Vegetarian/Vegan Group

by Vanitas on Apr 3, 2012 at 12:37 pm

Spring means being able to grow veggies in my own back yard, and i am very excited about that indeed.
 
Epicurious is a great resource! Surely they must have lots of beet recipes to tempt your family?

by MJPeden on Mar 19, 2012 at 6:22 pm

I think you should do whatever works for you.  Some people just don't care for the gym.  I have a membership that I'll use religously for awhile.  Then I get bored and do work out DVDs at home.  Recently I've discovered I love running outdoors.  The weather hasn't been the best, but I like it cool when I run.  I don't sweat as much haha. Plus I have the added bonus of taking my dogs with me.  I always feel guilty when I go to the gym to take a walk instead of taking them outside. 
Way to go on the 3lb weight loss!!!!

by Vanitas on Mar 20, 2012 at 8:03 pm

 I won't throw anything at you. I haven't done anything that qualifies as 'exercise' in at least 3 years, unless you count walking the dog around the block. At least you actually plan to get some exercise outside the gym. Congrats on the weight loss! Keep it up, you're obviously doing something right.
 
I used to be really active, and enjoyed it, but chronic illness (autoimmune) plus knee and neck injuries have gotten so debilitating it is hard to move. I try to do as much as i can around the house or in the garden, but it is embarrassingly little. Anyone who is getting up early to exercise is my hero!

by froggermario on Mar 29, 2012 at 9:01 am

 you can do a LOT with body weight exercises! I can't quit the gym, personally, since it's hard for me to get motivated to do any strength training at home. I've been toying with the 100-pushups challenge (you can google it, it seems pretty hard). 
 
You're obviously getting something right with your weight loss. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

by MJPeden on Mar 29, 2012 at 10:40 am

I'd love to try the 100 pushup challange.  My cardio is amazing, but my upper body is weaker than a baby's.  I don't know if I can do even 1 push up at this point.  I think it would be really cool do be able to do more push ups than most guys.

by froggermario on Mar 7, 2012 at 11:52 am

 oh and it doesn't help that my only other veg ally has been working to "re-incorporate" meat into her diet. ARGH!

by MJPeden on Mar 9, 2012 at 3:36 pm

Sounds like a very frustrating situation.  Especially with yout coworker who's going back to eating meat.  How does anyone do that??  I wish I had some advice for you, but the only thing I can say is to be honest with them.  Remind them that you're a vegetarian and see if you can convince any of them to make their favorite non meat sidedish.  Or ask people what they plan on bringing and see if you can help them change the ingredients.  Or even make suggstions for options.  "Hey, can someone bring..." or "Does anyone have a recipe for....." Good luck though!

by froggermario on Mar 14, 2012 at 1:34 pm

 It ended up working out just fine - I made a quinoa and chickpea tabouleh-style salad that I could eat as lunch on its own just in case. And someone brought a spinach quiche :) It's just so hard not to sound like a sanctimonius douche (which is not who I am!) 
:) thanks for suggestions!

by jacki0486 on Mar 18, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Next time, offer to be part of the planning committee... I did that at one of my previous offices and I was able to steer those dishes into being vegetarian with very little stress. I just simply suggested to the group that we challenge ourselves to make the dishes as healthy as possible and they just gave up the bacon bits all on their own. :)

by MJPeden on Feb 24, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Seitan is my favorite as well.  My boyfriend didn't like it at first, but he's addicted to it now.  I'd use it more often if I could, but I have a wheat intolerance.  My stomach tends to get a little cranky when I eat too much of it.  But oh is it good with everything.  We make a pot "roast" with it that is to die for.

by froggermario on Feb 24, 2012 at 2:25 pm

 I have to take it easy w/ the seitan too, but I don't know if I am sensitive to wheat. I was thinking of trying TVP in some sloppy joes - have you ever tried that?

by MJPeden on Feb 24, 2012 at 9:05 pm

I like TVP sloppy joe's.  I've also tried quinoa with it.  That was pretty tasty and really healthy as well.  Some time I want to try the morning star meal starters like I do with my chili.  Bet that tastes amazing.

by jacki0486 on Mar 18, 2012 at 1:11 pm

Quorn Chick'n Fillets... they taste freakishly close to the real deal. And my favourite burgers are made from lentils and bell peppers and they are AMAZING. My friends mom made them for me once and I literally ahd dreams about them until she got around to sending me the recipe. :)

by Vanitas on Mar 17, 2012 at 9:46 pm

  So how about sharing that recipe? 

