Newly Vegetarian ^_^?!
Newly Vegetarian ^_^?
Heya, I've recently become vegetarian, but am having trouble finding recipes and healthy food choices. Anyone know any good recipes or sites or something?
Before this, pretty much every meal was based around meat, so its quite a dilemma.
Also, I've been warned about my iron levels dropping, and haven't been completely well. What else has iron? (I still drink milk, if that helps?) Is there anything else I need to worry about that might have ill effects?
And lastly, what is Tofu, and what are Lentils? They keep popping up in the only vegetarian recipes I can find.
Thanks ^_^
Answers:
Don't stress too much about your iron levels. Although it can be a problem for some, especially women, most vegs have no problem meeting their daily requirements of iron! A varied diet filled with dark, leafy greens provides all the essentials. Become a label sleuth. You'll be surprised how much iron is already in the cereals and foods you eat. But if it is still that much of a worry for you, you can take low dose iron supplements found basically everywhere (of course... talk to your doctor first, yadda, yadda...)
Great. Now for FANTASTIC recipies and a great book filled with healthy veg meals, try Good Housekeeping's Vegetarian Meals (http://www.amazon.com/vegetarian-meals-h... This was the first book I bought when I became vegetarian, and is still my most used recipie book! Really great. There's barely a thing in there I don't absolutely love!
You can also check out: http://vegweb.com for recipies and forums. Great resource.
Tofu is is bean curd (soy) that goes through a process similar to making cheese, which results in curds that are pressed together in blocks. Tofu can be found in most vegetarian sections of supermarkets (usually at the end of refrigerated produce isles). It can be used as a replacement for meat in most recipies. Alone, it's not that tastey, but it has the ability to absorb the flavors it's cooked with. Really, I don't like tofu at all... but many swear by it. Try it! You never know.
Lentils are seeds grown in pods... they are also known as legumes. You can buy them in bags, and they are usually cooked in soups, stews, or with rice. I love lentils.
Congrats on your new vegetarianism! If ya have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]
Source(s):
Veg, fitness and nutritional counselor
Well...umm the recipe part I am completely blanked out about because I know quite a few just cant think of ANY:S soooo sry...mayeb google: Vegitarian Meals
Yes...You iron levels tend to drop but taking a Multi-Vitamin will help alot with that
Tofu-a soy based product you put in your cooking
Lentils-Not sure some kindave bean...they're good though:P
low fat low sodium cheeses
fresh fruit
orange juice
raisins( iron)
cereals
spinach & mushrooms ( combined boost iron)
i tried tofu ( it's made out of soya)..many years ago...i personally didn't like it.
lentils are an excellent source of protein ( they are flat beans)
you can use lentils in soup..lentil soup..which is nice.
i've been a vegetarian for 30 years...my iron and protein levels are both fine. i feel healthy..and look about 15 years younger..
There are some veggies that contain iron. They're generally green and leafy, such as spinach. But this page: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutritio... shows you a list of foods that contain high iron. The ones with asterisk (*) are the vegetables.
Tofu is made of soybeans, and is quite widespread in Japan. It doesn't have much flavour, but it gains its flavour from what it's cooked with. As for lentils, those are a kind of plant that are grown for their seeds. They're a type of legume.
you should try eating tofu i have been a vegetarian for 2 years and i love it. organic food is the best way to go. things with beans are also good. a good thing that i like to have every once and while is a balance bar to make up for the protein and other nutrients that I'm not getting. i also take vitamins every morning to help get my nutrients. you should also try veggie burgers and tofu dogs(vegetarian hot dogs).
I'm not a vegetarian, but I decided to look up a couple things for you.
First, to answer some other questions:
1. Tofu is a soft cheese-like food made by curdling soya milk with a coagulant. Tofu is a rather bland tasting product that easily absorbs the flavours of the other ingredients. Tofu is sold in water-filled packs or in aseptic cartons. It can be found in supermarkets and natural health food stores.
2. Lentils are the fastest cooking of all dried beans. The three major varieties are Le Puy, the most intensely flavored lentil; common green or brown lentils; and yellow or red lentils, which are popular in Indian cooking-- particularly Dal. Lentils supply a large dose of folate (folic acid), which fights heart disease and prevent birth defects; as well as providing fiber, protein, potassium and magnesium. Lentils are a staple in most Indian cooking, but that shouldn’t stop you from using them in a spicy chili makeover! Lentils are fat-free and absorb spices, so try substituting lentils for beans, then adding your favorite chili powder mixture for an interesting variation. ...
