Hi, I am new at all this stuff...my sister became vegetarian and lost all this weight...but I just can't imagine it being because of that because I saw her pig out on potatoe chips....so dunno how that happened...but I wanted to try it and see if it might help me not "diet" but change "my lifestyle" of eating...hopefully it will work... i have thiis diet that works really well but I haven't had the will power to do it in a few years...just can't get past that first week.... ... anywho....so I have cut out all meat except shrimp and chicken breast...they are my favs and i just need some kind of meat in my salad but a friend who is vegan told me that there are other ways to get that texture of the meat ....and I suck at flavoring but in order for me to like something it has to be flavorful.... I would love some advice on what I could use to substitute them and how to make my experience a weight loss one because I've heard of ppl gaining weight because they eat the wrong veggie stuff... thanks
honestly, most meat substitutes suck. just find other types of food you like. try throwing some chickpeas into your salad, or some nuts.
Tofu is incredible! I like it better than meat! If your area is anything like mine, about a thousand pho shops have opened everywhere. Try them, they have a vegetarian pho that is the best thing I have ever had!! Asian foods tend to use a lot of fish tho... So I don't have that many options cause I'm strictly no meat, but fish is healthy so if your doing it for the health benefits, Asian food is like the healthiest tastiest option out there. But find your style. I prefer a Vietnamese, Korean, or Japanese dish to anything else. I hate Chinese food. They really do differ so go in! You'll find if you like this stuff that you'll feel better all the time! It's great
I went vegetarian once a couple years back, fell off the wagon and recently got back on about 3 weeks ago. Both times I've lost a ton of weight. Probably because I enjoyed working out before and I would consume quite a bit of food (never took any supplement type stuff). I haven't been working out at the gym anymore so that partially contributes but I was consistently holding on to my weight at 205-210lbs. I went vegetarian 3 weeks ago and so far have lost a further 10lbs. I still run and exercise cause I love it and I have the same kind of energy as before. That's my bit on the losing weight. Its likely to happen if you were eating quite a bit of meat before. Some muscle but probably more fat As for what I eat, I'm not great at it either which is the biggest reason I'm not vegan. I haven't built up a strong enough repetoir of recipes to sustain myself. I use tofu a lot. I was eating quite a few eggs but I'm cutting that down. I was mixing tofu with eggs and adding salsa. You can add beans and whatever and make sort of a mexican breakfast type meal. Stir fries are always good, you can make a black bean sauce or something of that nature. Curries are awesome too, replace meat with tofu and the tofu sucks up the flavour of whatever you put it in. Veggi burgers too, delicious. I would just suggest not limiting yourself to salad because that will likely make you bored of your food. Using tofu is a great way to add protein and meaty substance like Black_Lotus said. It picks up flavours from your sauces really easy. Beans also add lots of substance. Mashing them up and adding spices/hot sauce is an awesome idea too. I think I am getting carried away, I've been trying to think waht to cook for dinner and now I have some ideas Hope some this helps! Don't limit yourself to one type of food!
Potato chips aside, vegetables, grains and legumes are far less calorie-dense than meat. Therefore replacing meat with plants will make a person lose weight unless they're eating enough plants to balance out the calorie loss.
I'm also new to eating vegetarian (second week), and so far I've lost a pound. I haven't done anything special, just cut out meat and upped my veggie consumption. I love salads and usually eat one for lunch every day. I used to put chicken or ground beef on them, but now I just add more veggies and crunchy things like croutons, onion crunchies, and chow mein noodles. I haven't missed the meat at all!
i was a vegetarian for three years and vegan for one of those years. at first it was about the ethical treatment of animals but then it turned into a thing about meat just being plain disgusting. i've recently (about 5 months ago) given up red meat because i went back to thinking its disgusting. anyways i recommend going to a health food store and finding meat substitutes... theres everything from buffalo wings to burgers and sometimes it tastes better than the actual meat.
Just stop eating chicken and shrimp, you won't miss them after a while. You basically just find alternative things to put in your salad.
I never found good subs for fish. The texture and taste were always off. I love beans in salads, or cubed baked tofu. Honestly, vegetarianism is a deist in the sense of "what a population eats" not a weight loss regimen. That said, you can have choices that encourage a healthy weight, or choices that don't, just like any dietary regimen. Aim for 50 percent vegetables, 30 percent proteins (including nuts) and grains (rice, quinoa, cereal grains) and 20 percent fruits (includes a small amount of sweeteners). You'll find what works. When I started my veg journey in 1980, I relied on breads and rice. I switched to whole grain breads and brown rice early on. I still have white breads or rice on occasion / at restaurants that don't offer alternatives, and I do have semolina pasta from time to time. Today, I eat a lot of greens. In smoothies, in soups, as side dishes. Peppers rank high, and count as vegetables, botanical assignments aside. (Same with tomatoes) I'll roast or grill any vegetable part that isn't a leaf. I make raw salads in the coleslaw mold. julienne carrots, broccoli stems, celery, whatever you like and have. This is a great way to introduce new veggies to your palate. Add some seasonings and a slightly moist dressing (from eggless mayo to simple citrus vinaigrette). What styles of food do you like? Make those vegetarian.
I turned vegetarian this year my boyfriend presuaded me to do it. I told him I love cat food too much haha so he gave me a bowl of milk
Find a slaughterhouse and take a tour of it. I did--it's horrible and will HELP you make an easy decision about eating meat. My son has been vegan for almost 20 years and never eats other than that. As far as meat substitutes,you have to try differant kinds to find the ones that satisfy you.
I've been veg for over 12 years and honestly, I think the more you cut out processed junk out of your life, the more you actually crave the saltiness of kale or the sweet juicy fruits and healthy fats like avocado or coconut. It just takes time and perseverance, same as anything in life worth pursuing. If you need the fake meats while you are transitioning then do it, but eventually, you'll just crave the foods that are good for you!