by MJPeden on Mar 19, 2012 at 6:17 pm

I mostly have the recipe on my home page.  Not sure how accurate it is.  I got it off Top Secret Recipes and just switched the Morning Star crumbles for the meat.  It's super easy.  Just throw evereything in the pot and cook it for abut 2 hours or so. 
2 packages crumbles
1 onion chopped
2 15oz cans pinto beans with liquid
2 15oz cans kidney beans with liquid
2 15oz cans tomato sauce
1 celery rib chopped
1-2 chilis diced
3 medium tomatoes chopped
3 TBL chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1.5 tsp black pepper
1tsp salt
2 cups water
Simmer on low, stirring every 15 min for 2-3 hours

by Vanitas on Mar 20, 2012 at 7:51 pm

This is great thanks! I made ours with grillers, crumbled it myself...and added 2 cups of corn which is my daughter's favourite. Yummy!

by MJPeden on Feb 14, 2012 at 11:43 am

Personally, I feel like the whole added protein thing is overrated.  I think it's carbs we need more than protein after a work out.  But if you're wanting to add a shake to your diet you should try hemp protein.  It's amazing tasting and so unbelievably good for you. I've also used a brown rice.  Full of protein but not a lot of fat or calories.  Yummy!!

by froggermario on Feb 14, 2012 at 2:47 pm

 I'll have to try the hemp protein after the whey since I just bought the whey and hate wasting things - I had just read that you need protein to build muscle (since that's what muscles are made from), but it looks like after a little bit of searching that hemp might be more complete. I'm just adding about 1/2 a scoop a day (splitting a big shake w/ my husband) and we do get a good amount of protein from eating things like beans, seitan, tofu, dairy, etc (but don't ask my mom, she's constantly worried I will waste away without meat - lol). 

by spoday on Feb 27, 2012 at 6:56 pm

Whey protein is from animal products.  Nothing wrong if you are vegetarian (as opposed to vegan) but you may want to look into Vega.  This is a great protein powder for smoothies created by a vegan professional triathalete.  Tastes great and has great make up, especially for work outs and muscles. 

by froggermario on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:30 pm

 Hi! I've been checking back here during the weekdays hoping that someone else would post too!
 
What's the new workout? Is it a class? I tried Bikram Yoga last year and I was really scared, but after actually doing it once it was really fun :) New things keep you alive! 
 
Have a great day :)

by MJPeden on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:39 pm

The new workout is in what I call the "grunt" room.  It's the weight room downstairs at my gym.  I swear it's nothing but a bunch of grunting and groaning going on in a testosterone filled room.  I got a personal trainer and a couple workouts to play with.  Hopefully I'll be able to build some more muscle to burn off a few pounds of fat.
I've never taken a yoga class but have always wanted to.  I'm always intimidated by them because I'm terribly inflexible. 
Thanks for responding! I'll try to post something every day.  Maybe it will get other people back as well. ;)

by froggermario on Feb 14, 2012 at 9:50 am

 How did your weightlifting go? I hope you had a good time with it, it can be intimidating at first (at least it was for me).
 
You don't have to be flexible to do yoga - that's a myth! You do have to try to get into the best posture for your level of flexibility, but no on says you have to do the splits to sign up for a class. I really enjoy it, although I haven't done it much lately.

by kmarlowe on Mar 1, 2012 at 7:05 am

I see more activity on thekindlife.com....but not much!  It's so hard in my area and would love the regular support!  No computer at home so won't be on much over the weekend but hope to find some veggie interaction!

by froggermario on Jan 24, 2012 at 5:28 pm

 Welcome back! Livestrong has some pretty lively groups and I think you can DM people, but I don't know since I've never tried it. I mostly post to the message boards in the groups. 
Anyways, I am also quitting smoking (Feb 4 is my quit date). It''s been especially hard cutting back the past few weeks since tons of my friends smoke. I am afraid I will need to be a hermit the first few weeks of quitting! 
Great job on your one week, it has to start somewhere :) Keep it up!

by kmarlowe on Feb 29, 2012 at 9:38 am

Thanks and you too!  Most the people i am around professionally and personally are non-smokers so that helps. I have had to change just about everything like drinking tea instead of coffee, eating healthier less "heavy" foods, and what I do with my spare time to stop any triggers but so far so good.  Great to chat with you on here!

