[Pomander]

Starting today, I'm going to try to go vegetarian. It's for a variety of reasons--partly because I want to start eating healthier, and vegetarian dishes just tend to be more wholesome than meat dishes. Also, I just feel more peaceful eating plants than animals.

I'll still eat eggs, dairy and fish.

I thought I'd keep a log here of how it's going and what I'm eating. Feel free to comment!

Today, I've eaten a bowl of cereal for breakfast, an apple with peanut butter (note the protein!) and some pizza for lunch, and then pizza again for dinner (i know, i know, but I was hungry and stuck in penn station). So far so good!

 

[dragonlilly]

LOL ... this will definitely be an interesting blog, Pomander. Great idea! As a former strict vegetarian (5 years) and a vegan (3 out of the 5 years), I know what a challenge this can be. I look forward to reading about your vegetarian adventures.

 

[chelsie]

you can get some very healthy dish without meat...........I've been a vegetarian for 8 years now, still eat fish and eggs but no meat or diary. I started this because of endometriosis and feel a lot better now, and also I do not aggree on how the animals are treated on the farms.

You can find lots of food and have healthy meals, just search the internet for recipes.

Good luck

 

[Freddy]

How's this coming along Pom?

 

[Gavelgirl]

Please share recipes!!!! Good luck you can do it!!!!

 

[Pomander]

I'm really not running into any problems so far...for breakfast I always eat cereal, and for lunch I always have PB & J on schooldays, which I like a lot better than lunch meat anyways. I had the most amazing dinner yesterday. My mom made this onion pizza out of a storebought whole-wheat pizza crust, with olive oil and cooked onions on top. It tasted amazing! I had that and this really healthy lentil soup.

I'm actually not missing meat at all!

 

[dragonlilly]

Super!
Sounds like you are doing a good job balancing proteins and carbs. The vegetarian's diet mistake - too many carbs - always eat proteins with carbs.

Also... make sure you are taking a B vitamin supplement!!!! very important.

 

[Freddy]

Pom why did you choose to become vegetarian?

 

[Pomander]

Dragon Lilly, good call I didn't know that about the B vitamns! I'm pretty sure my multivitamin already has B in it, so I'll just make sure I take that every day.

Freddy, I first started thinking about it when my mm and I went went to this vegan restaurant a few weeks ago with my mom. The food was amazing and even though I felt full, I felt healthy and nourished instead of gross like I usually do when I eat a lot at restarants. I've also just realized that I feel a lot better when I'm eating vegetables. Meat has started to gross me out a little, especially when it's so much easier to get crappy meat than good meat.

Anyway, what are good ways to get protein other than nuts?

 

[dragonlilly]

beans (not chickpeas really so don't overload on hummus), tofu, wheat protein, tempeh, sprouted grain cereals like Ezekiel 4:9

If you are eating eggs and fish then obviously these are good sources of complete protein

 

[Pomander]

OK thanks! I used to eat that ezekiel cereal but I got so sick of it...maybe I'll start again!

 

[dragonlilly]

yeah ... i got sick of it too. Ended up giving two boxes to my sister because I couldn't down another bowl. But it is one of the best cereals out there for veggies b/c it has complete protein.

 

[Freddy]

Pom,

You can go to a fitness/nutritional shop and get some Soy Protein. Muscle Milk has a shake that tastes awesome and is derived from Soy. It's good stuff, not derived from meats and give you some of the protein that is often lacking in vegan diets.

 

[Freddy]

Pom, updates?

 

[Pomander]

I'm sort of going off it for now, because there's all this meat in my house and my mom's vegetarian, so my sister, my dad and I have to eat it. But now I'm not sure if I'll go back on...my family seems to be always complaining about it, and my boyfriend seems really against it. But i just don't see the point of meat anymore, except that it's more convenient to eat it.

 

[Freddy]

The point of meat is the protein.

Sorry to see you had to go off of it though.

 

[mireckca]

I've kind of gone vegetarian too in the past nine months, and supplement my diet with whey protein. It comes as a powder that I mix with water and drink every day. Its low calorie (90 cal), high protein (17g) and low carb (2g). I get the french vanilla flavor and it tastes awesome. I mix it in a container, shake it up with ice, and add some cinammon as well.

 

[dragonlilly]

!!! Mirecka, you should take over the thread !!!

 

[mireckca]

!!! Mirecka, you should take over the thread !!!

Yeah, but it's only 10am and I'm sitting at my desk dying for a hamburger! So I am not at all noble just trying to be more responsible about my diet.

 

[Freddy]

Hahaha...you know you want meat.