogie]

"definitely vegetarian, would be vegan but can't give up the convenience foods and want to have options in restaurants."

yep thats where T and I are.