New Vege from Clean Green New Zealand

[malita]

Hi there. I found this website about two hours ago (had to take my son to swimming lessons - otherwise I'd have posted in this forum earlier). I decided I'd give vegetarianism a go, as I want to see how I feel not eating meat and also want to lose some weight. To be honest, I don't care if I don't eat meat - although, I will miss chicken and will probably salivate when my mum does a roast lamb. But, am happily giving up meat. Only thing is, I don't really know where to start. I've got myself some vege cook books, but as I have three kids and a husband who don't want to eat just veges (especially the hubby), I've been tending to do the usual meat and three vege and then just having boring boiled or steamed veges. How thrilling! NOT!!! Anyway, I'd love some suggestions, support and to make some new friends. I'm not doing this for ethical reasons, although, I don't agree with inhumane killing methods or battery hens etc. It's more to feel better, get healthier and lose weight.

Thanks heaps - and I think this forum is awesome. Seems to be visited very frequently, and people seem to offer great support. Nothing worse than a forum no one visits! :up:

[synergy]

:hi:
Hi Malita, and welcome to VB!
You're in the right place for suggestions, support and friends!

I know it can be a little overwhelming at first, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of being veg.

I would suggest checking out the tip of the day thread. There is a whole pile of good info, and recipe suggestions in there:
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=50249

Good luck and if you have any questions, just ask (or you can also try using the handy search function! )This can be found on the navigation bar just under and to the left of where is says: Welcome, Malita

[isowish]

Welcome to VB!
I would suggest you check out the recipe section here for great vegetarian meals to cook. :) Congratulations on choosing vegetarianism! :nana:

[Michael]

Welcome! For recipes you can either check our recipes section or http://www.vegweb.com.

One important thing to remember, going vegetarian will not automatically result in weight loss, you still need to eat a healthy, balanced diet with reasonable portions. :)

Oh, another thing to remember, your husband is a grown man, he can cook for himself once in a while. ;)

[Fromper]

I'll once again repeat my recommendation for "Becoming Vegetarian" by Melina and Davis. Also, look up the vegetarian food pyramid on the web right away. Being vegetarian doesn't mean just eating vegetables all the time!

Also, Michael is right about going veg not always meaning a weight loss. I've been veg for about 2 months, and my weight has stayed the same. I'm trying to lose a little bit of weight - not much, but a little.

--Fromper
:juggle:

[gas4]

Hey Malita, I'm from NZ as well! There's hardly anyone else from NZ here so it's cool when I see someone else. I'm from Hamilton.

[gas4]

Also, I have to agree with the others, unless you used to get most of your fat from meat, you're unlikely to lose any weight, I've stayed the same weight as well.

[bluesand]

hi and welcome, I'm a kiwi to

just take it slow on the veggie thing and it will work out fine .

Maybe you could prepare a dish only cook half put the remainder in the fridge for the next night saves you having to prepare a different dish each night

[kindlyconsumer]

Hi there kiwi! I would suggest you visit www.veganic.net which is a veggie site for New Zealanders, she also runs a great little magazine you can subscribe to.

[kindlyconsumer]

Do apologise, the site is actually in Australia. But you could also visit www.vegetarian.org.nz, the site of the NZ veggie society.

[bluesand]

Do apologise, the site is actually in Australia. But you could also visit www.vegetarian.org.nz, the site of the NZ veggie society.

:hi: oh ! thanks I belong to that one

[soilman]

gas writes "unless you used to get most of your fat from meat, you're unlikely to lose any weight, I've stayed the same weight as well."

Even if you did get most of your fat from meat, vegetable fats are widely available, even more available these days than they were 20 years ago, and it is not hard to substitute vegetable fats for animal fats, and thus not lose weight. What I've seen a couple of friends do is simply pour excessive amounts of flavorful extra-virgin olive oil or other oils into their stew, and their salad dressing, to ramp up the flavor - and thus quickly ramp up the calories in their food. Sugar is 4 calories per gram, fat is 9. Pure vegetable oil and pure tallow or lard are both 9 calories per gram. Substitute veg oil for animal shortening in recipes, gram for gram, and you are going to get the same amount of calories. Leave out chunks of meat from your stew and subtitute oil, and "soy meat" and you are still going to have the same amount of calories. It is a lot harder to get excess calories by eating whol olive, whole sesame seeds, whole sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or walnuts, than it is by eating their oils. And while unrefined oils are flavor enhancers, refined oils have had most of their flavor removed, and sometimes people may use more refined olive oil in a recipe, than they would use extra-virign olive oil - just because it doesn't have as much flavor.