by froggermario on Jan 16, 2012 at 8:23 am

 Welcome to the group! I would also love to see this group more active. I am trying out some "make-ahead" lunches and dinners and if I can keep up the effort on Sunday afternoons, I think I'll save money, and eat healthier and more variety.
Yesterday I prepped black bean and quinoa burgers - yum! And I tried out a potato, green bean, and canellini bean salad for lunches (my husband is getting tired of cheese sandwiches). 
Do you pre-make anything? Have some good, tasty, low-cal and quick(ish) recipes? Let's get this group going again!

by Former Member on Nov 29, 2011 at 6:24 am

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http://tinyurl.com/cunxnow

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by Hermina13 on Jan 4, 2012 at 6:27 pm

 Hi! I am also new to this group but not Livestrong. I have been a vegetarian for six months and am really digging it, pretty sure I'm in it for life. This group doesn't seem active, but that can be changed. I am from Texas so I get a ton of criticisim which prompted the saying, "everyone's a nutrionist" for me. I find what helps is to be well informed about nutrition and give general, nonspecific, reasons for choosing this lifestyle. I don't mean to be so guarded but I'm tired of defending myself against people I hardly know. It is also VERY hard to find vegetarian options here at times. Seriously, not everything needs bacon. However, I feel a drastic change in my mood and health since cutting out meat and the challenges won't keep me down. 

by froggermario on Jan 10, 2012 at 10:26 am

 I feel you on the lack of veg options. Here in Phoenix it gets better all the time, but it can be a real challenge. I end up cooking a lot for myself and fam. 
Good to see another face in the group!

by jacki0486 on Jan 14, 2012 at 12:07 pm

There are a few products that I really enjoy, and I make sure to load up my car with them when I visit the US... I'm a Canadian veggie and we don't have many options here. I think it's Amy's that has the really amazing "chicken" nuggets, and Quorn makes a fillet that fooled everyone into thinking that I was serving real chicken. <insert evil laugh here>
I generally find that the homemade stuff tastes better anyway. See if you can find the Moosewood collection of cookbooks... everything I've tried has been incredible. They have a veggie pot pie that my non-vegetarian family went nuts over, and there's a lentil-based burger that I literally have dreams about if I go too long without making. :)

by littlebittoes on Jan 1, 2012 at 8:01 am

This is a great life style for life, it will help you lose weight, but also has so many wonderful effects inside your body as well. It will keep you healthy over all. Don't forget to exercize too. Its been working for me! Happy new year!

by dfffv6 on Apr 9, 2012 at 7:37 pm

 For eggs, you can use egg replacement. Like Ener-G Egg Replacer (http://www.ener-g.com/egg-replacer.html). For baking and whatnot, you can even replace eggs with 1/4 cup of applesauce for 1 egg. Sometimes I do that when I make vegan brownies hehe. And for mac and cheese, I found this recipe that I'm going to try really soon (http://blog.peta2.com/2010/11/recipe-of-the-week-classic-vegan-mac.html)! It's supposed to taste exactly like mac and cheese (if not better) but it's vegan. I encourage you to check out the PETA website for more easy recipes (recipes http://blog.peta2.com/tag/recipe) and other helpful tips. I hope this helps 

by margueta213 on Jun 24, 2011 at 11:10 am

I found one I like that has several links with nice pictures.
 
www.fatfreevegan.com

by froggermario on Nov 17, 2011 at 9:01 am

 Try http://www.vegetariantimes.com/. I seriously need to get a subscription. Their recipes list nutrition info and the seach feature lets you filter for tons of things like vegan, gluten free etc.

by morganrachelx on Aug 9, 2011 at 10:35 pm

Edited by morganrachelx, on August 09th, 2011 at 10:35 pm.

by hbellini on Feb 25, 2011 at 6:34 am

The essential vegetarian cookbook is a great one.... also La Dolce Vegan...even if you arent vegan

by terisa07 on Oct 15, 2011 at 7:24 am

 Appetite for Reduction by Isa Moskowitz (sp) is a staple in my house---all vegan recipes and practical stuff you should have around you.

