STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ico · Dooney & Bourke

vegetarian/vegan diet

poptart · Coach

I'm a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish. What would you like to know?

LoMish · Kate Spade

i'm a vegetarian, but probably don't eat as healthy as i should...but what would you like to know?

jen · Kate Spade

Hi there, I am a ovo-latco vegetarian meaning I eat eggs and dairy products but NO chicken, fish, cow, pig, anything. I find that still eating egg whites gives me protien, I probably eat more protein than meat-eaters so I am to laugh when people assume that I eat veegies and pasta all day. Also, dairy is important to the body. Start slow, maybe cut out cow and pig meat and just eat chicken and fish then just maybe fish, then no animals. You will feel better, look better, live longer, and save many animals from dying horrible deaths!

ico · Dooney & Bourke

Thanks girls!

I somehow stopped eating meat and fish, without even thinking. It just happened. For now I am still eating eggs and dairy.

I was thinking about switching to vegan, just to see if I feel better by avoiding dairy, but I think this would take a while. I am afraid I wouldn't get enough proteins, as I dont want to eat the veggy burgers/sausages/meat.

As I understand, the main source of proteins for a vegan are legumes (beans), right? And nuts.

And do any of you eat tofu? How? (may be I should ask this on the food thread...).

Have you noticed any change after deciding to give up meat?

tia!

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

i eat tons of tofu. i like it plain and will eat it right out of the package, but there are a million other ways to eat it.

first, before you cook it you want to take it out of the package and let some of the water drain out (it's packed in water) -- put it in a collander to drain, you can put something heavy on top to press the water out too (i'll put a bowl upside down and then put a heavy pan on top).

you can put tofu in any stir fry recipe instead of meat.

baking tofu gives it a more meaty, less jelly-like texture. you can cut it into small cubes and marinate it in some kind of sauce (barbeque or jerk sauce are both good), then bake it on a cookie sheet at 350 for 30 minutes. i make a big batch of that and then use it to throw on salads. if you cut it into bigger pieces you can make sandwiches out of it.

it's also good marinated and grilled. i will sub tofu for meat in most recipes.

tempeh is really good too -- its made from fermented soybeans -- you can find it in most stores in that refridgerated section that's next to the produce that has all the veggie meat, tofu, and soy cheese. tempeh has a little more distinct nutty flavor than tofu, so it can stand on its own more.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

quote:

Originally posted by: e_doli
"i eat tons of tofu. i like it plain and will eat it right out of the package, but there are a million other ways to eat it.

Thank you so much! Now I think I'll buy it today when I go for grocery shopping. I got curious...

poptart · Coach

I eat dairy, but I find that just dairy doesn't give me enough protein. I rely on protein powder, peanut butter, and of course legumes and dairy. But protein powder has changed my life.

As far as seeing a change since becoming a vegetarian, I really couldn't say - I've been one since I was 14. But I definitely think that, if done right, we eat healthier than the average meat eater.

Drew · Gucci

I am a fake veggie. I eat dairy and seafood, but no meat of any kind. I'm a veggie for health reasons. Yeah, yeah, poultry is healthy, but not the way I would eat it.

I get all my protein easily through eggs and seafood, especially salmon and tuna (highly recommend Vitalchoice.com for wild caught).

I eat lots of veggies and stuff from the organic market in town. There is also an organic-vegan restaurant that I eat at.

I don't really cook so I rely a lot on prepared foods. I just look for the fresh stuff. Trying the prepared foods are a good way to introduce yourself to the veggie lifestyle. There's usually veggie store's or at least organic isles at supermarkets with lots of veggie stuff to try.

rlutz · Chanel

I am a vegetarian...I do not eat meat, chicaken, or fish...but I eat cheese and dairy...that is where I get my protien from....I do eat some tofu...I eat alot of salads, veges, beans, pizza ( I know not healthy, but yummy!), I eat alot of falafall...

LoMish · Kate Spade

i guess i should of mentioned i'm a ovo-lacto vegetarian too...i don't think i could do vegan b.c. i wouldn't get enough protein..and i think dairy is good for you, but i do drink soy milk as well...i eat a lot of beans...and some of the "veggie" products are great--Amy's is my favorite brand...their burritos are to die for...and actually veggie burgers aren't what they used to be, they're so much better now--they have all different kinds--and i would try the black bean ones from Morningstar..they're better than the plain boca burger...i do eat tofu, and i cook it just how e doli mentioned...but i got one of those "vegetarian for dummies" books when i started out and there is tons of good information in it..highly recommeded!

