Vegetarians or Vegans Out there?

[SummerChild]

What has been your experience since becoming a vegetarian or vegan? Any good recipes? I am trying to become a vegetarian. Please share your experiences. Any really good restaurant chains out there?

SC

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

What has been your experience since becoming a vegetarian or vegan? Any good recipes? I am trying to become a vegetarian. Please share your experiences. Any really good restaurant chains out there?

SC

Hey Summer!

Sorry to crash I've been a vegetarian since I was a little girl (a total vegetarian -- no chicken, red meat, fish but I will eat dairy) and it's actually really simple after awhile. I can't imagine ever eating meat again. Especially in my family where cholesterol/heart disease is a problem, my cardiovascular health has always been great and I feel so much healthier for not chowing down on lots of meat.

You can find vegetarian things at most restaurants. Lots of chain restaurants (Chili's, Red Robin, TGI Fridays) have veggie burger options. There are plenty of salads, pastas, rice dishes, etc. that can be customized to suit your needs. If you explain that you're a vegetarian to the waiter and ask nicely, I've found they usually go out of their way to help me find something to eat. I've never had a kitchen refuse to modify a dish to make it meat free and most of the time my waiter will be like "Oh yeah, my (sister/best friend/neighbor) is a vegetarian, don't worry, I'll talk to the kitchen for you." They're very understanding. And it's always boring, but there's ALWAYS salad

Learn to love Thai, Indian and Mediterreanean food (La Shish is one particularly good chain) because eastern cuisines have lots of tasty vegetarian stuff. Hummus, baba ganouj, falafel, paneer, tofu pad prik....yum! Morningstar Farms has the best selection of meat replacement products...vegetarian "chicken" patties, "burgers," "hot dogs"... even veggie sausage and bacon. It's great and incredibly tasty.

Nicer places, even if it's a seafood place or a steakhouse, will go out of their way to cater to a vegetarian. I've called up ahead of time and the hostess has actually had the chef create a "special" pasta dish just for me...it's great!

Now, the problems I've encountered...

People don't seem to understand that being a VEGETARIAN means NO MEAT AT ALL (yes, fish and seafood is MEAT! Yes, chicken is MEAT!) That's probably because so many people call themselves vegetarian and eat chicken/fish. Nuh-uh. That kind of eating is something else entirely. But because of this, be prepared to explain yourself over and over again...

My uncle: "Oh you're a vegetarian. Do you eat chicken?"
Me: "No, I eat no meat at all."
Uncle: "But you eat fish."
Me: "I don't eat meat."
Uncle: "Fish isn't meat."
Me: "Oh, is it a vegetable?"
Uncle: "Well NO but it's not like a COW."
Me: "Ew."

I've also gone to weddings and plated dinners where I'll check the "vegetarian" option and been served fish and even chicken. I don't like to cause trouble in these circumstances, so I go hungry and make a Taco Bell run later or ask for extra vegetables from the kitchen. That sometimes can be a problem.

Be prepared to cook a LOT too, because it's easy to fall into the trap of going out and the only thing you want to order is like, cheese fries. You have to force yourself to make the majority of your diet vegetables. I have vegetarian friends (and I even fall into this trap sometimes) that will skip over the salad for mac&cheese and other fried deliciousness. If you aren't really strict with yourself about the vegetables, you can actually gain weight on a vegetarian diet, which isn't fun.

If it's still out there, I received an amazing book called "A Teen's Guide to Going Vegetarian" when I decided to give up meat. It has lots of easy recipes and motivation to go vegetarian and it's not too "save the animals-PETA" preachy. I know we're adults now but I still use it for recipes and healthy vegetarian tips. I highly recommend it if it's still in print.

Good luck and PM me if you need any more advice!

[blackbird]

I am a vegan. I started in 1992.

Here is a link to the largest vegetarian restaurant chain in the world:
http://www.kingdomofyah.com/Soul%20V...Worldwide.html

Today, being a vegan is simple. There are vegan hotdogs (brand: Yves), vegan hamburger patties, vegan ice cream, vegan pizza, etc.

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by blackbird

I am a vegan. I started in 1992.

Here is a link to the largest vegetarian restaurant chain in the world:
http://www.kingdomofyah.com/Soul%20V...Worldwide.html

Today, being a vegan is simple. There are vegan hotdogs (brand: Yves), vegan hamburger patties, vegan ice cream, vegan pizza, etc.

WOW. Not only I didn't know there were vegetarian restaurant chains, there's one located in my city. You learn something new everyday.

I applaud you for going vegan and staying vegan that long. There's no way I can give up cheese.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

I applaud you for going vegan and staying vegan that long. There's no way I can give up cheese.

So true. Mozzarella stix are my downfall.

ETA: Dionysus, I hear you about the vegetables... I hate bell peppers and onions and so when people try to be nice and order me a veggie pizza or whatever, it is usually loaded w/peppers and onions.... they think I'm totally weird for wanting to pick them off. But I love all other vegetables! Even Brussels sprouts, radishes, and beets. Go figure that one out!

[blackbird]

Here is one of the best links to vegetarian restaurants in the USA:

www.happycow.net

[AKA_Monet]

I am a strict vegetarian. I use to be close to vegan, but then I got very sick with an undiagnosed seizure disorder. So, I had to go back to eating dairy. I had to make that compromise.

But, I highly recommend giving yourself a timetable as to when you want to be come a "level vegetarian". If you want to become a vegan, you will need to give yourself at least a year to accomplish that goal. Especially if you have not had your metabolism checked by a professional healthcare provider.

You need to know your basic blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and possibly other levels such as your AST and Albumin levels.

Then, you need a good multi-vitamin for vegetarians. I have had to switch recently, because I react to something in the Maxine's Nature Made Brand. And some of them have too much stuff in them that I personally disagree for human consumption--that is my professional opinion.