by myself110 on Feb 6, 2011 at 2:49 pm

There are a couple of books I can recommend to you that might be able to help you make a good argument for being a healthy vegan.
"The Food Revolution" by John Robbins & "Becoming Vegan" by Brenda Davis.  I haven't actually read "In Defense of Food" by Pollan but I want to.  It will probably help you as well.  Also, if you have Netflix you can get instant play for "Food, Inc." & "Food Matters".  Both of thest documentaries are very informative.
Chancelee

by littlebittoes on Mar 9, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Dont let them get you down.  Go to www.thekindlife.com you will find all kinds of info and support. If you do it right it is the healthiest way of living. People get defensive that your doing something they don't understand and think it's bad for you because they have always eatten meat and been fine. People like to live unaware of the conditions animals live in, in the factory farms, the fur industry, the circus, they just don't care to know about it, or learn about it, because they sleep easier at night not knowing. Making an effort to be vegan is a wonderful thing. Don't let anyone sway you otherwise. Belive me my family and friends are the same way. 
Now this is a wake up call, but force yourself to watch this. Its much more scary than any scary movie, and it's all 100% true. You can watch the movie Earthlings on this website for free.  http://www.earthlings.com/

by hbellini on Feb 25, 2011 at 6:36 am

Hi! Where you vegetarian for a while before becoming vegan?

by hbellini on Feb 25, 2011 at 6:36 am

Hi! Where you vegetarian for a while before becoming vegan?

by kmarlowe on Jul 14, 2010 at 6:58 am

My homeopath recommended a plant based diet for my health.  I felt so good I kept on going and now am anjoying a veggie diet!

by cutecoconut on Jul 14, 2010 at 11:10 am

 That awesome! it has changed the appearance of my skin as well as helped me with my allergy's and I feel great!

by kmarlowe on Jul 15, 2010 at 10:07 am

I have noticed an improvemnt in my allergies too.  We even have a dog and two cats in our home now!  My skin seems smoother and has a great radiance to it, still breaking out but that's a separate issue with my homeopath.  How long have you been veggie?

by cutecoconut on Jul 19, 2010 at 2:50 pm

 I have been vegetarian for 4 years and vegan for 2 :-) 

by kmarlowe on Jul 8, 2010 at 11:54 am

Welcome!  I hope you like the site.  I haven't gotten a lot of interaction but hope to find more on this group.  Have you also joined thekindlife.com?  It's been a great site and a little easier to network on with the forums.  good luck with the 10lbs, you can do it!

by kmarlowe on Jul 4, 2010 at 8:37 pm

I loved reading her book, hope you get some great information from it!  Got your friend request, hope to keep in contact.  Have a great holiday weekend!

by jmodi001 on May 23, 2010 at 7:47 am

hello,Contrary to popular belief you should get all the protein you need on a healthy vegetarian diet. By healthy I mean eating veggies, whole grains, fruits etc. and not potato chips, fries, and things consideres vegetarian, but unhealthy. The typical american ominivore actually gets about twice the amount of protein that is needed, and are more in danger of healthy risks associated with protein overload then not geting enough. . Its really not hard to get enough protein as long as you eat a balenced vegetarian diet. If your still worried I would reccommend writting in a journal for a day ll the protein and you should see that protein is not something to be worried about :) stay strong! http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm
allrecipes.com

by Elia-- on Jun 1, 2011 at 5:14 am

 Quinoa! It is only four calories more a cup than brown rice, but has more iron and protein - both of which are important to pay attention to. You'll probably not have a problem getting enough protein, but paying attention is rarely a bad idea. More importantly, make sure you get enough iron and b12.

by myself110 on Feb 6, 2011 at 3:05 pm

I am vegan on most days, but I too find it difficult when I go out to eat (if it is veggie it seems it always has to have cheese or butter in it). Because of this, I don't go out to eat as much as I did when I ate meat (been veggie since August 2010). At home it is a lot easier to be vegan cuz I can control the butter and cheese w/ substitutes.
Chancelee

by bordeauxinmay on Apr 30, 2010 at 8:01 am

My favorite vegetarian cooking book is "vegan with a vegeance". The recipes are amazing! It tastes just like the real thing. It's on amazon for $12. Let me know if you try it :)

by jmodi001 on May 23, 2010 at 7:50 am

vegan with a vegeance is a great book, another one i like is Vegan, yum yum. It has pictures its so good.

