Any tips for a new vegetarian?

Question

I've recently taken up vegetarianism. I'm not vegan, i'm a lacto ovo vegetarian. Any tips to get me started?

Answer 1

Being vegetarian these days is much easier than it was a number of years ago, when my fiance started. I've only recently stopped eating meat, and am impressed with the selections of "meat substitutes". Look in your grocery stores freezer section for Boca, Morning Star Farms, Quorn and a few other brands. Some of these products are cheaper than buying real meat, and they are more healthy.
My biggest problem has been that I'm not big on eating a bowl of pasta with vegtables, and some restraunts do not have a good selection of non-meat foods.

Good luck, and good eating...

Answer 2

Avoid too much cheese and dairy. You don't have to be overly concerned about protein--eat mixed grains and legumes and you'll be fine, and you're eating dairy and eggs anyway. I don't take a multi-vitamin, but I do take flaxseed oil capsules, because the omegas are harder to get on a vegetarian diet.

Avoid a lot of processed, frozen meals when you can. You can eat simply and quickly without them: I often have stirfried greens (sometimes with some sliced mushrooms, saute them in olive oil with a clove or garlic and a splash of lemon juice) in a baked potato or something easy like that. Not much prep time, tastes good, and much better for you than the expensive prepared foods.

Watch out for things like gelatin--it's an animal product in many things that you wouldn't imagine, like vegetable pates and Altoids!

Answer 3

It's not as hard as people think to be vegetarian. Instead of thinking about the food you can't eat, think about how good it will be for your body and for the animals. You can usually get tomato soup or a salad at restaurants, at some you can get grilled cheese, find out ahead of time if a resaurant has vegetarian options. Visit a health food store, they have some good meat substitutes. Quorn has the best meat substitutes. You can also go online and find vegetarian recipes. Good luck!

Answer 4

Learn about gelatin. It's everywhere--Poptarts, Oreos, a lot of yogurts, a lot of dips for potato chips, a lot of candies (gummy bears, worms, animals, those twizzler things with the sour gooey stuff inside, the candy hearts with the cute sayings for Valentines day...), marshmallows, Jell-o, and a lot of vitamin supplements. I'm sure there are a few other animal by-products, but I'm not sure of the names.
Read labels BEFORE you eat stuff. It saves a lot of stomach churning, especially if you're like me and have a deep disgust for gelatin. (even before I was a vegetarian, I had a hatred for Jell-o)

Answer 5

Protein substitutes will keep you from craving meat. I make a "lentil loaf" about once a week from boiled lentils, Lipton onion soup mix, granulated lecithin and tomato paste. It really tastes great, but not like meat loaf. Soy beans are the highest in protein... then lentils... then garbanzos (chick peas). Making a soup out of all three is a great source of protein.

Answer 6

Almond Tofu Stir Fry
[Reset]
Keys : Nuts Asian Oriental
Ingredients :

MARINADE
1/2cupsoy sauce
2tblpeanut butter
1/4tspgarlic powder
1tsponion powder
1lbWhite Wave tofu, cut in 1/2" cubes,
2tbloil
1xbell pepper
1/2tspginger powder
6xscallions
3stalkcelery
8ozwater chestnuts
2cupcold water
1/3cupsoy sauce
2 1/4tblcorn starch
1/2cuproasted almond slivers

Method :

* Add tofu, cut in 1/2" cubes to marinade, and marinate for 30 minutes.
* Chop and saute in oil until tender, bell pepper through water chestnuts.
* Blend together the cold water, soy sauce and corn starch for sauce.
* Add sauce to sauted veggies and simmer. Add tofu and marinade. Simmer Until thick. Stir in roasted almonds and serve immediately over noodles or rice.

Answer 7

It is a bit hard to keep a balance diet when you have less choice of food.
I found that taking multi vitamins can be a suppliment and help to prevent anything you missed from the food.

Answer 8

What everyone said is good for the most part. in addition check out these web sites for more information:

www.pcrm.org
www.vegsource.com
www.johnrobbins.com

Take the time to listen to the docs talk on vegsource they give wonderful lectures.

Good luck, it's easier than you think!

Answer 9

eat a balanced diet, and avoid eating loads of pastry and cheese, find a good alternative source of protein, take a vitamin and mineral supplement, and if you start to feel sick or overly tired go to the doctors.

Answer 10

you need to balance the protein levels for each day add all types of beans,diary products,peanut butter, etc to your diets and meals.......one needs to find food that replaces the protein to remain strong and healthy.