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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[blackbird]

Vegans can get Vitamin B-12 from nutritional yeast.

Iron can come from a multi-vitamin or blackstrap molasses which has the highest amount of iron outside of the animal kingdom.

Vegans can get calcium from soy milk, soy cheese, etc.

[blackbird]

Originally Posted by 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.

Hello AKA_Monet,
Why did you have to go back to eating dairy? Couldn't you use soy cheese and soy milk?

[SoCalGirl]

AKAMonet, have you been to Sipz in Clairemont Mesa? There used to be one in Poway but it's closed. They're going to open one in North Park. I've heard it was good but the Poway one closed before I got to try it.

I'm not a vegetarian but I eat so little meat compared to your average American that everyone thinks I'm a vegeatarian. I love Morningstar Farms! Their breakfast sausage patties are delicious. I eat them as snacks.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by blackbird

Vegans can get Vitamin B-12 from nutritional yeast.

Iron can come from a multi-vitamin or blackstrap molasses which has the highest amount of iron outside of the animal kingdom.

Vegans can get calcium from liquid coral calcium, soy milk, soy cheese, etc.

Actually, according to Cecil's Medical Books, Nutritional Yeast produce cyanocobalamin-a Cobalt coordinated porphyrin crystal lattace. Which means it has an attached functional group that is not properly absorbed through the gut. You will get some level of B-12 from yeast, but not enough to make-up for the loss. The first symptoms are psychiatric and neurological...

The best source of Iron is from Beets, actually... Blackstrap is okay especially as an alternative to caffienated beverages, such as coffee. Usually, iron is coordinated with other chemicals that cause it to be malabsorbed...

Calcium in soy products is added probably from shells. I would avoid coral because it destroys the coral ecosystem... Coral has been utterly destroyed throughout the ocean and it takes millennia for coral beds to make a comeback.

As for calcium, you really don't need THAT much, especially if you have vitamin D--colecalciferol. Vitamin D sits with melanin. As long as you have sunlight, you have activated Vitamin D. The absorption of light makes it work and converts calcium to a usuable source. The bone morphogenic genes are just becoming known. The importance of adequate sunlight has only just become more appreciated in molecular studies.

I had to go back to eating some dairy--I still do not drink any milk, straight-up--for the free fatty acids I needed for neurological reasons. I was having one too many dizzing and fainting spells, an undiagnosed and asymptomatic seizure disorder. I have had 4 MRI's that are unable to find anything and 1 seizure test. I already have benign hypertension. All of these issues are genetic. I inherited genes from my parents. My genes activated on me at an early age. As a stop-gap measurement, I had to change my lifestyle to one more consistent with my "spiritual beliefs". I refuse to be dehabilitated by cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease. I've watched my grandmother and grandfather die slow deaths due to stroke and diabetic complications.

That is why I am a strict ova-lacto-vegetarian. I eat egg beaters, or egg whites. I might have whip cream or cheese. I eat these items once a week or less. But, I take a B6/B12 vitamin I know is made from milk products. I add cream to my coffee unless a non-dairy creamer is available... One day if I can, I will go back to being full vegan. But, given my health and my genetic composition, I doubt I will every be able to.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

AKAMonet, have you been to Sipz in Clairemont Mesa? There used to be one in Poway but it's closed. They're going to open one in North Park. I've heard it was good but the Poway one closed before I got to try it.

I'm not a vegetarian but I eat so little meat compared to your average American that everyone thinks I'm a vegeatarian. I love Morningstar Farms! Their breakfast sausage patties are delicious. I eat them as snacks.

When I am in Clairemont again, I'll have to check it out. It wasn't there when I lived near there... So it must be rather new. Is it any good? I'll have to tell my folks, because my father is a vegetarian...

I like the Morningstar Farms sausage patties too... They do add chicken stock to their products. Of course they are owned by Kellogg, which I think is partly owned by Campbell's Soup... But I'm not sure.

Dayum, I really miss Cereal Match. Where I am now, they don't sell it.

[lovelyivy84]

I am not vegetarian, but my boyfriend is, and that means that my meat consumption has dropped drastically. I might have chicken twice a month, but thats really it.

We do a lot of stir-frys. Trader Joe's has a wide variety of sauces for stir-fry, and we occasionally do a west indian-style curry (the key to making it edible was adding a bit more oil then we would usually use). I will eat pretty much any vegetable outside of onions, and there is nothing he doesn't eat, so that makes it easy for us.

The most important thing for us in eating is definitely time. When we don't have time or energy to cook and start eating out our diet suffers dramatically. It goes from vegetable stir-fry with brown rice to pizza 4 times a week. Thai food is a great alternative (the place near us makes an OUTSTANDING eggplant and tofu curry), but they don't deliver and papa john's does.

I have also discovered Amys brand frozen foods- they make FANTASTIC frozen meals, burritos and wraps. My new favorite is the vegan spinach paneer wrap- it's amazing.

Basically, find a good health food store with some variety and start thinking about how you can adapt the things you already eat to fit into a vegetarian lifestyle (for Thanksgiving we had a quorn roast that I cooked like a turkey, with stuffing on the side made with mushroom broth. It was wonderful!).