[Trina]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the board.

For a while I have been thinking about being a vegetarian. A few months ago I tried it, and lost all my energy and got major migraines every day. That's part of the reason I am a little worried about trying it again. This year is so busy I really cant afford to be home everyday. That's why I came here, to try and get some advice on vitamins I can take, etc.

I also have some other questions I hope I could get some answers for. -

1.) Tofu. I hear a lot about it, and was wondering if I could get some more info on it. I have looked it up on the web, but I want everyone's personal opinion on it.

2.) As I mentioned earlier, what are some vitamins I can take to get the nutrition I need? Is just a normal vitamin enough? I'm in my teens so I don't know if that will effect what vitamins I can/can not take.

3.) Meat alternatives. I tried those 'Boca Burgers' last time, and they tasted horrible. Just the smell made my feel sick. Are all the other alternative type meats the same way? Or do different brands taste differently?

4.) Last time I tried to become a vegetarian I just stopped eating meat all together. One day I was eating meat 2 times a day, the next I just stopped. Do you think its easier to just stop, or go into it slowly? ( cutting out more and more meat every week)

Any other info would be great.

I'm glad I found this board, you all seem very helpful, which is just what I need right now.

Thanks!

 

[anatta]

I know I'll be shown up by one of the typing encyclopedias around here, but here's what I've got to say.

1) I like tofu. I've been eating it forever because I'm Japanese, sometimes straight out of the package. Does that mean you'll like it? Of course not. But preparing it the right way seems to most people imperative. I wouldn't suggest, if it's new to you, eating it alone(like baked). Try it somewhere where it's not the main ingredient; maybe in a stir fry. It also makes some excellent desserts, like chocolate mousse(Here's a recipe: http://www.recipegoldmine.com/tofu/tofu9.html).

2) I'm in my teens too. I don't know if it's ideal, but all I worry about is B12 and iodine. If you're not vegan, you probably don't have to worry about B12. I can't give you much info on this, though.

3) There are many, many, many meat alternatives. They should be sold wherever boca burgers are sold. You may need to ask your grocer about them. I find that places like Co-ops and "higher end" grocery stores tend to carry more. Meat subs really aren't necessary, but I like Gardenburger's riblets(many people do) and Morningstar's corn dogs.

4) This depends on you! I stopped "cold turkey"(ha, ha) and never so much glanced back. But some people prefer a slow transition.

One important thing: get some recipes. PBandJ is fine, you'll probably want some real meals/desserts/etc.! There are infinite vegetarian and vegan recipes floating around on the web and in VB's recipe section.

A lot of what you ask about can be found all over VB and all over the web. Do some research through Google; it'll tell you much more than any of us can type up. And feel free to PM me!

 

[christina09]

anatta has very good advice.

I'm a vegetarian who eats dairy/egg products as ingredients a few times a week, so I take a b-12 supplement about every other day and drink b-12 fortified soymilk almost every day. I'm also a teen and fairly active.

I have yet to make tofu on my own, but I've had a few times in Chinese restaurants and liked it....so I guess I can't really help you there....

The only meat subs I've tried are Boca Burgers and Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burgers. I personally like the Bocas ok...I think grilled is better than plain maybe, but the black bean burgers have much more flavor. Although there's a high sodium content and they're not vegan. I only eat them occasionally, like when my parents are grilling meat as the main course or something and I need an easy alternative. I'm trying to transition away from processed foods....

Try a few different kinds to see what you like, but I would reccomend being aware of the sodium content.

I was back and forth of whether I wanted to be a vegetarian or not for a few months. I was to a point where I wouldn't eat meat for a week but then it would offered and I'd have it. Then one day I decided I just wasn't going to eat it anymore, and that was 2 months ago, and I haven't since. Slowly transitioning may be good to let your body adjust...not sure, I just thought of that.

Good luck!

 

[Trina]

Thank you both for the reply, it defiently helps.

Christina09, That's what I was having trouble with last time, I would go a while without it, then eat some and feel horrible. And I decided to stop eating meat right before Christmas, that was just the perfect timing.

 

[whisper]

1. Tofu - I've never really liked it. I had it once at a restaurant and it was good but when I make it, its terrible.

2. If your eating healthy you shouldn't have to worry much about this. I mostly worry about b12 since I'm vegan and don't get it in my diet so I take a supplement.

3. I don't like boca burgers. When I was vegetarian loved the morningstar grillers prime and the bacon. Now I eat gardenbugers flame grilled burgers because they're vegan and pretty good. The morningstar farm crumbles are good for making tacos, sloppy joes, adding to spaghetti sauce, etc.

4. Everyone gives upmeat differently. I stopped all at once but it took me another 20 years to stop using dairy and eggs. If your having trouble giving it all up maybe start by giving up one type at a time....first beef, then chicken, etc.

