last night i saw chicken and i almost puked

okay so iwas raised meat eater. at times, it was all we'd eat..my parents put little or no emphasis on green veggies, claiming it didn't satisfy them. i'v been contemplating going veg for along time however, for several reasons. so last night my dad brought home a huge rotiserrie chicken for dinner. i opened the box and i almost hurled and cried at the same time. it's like, for the first time, i realized..not only is this gross, this is wrong...it's feet were tied together...it's breast bulged out ridiculously from all the hormones given it to make it more to OUR liking...how exploitive! i made myself a peanut butter sandwich and did some thinking. i'm ready to do this thing and go lacto ovo. i need some help though.how do i get all my protein?how can i get great flavor and variety?survive in a carniverous family and at restaurants?my teacher has been vegetarian for years and she's talking to me some, but she's not exactly a healthy vegetarian.i tried tofu and loved it!any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.thanks! love to you allarty:

 

Soya is a good source of protein. Good luck on your vegetarian journey.

 

soy like tofu is great so is seitan (wheat meat) both are delicios when cooked right
i suggesst gettin a good veg cookbook
but u know lotsa things have protein, and u dont need as much as u think
protein is over emphasized by the meat industry to keep ya slaves to meat
but a peanut butter sandwich has planty of protien
oh the best source of protein there is is hemp seeds

 

i just prepared and ate my own vegetarian meal! it was delicious and very satisfying. it was organic stroganoff-supposed to have ground beef, but i baked some cubed extra firm tofu instead and substituted. i topped it off with caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms. it was great to cook for myself-to know exactly what was in it, and that it all was good for me, and to have the satisfaction of making my own dinner, and not get that gross feeling of eating another animal's flesh! i'm starting to see animals instead of burgers, tacos, sandwiches, etc. so thanks for it all guys! lotsa love to ya, bye!

 

The average American diet has three times the protein you actually need, so protein really isn't that hard to get. Good sources are whole grains, brown rice, beans, nuts, tofu, tempeh, seitan, nut butters... and as soaringeagle said, hemp seeds - which are the best because they have all the essential fatty acids your body needs. Actually pretty much everything has a little protein in it, so it's pretty hard not to get enough. If you're going vegan, you may need to watch your iron & B-vitamins (green leafy veggies are the best thing ever for nutrition).

Get some veggie cookbooks and go wild! I became way more adventurous in my cooking when I went veg and have tried things I wouldn't have otherwise... Here's some suggestions:

-The Moosewood Cookbook (or any Moosewood cookbooks, there's quite a few) - by Molly Katzen
-How it All Vegan &/or La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer
-The American Vegetarian Cookbook by Marilyn Diamond
-I think Betty Crocker even makes a vegetarian cookbook

There are also lots of recipes available on www.VegCooking.com and lots of helpful information on vegetarianism on www.GoVeg.com.

Good luck & happy cooking! And congrats - someday you'll probably look back & think that going veg was the best decision you've ever made (I know I do)!

 

thanks! made it through day two just fine. i know it's only been coupla days but i don't really miss meat so much. i went to a mexican restaurant with my family today and they all ate steak and chicken, but i wasn't really tempted. i just had cheese and onion enchiladas topped with plenty guacamole and they were actually more satisfying and filling than meat! surprised me. i don't plan on going vegan just yet. maybe someday when i have a handle on the lacto thing!:H my school cafeteria offers nothing for people who don't eat meat, plus they serve EVERYTHING in styrofoam..there's two good reasons to bring my own lunch!the lady actually yelled at me today and said i had to take a roast beef sandwich "by order of the health department". they should look at the amount of saturated fat and carcinogens in meat before they make their rules, but i guess their "meat" is mostly soy filler anyway...so thanks so much, barter! i'll definitely check some of those out. i feel better, not just physically, but emotionally, too. i really do like this. lots of love to you! -SARA-

 

i suggest picking up vegan cooking by eva batt...best cookbook ive ever had really....the recipes are mazing and wholesome, not processed foods.

 

i don't know about the rest of you guys, but my local library has over 100 vegetarian cookbooks, and a dozen or so vegan cookbooks. i think thats pretty amazing.
i suggest ya try your local library before you spend money on a cookbook.

 

yeah i have tons and tons of recipes..i make my own cookbooks by reasearching online..the eva batts book everyone should have IMO

 

my dream is to some day start a commune with nothing but vegies in my garden (or greenhouse in winter)...all organic, all natural......hmmm....to dream.....