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Vegetarian....and I need help....

Discussion in 'Food and Drink' started by Bill T, May 6, 2015.

  1. Bill T

    Bill T Founding Member

    Well, like the title says, I've gone Vegetarian this year.
    And yes, Jim asked me what the heck did I do that for?!?

    Lots of reasons really. And to tell the truth, I've been actually enjoying it.
    I'm losing weight, my blood pressure is going down. ..
    But I am beginning to notice that some days I just don't feel well.
    Not really sick...just really blah..

    I've been eating tofu, rice and beans for protein, but these things get old kind of fast. At least the rice and beans do. The tofu is enjoyable up to a point. It's really about how you flavor it.
    I know I have to get more protein in my diet so I have started eating eggs again and I think I have to have some fish as well.

    So the help I'm asking for is this. .
    Are there any other vegetarians here? And what type of foods do you eat to help maintain good health?
     
  2. Brad Gibson

    Brad Gibson Founding Member

    Brussels and Kale! these two are super good and super tasty.
     
  3. Taylor

    Taylor Professional Craftsman Founding Member

    Not a vegetarian, but I would try some super grains like Quinoa, Farro, and such. Maybe some recipes that have quite a few nuts in them, and never forget cheese. You must, I mean must have cheese. If you're getting tired of beans and such, maybe try some different recipes with flavor profiles you're not accustomed to to change things up. I tend to try and make the vegetable the star in a lot of my dishes, and I usually feel healthier for it.
     
  4. Rick

    Rick aka Pensacola Tiger Founding Member Gold Contributor

    Have you considered the Paleo Diet?

    [​IMG]

    Seriously though, many vegetarians find that following the diet can result in some dietary deficiencies, especially in B-12. Some try to get the B-12 with brewer's yeast, but some studies have found that strategy to be lacking. We evolved as omnivores, and going to far in either direction is probably not a good idea.

    I'd suggest adding back a small portion of meat or fatty fish once or twice a week and see if your energy improves.

    Michael Pollan summed it up well — "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
     
  5. Cheese, nuts and fat fish are all good advices IMO. Love that quote that Rick has written. I also think if you decided to became a vegetarian it should be a slow gradual transition, so that your body could adapt to new diet without any stresses.

    I'm not a vegetarian myself, but my stomach never could digest meat properly so I stopped completely eating any kinds of meat about 7 years ago or so. Still love the smell of freshly made BBQ thought.
     
  6. My wife and two daughters are vegetarian and I also eat Vego at home, not at work though for obvious reasons. I will post in more detail when I have more time but off the top of my head look into: quinoa , chia seeds, goji berrys, quorn, kale, LSA , tempeh. Eat whole grain as much as possible, rye bread. Can't think of anything else ATM I'll post again soon :)
     
  7. Bill T

    Bill T Founding Member

    Thanks for the info guys. Sounds good so far.

    As for gradually doing this as opposed to just jumping in....too late really. I started January 2nd...
     
  8. XooMG

    XooMG Founding Member

    I'll have to track down some quinoa sometime. Only ever seen it in boutique organic overpriced shops here, but maybe I can find a better source.
     
  9. bieniek

    bieniek Founding Member

    Quinoa is great but dont get carried away it overpowers many other veg things you eat with it. It can take over aubergine, I would be cooking that with wine like risotto.
    Other thing is that a grown man does not need all that much proteins at all. Depending on your weight, it might be about a 60 rams or thereabout. If your intake is 600 grams a day its just about 10 percent isnt it? [Is it slimming diet too?] In case you are fed up [pun intended] with the standard yoghurt and omelette stuff just buy protein shakes theres loads to choose from. If one day a week is a shake day so shake it :)
    Or as a last resort, to bring some excitement to the diet, make one day a poultry day. Two days a fish days, so that you never eat only veg two days in a roll. And then its just about sticking with it and the mental setting: thats the way it is, no other way around it.
    Get yourself a book of Terre a Terre at first the food in the book might look like an overkill for at home cook but I promise its a proper decent way to get tripping in search of flavour. And introduction to new ingredients. And inspiration to cook better vegetarian or even vegan and glutenfree.

