Lately I have been confronted with a lot of information from several different sources and angles nudging me to go toward the light of vegetarianism...
Now, I love meat. I don't have a problem eating animals and feeling like I am in the wrong for eating a-once-living-thing. The thing I am becoming more and more bothered by is the condition in which all of these animals are raised and slaughtered. I am a meat lover, but I also consider myself pro-animal (if that doesn't come off too hypocritical). No living thing should have to suffer long-term under circumstances that could be prevented.
I think to myself, "Hey, I don't need a whole lot of diversity in my food."
I could live on veggie nuggets (which I loved as a child), salads (with bleu cheese, because I will not give up cheese at this point), cheese pizzas, cucumbers, carrots, veggie burgers (which I eat right now anyway), and coffee.
But what else? What makes becoming a vegetarian easier? What foods could I add to my menu? Note: I do not cook. I do not like to make a fuss. I am a comfort-creature. What I get would have to be gotten from a place like Cub Foods or Target grocery.
Anyone have any insights, personal experiences, or ideas?
I would be interesting in trying it out for a bit while I research more in depth about the topic (I am excited to read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer who is my favorite author).
15 comments:
I have been veg for four years. I don't cook and only about a year or so ago began to get into vegetarian food.
My easy to make favorites include pasta with veggies, falafel, stir fry with tofu and tacos with imitation meat. All of which is super easy to cook. If you want more deets or brands of products I get, let me know!!
Also, Eating Animals is a great book. It will really reconfirm your desire to go veg.
ooohhh. thank you for all of the food suggestions! i have heard that those tacos with imitation meat are actually fabulous! i must try. i will probably be asking you about more products once this experiment takes full speed. yes?
can't wait to read the book.
thank you for your insight. <3
Jonathan Safran Foer is my favorite author too, and I read Eating Animals a few weeks ago, and I've been a vegetarian for two years but if I had read that book before becoming a vegetarian, then I probably would have given up meat immediately after reading it!
As for vegetarian food ideas, the only thing I can think of is that if there's a Trader Joe's near you, you should get these veggie burger type things they sell there. I think they're called vegetable masala burgers and they are so delish. I pretty much live off of them!
Unless you've already heard of it, MorningStar makes all meat-less foods, and they are tasty. :) They have bacon, sausages and other stuff. yumyum
Hi, I don't know you :)
I've been wavering on the veg line for about three years now, but I have to admit I'm lazy and broke and rarely have access to a decent kitchen and have therefore lapsed a few times. I found it much easier to ease myself into the lifestyle by give up little bits at a time. For example, I cut out red meat first and then went from there.
I ditto the MorningStar comment -- so delicious!
Also, you live in MPLS! There are plenty of reasonably priced all veg places to eat. I live over in Cedar-Riverside and spend most of my time rotating through Hard Times, Acadia, St. Martin's Table and the Triple Rock [healthy, huh ;)].
Whew! Long comment! Good luck on your endeavors! I think it's awesome that you've realized there's a problem with what we eat and that you've decided to do something about it.
I pretty much have the same outlook as you. I am not ethically opposed to eating meat, but the food system in the country is seriously flawed and animals are raised and slaughtered in disgusting circumstances that are damaging not only to the animals, but the environment and humans that work with them. I try to only eat sustainably produced meat and eat it as infrequently as possible. The average American eats way more meat than is nutritionally needed which is very unhealthy and causes several of the leading health issues. I could go on forever but will stop now, hah.
As far as food ideas go, I used to heat up some canned refried beans, sprinkle on some cheese, and put in a tortilla. Homemade taco bell bean burrito. And couscous is great and super easy too (boil water, put in couscous, leave for five minutes, done). And frozen ravioli. Or just come over here, hah.
This is something I too have toyed with. The only difference is the only meat I currently eat is chicken & fish. And I get alot of hostility from family and friends, coming from a farming family.
I hope once I move into my own place I'll be in a better less hostile position where I can make the move over to vegan. I'm also going to check that book out you mentioned.
you guys are so great for commenting on this. it is something that makes me wonder "is everyone doing it?" and i feel like everyone is. i think it is a good cause.
kara- thanks for the food recommendations. isn't foer amazing? he has changed so many peoples lives. i am in love with him.
laura- i need to borrow some books. pronto. or have some good conversation with you about it. yes? let us hang soon, and you can show me the ways. <333
kristin- i agree. i am lazy and broke too. and for a year now have been "eh" about it because of those things. unfortunetly i live in the suburbs of minneapolis, so there aren't really great places around me. where as justin lives a few minutes from a whole foods--so it is easier for him to do it. which i have argued with him about. but i still think it is possible. p.s. that's okay you don't know me. i love that you commented.
sarah- i LOVE those burgers. i ate them before i even thought about this whole thing. totally a great substitute for real burgers. yum yum!
toni- wow, it must be hard coming from a farming family--but good for you for sticking to your cause!!! i think i will still eat fish too. and perhaps a turkey slice on thanksgiving. but otherwise i will try to give the rest up. vegan scares me, but more and more i understand their cause. where as before i just thought they were nutsos.
