Trying my hand.

TheCardHolder

Hey guys,

First post here. A few of you probaly seen me posting on other forums. Today I decided I'd try my hand at being vegetarian. My mother was vegetarian for the 9 months she carried me but gave in a few years later so it's in my blood! I'm doing it mostly as I'd like to improve my diet but also for teh animalz.

I'd really appreciate some good recipes to wean me into the whole lifestyle. I'm cooking myself some dinner tommorow so any recommendations would be great! I don't mind experimenting but i have no idea where to even begin, so need all the help possible.

Must say, looks like a nice little community in this forum.

Thanks guys, appreciate it!

sweet-rasmus

We have a recipes and links sticky which might inspire you http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=308383

TheCardHolder

Hey, thanks for the link. I started off this morning with a juice I made consisting of celery,cucumber,lime and apple and I had a cheese and tomato sandwhich with it! I know you sent me the link for the recipes thread but is there any chance you could tell me a simple dish to make for my dinner, as there is a lot to read through in that thread and I'm a bit stuck for time atm. Thanks a lot!

Tar.Aldarion

Stirfry? Nice and easy and delicious

or burritos
fried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, sour cream/whatever you want
Do you eat imitation meat?

Then your meals are easier at the beginning

rcaz

I'm also starting out as a vegetarian. I'm going to stick with it this week and see how I like it by the end. Just had a tomato, basil and cheese omlette. Just thought I'd throw my word in

Tar.Aldarion

Feel free to ask any questions too

sweet-rasmus

How did your juice taste TheCardHolder? Any time I try to be creative with juices it usually never tastes great.

I just had the old fall-back reliable of pasta and sauce with chickpeas for my vegan dinner. It's up there with a tin of baked beans on being the cupboard staple

TheCardHolder

I ended up having a rice and quorn tortilla dish. It was pretty nice. Tommorow i'll try a stir fry! El Pron looks like we are in the exact same boat, I'm also seeing how I get on this week.

TheCardHolder

sweet-rasmus wrote: »

How did your juice taste TheCardHolder? Any time I try to be creative with juices it usually never tastes great.

I just had the old fall-back reliable of pasta and sauce with chickpeas for my vegan dinner. It's up there with a tin of baked beans on being the cupboard staple

It was actually delicious. A friend of mine is studying nutrition in college and she recommended it. I was full of energy! Apparently, you can get them in zumo; they're called a detox juice. I would recommend those ingredients!

sweet-rasmus

Cool. Sounds like a good dinner. It would be great if you both posted to let us know how you are doing. I'm sure you'll get more advice thrown in

rcaz

TheCardHolder wrote: »

El Pron looks like we are in the exact same boat, I'm also seeing how I get on this week.

Yep!

I'm having a read of this article that was posted in the 'why did you become a vegetarian' thread, am I the only one who thinks it's a bit objectionable? It seems like the author's bullying the reader. But sentences based on supposition and assumption, like "Deeply confused and likely terrified by the absence of their mothers" don't, for me, make very solid arguments.

(Er, since I'm new here, I should probably clarify; I'm not trying to slag off vegans or judge anyone or anything like that, I'd just prefer if that article was less biased and hectoring.)

sweet-rasmus

If you have time, go through past threads in this forum which catch your eye. There are about 35 pages of them, all with little gems

rcaz

My dinner was a Bird's Eye vegetable burger, some mashed potato, carrots and some type of broccoli, I don't actually know what it's called, my sister gave it to me

What I'm wondering now is, how important is it to watch your food types as a vegetarian? I would never think about nutrition stuff like that as an omnivore, and I've been fine for 19 years. I'm doing a lot of reading about it, so I'll probably figure out an answer anyway.