by neohippy88 on Jan 23, 2011 at 10:34 am

 I love the book the Conscience cook by Tal Ronnen! 

by Calligirl2244 on Apr 20, 2010 at 12:11 pm

Good for you!  I woke up one morning and it was like a light switch, I became completely conscious that I didn't want to eat animals anymore.   One thing I suggest if you eat out very often, is to ask questions.  You'd be surprised at how many broths, sauces, etc have chicken or beef broth for a base. 
The secret to making veggie meals great is in the spices.  Experiment with them and have fun!

by myself110 on Feb 6, 2011 at 3:08 pm

I want to know more about how spices work together.  Anyone have a good sources for that?
Thanks.  Chancelee

by ALEASHAB01 on Apr 8, 2010 at 2:43 pm

I tried these!! They are yummy!

by Em13776 on Nov 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm

Today is my first day of going vegan. I did the same thing you did, had a bit of a splurge (mac n cheese, pizza, ice cream) so I feel like i'm ready to make the switch. I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian as well and think making the switch to vegan will be more difficult for myself since I didn't eat much meat before i went vegetarian. I am also excited to start a vegan lifestyle, and am making vegan dishes for Thanksgiving! Best of luck to you : )

by Former Member on Jan 5, 2010 at 10:21 am

 I became vegan for the new year.  I'm starting off with a 4-week challenge, but I'm fairly certain this will be a permanent lifestyle change for me.

by Darweigh on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:44 am

Hey Laura,
I'm new as well.  Just joined today.  I don't know a single person among friends and family that vegetarians, and I've been a vegetarian for almost 10 years.  I love it, and for me I simply can't consume that meat, even salmon was a great effort for me at one point, yes I do eat fish.  I'm sure it's different since you probably have to cook for your husband.  But I have had boyfriends that were not vegetarians and it worked fine.  The trick is just to consider this as your choice and not theirs.  Just as eating meat is theirs not yours. 

by thackie on Nov 9, 2009 at 7:22 pm

I've noticed that people always assume you're going to get all self-righteous and "holier than thou" on them.  When push comes to shove, they always assume that you're silently judging them. 
I always find that people feel the need to defend their dietary habits when they are different than mine.  It makes people uncomfortable to know that you disagree with something that they do on a regular basis (eat meat!). 
Just smile and change the subject.  It`s all you can really do
 

by Darweigh on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:35 am

Good morning just joined, and found this question interesting....I think it is b/c most, I take that back, a great majory of people don't eat very well and have it in their mind that you are somehow judging them if you say you are a vegetarian.  Unfortunaly, I have not developped a better way to cope with this, I simply say I don't eat that or this.....only when they pester me about why do I say b/c I don't eat meat.  If they ask me why I decided to go veg, I simply say b/c it was a better choice for me.  It's obviously a spychological problem on their part. 

by jen_ocelot on Dec 3, 2009 at 10:43 am

I usually approach it with a sense of humor and find it helps.  But if someone really has a problem with it, I just let them be -- they're not going to understand so why waste energy trying to convince them.

by Former Member on Jan 5, 2010 at 10:17 am

 I don't know why people have to get all political about what they eat.  I admit I sometimes rave about the benefits of vegetarianism or veganism to friends and loved ones, but I certainly don't preach.  However, I've been verbally assaulted by folks who demand to know "why" I've chosen to eat the way I do, and then they attack every reason I provide.  To me, it's not a debate; it's simply a choice.   

Edited by kissmorticia, on January 05th, 2010 at 10:20 am.

by jmodi001 on May 23, 2010 at 7:57 am

I agree that they think that you are all holy-er then thou for doing it, but I feel like a lot of people know how badly animals are treated and or the gross things that happen to the meat they eat and by you being veggie it is putting into light that you may be way healthier then them(unless you are a junk food vegetarian)Its the same thing in  a resturant where you rorder fries and a friend orders salad, and you feel like crap. I have been vegan for 6months now, I love it but its taking awhile for most of my friends to except. I think at first they  just thought it was a fad, but now they see Im sticking to it  and I never preach unless they ask me specific question. I think an important thing to do is politly answer questions and to not use those questions as a gateway to telling them about all the disgusting things you may have learned on your quest to veggie life, since they still eat that stuff :p

by jaimee18 on Sep 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm

Well, why are you a veggie? Don't like meat or don't like the process?
 