Amelie · Kenneth Cole

I'm a vegetarian, but I eat cheese, eggs, dairy. I could never be vegan because I am very active (ballet dancer) and I would never get enough protein.

roxy · Nine West

i'm a vegetarian, and i guess have nothing really new to say here since i'm chiming in so late in the thread. my rules are no flesh and nothing can be cooked with animal parts - like sauces. i eat dairy and eggs. my milk consumption is about 50% soy milk and 50% regular nonfat organic milk. i'll do real milk with cereal or in cooking. i eat organic as much as possible - i'm pretty suspicious of the preservatives, pestacides, and antibiotics in most restaurant food (although seattle has some veg/organic dining options), so i cook a lot or depend on amy's anything.

i wholeheartedly recommend a slow elimination of meats from your diet. since i was a child i've always had a low meat diet, but i took about a year to make the transition, with fish the last to go. i don't miss meat at all, and feel great - less sluggish or something. it may only be my feeling, but i think meat is actually very difficult for our bodies to digest. toward the end of my transition, i just couldn't even handle it. your body should adapt easily if you replace protein from meats with lots of legumes/beans, nuts, and soy products.

Drew · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: Amelie
"I'm a vegetarian, but I eat cheese, eggs, dairy. I could never be vegan because I am very active (ballet dancer) and I would never get enough protein."

Just so you know you could absolutely get enough protein no matter how intense you practiced athletics.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

quote:
Originally posted by: Drew
"Just so you know you could absolutely get enough protein no matter how intense you practiced athletics. "

You are right: I have done lots of reading this week-end, and you can get enough proteins from grains, beans and nuts (and tofu). The only thing, you need a vitamin B12 supplement, b/c that particular vitamin is available only from animal sources.

Amelie · Kenneth Cole

Drew--

I really can't get enough. Every time I go vegan, I lose abnormal amounts of weight in days. I get very weak, and it just isn't safe for me.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I've been a vegetarian for 11 years. I recently tried veganism. I felt a lot better, but had a hard time sticking to it. I'd love to get back to trying it.

Couscous is also a wonderful food, and not just for veggies. I have 2 recipies I could share if you are interested. It's a good meal, great on greens, or as a tortilla chip dip. I try to keep some on hand at all times, because it's quick and easy.

-gd

ico · Dooney & Bourke

quote:
Originally posted by: greendiamond
Couscous is also a wonderful food, and not just for veggies. I have 2 recipies I could share if you are interested.

Hey, of course I am interested! Always interested in food!

I like cuscus, only I don't use it much. You can e-mail me at tethnaken@yahoo.com.

Thanks

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I decided to post it here since it's so yummy and easy.

Follow box directions, but use veggie broth instead of water (I buy whole wheat couscous, and I make homemade broth to cut down on sodium, but you can get good veggie broth at high end supermarkets or healthfood stores with semi-low sodium)

Once it's done, fluff with a fork and let cool, then toss in a big bolw with olive oil and lemon or lime juice to taste.

Now for the variations:

fresh-veggie couscous.

*drain a can of chick peas

*chopped tomato, bell peppers, cucumber, green onion

*chopped parsley

***stir together and chill. It's good on tortillias or as a cold salad.

Tex-Mex variation

*black beans instead of chick peas

*frozen corn, thawed (I toss it in the collander when I rinse the black beans, and it thaws it enough)

*chopped tomato, bell peppers, green onion

*cilantro instead of parsley

*salsa

***This one is more "wet" because of the salsa, so I usually have a double batch of couscous made.

You can make either like a salad with a little couscous in it, or mostly couscous with a few veggies.

I have found that it keeps about 5-6 days in the fridge. Even my picky sister will eat it.

Truly, as soon as I started using broth instead of water, and added some oil and lemon or lime, it became so edible, you can do anything with it. It's really a great medium to toss leftover stuff in.

-gd

LoMish · Kate Spade

mmm those recipes sound yummy...thanks!