Thanks guys

sweet-rasmus

Probably the main thing would need is to make sure you are getting some protein in with your meal. I'm sure there are tiny amounts in the above foods, but things like beans (chickpeas, baked beans, butter beans, pinto beans, kidney beans etc), cous cous, Quorn products (in the form of mycoprotein), etc should be added to your meal to increase your intake. I guess as a vegetarian you probably eat/drink dairy products, which would contain protein also. Start reading the packaging of the ready meals you buy - e.g. how much protein was in that Bird's Eye vegetable burger?

rcaz

Yeah, I've been upping my egg and milk intake with protein in mind, and I'm gonna make something bean-y tomorrow, got my stomach set on a veggie burrito. Don't know about the burgers' protein, actually. I'll have a look now. [Edit: 4.4g per grilled burger, according to the packaging]

Thanks once again. I've never posted on a more helpful forum

TheCardHolder

Hey guys, I'm going to post what i ate today and would love if I could get some input on it e.g what i'm lacking etc!

Started the day with a cheese and tomato sandwhich. Drank a celery,cucumber,apple and lime juice drink with it.

For dinner I had savoury rice and chicken quorn tortilla with lettuce,spring onion,cheese, tomato and pepper relish on it! Drank milk with it.

Had a few assorted nuts while watching tv.

just finished baked beans and toast for supper.

Also had a b12 supplement and drank around 2L of water.

sweet-rasmus

I'm not nutritionalist, so this is just your lay-man's (vegan) view of things, but you have your leafy greens (for your calcium), fibre and your protein sources in there, along with usual carbs, sugars and fats. If you are drinking milk there is probably not much need for the B12 supplement (it's more of an issue for vegans, as they don't drink dairy milk and B12 is added to dairy milk). Sounds good to me I'm sure others might give you input. There is a thread around here about iron, which is the other main thing to keep an eye on. Sources are listed in the thread, but you should get it in a varied diet inc. vegetables as you have and remember that vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron. Ah, Thoushaltnot lists lentils as being high in iron - they are an easy dish to make and one you should have a google of as a future meal.

sweet-rasmus

El Pr0n wrote: »

Thanks once again. I've never posted on a more helpful forum

Glad to help out We do pride ourselves on being a helpful bunch.

TheCardHolder

Have to reiterate what El Pron said. Thanks for being so helpful, it's great that this forum is here.

I'm surprised by how many people I know are actually vegetarian, just from general conversation today I found out it's a larger number than I thought. Nearly all female though!

Fairplay to the pair of you for giving something different a try!
When I became a veggie, it was easier because I slowly phased things out and in.
If this cold turkey things works for ye great! but remember that you can take it slower too.

You'll feel fuller if you eat protien and a little fat with everymeal, and switch to wholegrains.

TheCardholer....I would add beans, tofu (Health food shops stock a range of flavoured ones), or quorn. To that stirfry maybe a peanut satay sauce. (Mix 4 tbsp crunchy peanut butter,3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce,2 tbsp soy sauce, a tbsp lemon/lime juice and a half cup of water and if you have it fry the veggies with a little cremed coconut instead of oil) and some soba noodles.

Your juice sounds delicious....I must try it at Zumo's


El Porn those birdseye burgers, are just mushed veg in breadcrumbs. They wouldnt form the basis of a nutritionally balanced meal. So yes maybe you will have to make an effort with a diet. Learn to cook a little, chose better foods.
But every adult has to do it at some stage. Vegetarianism just prompts you to it earlier imo. Good luck with the burrito.

rcaz

Moonbaby wrote: »

El Porn those birdseye burgers, are just mushed veg in breadcrumbs. They wouldnt form the basis of a nutritionally balanced meal. So yes maybe you will have to make an effort with a diet. Learn to cook a little, chose better foods.
But every adult has to do it at some stage. Vegetarianism just prompts you to it earlier imo. Good luck with the burrito.

I know, I was kinda stuck for something last night, I didn't plan it enough. Looking forward to putting effort into cooking stuff - the burrito starts now

Tar.Aldarion

Best of luck with burritos, I suggest veggie mince, veg, and bachelors mixed beans
Some sort of chillyish sauce if you are so inclined!