If you don't like the process, it's just a continuation of that: you refuse to subject animals to abuse for food when you have other alternatives.
 
I'm not a vegan because I drink locally produced milk and get cage-free eggs (not ideal, but I'm looking for a local producer). If I didn't have those options, I might be.
 
If you just don't like eating animals products, it's easy. :)

by philocrates on Oct 18, 2009 at 8:48 am

This is a bit late in case anyone else has the same thing going on and needs some answers.
What you tell them about why is your choice.  Some pefer not to go into details saying "I choose to eat this way just as you do" and some say exactly why be it health, animal welfare or other reason or a combo of all.  Just remember you aren't always going to get a warm supporting reaction.  My mother's when I was 17 and told her was "You are crazy"  if you can't tell she wasn't  a warm person and reactions can get a lot worse.  Choose your battles wisely.
As for info: http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm  The site includes even more info than the nutrition page I sent you to.  I have their Vegan Handbook which has good info and some great recipes in it.  I got it for free with my Vegetarian Journal subscription.
More info can be found on http://www.vegsoc.org/info/goingveg.html
And http://www.vegan.org/ esp their link page.
Why we don't do milk?  I will when I can get it from the local Iskcon farm who has brown swiss and make that spoiled ones.  Their calves are never sold and they use the males to help them plow and harvest.  The only thing that might annoy them is being decked out in flowers for the festivals but I think they get to eat the flowers later.  I can also trust them not to have BGH.  I use soy milk most of the time and use the others from the farm as a treat.
Some info on cancer and that
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm
and there is more if you google it.  I just sent my sister a breast cancer survivor the link which includes the fact that rBGH users are 7 times more likely go get breast cancer than those who do not consume it.  My Grandfather would have dumped ANY treated milk [antibotics or others down the drain and wouldn't even give it to the calves] because humans might consume it and "It wasn't fit"  You also might be interested in the fact that my sister and I are negative for the Breast Cancer gene.

by jmodi001 on May 23, 2010 at 8:05 am

skinny is a good book to read."they state that we are the only animals on the planet who drink other animals milk. Also human milk is given to babies so they grow twice their size rapidly whereass cow milk is given to calves to grow them like 4000lbs or something so unless you want to get ft(which is what milk does) as an adult, you should not drink it) I just say that I want to lead a healthier life, and through research on becoming veggie I learned that i would be even healthier to cut dairy as well. I usually add that Iv always liked soy so it wasnt to hard(that way they dont feel deffensive if they feel such a lifestyle is imppossible for them to attain) I find usually people are more understanding if you do it for health reasons then because you want to help end animal crulety which is sooooo dumb, but i think people who eat meat want to stay oblivious to that and if you were to say "im vegan because i dont think getting milk out of a cow who has a machine plugged to their utters that drains them all dayand thats not my kind of party.." you may burn some bridges hehe

by MilMel on Aug 21, 2009 at 1:00 pm

jainee18 - I find that it is easier to use a standard website such as foodnetwork.com or epicurious.com.  Sometimes they will have vegitarian/vegan recipes available, othertimes you just have to mod it.  I love lettuce wraps.  I simply subbed the chicken with firm tofu, now I am loving them even more!  Oh my goodness they turned out great.  Martha Stewart's site has great recipes as well.  You can use any recipe and swamp out the meat.  I use ground meat analog for taco's, sloppy joes, stuffed peppers (try mediteranian stuffed peppers with dried cherries and golden raisins), tofu for stir fries, lettuce wraps, lumpia, soups etc.  If you are vegan and need to swap out the dairy as well, now days it is super easy with all the replacements available and you don't have to go to obscure places down dark alley's to get them!  Have fun cooking and experimenting!  Happy, healthy eating!

by jaimee18 on Sep 17, 2009 at 10:38 am

Thanks. :) We're eating a lot of vegetarian ethnic cuisines, most recently Greek and Indian, so it's pretty easy to use regular sites.

by Former Member on Jan 5, 2010 at 10:19 am

I highly recommend "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. It's a new book out that has half dedicated to delicious vegan recipes! I've tried about five of them so far, and they were all great!
 
