Vegetarian SOS

[Suukorak 354]

Also, it was a question. Skullcandy doesn't seem to know the definition of trolling.

 

I'd define forceful restriction as not letting yourself eat meat, even if you want to.

All right. I'd give a long-winded answer, but I don't want to derail the topic.

Want to make a new one? I'll join you there if you do.

[A Black Circle 1,586]

All right. I'd give a long-winded answer, but I don't want to derail the topic.

Want to make a new one? I'll join you there if you do.

I WAS NEVER HERE REMEMBER?

 

crap.

 

[Aidan OGain 112]

I've been veg for 8 years. I have a few bits of general advice:

 

1. Find some friends who are vegetarian. Barring that, find some friends who are not hostile or suspicious of your choice.

 

2. Vegetarianism should never be more expensive than eating meat. You've cut something out of your diet. Meat is expensive. Regular chain grocery stores often artificially raise the price of veggie meats. But you can get them (and a lot of other good veggie stuff) for cheap at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. But you don't need veggie meats to survive. They can just be convenient sometimes. And they should never be more expensive than their meat counterparts.

 

3. Grains are your friends. Rice + Beans makes for a whole protein. Just add your favorite sauce and away you go. Don't forget about pasta, couscous, millet, quinoa, grits. There are so many great choices out there.

 

4. Don't forget nuts. A handful of nuts can have the same amount of protein as meat. You can add them to your food or just snack on them. (Also, you need less protein than what most Americans think.)

 

5. I hate tofu too

 

6. Use paprika and other spices to make the food taste good. I also like basil, oregano, and rosemary, but find your own favorites. Also check out nutritional yeast. It's kind of cheesy, just sprinkle some flakes on your food like parmesan. It has a lot of b12 in it. Also try steamed asparagus, canned artichoke hearts or heart of palm are great for grilling or adding to anything at all. Avocados if you have access to the ripe ones are great with a little soy sauce. And you can just cut tomatos in half and broil them for 12 minutes for a good addition to breakfast. Face them cut-side up when you do. Add salt and pepper afterwards and you're good to go.

7. Anything that you love to eat can be made vegetarian. All that's needed is imagination and a bit of creativity.

 

8. Absolutely nothing at McDonalds is vegetarian. Not even the fries. But Burger King's fries are vegetarian! And most have a veggie burger that you need to ask for because it's not listed on the menu. But it's there.

 

I hoe that's helpful. If you have any questions or need any help it's my sworn duty to assist 

[DragonFlyer 329]

Well to start with you might find these sites to be helpful:
http://www.ilovevegan.com/resources/vegan-lifestyle-on-a-budget/ 
http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-on-a-budget-17-easy-affordable-recipes-2 
https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/recipes/budget/vegan-budget 
http://gentleworld.org/8-tips-for-going-vegan-on-a-budget/

Once you learn the ropes it's actually very easy to be vegetarian or vegan on a budget. Most of your staple foods are inexpensive: beans, rice, fruits, vegetables. Where it gets pricey is if you want to include things like plant-based meat (veggie burgers, hot dogs), non-dairy cheese, ice cream, etc. None of these things are necessary and personally I avoid processed foods as much as possible. But that being said there is no wrong way to be a vegetarian/vegan and if you like veggie burgers rock on! I have noticed in recent years the price is starting to drop on some of these products as more variety becomes available. Now if you like to cook then going vegetarian or vegan opens up a whole new world, there are literally thousands upon thousands of recipes to try, you can even make your own burgers from scratch.

My personal favorite recipe is a kale mix, I'll try to explain how I make it here. I use bagged kale (which sells at 2 bags for $5 at my local grocery store), collrd greens, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms. The price will vary on these items depending on if you get organic (I don't) or not and on what brand you choose, but overall it's pretty inexpensive. You'll also need garlic powder, onion powder and nutritional yeast for this recipe - the yeast gives it an amazing "cheesy" flavor and I couldn't imagine this dish without it. Nutritional yeast can be found at most health food stores and is cheaper when bought in bulk.

So what I do is pour the kale and collard greens into a big bowl, drizzle a little vegetable oil over it then add on the garlic powder, onion powered, nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt. Next step is to massage that mix so the kale and collard greens get tender. After that's done I chop up the broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms and throw them into the mix. Then it's time to saute! The spinach I throw in last while the mix is sauteing since it cooks down super fast. That's pretty much it, it can be a little messy to make but soo worth it. It's a pretty simple recipe and easy once you get the hang of it. Plus it's inexpensive and super, super healthy! Sometimes I sprinkle on a little seaweed (roasted, can be bought as snack packs) for even more yum.

[thirty-thirty 36]

congratulations on becoming a vegetarian!

 

as a born vegetarian that didn't like many vegetables until much older a good option is soy products. I did a quick read through all the posts and didn't see any direct references to them. its also great if you hate tofu.

