Menu ideas for vegetarians
 

Hi
I am chef for a sorority house in NC and am able to pretty much satisfy 95% of the girls eating in our facility. My problem is with vegetarians (not per se but with certain ones). I make an effort to have a variety of options for the girls that do not eat meat including things like tempeh, tofu, "Gardenburger" and like products, extra vegetables and grains not cooked with meat but with vegetable stock, vegetarian entrees like vegetable lasagna, mac and cheese, pasta sauces without meat, and on salad bar things like hard boiled eggs, chick peas or other legume, multiple cheeses, seeds, etc... and that's not even mentioning the fish we do which most of my vegetarians claim they will eat. Doing all of that I've still got a few who say I am not meeting their need for more non carb based proteins ( I don't know what that means - vegetables are mostly carbs!!). I was taught about complementation and supplementation as the way to get protein as a vegetarian, but that doesn't seem to be how these girls look at it. Any suggestions?

Ask them what exactly it is they're talking about, and what foods they would like to have.

I assume they are lacto-ovo vegetarians. We get a lot of our protein from dairy and eggs. As for eggs, eggbeaters are better at times, because it has no cholesterol.

They don't seem to be able to articulate it. We've asked but mostly get what they don't want (which mostly revolves around fat). I need ideas and suggestions that I might suggest to them (and also to get me inspired for menu making for the fall). There is no lack of comment but the comments don't have any meat to them (pardon the pun).

Try marthstewart.com - the recipe archive is amazing.

Cooking Light (the magazine and the Web site) would be one of your best bets for recipes that are both healthy and not too exotic. The Web site also has message boards where you might look for more ideas:

http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/co/

AllRecipes.com, Health.com, and MyRecipes.com might turn up some good stuff as well.

Or try Epicurious. From their site I found this example.

Mission: Meatless

With a little imagination and a few smart techniques, you can put dynamic vegetarian meals on the on the table every night of the week. Executive food editor Kemp Minifie shows you how.

Black Beans and Rice Your Way

Kemp's Black Beans

Black-Bean Soup with Sherry and Lime

Curried Red-Lentil Stew with Vegetables

Roasted Cauliflower

Venetian-Style Bean and Pasta Soup

Barley Risotto with Asparagus and Hazelnuts

Pasta with Lentils and Kale

Panfried Tofu with Asian Caramel Sauce

— Kemp Minifie, Gourmet, April 2007

A few more suggestions ...

Vegetarian Times magazine

Some well-known vegetarian chefs:

Deborah Madison

Steve Petusevsky

Martha Rose Shulman

You can use tofu in almost anything that requires meat. Use tempeh whenever you want to use ground meat. Pastas always works and so do salads. A lot of vegetarians become addicted to cheese but you don't want to chub them up so be careful with that.

-Rudey

I've heard there is controversy surrounding Quorn but I've never actually seen any.

Quorn is a mycoprotein, a meatless substitute that derives from fungi. It is by far the most delicious meat substitute out there. I suggest trying to implement that into your meals. They make quorn in all kinds of varieties, from grounds (ground beef sub) to chunks (for chicken sub) to meatloaf, sausages, lasagna. You name it, quorn can do it.

http://www.quorn.com I believe is the correct site. It may help a lot with the substitutions and you won't have to go too far out of your way for your vegetarians when you're cooking.

Ha ha - porkfried rice is giving vegetarian tips! (It's early, I'm easily amused)

How have they been unable to articulate? Is it something mentioned when they're at dinner, a survey, and email???

I suggest having a mandatory back-to-school meeting with all of the vegetarians (do it during their work week before recruitment so you know they'll all be at the house!). Tell them you want to give them the best choices for their dietary preferences and discuss your plans. Ask them for their feedback. Specifically tell them that you have "heard that sisters feel their needs aren't being met."

I think it is great that you are taking the steps to try and honor their requests.

Another idea. Ask all of the ladies in the chapter to submit their favorite recipes.... If you see some recurring themes, you will know best what the majority like to eat (including the veggies!)

Send a letter home to all of the parents at the beginning of the year, introducing yourself and how to email you with any suggestions they have. You might ask in the letter for especial help with those who are vegetarian, vegan, etc., by suggesting vegan products or recipes.

The chapter could even publish a cookbook as a fundraiser based off of this: A Recipe for My Sister.

Good luck! Just remember: 90% of the girls want food that won't make them fat, but they all want the occasional indulgence.