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wgPJW98/weight.png[/img] [/url]

Edited by kissmorticia, on January 05th, 2010 at 10:20 am.

by jmodi001 on May 23, 2010 at 8:06 am

allrecipes.com has a few good stuff, plus you can always take recipes and substitue cheeses for soy chesses egg with egg replacer. I do that a lot

by kmarlowe on Jun 23, 2010 at 7:13 am

I recently read "The Kind Life" by Alicia Silverstone and have a profile on her site http://www.thekindlife.com It's one of the best resources i have found online.  She is also on facebook under her name.  Lots of recipe ideas and forums to trade thoughts, recipes, support, and networking with others.  Best of luck!

by unji04 on Aug 24, 2009 at 7:29 pm

If there is a health food or hippie-type grocery store around, you can find nutritional yeast, which adds a savory flavor, some protein as well as a lot of B12.  I sprinkle it on stuff that would usually take some parmesean cheese on top, it has a kinda cheesy flavor.  some people make mac and cheese with it too...  good luck!

by wallawallawoo on Sep 17, 2009 at 10:14 pm

Edited by wallawallawoo, on September 17th, 2009 at 10:15 pm.

by wallawallawoo on Sep 17, 2009 at 10:15 pm

  I have been doing E2 for about 5 months and really enjoy it. The recipes are good- my only complaint is that they make sooo much food so if you aren't cooking for an army, half the recipes. I like the recipes in Rip's Dad's book even more- I use that book for recipes even more than the E2 book!

by miller41188 on Apr 1, 2009 at 1:26 pm

Hi,
Im also a vegetarian. How are you going about losing the weight. I eat super healthy and exercise a lot, but I want to lose 5 more pounds, my body just wont budge have any advice?

by anajog on Jun 30, 2009 at 11:18 am

Hi there, 5 pounds should not be problem, I firmly believe that "calorie in, calorie out" is the key to loose weight with exercise of course (even more so now when I have lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks, just by regulating what I was eating). Give it a try....watch what you eat (Calorie wise), set your calorie goal for loosing pounds (I am sure you already know this) and keep exercising....If you need any recipes, let me know....

Edited by anajog, on June 30th, 2009 at 11:20 am.

by unji04 on Aug 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm

am curious, what did you regulate?  it is so hard for me to regulate during a busy day.

by sjludwig on May 6, 2009 at 7:57 pm

Hey, you can totally do this! Just do the best you can, and don't worry if you have an off day. It takes time to kick our addictions to things like ice cream (soy ice cream is a lifesaver). Just know that you rock and are doing an amazing thing for yourself (and for the planet) :)

by Jules-Marla on Aug 29, 2009 at 1:23 pm

I suport you as well!
It's weird, my best friend and I have both been vegan together for two weeks now, it's great when you have someone else.
Try ice cream that is made with coconut milk instead of dairy products, it is so delicious! 

by fred6101 on Mar 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm

Congratulations!    I have been vegan for about 3 weeks now, and the release from guilt makes me feel so good.  I haven't felt tempted, but I occasionally watch "meet your meat" and other videos that make the idea of eating animal products revolting.

Edited by fred6101, on March 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pm.

by YuriM on Sep 23, 2009 at 12:45 pm

That's an interesting point you make, fed6101, about watching videos to remind you how revolting animal products are.  I've been lacto-ovo for about 15 years now and have come to consider myself an aspiring vegan. Thinking about the consequences of my food choices (i.e. eating "regular" dairy products at restaurants and there by supporting the use of growth hormones, etc) helps me to remember my reasons for preferring to use less (perhaps aspiring to no) animal products.  
messyone1990's comment above about the "percieved difficulty"  of veganism has also helped me pause for reflection. Why do we (those of us that do) find it so difficult to go all the way to veganism? I live in the U.S. and there is absolutely no difficulty for me (with a full time job and a mildly active life) to prepare healthy vegan meals and find great and healthy vegan meals at restaurants (I do realize coming from the South and now living in a city in the NE that the access to well-balanced vegan meals at restaurants is a region issue, but access in one's kitchen rarely is). 
We each find our own lines to draw with regard to the animal issue (for lack of a better term here), but the best path would appear to be through self-reflection...
Thank you to those who've given me food for thought here.  I'm sending out good wishes for those of you trying to alter your eating patterns in search of a better fit with your ideals and ethics.  It's worth the struggle to feel good about your choices.  And trust me, I know it can be a struggle to change patterns you've developed for a lifetime.  Still, doesn't it feel good just deciding to consciously choose your new patterns?