I'm not a vegetarian because I do eat meat, but I eat a lot of meat-less meals.
Stir fry is always delicious and super easy.
One of my favorites is roasted veggies w/ cous cous & chick peas (just cut up your fave veggies, put 'em on a cookie sheet, drizzle w/ olive oil and bake at 350 for around a half hour; make your cous cous, open a can of chick peaks [garbanzo beans] and heat up - put it all together and enjoy)
Check out the Skinny Bitch books. You would think they are all about dieting, but they are actually about being a vegan. There are lots of quick, easy recipes in the first one. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch is all recipes, which usually require more cooking than the recipes/ meal ideas in the 1st book.
Also - it costs more, but you can buy meat that is raised cage-free and organically.
You should watch the movie Food, Inc. It was definitely an eye-opening experience- I see meat in a completely different light.
Hey Lindz!
I went Pescatarian December of 2007 (only meat I ate was fish) and have just been recently transitioning to vegan! I am actually working on eating a low-fat raw vegan diet (which is by far the easiest thing on the planet since it's just all raw fruits and veg, no cooking etc). Check out my blog on here if you want more info on that.
Anyway, all of the pointers above are great! I started by replacing my meat with morningstar farms items first, then gradually I didn't need those anymore. You grow new taste buds every 10 days so the less you eat of an item the faster it is to get used to something else. I eat foods now that I never TOUCHED as a meat eater. In terms of health, eating a plant based diet is INCREDIBLY better for you (please check out the book "The China Study"). So if you don't do it for the animals, you'll find yourself fueling your body much better in terms of health anyway.
My advice is to not replace all your meat items with cheese (many veg folks do this and it's no better for you really, so high in fat). And of course, do your research! I'm not a huge supporter of PETA, however they do have a ton of information on their site to check out.
Since going vegan I have more energy, my mind is sharper and I feel amazing! Low fat diet means your body has more fuel to do other things! :D Let me know if you have any questions. I see you have loads of support. :D (Pizza Luce kicks ass too, btw).
Best of luck!
Cassie
I hate to be lame but your friend Sarah, could/would NEVER give up meat!!! Good for you for exploring though :)
The Ellen show has really good and simple vegetarian recipes...check out her website!
chrissy- thanks for the ideas for foods! i love cous cous, i will have to revisit it. and my mother owns a skinny bitch book, perhaps i will have to read it now! more and more i realize why people are vegan, although i think i like cheese too much to ever give it up.
traci- justin watched it and told me about it. i am nervous about watching it. first i will read some books on the subject, and then i will watch. watching awful things will completely traumatize me. so i am a bit afraid. but i have heard great things!
cassie- thanks for the information! i definitely have been more aware of the cheese, since you have said it. since EVERY meal i have had so far has been cheese. eek! i need to get into veggies and fruit more. i like them, but never pick them up first. i love my potatoes and cheese! i will surely check out your blog, and thank you so much for the support!!!
sarah- hehehe. WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT STEAK!? and BACON!? ugh. i thought about that. at least i went out with a bang with you before i decided all of this for now. mmm. it was delicious, and i will never regret it. ;D
and i will surely check out the ellen recipes. i love that woman, works for me! thank you. <3
I've been a vegetarian for a little over a year, raised in a vegetarian household for the past four or five years. We make a lot of things with vegetables that are really simple, though my parents do use dairy and I'm trying to be a vegan. Eeek. I became a vegetarian not because meat disgusted me, but because of how horribly the animals were (and are) treated. I don't remember what meat tastes like anymore.
Anyway, some food ideas:
-My mom makes a mean pasta (any type that can be purchased at any supermarket) with olive oil, crushed garlic (I'm pretty sure garlic powder works too), broccoli, and white canellini or kidney beans (canned, can be found for pretty cheap).
-Indian food provides a lot of options. A bit more difficult to cook from scratch, but curry packets with already made curry and sometimes chickpeas can cut down cooking time immensely. Add whatever vegetables you want, cook some rice, and mix it up however you please. I eat it when I'm watching TV because I'm weird :P
-A lot of Asian food can be made vegetarian and vegan. Stir fry, rice with fun things in it, and miso soup (if you don't mind seaweed, it's salty and a really good side or quick meal by itself).
Boca, Morningstar, and Quorn have some good meatless products. They're a little on the pricey side, but if you look around a bit, you should be able to find something that isn't too shabby. :)
thank you for your ideas and your comment! i would love to get into indian food. i am not HUGE on spicy, but i can take it. and i love asian food--although i just need to find non-pork and non-chicken items i will like. haha.
morningstar is AMAZING. i am in love. i will have to try the other brands you speak of.
i think it is great you are trying to go vegan. i don't know if i could do it... not eating cheese? eek!
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