Here's stuff for basic information, cooking/recipes
http://www.goveg.com/vegetarian101.asp...
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetaria...
http://vegkitchen.com/kid-friendly-recip...
http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=cooki...
here's a few about iron
http://www.vnv.org.au/nutrition/iron.htm...
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/iron.html...
and here's one focused on making the change to a vegetarian:
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/nutshell.htm...
Good Luck!
you could try making vegetable stirfry, vegetable dumplings, or a vegetable panini those are all pretty good
as for your iron levels try eating Honey Bunches of Oats for breakfast (i'm pretty sure it doesn't have any animals in it? haha) it has a lot of iron and will give you a nice boost in the morning
go to lifestyle msn.com__________they offer a wide selection
of web sites.enjoy
Welcome to the vegetarian community. : )
Yes, I have some tips for you.
First buy an iron skillet. You can make yourself stirfrys which consist of frying whatever veggies you can think of. You can add nuts or not. I usually spice with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and some type of soy sauce. The iron from the skillet will enrich your meal with iron.
Also you can add or eat more red beats. Anything red pretty much has iron in it. Oh also when making stirfrys I recommend using brown rice and or combining white rice with wild or colored rices.
You can also add quinoa to your rice mix, which is by the way a complete protein and tastes pretty much like any other grain, except it is not. Technically it is a fruit. Remember the name quinoa. It can be a great friend of a vegetarian who does not want to overdo it on soy. And yes it happens all the time.
Long story short if you educate yourself you can not only get by on a vegetarian diet but actually get by better than the healthiest of meat eaters. So I encourage your continued education. Research more online. Buy a book. Ask others in the community about their knowledge. And most importantly place such wisdoms in action.
I sincerely wish you the best on your new found journey. For me it is one of the most spiritual lifestyle changes I have ever enacted. Every meal is an affirmation of compassion and health. God bless for seeing something of worth in vegetarianism.
There are tons of great recipe sites and good cookbooks out there. You can make almost any dish that is usually made with meat and either omit the meat or replace it with beans, soy crumbles etc.
Tofu is this white stuff...its usually in a cube like shape. Oh and if ur having problems wth meat then you can get quorn meat....it tastes like meat but its mushrooms or summat, its really nice and you can have those iron tablets which you have to swolllow so that you have iron in ur diet.
Congrats on going veggie! It can be a challenge, but you will adapt. Try grilling a portabello mushroom and having it on a bun like a burger-top it with your favorite toppings. Lentils are a pulse, like a legume. They are very tasty and nutritious-I cook them in veggie stock for extra flavor. If you are worried about iron, try blackstrap molasses and nutritional yeast (not brewers or bakers yeast) Nutritional yeast has a natural cheese like flavor and is great sprinkled on pasta, popcorn, rice, etc. You can also make a mock cheese sauce out of it to put over pasta or rice. Try quinoa-its a whole grain and a great source of protein. Try some fruits and veggies you have never had before, such as kolrabi, swiss chard, parsnips, ruttabegga (makes lovely oven fries) fresh beets, celeriac, bok choy, artichokes, carambola, persimmon, kiwi, etc. Mochi is great with homemade pimento cheese. You could also trying fresh juicing and home sprouting. I love to juice carrots, celery, parsley, fresh sprouts, swiss chard, apple, etc. for nice juice cocktails. Lentils can be added to mashed potatoes and fried up into patties. Good luck, hope this gives you some ideas.
Tofu is a delicious vegetarian alternative found in many vegetarian recipies. Lentils are kinda like a bean but not exactly their very bland tasting but very healthy
Best sites:
Vegcooking.com
Vegweb.com
Chooseveg.com
Ok well spinach has LOTS of iron.... buts thats all i can really think of...
Ummmm....
Oh yah.. tofu and lentils..
Well i love tofu.. it tastes best when you fry it.. then you can just basically add any sauce.
Lentils... well i dont really like lentils at all. But try them anyways.. there kind of like beans.
Well good luck!
Hmm..well, for recipes, i recommend going to www.goveg.com. they have amazing recipes and tips for going vegetarian or vegan. you can also check out your library, just ask any of the librarians where they have their vegetarian cookbooks. now, about the iron, i'd recommend eating lots of drak green vegetables, such as spinach and asparagus. i don't mean to worry you, but you should also be worrying about eating enough protein. you get it from beans, nuts, and soy. to answer your final questions, tofu is bean curd (it has a gelatin-like texture) but you can buy it from soft to extra firm. it also has no flavor, so you can add whatever you want to it. and lentils are a type of bean which taste great in soup. =]