 

[flvegnewbie]

Hi Trina & Welcome!! I'm a fairly new member myself, only about 4 months now. You've had some really good responses & I'm sure that you'll get lots more help, but I thought I'd chime in with my thoughts as well!

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

It's wonderful that your interested in becoming a vegetarian. Your story actually sounded alot like mine. I went veg. last year for about 3 months & then reverted back to my old eating habits.

This time around with the help of VB, I am now a renewed vegan, not vegetarian!! I decided this time I would transition back into my vegetarian eating habits slowly & then would gradually drop ALL animal products, which I've successfully been able to do now for about 2 1/2 mo.

Anywho, back to you!

Tofu is something that *I* believe is an acquired taste. The first time I tried making it myself, it tasted AWFUL! But I LOVE eating it out in restuarants. So, obviously it's the way I made it or the brand I used (there are lots of threads about this, I'm not sure how to link them, but you can go to the top of the page and do a "search", and it should pull up lots of info.).

I've heard from the experts here on this board that it really does have alot to do with how you marinade it & then of course how you cook it.

The meat alternatives will never taste like the real thing. But, some are better than others. I personally like the "Amy's" brand burgers, if you can find them? If not another option would be the morningstar burgers, as someone else mentioned, the Morningstar Corn dogs (both of my kiddos LOVE these), the Morningstar riblets, and I personally like the Lightlife hot dogs.

You don't really have to eat meat substitutes. You'll be fine without them as long as your eating a balanced diet. I found that when first starting out, I thought about some of my fav. dishes that I enjoyed before, and then just omitted the meat.

Such as spaghettii, just use a marinara instead of a meat sauce.

If you like tacos, you could do black beans with or without cheese & your fav. toppings.

You could easily do a stir-fry with just veggies & brown rice and again, just leave out the meat, and of course there's grilled cheese sandwiches, veggie soup, salads, etc.

Now, as far as how to transition. Everyone does it differently. But since you've already gone vegetarian and are wanting to start eating vegetarian again. I would suggest checking out some vegetarian books at the library, watch a few videos (Peaceable Kingdom is one of my favs., and you can watch it online) and think about why your wanting to start this new lifestyle.

Some people do it for the animals, some for their health, some for moral reasons. It will help you to stay focused on your goals.

My biggest reason for failing was that I was trying too hard. Really, I was too hard on myself, if I accidently ate something without thinking I would berate myself and then feel guilty, then I got to the point that I felt that it was just "too hard".

It's not. Being a vegetarian/vegan doesn't have to be hard.

Just try and take it slow. Rem. you'll make mistakes & you just go on, and don't be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake. Take each day as it comes and then before you know it, you'll start making decisions without even thinking about it. It will just be a part of you and it won't feel strange anymore.

VB has helped me tremendously, there are some of the warmest, kindest people here that you'll ever meet online. Oh! and no matter what, don't be afraid to ask ANY question. Because I can almost guarantee that someone else here has gone through the same thing.

Good Luck!!

Michelle

 

[gas4]

1) I don't eat tofu, I don't like it.

2) I wouldn't go taking random vitamins or minerals until you know what you need or don't need, go get some tests done.

3) I don't eat meat alternatives either, so I can't tell you about brands, besides we probably don't have the same stuff available.

4) I stopped eating meat cold turkey (excuse the pun) as well. I found it much easier than I thought it would be. The trick is to see the dead animal when you look at meat, rather than seeing food. You could try cutting down slowly if you think that would help, if I felt I had to do that I'd eat fish.

 

[lillym]

This Wednesday I'll have been a vegetarian for a month (so excited!). My process was kind of gradual and not really fueled by animal rights so my tactics are probably different than some.

I haven't cooked meat at home in ages because I don't like handling raw meat. And I would tell myself "tomorrow I go veggie" and then not. What finally got me was I was broke a week before payday and couldn't eat out. So I started eating out of my pantry and since I don't cook meat at home there wasn't any. And then it just turned into stubbornness, I hadn't eaten meat in a week so why screw it up now.

Plus meat became uninteresting. I've eaten out with people a few times and they've eaten meat and while I look at it and think "it looks yummy" it's more of a detached thing. Like when I look at raw tomatoes or a latte, I don't like raw tomatoes or coffee, but they still look pleasing and so I can enjoy it on that level but not want to eat anything. That's where I am with meat.

But I've tried and given up trying to be a vegetarian dozens of times before this.

As for meat alternatives. I like Morningstar corndogs and I found the texture and taste of Gardenburger riblets good, but too salty for me to eat. I like Boca crumbles in spagehtti sauce but other than that I don't like fake meat.

And I don't like tofu. The texture totally puts me off.