I don't know where you live, but there's a brand called yves. www.yvesveggie.com. they make meat alternatives to hotdogs, burger pattys, chicken and beef strips, probably mice, etc. they are usually spiced during the manufacture and are typically heat and eat products. They might have a higher oil and fat content though so you cant exclude veggies altogether. but they are a good thing to have at BBQ events so you don't feel left out. a lot of eating houses that claim to have a vegetarian burger use a hashbrown (atleast where I live, wimpy, macdonalds, kfc, etc... I don't think burger king cares)  that's pretty useless as its like putting fries in your burger. the soya alternatives atleast have some food value. some use chickpea based pattys. those are also nice.

 

its been said here on this thread but I shall echo it. Indians make the best vegetarian food. vegetarian sushi is also pretty epic (yes it exists)

 

for doing indian foods theres basic formulas you can follow. you need to braise the spices and then add the veggies.

some spices that you would want are

1) chilli powders (obvious, look for blends made in indian shops. avoid something with sudan red)

2) star aniseed(whole)

3) cardamom (whole)

4) turmeric (the powder)

5) asafoetida (reduces gassssssss use sparingly)

6) mustard seeds

7)cumin seeds (grind these with a pestle )

8) fennel seeds (grind these with a pestle )

9) fenugreek leaves (dried and crushed)

10) coriander (seeds crushed and fresh leaves as a garnish)

11) cinnamon sticks

12) cloves

13) if you can afford it, saffron. you put it in rice. its more expensive than platinum.

 

braise these spices in a pot just before you throw in onions and the desired veggies. add salt and/or sugar  after you've added the veggies. add any fresh leave RIGHT at the end.

 

as a hint, don't buy prepacked indian spice mixes from supermarkets that are not indian. go to an indian specialty store and ask for their own spice mixes. they are different. the supermarket ones are terrible and usually stale.

 

enjoy!!

[Oddball 132]

Well to start with you might find these sites to be helpful:

http://www.ilovevegan.com/resources/vegan-lifestyle-on-a-budget/ 

http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-on-a-budget-17-easy-affordable-recipes-2 

https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/recipes/budget/vegan-budget 

http://gentleworld.org/8-tips-for-going-vegan-on-a-budget/

 

Once you learn the ropes it's actually very easy to be vegetarian or vegan on a budget. Most of your staple foods are inexpensive: beans, rice, fruits, vegetables. Where it gets pricey is if you want to include things like plant-based meat (veggie burgers, hot dogs), non-dairy cheese, ice cream, etc. None of these things are necessary and personally I avoid processed foods as much as possible. But that being said there is no wrong way to be a vegetarian/vegan and if you like veggie burgers rock on! I have noticed in recent years the price is starting to drop on some of these products as more variety becomes available. Now if you like to cook then going vegetarian or vegan opens up a whole new world, there are literally thousands upon thousands of recipes to try, you can even make your own burgers from scratch.

 

My personal favorite recipe is a kale mix, I'll try to explain how I make it here. I use bagged kale (which sells at 2 bags for $5 at my local grocery store), collrd greens, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms. The price will vary on these items depending on if you get organic (I don't) or not and on what brand you choose, but overall it's pretty inexpensive. You'll also need garlic powder, onion powder and nutritional yeast for this recipe - the yeast gives it an amazing "cheesy" flavor and I couldn't imagine this dish without it. Nutritional yeast can be found at most health food stores and is cheaper when bought in bulk.

 

So what I do is pour the kale and collard greens into a big bowl, drizzle a little vegetable oil over it then add on the garlic powder, onion powered, nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt. Next step is to massage that mix so the kale and collard greens get tender. After that's done I chop up the broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms and throw them into the mix. Then it's time to saute! The spinach I throw in last while the mix is sauteing since it cooks down super fast. That's pretty much it, it can be a little messy to make but soo worth it. It's a pretty simple recipe and easy once you get the hang of it. Plus it's inexpensive and super, super healthy! Sometimes I sprinkle on a little seaweed (roasted, can be bought as snack packs) for even more yum.

Sounds scrumptious! Thanks for the links I'll be sure to check out that recipe of yours too!

Edited May 19, 2015 by Oddball

[darkwingmare 1,321]

Huh? I do not get what you mean by that... I haven't eaten anything with tomato in it in weeks, and I am vegan. I would suggest that you look in to more recipe ideas if you feel like tomatoes are a major part of such a diet. I know the "default" for many veg/vegans that are new to it is pasta, so that may be where you got the idea. I made my own personal recipe book when in transition from omnivore to vegetarian to vegan, and only a few of the meals include tomatoes....

 

Also, I read your post in Tree Hugger's voice, that may have biased how I read your post

That sounds amazing! Perhaps I'm under-educated! I'd love to learn more about what to eat and what to cook turning into a vegetarian, I've just heard plenty of people telling me basically everything is based off of tomatoes. I cannot stand them. I managed to eat half of a cherry tomato the other day, that's the biggest step I've ever taken closer to being able to eat tomatoes without vomiting though! It's a bit disturbing, 'cause I really want to learn how to eat them, but my body says no. I can only dream of a life with tomatoes in my food. xD

I shall look for more vegetarian and vegan recipes, I just have a hard time finding them, much like the creator of this thread.

