I have decided, after a bit of time off the wagon, that I again need to re-commit to a vegetarian diet. I did it once for a year, felt great, then got lazy, overcompensated with pasta and unhealthy stuff, and just decided to throw in the towel.
But I didn’t feel good about it. I did it for health, yes, but also because I wanted to make a more conscientious choice about what I eat. I wanted to avoid contributing to factory farming and the multitude of ills it visits upon the world. Finding humanely sourced meat is a big challenge in our area, and rather than making the 45 minute drive to Whole Foods I ended up going to the grocery store and getting whatever.
I don’t want to do that anymore. To be honest I don’t even really like meat all that much, at least not as much as I think I once did. I really don’t have a good reason for eating meat and lots of good reasons for not doing it. So there you go. Meat galore for the dogs and the cat, and none for me.
It’s a tremendously personal decision how one wants to nourish oneself, just as fraught with debate and self-righteousness as the decision as to how one should feed their pet. So while I am never going to be one to tell someone else what to do with their food (except my kids), I’ll be happy to ask advice from those who have been there before.
My challenges are this:
- Son and husband dedicated carnivores (though the daughter could easily go veg, I think).
- Staying organized enough to prepare in advance
- Choosing beans and kale when mac and cheese is oh, so delicious
I hesitated to even put this on the blog because then it seems like OH NO AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT NOW I’VE DONE IT but really, what better motivation is there than a public proclamation?
So there you go! Done! Now I need you all to keep me on the straight and narrow, and if you’ve done it yourself I am happy to accumulate a list of favorite blogs, books, sites, lay it on me.
Yay, another one on the veg side! I declared myself vegetarian a little more than a year ago, don’t miss meat at all! As for the hubs/son, would it work to ease them away from meat gradually, maybe start with one meatless dinner per week? The big Portobello mushrooms are almost like a hamburger…..maybe do those…..just a thought.
One a week is totally doable!
I’m a vegetarian as well — for a little over a year and a half. I actually like the taste of meat, but made the decision for ethical reasons (factory farming being the primary driver). Also, there is a guy who argues that, if we want to alleviate the hunger issues we face, then we should eat euthanized cats and dogs, as we kill millions of them a year. Obviously, that thought makes me a nauseous, but I started thinking that other cultures eat these animals for meat and what is any different about chickens and cows and pigs? I was absolutely done at that point.
I still eat too much processed food, but there are a couple of cookbooks I could recommend — Vegan Yum Yum (I actually have an extra copy of that and I’d be happy to send it to you) and Veganomicon. There are others, of course, but a vegan friend recommended these and I really like them. The hubby is still a carnivore, but he’s learned enough about factory farming that he will only buy locally raised meat from our local co-op (now, that goes out the window when it comes to junk food and stuff at restaurants, but baby steps are okay for me). He does veg a day or two a week.
I’m trying to move in the “vegan-ish” (thanks, Oprah!) but I haven’t been able to completely give up dairy yet, despite knowing that I am contributing to the veal industry. I get my eggs locally also. Michael Pollan’s books are an awesome resource — he’s an “ethical foodie” hero but still eats meat. I recommend his books for ideas as well.
Sorry — that’s probably far more information than you actually wanted…
left out “direction” in the last paragraph — it’s early yet…
I have veganomicon but not Vegan yum yum- but I love the blog! I wish we had a co-op.
Haven’t read Pollan yet but I really really need to.
You know, I’m a vegan, and my husband is neither a vegan nor a vegetarian. However, he eats vegan at home because we have a limited grocery budget. Works for us! He still gets to eat meat/other animal products outside of home so he’s not exactly missing it.
Yet another persuasive reason to get chickens! There are a bazillion ways to incorporate eggs in a vegetarian diet…if you’re the kind of vegetarian that eats eggs anyway.
I like the way you think! Now we have to get chickens!
I was veg for about 4 or 5 years. I loved it but also during college fell into the trap of processed and quick food and became unhealthy quickly. I would love to go back to it.
I cooked a lot on the weekends and was able to have meals handy just for me and would cook something else for the house. I would make all my staple foods on the weekend such as bean patties, meatless sauce, veg “meat loaf” and veggie pot pies. I would have on plus what ever sides my house was having, potatoes, rice, and veggies. They would have the chicken or meat that went along with the same sides. I loved it very much. Take advantage of the veggie options at the grocery store. You can get veggie ground meat, bacon, cheese ect. I like the idea of meatless for one night in your home. its a great way to get more veggies into everyone diet! Dotn forget, to take a multi vitamin when you first start out to ensure that you levels dotn get to low. Take an extra B 12 as well until you learn how to get enough beans in your diet. GOOD LUCK!!! BTW grilled tofu is WONDERFUL!
Those are some great suggestions- thank you!
i’ve been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for oh…gosh…22 years? i only slipped up a brief period of time during which i was vegan (ha ha) but i found it was too tough for me. lacto-ovo is something i can do, and i do try hard to buy truly free range eggs (http://www.vitalfarms.com is my latest favorite, though i would have my own egg-laying hens if i could). cheese/milk is a whole other issue and one i won’t go into! 🙁
but anyway, having been one for so long and having lived and traveled in so many places where i was one, let me know whatever advice i can throw your way. mark bittman’s how to cook everything vegetarian (or something to that extent) is a good start. i have a ton of cookbooks including the greens cookbooks but i prefer things that are quick to make. and i have had many boyfriends who were meat eaters so i know a household can be run harmoniously with both types of eaters! 🙂
I’ve heard great things about that book! I have Deborah Madison’s book and I adore it but haven’t read Bittman.
