I've been thinking of becoming a vegetarian for quite some time now. I don't know many other vegetarians, so I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the matter? Health benefits/detriments, how to get started, recipes, etc... your thoughts?
I've been leaning more towards vegetarianism since the beginning of this year. I'm not very vocal about it, and I'll eat a bit of meat if it's offered to me. I find it amusing that there are these ardent meat-eaters who will get up in arms if you mention having a less meat-ful diet.. Should we perhaps have a little hubski club for budding vegetarians?
I too am not very vocal about it, and I think a club sounds like a great idea. A place to share your thoughts, opinions, ideas, new recipes, anything that would be helpful to upcoming veggies. I'm not very tech savvy, so I'm not really sure how to start something like that up. Would we first create a "vegetarian" tag and go from there?
I should preface my response by stating that I've been vegetarian/vegan for the past three years--that is, vegetarian when I travel, vegan when I can cook for myself--so I am probably biased. I think vegetarianism is a worthwhile thing to at least try out if you're interested in it, and 'trying it out' is exactly how I would start. Set yourself a time-period--say a week or a month--during which you will only eat vegetarian food, and see where you're at after that time-period. Even if you decide it's not for you, you'll still come way with an expanded repertoire of food you can cook! I'm not thoroughly convinced that vegetarianism is necessarily healthier or unhealthier. However, it does force you to pay a bit more attention to what you're putting in your body, and that in itself can feasibly improve your diet. I'm not particularly advocating this site, but look for similar sites to see what you should be making sure to include in your diet. In public perception, there is perhaps bit of an over-emphasis on protein in-take (it's in a lot of standard food sources) and under-emphasis on Omega-3 and Vitamin D for vegetarian diets. There is so much in the way of vegan/vegetarian blogs that it's hard to know where to start. I have found this blog really great as it has a lot of simple recipes. Additionally, I would definitely recommend having a go at making your own seitan. It is easy and so versatile! One final thing to warn you about: depending on where you live, do expect that some people will get very defensive, or occasionally aggressive, about their omnivorous diet when you mention you're trying vegetarianism. This can seem disheartening, but I've found that most people don't have a problem with it once you explain why you're trying vegetarianism. That part is pretty well up to you, as you know much better than I do why you're interested in trying vegetarianism. All the best with it, feel free to contact me if you would like any help or have any further questions!
I'm down with eating vegetarian. I don't really like people that think it makes them special for being vegetarian or vegan though. Anyway, I tend to eat dishes that are heavy on vegetables because it's often cheaper to do so and I try to take care of myself. I will admit that at first, I began eating more vegetables for the money I could save and also because they are great sources of certain vitamins that help one overcome hangovers. Anyway, I posted this recipe for a variation on a carrot-ginger soup a while back. This recipe is nice because it's forgiving, it freezes well and can also be used in place of a red sauce for pasta and even for pizza. Also, lots of vitamins and fiber.
My wife is a vegetarian. I tried it for 6 months. The most surprising thing from my experience is just how much food is already vegetarian. Meaning, it's not difficult to navigate a menu or to cook at home. In fact, most meals aside from the chunk of meat in the center of the plate are already vegetarian. The sides are almost always veggie based. It's not too hard, but the trick is to still be healthy. There are a ton of unhealthy vegetarians because they are lazy about it. -Cheese pizza etc. Don't mistake vegetarian for healthy.
If I were to count the amount of times I've had leftover cheese pizza that sat in the box on the counter all night, you would be shocked at the number. At least twice a week growing up. Delicious? Yes. Healthy? No.
yeah, my roomie went vegetarian and I thought aw man it's gonna be harder for me to eat GOOD stuff then he turned around and made awesome stir fry and shared it and now I'm a little bit more accepting that there is good food without parts of dead animals in it.
The majority of food is made without dead animal parts.
My lady-friend has been vegan for the better part of a decade. It took her a year or two to sort it out: for example, a meat- and dairy-free diet does not entitle you to coconut milk-heavy Thai dishes every night. Now she's slim, active and in far better shape than the majority of men and women her age. She doesn't take supplements of any kind and her iron levels are perfect. Really it's just about keeping a varied diet. A lot of Asian recipes are vegan so it's remarkably easy to stay that way once you've made the choice.
I think there is great value in diet moderation. As a service industry professional, I don't fall in line with many of my peers in terms of greatly resenting those who can and choose to make very deliberate decisions about what they put in their bodies, including the consumption of meat and animal products. There are tons of conflicting arguments for and against going fully vegan, fully raw, etc. Mark Bittman, longtime contributor to the NYT food section, was forced for health reasons to alter his diet. I believe he now eats vegan for two meals a day, and eats whatever he feels like for the other. I love this idea as a way of preempting any health problems. I hope to one day get to a point where my crazy restaurant schedule will allow for more controlled food choices. After his lifestyle change, Mark Bittman wrote a book called "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian." I am an omnivore, but I own it and it's a wonderful resource. Oh She Glows has some pretty solid vegan recipes. In terms of getting started, I think you have to decide how much of an extreme you want to take this to, and go from there. Set yourself up for success by cleaning out your pantry and refrigerator and filling them back up gradually with the "right foods." Whatever you decide, variety will be key. Eat the rainbow, everyday- and maybe not the same rainbow every single day. And good luck!
One of the important things to keep in mind when changing to a vegetarian diet is to ensure you get enough protein and iron. The latter especially if you are female.
If vegetarians and vegans have a varied diet (of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fungi and algae) protein is the last thing they need to worry about as the building blocks of protein (amino-acids) are present on a variety of foods. For example, dark green leafy greens are rich in a wide variety vitamins and minerals including iron and the full range of amino-acids required for our bodies to build protein, a must have in every diet. Think about it, the biggest land mammals eat only greens ; ) On the other hand vegans and veggies should pay particular attention to intake of vitamins B12 and D, iodine and omegas. I've been vegetarian for 6 years and vegan since the beginning of 2013. My partner has been vegan for over 5 years and is in her second year of nutrition studies. We'll happily answer specific queries regarding vegetarian or vegan diets. Or at least point people in the right direction.