Thank you for pointing it out and letting me know. 

 

Oh my gosh yes, that's perfect. My mission is accomplished. 

Edited May 19, 2015 by darkwingmare

[Kyralina 97]

My parents grow their own vegetables.  Something to consider?

[Oddball 132]

I've been veg for 8 years. I have a few bits of general advice:

 

1. Find some friends who are vegetarian. Barring that, find some friends who are not hostile or suspicious of your choice.

 

2. Vegetarianism should never be more expensive than eating meat. You've cut something out of your diet. Meat is expensive. Regular chain grocery stores often artificially raise the price of veggie meats. But you can get them (and a lot of other good veggie stuff) for cheap at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. But you don't need veggie meats to survive. They can just be convenient sometimes. And they should never be more expensive than their meat counterparts.

 

3. Grains are your friends. Rice + Beans makes for a whole protein. Just add your favorite sauce and away you go. Don't forget about pasta, couscous, millet, quinoa, grits. There are so many great choices out there.

 

4. Don't forget nuts. A handful of nuts can have the same amount of protein as meat. You can add them to your food or just snack on them. (Also, you need less protein than what most Americans think.)

 

5. I hate tofu too

 

6. Use paprika and other spices to make the food taste good. I also like basil, oregano, and rosemary, but find your own favorites. Also check out nutritional yeast. It's kind of cheesy, just sprinkle some flakes on your food like parmesan. It has a lot of b12 in it. Also try steamed asparagus, canned artichoke hearts or heart of palm are great for grilling or adding to anything at all. Avocados if you have access to the ripe ones are great with a little soy sauce. And you can just cut tomatos in half and broil them for 12 minutes for a good addition to breakfast. Face them cut-side up when you do. Add salt and pepper afterwards and you're good to go.

 

7. Anything that you love to eat can be made vegetarian. All that's needed is imagination and a bit of creativity.

 

8. Absolutely nothing at McDonalds is vegetarian. Not even the fries. But Burger King's fries are vegetarian! And most have a veggie burger that you need to ask for because it's not listed on the menu. But it's there.

 

I hoe that's helpful. If you have any questions or need any help it's my sworn duty to assist 

Thank you for the all the splendid tips I don't have any friends who are vegetarian.

[Aidan OGain 112]

Thankfully, there's the internet.

 

But be careful around cynical people who will scoff at your choice.

 

True friends are not threatened by you being different or having a mind of your own.

[Roketsune 388]

I am a vegetarian, and it doesn't require any extraordinary amount of research or guidance to adhere to that standard. Veganism DOES require great discipline and culinary proficiency and comes with increased food costs. However, it requires minimal effort (besides combating carnivorous impulses) and vigilance to adhere to a vegetarian standard, as everything that is not animal flesh or derived from animal flesh is allowed. Some items contain meat broth or some powder version, including 'vegetable' soup, so you must read the ingredients of items which could conceivably contain such items. But, other than those sneaky items and things that are obviously meat, everything else is permitted.

 

I often eat plain bread and cereal, which are cost-effective and require little preparation in addition to being nutritious. I also stockpile on Boca burgers when they are 50% off at Publix. I sometimes will boil pasta (preferably the varieties that are dense and space-efficient, such as orzo and small elbows), and that combined with a high-protein vegetable and the sauce (make sure it lacks meat products) will provide sufficient protein for the day. Oatmeal also has a fair amount of protein and is easily prepared.

[Suukorak 354]

 

 

But, other than those sneaky items and things that are obviously meat, everything else is permitted.

Oh! on this topic, one caveat: gelatin. Stuff like Jell-O, or the like, uses animals' bones as an ingredient. It's usually just listed as "gelatin", though, so avoid that. 

[Roketsune 388]

Oh! on this topic, one caveat: gelatin. Stuff like Jell-O, or the like, uses animals' bones as an ingredient. It's usually just listed as "gelatin", though, so avoid that. 

 

Ahh, is that so? I wasn't aware. One caveat along these lines I neglected to mention was sugar. I don't know whether the cheaper bleached sugar which is put through this process is technically vegetarian, but, the process for whitening sugar often or usually entails running it through a mixture of bone fragments. In either event it's definitely not at a vegan grade, and that is why some sugar varieties have a vegan designation despite it seeming obvious all sugar is by default vegan. 'Turbinado' sugar is raw unwhitened sugar, and the other varieties which aren't whitened also would be vegan/vegetarian by default.

[Suukorak 354]

Ahh, is that so? I wasn't aware. One caveat along these lines I neglected to mention was sugar. I don't know whether the cheaper bleached sugar which is put through this process is technically vegetarian, but, the process for whitening sugar often or usually entails running it through a mixture of bone fragments. In either event it's definitely not at a vegan grade, and that is why some sugar varieties have a vegan designation despite it seeming obvious all sugar is by default vegan. 'Turbinado' sugar is raw unwhitened sugar, and the other varieties which aren't whitened also would be vegan/vegetarian by default.

Really? I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads-up!