Hi there. I'm a Friend of peaseblossom03 and she asked me to reply to you, being a current Veggie for 2 and a half years now.
I do like to cook, but i have a hard time trying new things without knowing if i like it or not, with all the work that goes into cooking at home. So what I do, is find recipes for things I've eaten in resturants, simplified if i can, and just subtract the meat part of the equation, or substituting with a veggie. Chicken Alredo - chicken + Brocoli = my favorite meal.
Vegetable Broth is a Biggie for the pantry, it will easily replace chickan stock in soups, etc. Replace some or all of the water you use to cook rice in with Veggie broth, and it's 10 kinds of Yummy.
In terms of pre-packed stuff. I find that that reading the labels is a biggie. If you need something quick and tasty, I find that Lipton Side (there's noodles and rice kinds) make good and cheap dinners, at about $1-$2 a package.
Rice is a pantry must for me. You can add anything to it and make it a meal. Rice, with some sliced bell peppers and a bag of frozen veggies makes a killer easy stir fry. Half of the veggies are already cut, rice basically cooks itself, with a little soy sauce, it's a good meal.
When it comes to meat-substitute, I like Morningstar Farms above everything else. A little pricey, but no different than the other brands. Taste though, it wins. it tastes very close to meat product, but won't make me sick, like some brands have been known to do.
Also, if you're going to Make the Switch, be aware that your body will stop the enzymes that digest meat. So if you don't eat beef for a year, then scarf down a burger from McD's, your tummy will be very upset at you.
Last thing. Get at least one vegetarian cookbook, don't go for the pricy, big volumed ones. just a cheap, simple book. I have the Starving Students Guide Vegetarian Cookbook (being a sophmore in college) so the recipes are easy, ingrediants are cheap, and it's a nice way to transition.
Anything else I can help with? tips on how to switch? ways to get others to support your choice?
Veggie Broth is easy to make at home, or even buy. It's usually cheaper because it doesn't take the same amount time and expense to make like meat broths do. There are even low sodium versions. For a make at home:
4 med yellow onions 4 med carrots 3 med potatoes 2 med parsnips, turnips, or rutabegas(just pick which you'd prefer, you don't have to add all three) 1 sm head of cabbage 1 TB olive oil 8 cups water 1 TSP Salt 1/2 TSP dried Dill, basil, rosemary (marjoram even) 1/4 TSP black pepper
Scrub and clean all veggies. Leave skins on, unless coated with wax. Cut onions into wedges. Cut Carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and veggie of choice into 2 inch pieces.
In a 6 qt (Dutch Oven, stewpot, crockpot whatever you have that's big) heat oil over Med heat, Add Veggies. Cook and stir about 10 minutes or until the start to brown. Stir in Water, add herbs. Bring to Boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 2 hours.
Strain stock, and discard the veggies, but be very careful with your broth. Let it cool a little before strain, don't burn yourself. Divide up your broth into airtight containers. Refridgerate as long as 3 days, or Freeze it as long as 6 months. Be sure to put the date on the containers.
In terms of how to make the switch, if you already haven't, it to do it slowly. Start by leaving Heavy, red meats out of your diet. After a week or two of that, Start leaving out Pork, Then Poultry, then Fish. It's perfectly acceptable to eggs if you wish and milk products. Vegan is where you don't eat milk or egg products. If you want to eat fish or poultry, that's up to you. I know many who still do, but don't eat beef, pork, or game.
How I got my family and friends to accept it was by explaining to them my choice. I told them that it was Mine to make, and no one elses. I don't tell them what to eat, so why should They get to tell me what to eat. It's very Healthy, and You can begin to feel the difference after a couple weeks. Ask them to Respect your Descion. And make sure to set down that it is no joke, and that Jokes about it are unacceptable. I had a friend who would dangle the lunchmeat from his sandwich over my head every day. But once I told him how it felt, he stopped, and he hasn't done it since.
