I am trying to become a vegetarian for health reasons but I don't like vegetables. What should I eat?

Question

I have been a carvivore all my life, but I'm tired of being fat. I have learned that animal protein is bad for people and that we actually need very little protein in out diets to be healthy, unless maybe we are body builders. I like aparagus, lettuces, beans, carrots and a few other veggies. Is there a website for people like me?

my neighbor up the street is Indian (not native American), and her Indian husband is a vegetarian. I ate some of her food and it was awesome! But it takes a long time to cook. My wife likes things that are fast and easy.

Answer 1

Good for you. I admire all vegetarians. I believe eventually we will all be vegetarians once people stop being so dumb about their health.

Try a Veggie burger. You can find them in the freezer section. Make sure it says original ones---the boca ones have no flavor, so stay away from Boca products. Veggie patties are so good on kaiser buns. They used to serve those in the college dorm where I lived and everyone loved them. They're made up of a bunch of different vegetables all squished together into a patty: mushrooms, potatoes, and other stuff. It's tasty and very healthy.


Try a falafel. It's chickpeas, fried into a patty with spices. It's SO good. Plus, many middle eastern food is actually vegetables. Tabouli is very healthy for you too---and it's made up of olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, bulgar wheat, tomatoes, cucumber, and I think some onions for flavor. It's very healthy for you. Many middle eastern societies eat mostly all vegetables because meat is hard to come by, and often pretty pricey. Oh, try hummus with pita bread too----it's chickpeas in a dip with garlic and olive oil and lemon.

Answer 2

Maybe you should re-visit some of the vegetables that you haven't tried in a while. Before I became vegan, I thought that I didn't like most vegetables, so I didn't bother including them in my diet. But, after re-trying them, I found that I actually like every vegetable (to varying extents, of course.) I am not saying that everyone will have that same experience, but you might be surprised. Also, pick up some new condiments to "perk" up the taste a little--"Spike" is really good on most veggies, and sesame oil is very good on asparagus and green beans. Also, I recommend buying fresh veggies, instead of frozen or canned, because the taste and texture are SO much better.

Answer 3

Base the bulk of your diet on legumes: Lentil Soup, Hummus (my favorite), if you like the meat alternatives don't get to far away from the Tofurky! Make a vegetarian lasagna- it's quick and you can make enough for left overs. Chana Masala is a chickpea Indian dish that doesn't take a whole lot of time, also Aloo Gobi (Potato and Cauliflower) is quick and great. Keep trying different veggies and cooking methods until you find some more that you like!

Answer 4

Look, if you're doing it because you think you are "fat" because of protein from meat, protein actually is quite important escpeically if you want to lose weight. It gives you energy lots of energy and there are many other things in meat that you need. You just have to eat healthy lean meats like white meats such as chicken, turkey, and fish. If you really want to be a vegetarian, it will definately be hard if you don't like vegtables. I think if you really decide to do this that you should take it slow and eat less and less meat each day, dont just stop all together right away as this would be drastic.

Answer 5

I got a lot of info just by Googling/Yahoo-ing "how to become a vegetarian"

There are lots of vegetarian foods that are not "vegetables" in the way that you're thinking....stuff like hummus, polenta, falafel, texturized vegetable protein (TVP) and lots more. So you don't have to love green beans to be a vegetarian. Just be careful....when I started a vegetarian diet, I actually gained weight because I found myself substituting a lot of cheese and such to make up for the fat I was missing by not eating meat. If you're planning to go vegan, though, you shouldn't have that problem.

Answer 6

You need protien. Beans have protien in them. Make sure your salads have spinach in them for calcium and iron.
Chicken is a relatively low fat meat as long as you boil off the fat first instead of frying it up. Set it in a pot of hot water for 15-20 min or so and you are good to go. Red meat is very fattening.
It is very hard to eat a balanced diet as a vegetarian. Make sure you take daily multivitamins and talk to a nutritionist about it. They can make a plan with the things you like and still balance your nutrient content.
Also, it isn't just red meat that will make you gain weight. Watch chips, butter, or massive amounts of any type of food. Watch calories and carbs moreso than protien (once again, chicken is great)

As for the atkins diet someone mentioned- it is good only for short term. Long term you really really mess up your kidneys and heart. I was on it when it first came out- lost 60lbs in 3 months but had absolutely no energy or motivation.

I am currently losing weight just making sure to increase the veggies and fruit I eat- snack on carrots or air popped popcorn with butter buds (tastes like butter but isn't- find it in the spices isle) I am actually watching carbs more than protiens like meat, and it is working pretty well. Everyone says exercise is an important part of any diet, but I do not have the time- 18credit load plus 40 hrs a week. I do get out to clean stalls with my horse and walk/bike to class, but that isn't really that much. Try to just do simple things- walk whenever possible, stairs instead of elevator, etc.
Good luck

Answer 7

You might like vegetables more if you prepare them in different ways.

I like broccoli when it's baked, not boiled all mushy. Cut up some broccoli in a bowl, pour a little oil over the top, add some seasoned bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese, and stir it up. Spread on a cookie sheet, and bake for 20 minutes or so. It turns out crunchy and delicious!

I don't like plain boiled green beans, but if you put in some toasted slivered almonds, and pour on a little salad dressing (I like maple dijon) then it tastes great!

You just have to liven up your veggies a little. You wouldn't have eaten a plain burger before would you?

Have you tried any new veggies lately? How about parsnips? They are like a white carrot, but a tiny bit spicy. Cook it or eat it raw.

Cheesy cauliflower - yuuummmmy. And ANYthing dipped in fat free ranch!

I realize you are trying to lose weight, just add things for flavor in moderation. Good luck!!

Answer 8

WEll it is about finding the vegetables you like, or how you like them cooked. Try different ways to eat them as well as different ones. Steamed is the healthiest option, and you can always like a vegetable, you just have to aquire the taste for some of them. Other foods are dried fruits, fruits, nuts, whole grains, fish. There are just too many foods I could give you to eat that I love. Just look around for websites, look on a search engine, it is easy

Answer 9

Well, mostly good advice above. I would like to add that you don't HAVE to love all veggies. There are very few vegans that love all veggies, just as there aren't many omnivores who eat every kind of game meat out there. The veggies you mentioned are all good ones, especially asparagus and carrots.

Answer 10

Tofu. Learn how to cook it and it can replace the meat in many dishes. Soy milk is good if you have decided you can't have dairy. They even have flavored kinds for those who don't like the original soy taste. You probably like potatoes, you can do a lot with them. There are also breads and grains to be considered, you don't have to eat carrot sticks all day to be veggie.
Soups are also good. There are many soups that are meatless.
Oatmeal, Soup, crackers, bread, fruits, cereal, rice, stir-fry, pancakes.