can a dedicated carnivor becom a vegan?

Question

I am married to a man whos nickname is "The Meat Man"
His cholesterol is high, and his waist line is just as high.
is it possiable to sneak tofu of other substitutes into his diet with out the uproar....

Answer 1

No, you won't completely convert him without a lot of time and resentment. Try just curbing his meat eating to things more healthy like pork, white meat chicken and fish. Start by just eliminating red meat and move slowly from there.

Answer 2

As an ex-carnivore, I'd have to say no... and yes. In many cases, there might be a meat substitute that is indistinguishable. For instance, Morningstar Farms' Chikn' Nuggets are, IMO, better than real chicken nuggets. Their sausage links are great as well. If you make a lot of meal with hamburger, use their Meal Starters Crumblers instead (add at the end of cooking time, just long enough to heat up or it'll get kind of soggy). However in most cases, he WILL be able to tell the differences. While the meat subs taste great, they do differ at least slightly in both taste and texture. And there is no substitute for plain ol' steak.

I would try incorporating the meat subs into as many meals as you can (don't say anything and see if he even notices). Perhaps once he realizes that vegetarian food doesn't have to taste bland and/or nasty, perhaps he'll be more willing to give it a shot. Good luck... you've got your work cut out for you!!

Answer 3

He might notice tofu, but a sneakier way would be to add TVP into some chili or spaghetti sauce instead of meat. It has the same texture as ground meat, and since it's pretty bland, he shouldn't taste anything "funny" except that there will be a lack of meat flavor. Try crumbling some soy burgers, there are some that come in Southwestern flavors, and they're really good.

As a general rule, substitute some of the meat/tvp in sauces for diced veggies. It's not tofu, so he can't make an uproar about that. It won't look like you're trying to make a vegan out of him, it will just look like a tasty and healthier version of the original.

If you wanna make some mac & cheese, use the dairy cheese as he would but use the lower fat version of it, and sneak in soy milk instead of regular milk. He'll never know the difference.

For soup base, try miso instead of stock. It's very tasty, and healthier for everyone. You can even put some diced tofu and seaweed in it for more authenticity. He'll see the tofu, but it naturally goes with miso soup, so it's not so much a vegan thing as it is a Japanese thing. If he's not that adventurous, just switch the stock for miso and add veggies & rice/pasta/potatoes without tofu.

Answer 4

Absolutely, one can literally change overnight -- if they want to.
As for sneaking vegetarian items into his diet, try these.....
1) substitute "veggie ground round" into either chili or sloppy joes --- chances are he won't even realize (and it only takes 2-3 minutes to cook it)
2) or try veggie pepperoni slices on a homemade pizza
3) or veggie "deli meat" in sandwiches
4) make the macaroni & cheese package but don't use the cheese packet -- add a can of peas or mixed veggies and let him eat right out of the pot
5) get soy ice cream instead of regular
6) ask your bakery to make you a chocolate cake without any dairy (no eggs or milk). it's absolutely delicious and non-vegetarians cannot lie when confronted about how good the cake was !!!!!!!!!!!

once, you have substituted the cake and sloppy joes etc etc let him know WEEKS later what he has eaten and for how long. it'll show him that he can either cut out red meat or at least eat a little healthier. whatever your goal is.

Answer 5

I am not a vegetarian anymore, but was an ova lac-to vegan years ago and was ecstatic at the results of so much energy. Like every one else says or mean to say take your time and show him the benefits. Since reading your question I have missed the euphoria I felt being a vegan and certainly remember the time I ate a a different kind of meal. Being a vegan does not necessarily mean to exclude some products. I suggest you check out sites that do not exclude protein, (some types of meat) and ween him off what could be unhealthy for his well being. Good Luck Happy Hearts.

Answer 6

My husand was a "meat and potato" farm boy before we were married. Now he is vegan like me. I still can't believe it some times. No, it didn't happen overnight, but it is possible. Talk about it with him. Discuss reasons why going vegan is beneficial. Tell him you are concerned about his health and want the best for him. Don't jump into all the substitutes. Instead, make a lot of beans, potatoes, whole grain pastas, etc. These are filling. Especially a big pot of chili or something.

Answer 7

Where there is a will there is a way. There might be some resistance in the beginning but then gradually that can be overcomed. Try cooking some delicious tofu + veg dinner for him .... but do not know he might like it too.

Answer 8

the others are saying tofu tastes bad and it's dishonest, but if you never said you were going to give him all meat meals, it's not. just make it reall good, and if he asks after dinner tell him what it was. it's really easy with the burgers actually. just don't get the kind with peas and carrots. add lettuce and tomatoes too

Answer 9

You just have to make things feel just as meaty. Instead of using all beef when making steaks, sneak in big juicy portobello mushrooms too. I wouldn't put tofu in his diet just yet, it can really turn him off to that diet.

You can also make chicken and fish (which are better to eat than beef) the same ways you make beef.

Answer 10

start slow...you can't jump from steak and potatoes to tofu...not gonna happen... believe me, you should have listened to my dad when my mom tried to go healthy!!!

If you usually use a ground chuck, try a leaner ground beef mixed with ground turkey. The turkey really cuts the fat and you can't taste the difference when mixed in. Try making salads with meals and cut the portion of the meat down gradually. =)

Hope this helps, worked for me!