Vegetarianism....?

Question

I have a couple questions. I just became vegetarian. It was a hard, but really good decision. But, since I am the only vegetarian in my house, I shall ask y'all my questions.

1. Is it okay to eat SIMULATED Bacon Bits? They just taste like bacon, and have no meat, so can I eat them in a salad still?

2. What can I eat to ensure I get enough protien, B Vitamins, and Iron, and Vitamin D?

3. Can I still be vegetarian and eat fish (Tuna) once in a while. I heard that I cannot, but also heard that I can? I am confused on this. I would like to eat fish, since it has a lot of good things, but it is still meat so....

**Please do not reccommend protein shakes, vitamin pills or suppliments. I cannot use them as they interfere with my medication.**

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

1. If you like the taste of Bac-Os - go for it! They are made of soy.

2. Milk contains protein and Vitamins B & D. Beans are a great source of protein, iron, and B6. Dark leafy greens are an excellent source of iron. Soy comes in many forms and will provide you with protein.

3. There are many different kinds of vegetarianism and reasons why people become vegetarian.
-I consider myself an ovo-lacto vegetarian which means I don't eat any kind of meat or fish, but I do eat dairy and eggs. I make sure to eat the food items listed in #2, so I don't need to eat fish to stay healthy. I also don't buy leather or fur products.
-If you decide to eat fish (pescetarian) because you like it - that doesn't diminish the fact that you have given up a lot of other types of meat.

Do what works for you!

I was the only vegetarian in my house for a while, so I understand the challenges you are facing. Today, it is very easy to find non-meat options in the grocery store and at restaurants.

Some websites to check out:

http://vegetarian.allrecipes.com
www.happycow.com
www.goveg.com

Answer 2

1. yes, because they aren't meat. Although they aren't that great for you.
2. Protein: quinoa(provides all essential amino acids), beans, dark green vegetables. As for vitamins, b12 is the only hard one to get. Iron can be found in dark green vegetables and vitamin d in fortified soy milk.
3. If you do eat fish everyone once in a while (which doesn't mean every week), I suppose I'd call it a slip up because it isn't included into your main diet. But don't go around telling people that vegetarians eat fish, because they don't eat fish. If I told people I ate fish (which I dont except every once in a while, a rarity at most), they'd serve me fish all the time. A vegetarian does not eat fish, but it's not like someone's going to slap you on the wrist if you eat something that isn't strictly vegetarian. You may have a guilty conscious, but other people should not be controlling what you eat and when you eat it (unless its for medical reasons).

Answer 3

#1Baco-bits are salted soy: they are quite vegetarian.
#2Legumes and rice provide your complete proteins, without the fats, (so maybe your complexion should clear up, too.) They will have the iron and B-vitamins. The D you get from milk.
#3 Ah, the great poser, the big conundrum. Technically, fish are friends, not food, uh, no, wait, wrong script. Technically, fish are animals. If you're doing this for health, include fish. If you're doing this for morals, exclude fish. Get your Omega-3 oil from a pill then (a food oil shouldn't interfere with any medication.)

Answer 4

1. Yes
2. Follow the vegetarian food pyramid for a healthy well balanced veggie diet. (Vitamin D is from the sun but there are OJ brands with calcium and vitamin D added)
3. Vegetarians do not eat fish

Answer 5

1: I see nothing wrong with eating fake meat. Most vegetarians were raised from birth as meat eaters, and I don't think it's a problem if you crave meat from time to time and you satisfy your craving with fake meat.

2: Well, if you eat a good balanced diet, you shouldn't have to worry about that kind of stuff.

EDIT: I just reread the question and removed my advice to take a multivitamin as insurance.

3: You can eat whatever you want; nobody's going to stop you. If you do eat fish though, please don't call yourself a vegetarian. You can call yourself "mostly a vegetarian," "pescetarian," "no-meat-except-fish-eater," but calling yourself a vegetarian would be a disservice to actual vegetarians, people who don't eat meat at all. Thanks for realizing that fish is meat!

Answer 6

there is a website www.veggie123.com that offers information on vegetarianism and offers a free newsletter also recipes are given. It's very informative.

Answer 7

Just eat meat.

There is no need to label yourself something.

Eat more greens & salads - but don't give up meat or fish, etc.