I do like to cook, but i have a hard time trying new things without knowing if i like it or not, with all the work that goes into cooking at home. So what I do, is find recipes for things I've eaten in resturants, simplified if i can, and just subtract the meat part of the equation, or substituting with a veggie. Chicken Alredo - chicken + Brocoli = my favorite meal.
Vegetable Broth is a Biggie for the pantry, it will easily replace chickan stock in soups, etc. Replace some or all of the water you use to cook rice in with Veggie broth, and it's 10 kinds of Yummy.
In terms of pre-packed stuff. I find that that reading the labels is a biggie. If you need something quick and tasty, I find that Lipton Side (there's noodles and rice kinds) make good and cheap dinners, at about $1-$2 a package.
Rice is a pantry must for me. You can add anything to it and make it a meal. Rice, with some sliced bell peppers and a bag of frozen veggies makes a killer easy stir fry. Half of the veggies are already cut, rice basically cooks itself, with a little soy sauce, it's a good meal.
When it comes to meat-substitute, I like Morningstar Farms above everything else. A little pricey, but no different than the other brands. Taste though, it wins. it tastes very close to meat product, but won't make me sick, like some brands have been known to do.
Also, if you're going to Make the Switch, be aware that your body will stop the enzymes that digest meat. So if you don't eat beef for a year, then scarf down a burger from McD's, your tummy will be very upset at you.
Last thing. Get at least one vegetarian cookbook, don't go for the pricy, big volumed ones. just a cheap, simple book. I have the Starving Students Guide Vegetarian Cookbook (being a sophmore in college) so the recipes are easy, ingrediants are cheap, and it's a nice way to transition.
Anything else I can help with? tips on how to switch? ways to get others to support your choice?
Reply
A couple of (much belated) questions:
When you say "vegetable broth," are you referring to something you concoct at home? If so, how?
As for "tips on how to switch" and "ways to get others to support your choice" -- do you have advice on those things? If so, I'd love to hear it.
Thanks again!
Reply
4 med yellow onions
4 med carrots
3 med potatoes
2 med parsnips, turnips, or rutabegas(just pick which you'd prefer, you don't have to add all three)
1 sm head of cabbage
1 TB olive oil
8 cups water
1 TSP Salt
1/2 TSP dried Dill, basil, rosemary (marjoram even)
1/4 TSP black pepper
Scrub and clean all veggies. Leave skins on, unless coated with wax. Cut onions into wedges. Cut Carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and veggie of choice into 2 inch pieces.
In a 6 qt (Dutch Oven, stewpot, crockpot whatever you have that's big) heat oil over Med heat, Add Veggies. Cook and stir about 10 minutes or until the start to brown. Stir in Water, add herbs. Bring to Boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 2 hours.
Strain stock, and discard the veggies, but be very careful with your broth. Let it cool a little before strain, don't burn yourself. Divide up your broth into airtight containers. Refridgerate as long as 3 days, or Freeze it as long as 6 months. Be sure to put the date on the containers.
In terms of how to make the switch, if you already haven't, it to do it slowly. Start by leaving Heavy, red meats out of your diet. After a week or two of that, Start leaving out Pork, Then Poultry, then Fish. It's perfectly acceptable to eggs if you wish and milk products. Vegan is where you don't eat milk or egg products. If you want to eat fish or poultry, that's up to you. I know many who still do, but don't eat beef, pork, or game.
How I got my family and friends to accept it was by explaining to them my choice. I told them that it was Mine to make, and no one elses. I don't tell them what to eat, so why should They get to tell me what to eat. It's very Healthy, and You can begin to feel the difference after a couple weeks. Ask them to Respect your Descion. And make sure to set down that it is no joke, and that Jokes about it are unacceptable. I had a friend who would dangle the lunchmeat from his sandwich over my head every day. But once I told him how it felt, he stopped, and he hasn't done it since.
I hope this has helped you some ^.^
Reply
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