I am joining you!!! Haha! I'm so excited I've decided to make this transition in my life. Over the years I have just lost my taste for meat and now whenever my mother cooks with it I can just smell it so strongly and it turns my stomach. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I am so happy that I've decided to become a vegatarian. Any helpful tips on getting started?
2007-08-16 03:50:38 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
I am joining you!!! Haha! I'm so excited I've decided to make this transition in my life. Over the years I have just lost my taste for meat and now whenever my mother cooks with it I can just smell it so strongly and it turns my stomach. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I am so happy that I've decided to become a vegatarian. Any helpful tips on getting started?
**I have never really been a big meat eater. Growing up Mexican American, it is impossible (well, damn near) to not have meat with every meal. I've gone 6 months without meat before and even when I went back I didn't gorge on a huge steak. I had a piece of orange chicken. So really, I've done it before I've just never said I was a vegetarian. I honestly don't think it will be that much of a change for me or that I will cry for meat in the near future. Thanks for the words of encouragement to those of you who gave them.**
2007-08-16 04:05:24 · update #1
¡¡¡Felicitaciones!!!! (Congratulations) I am mexican too and I have been a vegetarian (and now a vegan) for 2 years!!!
There are soooo many things you can eat. Not just salads and fruit. Visit these websites, I am sure they will help you just like they have helped me. :)
http://vegweb.com/
http://www.chooseveg.com/
http://www.happycow.net/
http://www.mundovegetariano.com/
http://www.ivu.org/spanish/recipes/
Just some of the sites that I normally use to find recipes, get information etc.
¡Buena Suerte!
2007-08-16 05:34:43 · answer #1 · answered by dolcezza2005 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hooray and welcome! :-)
The advice I'd give to new veggies is extensive, so I'll give you the abridged version.
First, make sure you eat a healthy balance. A lot of times, new vegetarians are at a loss of what to eat and they load up on cheese pizza, pasta, and fake meat products. Those things are okay in moderation. You should eat a good mix of beans, vegetables and fruit.
Grab a vegetarian cookbook. This is a great way to find some new and exciting dishes. It's also a good way to find a vegetarian twist on classic meat dishes. Most veggie cookbooks also give you a few tips and clues about making the transition and they also address dietary concerns. This isn't gospel, but it's a good way to collect some information.
I would suggest that you clear this with your doctor. Just make sure he knows what you're doing and he gives you an all-clear to go ahead with the change.
Stand strong...I know you come from a culture that incorporates meat into a lot of meals (trust me, mine does too!). Your friends and relatives might poke fun at you or ask a bunch of mean questions. Just stand your ground and make sure that you know why you decided to become a veg. They don't have to like it, but if you present your lifestyle with an air of confidence, they should back down altogether.
Other than that, I wish you all the best!
2007-08-16 11:26:36 · answer #2 · answered by YSIC 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
make sure to eat healthy. Some of my favorite things to replace what I don't get w/ meat are: soy milk w/ protein, oj w/ calcium, morningstar farms soy food (in the freezer section), silken tofu can go in just about any food and you can't taste it, I also like to make smoothies w/ fruit, tofu, yogurt, and protein powder. Good luck...it's really not a big deal to not eat meat. just leave the meat out of recipes that call for it or you can add one of the many soy meat substitutes to the recipe. I make sure to eat a lot of vegetables too. I have been a vegetarian for 13 years now and I love it. Be prepared for the people who act like you are an alien because you don't eat meat...there is NOTHING wrong or unhealthy about being a vegetarian.
2007-08-16 10:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Jennifer 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Congratulations. I'm very happy for you. When you get time
go to my blog and click on the "veggie on the go" tag. It's got
a list of companies that carry veg*an convenience food. Also,
check out the blogs by my friends, Lilly, Allie, Gal D, and Sunshine. They all have some great recipes posted up.
I'm not campaigning for best answer. You can give that somebody else. Put definitely check out those blog spots.
You'll find them a big help.
2007-08-16 11:48:56 · answer #4 · answered by Standing Stone 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well done, youve made a brilliant choice and you wont regret it :O)
Take it one step at a time is my advice, many things are obviously not veggie but there are hidden ingredients in lots of things. Youll soon get to know whats OK and whats not
Check this out...
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/goingveg.html
Theres some great advice on going veggie
Enjoy :O)
x
2007-08-16 11:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by bluebelltinks 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations!!! May I suggest the Morningstar Farms line? They have a soy version of just about everything meat. They are tasty, usually very low fat and have a good amount of protein. Way to go! Good luck.
2007-08-16 11:07:35 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa W 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
YAY!!! Well once you start for acouple months, and you decide you want to STOP, dont go and eat a huge pepporoni and sausage pizza, i have been there b4...
The concequence is barfing and feeling like your gonna die the next day..
2007-08-16 10:55:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love "Mexican" food and have found that it's pretty easy to enjoy it at home and at some restaurants without a problem.
First, you'll always be able to indulge in chips, salsa and guacamole. Yum!
Other foods to enjoy (meatless of course):
Fajitas
Quesadillas
Bean burritos (with cheese depending on your level of vegetarianism)
Tacos
Cheese enchiladas
Taquitos (I fill mine with cheese and potatoes, poor man style).
For all of these foods, you can use meat replacements like "beef crumbles" or simply load up on the veggies.
Enjoy!
2007-08-16 12:05:34 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
well, you should keep in mind that being vegetarian doesn't mean stop eating burgers, but stock up on fries. Soymilk is great for vegans. a balanced vegetable diet and tofu [yum yum] are great ideas
2007-08-16 11:51:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations! all that talk about meat was making me sick! after all that meat its a very good thing you stopped because you have had waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too much of it!!! Its very unhealthy. I am glad you stopped and welcome to veggie world! lol
2007-08-16 13:22:55 · answer #10 · answered by readerfreak4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