I’ve been a vegetarian for 7 years now. I switched in college once I learned of the horrors associated with factory farming and being on a college student’s limited budget, I couldn’t afford to purchase humanely raised meat only. Now that I can afford it, I still very much love being a vegetarian! My husband still eats meat but we only purchase humanely raised meats and local cage free farm eggs, and for the most part he eats a majorly vegetarian diet with me. I have to recommend Morningstar Farm because they make fantastic meat substitutes (Chik’n Nuggets and Buffalo Bites) that may make the transition easier! Their Meal Starter Crumblers are a great substitute for ground beef – we use it for tacos and spaghetti!
Anyway, congrats for making the choice to switch. It’s certainly not an easy decision but it’s very rewarding. One huge plus about switching to a veggie only diet – I lost weight because I wasn’t eating fast food anymore! 🙂
Thank you! I think our store carries Morningstar Farms too.
You can still have mac and cheese occasionally if you get Veggie-friendly cheese. OR they have actually a really good recipe for Vegan mac and cheese (made with cauliflower and cashews) on Vegan Yum Yum – it also has some other delicious recipes: http://veganyumyum.com/. I’ve been veggie since I decided not to eat meat at age 6! 23 years later and still going strong – even with my partner of 9 years being a HUGE meat eater – you can do it!!!!! Good luck!
Wow, 23 years! That’s so inspiring!
Congrats on your decision! Glad you’ve got a Blendtec blender to help you along the way 😀 Another thing that might help you out, if you’ve got one in the area, is to sign up for one of those fruit/veggie co-ops. We have Bountiful Baskets around here, and one can’t help but have plenty of fruits and veggies when they come by the boxload. Good luck!
I was veggie for ethical reasons for a little over two years and despite being very careful about what I ate just didn’t do well on it. For whatever reason, my body and brain do best with animal proteins in my diet. Luckily, we live in Vermont where getting humanely raised and locally produced meat is easy and relatively affordable, and that’s all we buy for ourselves or our dogs.
My husband sticks to a veggie diet 95% of the time (sometimes he just can’t resist some meat thing I’ve made) and is a proponent of Mark Bittman’s “vegan before 6pm” approach.
Good luck!
I’m the same way citidog. I’m fortunate that I can eat “close to home” and have access to local family farm raised meat and veggies as well as my own garden. We’ve also just started planting grains here and producing organic wheat, etc.. Have a local source of honey … such a different taste than what’s in the store. As I said, I’m very fortunate.
Something to be aware of, for those who use tofu, most if not all corn and soybeans are GM crops.
Good luck Dr. Vi.
Oooh, you guys are really getting me interested in Bittman’s book. That is a great idea.
I love Vermont (I grew up in Northern Mass.) We have zero small farms out here, despite my many attempts to find local meat. That would have made things so much better!
though I’m not vegan or vegetarian, I do try to eat meat-free as often as possible. One of my favorite “easy” recipes to put together is vegan sloppy joes. Get yourself a package of meatless crumbles from the freezer section, heat them through, then throw in a can of manwich (or use your own sauce recipe). It’s that easy – I like it spicy, so I’ll reserve some for myself and add hot sauce while keeping the rest milder for the rest of the family. Top with cheese (for vegetarian) and enjoy. Yum!
I bet the kids would love those!
BTW, if you can find Daiya “cheese” it’s by FAR the best vegan alternative. I tend to stock up on it when I go to Whole Foods (which isn’t very often) — I freeze the extra packages and thaw them as I need them.
I found some at the local store- couldn’t decide between cheddar and mozzarella so I got both. I don’t know though, I really do love cheese…
I’m with you on the cheese — that’s my biggest problem with vegan. My daad used to tease me that they could put cheese on practically anything and I would eat it. Funny, but I’m actually a very picky eater (which is also one of my issues with the vegan thing). All of non-real cheeses I’ve tried except Daiya have been really terrible. But I’ve gotten to the point that I prefer Daiya on a pizza. Our local Mellow Mushroom has that and I order it by choice….
Alan’s asked me if we can go vegetarian for a week, so tonight I’m making mushroom risotto. Beyond that I’m stumped. 🙂
My favorite thing- and Brian loves it too- is to dump a bunch of cherry tomatoes, olive tapenade, and garlic in a cup of broth and reduce by about half. Add in basil or spinach, fresh mozzarella, and pine nuts, serve over penne- voila! Happy house.
I think about this occasionally- I couldn’t do it (at least not now) for various reasons, but I definitely couldn’t go cheeseless. *However* if you are okay with vegetarian friendly cheese, I’ll second that there are some good ones out there!
Do you have a favorite? I keep hearing how great Daiya is.
I’ve been a vegetarian for roughly 10 years and live with my meat eating but understanding fiance. One of my most used cook books is Better Homes and Gardens Vegetarian Recipes Cooking for Today. The spicy black beans and rice recipe in it has become a staple. I also have a great vegetarian chili recipe that’s popular with my meat eating and vegetarian friends alike. Depending on your family’s taste preferences, the Tasty Bite and Kitchens of India boxed dishes make great quick dinners (serve with rice and a vegetable and you’re set). I enjoy the morning star fake meat products on occasion when my fiance wants the corresponding real meat item for dinner, but I’d say that meat eaters tend not to enjoy the substitutes as much as I do. One exception to that would be Trader Joe’s meatless meat balls. Last I lived by a Trader Joe’s, those seemed to be well liked on both sides.