The last thing you must do is get your B-vitamins. Vitamin B12 is NOT made by plants. You MUST use an animal source. Cyanocobalimin is insufficient for required B12 amounts. Or you can have anemic issues even with a Iron booster...

And you cannot do this without meditation or spirituality.

Good luck on your pursuit.

[Imperial1]

Originally Posted by blackbird

I am a vegan. I started in 1992.

Here is a link to the largest vegetarian restaurant chain in the world:
http://www.kingdomofyah.com/Soul%20V...Worldwide.html

Today, being a vegan is simple. There are vegan hotdogs (brand: Yves), vegan hamburger patties, vegan ice cream, vegan pizza, etc.

Vegan hotdogs are nasty!

Amy's vegan pizza is really good though.

I recently started my veganism, before I only ate white meat. (And of course no pork.) But it was a personal choice for me to go vegan.

Imperial1

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

Hey Summer!

Be prepared to cook a LOT too, because it's easy to fall into the trap of going out and the only thing you want to order is like, cheese fries. You have to force yourself to make the majority of your diet vegetables. I have vegetarian friends (and I even fall into this trap sometimes) that will skip over the salad for mac&cheese and other fried deliciousness. If you aren't really strict with yourself about the vegetables, you can actually gain weight on a vegetarian diet, which isn't fun.

Hahaha, that's me! People look at me strangely when I say I'm vegetarian, people look at me even more strangely when I say I HATE salads. I love cooked veggies, but I hate lettuce and raw spinach, which makes up most salads. When I go to typical chains like TGIF's I chow down on cheese sticks and french fries, and then order ice cream for dessert. I'm glad that fruit salads are gaining more popularity.

[Dionysus]

I'm lacto-ovo (eats eggs and cheese) vegetarian. I cheat every now and then with chicken or fish, but that's like once every other month.

I'm most satisfied when I go to Italian or Asian restaraunts, lot's of tasty vegetarian dishes there. I find mexican and traditional American restaurants vegetarian unfriendly. There aren't any vegetarian restaurants or chains that I know of. The only stone vegetarian restaraunt I heard of is The Green Zebra in Chicago.

Be prepared for some drama from family and friends. Remember that one Bernie Mac show when one of his daughters went vegetarian and he kind of flipped out? You might get a few reactions like that, lol.

Make sure you get enough protein and iron. The first month after I went vegetarian in 2002 I started losing clumps of hair! I was not getting enough protein, I notice the more eggs I eat the less I have that problem. Speaking of eggs, original eggs are high in cholesterol, try Egg Beaters (eggs without the yolks). You can eat as many eggs you like that way. As for iron, it's somewhat harder for your body to absorb iron from plant sources. Just make sure you eat iron rich foods with foods high in Vitamin C AND low in calcium.

I pretty much enjoy being vegetarian, and I think it's something worth the try.

[toocute]

BAM!

TTT for RD.

[OneTimeSBX]

i'm so happy someone bumped this thread back up!

can anyone tell me what kind, if any, of vegetarians do only eat fish? ok, i know that fish is NOT a veggie, and therefore wouldnt be vegetarianism, but i mainly want to cut out land animals to a bare minimum...

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

i'm so happy someone bumped this thread back up!

can anyone tell me what kind, if any, of vegetarians do only eat fish? ok, i know that fish is NOT a veggie, and therefore wouldnt be vegetarianism, but i mainly want to cut out land animals to a bare minimum...

Nobody that calls themselves a vegetarian should eat fish. Some do, but the main consensus in the vegetarian community is that there's no such thing as semi-vegetarian (either you're a vegetarian - no animal flesh - or you're not).

That said, do what you want. You want to cut out land animals? Just eat fish. There are plenty of people out there who swear off poultry/red meat and still eat fish. Most just don't attach a label to their eating habits. If someone asks, just be like "I really don't eat much meat at all, but I'll have fish on occasion."

I'm not well versed in the macrobiotic lifestyle, but I do know that most macrobiotics don't eat any meat except fish. Maybe that's something you'd want to look into? It did seem a little extreme when I looked into it but it might be something to try if you still want to get a little animal protein from seafood.

ETA: I lied. There's totally a label for fish-only eating habits. I found out it's called pescetarianism. LOL, if you think being a vegetarian is confusing, try explaining pescetarianism to curious passerby.

[OneTimeSBX]

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

ETA: I lied. There's totally a label for fish-only eating habits. I found out it's called pescetarianism. LOL, if you think being a vegetarian is confusing, try explaining pescetarianism to curious passerby.

mmm, yeah. and my 6 year old cant pronounce that either, im sure!

im not anti-meat, im anti-chemicals/antibiotics/etc. i sat back one day at a restaurant and watched my daughter order her 300th chicken tender meal and said to myself, "that is why she is sooo tall, and soooo getting a figure earlier than she should!" I did my research, and im trying to cut her from most chicken/beef, we will still do eggs, cheese, etc.

[lovelyivy84]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

mmm, yeah. and my 6 year old cant pronounce that either, im sure!

im not anti-meat, im anti-chemicals/antibiotics/etc. i sat back one day at a restaurant and watched my daughter order her 300th chicken tender meal and said to myself, "that is why she is sooo tall, and soooo getting a figure earlier than she should!" I did my research, and im trying to cut her from most chicken/beef, we will still do eggs, cheese, etc.

What a great idea!

Organic meat is very expensive, but organic eggs aren't so bad, and organic milk and cheeses are common now. I get clowned by some of my relatives for eating organic, but I care about my health enough to invest in the best produce, point blank. Plus it tastes AMAZING- I didn't know certain vegetables COULD be tasty until I tried them from organic local markets.