    Sweet potato in every possible way. And a lot.
    What amount of time are you using a day to plan your meals and execute that?
     
  10. bieniek

    bieniek Founding Member

    Just not too much of anything really, and if your body tells you to, drink red wine.
    I had a day like that today. Opened a bottle at work [flavouring for salami] and just the nose made me crave a glass in the evening.
     
  11. Taylor

    Taylor Professional Craftsman Founding Member

    Beer also has protein in it as well, just sayin :)
     
  12. chefcomesback

    chefcomesback Founding Member

    And it's made from grains and greens ( hops) so when I drink one I can say I am eating salad ;
    :D
     
  13. Bill T

    Bill T Founding Member

    Ummm. ..wine and beer. ...

    I knew I could trust the experts to see me through this!

    Seriously though, I really appreciate all the help and support. A lot of great info here.
    Thanks folks!
     
  14. bieniek

    bieniek Founding Member

    Drinkable salads... NASA should be sending that in space.

    Im sure Russians are sending potato-juice with their people :jump
     
  15. Lucretia

    Lucretia Founding Member

  16. Lucretia

    Lucretia Founding Member

    Are you taking any vitamin supplements? You might have a B-12 deficiency.

    Don't know if you're ovo/lacto, but if you are, Yotam Ottolenghi's "Plenty" has some really great meatless recipes.
     
  17. Bill T

    Bill T Founding Member

    I've always resisted taking vitamins. But I just started this week. That's 2 of you that mentioned B vitamins. .
    I'm getting on board. ...just old, stubborn and set in my (stupid) ways.
     
  18. I don't know about your cooking skills but there are many things that are easy to make, like:
    - pasta, with any kind of oven roasted veg you like + tomato sauce, few olives, bit of cheese
    - wild mushroom risotto (if you make it from pearl barley instead of arborio rice, it is even healthier), or roasted beetroot instead of mushroom and a dollop of sour cream at the end (variations are endless)
    - any veg curries be it indian, thai, indonesian, etc. with brown rice or wild rice
    - veg chilli with some cornbread
    - veg casserole with lot of pulses (i.e., lentils, beans)
    - veg stir fried noodles
    - salads with grains and/or pulses not just veg, they fill you up as well
     
  19. Bill, sorry it's taken me so long to come back to this thread.
    Could you be more specific about how you are feeling? Do you ever feel light headed ? Headaches? Weaker?
    Usually the main problem most people encounter that turn Vego is a lack of iron
    Here are some iron rich vegetarian foods:

    Eggs, tofu, whole grain cereals , green Veges, legumes, nuts. seeds.

    Except for the green Veges all of those are good sources of protein which is also important in a vegetarian diet.

    A daily multivitamin is a very good idea glad you are taking one. I think you should consider making yourself an iron rich smoothy aswell. At least a few times a week. Try it for a little while see if it makes a difference.
    Green smoothies don't have to taste bad, try masking the flavour of the greens with fruit.

    Kale, parsley, mango & banana is an idea.
    You could do some further research into iron rich green smoothy recipes.

    I am speaking from first hand experience here my wife used to be slightly iron deficient and felt constantly tired, weak and dizzy. I started incorporating a lot more of the iron & protein rich foods into our diet and it fixed the problem we are all now very healthy and happy.

    It you need recipes or ideas pm me, I won't fill this page with food ideas :) just amateur nutritional advice lol
     
  20. Lefty

    Lefty Founding Member

    B12, iron, protein. All great ideas, for sure.

    My advice is to start eating fish two times a week, add in eggs and "super grains", and look into super foods in general.

    Some foods (kale, for example) benefit from a light cook, in terms of how your body uses them. I would do a side of kale most days, lightly sautéed in garlic, nutmeg, walnuts and olive oil. Do this in cast iron. Believe it or not, you will get iron from the world's greatest pan type. I'd also look into switching over to DeBuyer Mineral pans for the same reason. We use DeBuyer and cast iron almost exclusively, and our doctor, midwife (before), nutritionist, etc all agree that it is very beneficial nutritionally.
     

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