New Vegetarian!

[jonipossin]

After a week of frequent loooooong walks with my new dog Otter and the new exercise for this former 'couch potato', I decided to drop meat from my diet and get healthy. I had been a Vegan many years ago and it was amazing how my cholesterol numbers dropped, etc.

I'm only on day 4 of my healthy plant and grain eating and not going to go all the way to Vegan this time. But I am looking for some loved recipes. Does anyone have any to share?? My cookbooks are still in a big box in the basement and I'd love not to drag them to the bookshelves right now.
Thanks everyone,
Joni

Just bought a new book by Alicia Silverstone... The Kind Diet (Vegan) and it's a great read. Her web page is also fun to read and helpful... The Kind Life. for those of you who are interested.

[Myra]

I don't claim to be true vegetarian, although I never, ever eat moo. I mainly eat fish and a bit of chicken. I love love love quinoa, and make lots of yummy salads with it. Here's a sort of recipe I make for lunches at work so I don't reach for bad stuff. It's filling and takes me to dinner. Sorry, I don't have amounts. I invented this because I like the flavor combinations. I "dump and pour" for most of my cooking, so you can adjust this as you like.

1 cup of quinoa cooked for 7 minutes
chopped, fresh spinach
1 can of black beans, rinsed
grape tomatoes, cut in halves
fresh cilantro - be heavy handed with this. you can't over do it in my opinion!
kalamata olives, sliced
feta cheese, crumbled, to taste

for the dressing - two fresh squeezed limes, whisked with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

Very very yummy for a summer meal. And it will help you get your protein in your diet!

[KerryMac]

I just made this recipe yesterday and it was so yummy. My husband loved it, too!
Recipes for Health - Greens and Mushroom Panini - NYTimes.com
I try to only eat meat a couple times a week and I'm really looking to eat more greens because I love them.
Myra's recipe sounds delicious

[FlowerGirl]

Good luck! I'm not a vegetarian, but I'll have to look through my recipes for some good veggie ones. I think Katrina is a veg so I bet she'll have some good ones!

[HeatherPrins]

I love the Kind Diet! I went VEGAN -no eggs, cheese meat or fish in November and have never looked back. There is the Kind Life website and vegan.com and also the vegan dad - great recipes on those!

[katrinak]

I have been vegetarian for years and vegan for over 2 1/2 or so.

My favorite recipe websites are

FatFreeVegan

VeganDad

PostPunkKitchen

101 Cookbooks is mostly vegetarian but always fresh and lovely.

I'm so glad you are making this choice for your health and for the environment.

[HeatherPrins]

oo thanks for the links Katrina!

[champsarahjoy]

Good luck with your new healthy living!
Here is a recipe we tried over the weekend and loved. It was very hearty and filling.

Black Bean and Veggie Burrito

[carollee]

Carnivore here, sorry!

As for Vegan, is that where you basically don't eat anything that, for want of a better description, has eyes or come from something that has eyes (eg milk from cows, or eggs from chicken)? Or was someone having me on when they told me that description?

[cherpea]

Carol I am glad I am not the only one to have heard that description...

and yeah sorry carnivore here too... though we do eat far more veggies than most ... I would have a hard time going vegan and not being able to eat my beloved cheeses...

[Carol Elliott]

Carnivore here as well, however, my daughter (17) is thinking a bout becoming a vegetarian. For now she has cut beef from her diet, but eats small amounts of chicken and fish. She's always eaten alot of vegetable/fruits. It has actually forced me to round out our meals better to make sure that she is getting enough protein when we have something with beef for dinner, as well as boosting up the number of vegetables with our meals. I'll pass on the links to her! She is a wonderful cook and lately when she cooks meals for the family they will be vegetarian (and might I add, tasty). I say it is a win-win situation for us all!

[annaaspnes]

I'm not vegetarian but I love to eat that way when I feel so inclined.

I just made the following recipe at the weekend and will add it to our rotation. Quinoa is a great grain for vegetarians because it is a complete protein. Rinse a few times in warm water before cooking to remove it's natural bitter coating.
Double Broccoli Quinoa Recipe - 101 Cookbooks

I also love this Sushi Bowl for lunch:
Sushi Bowl Recipe - 101 Cookbooks

and this Raw Kale Salad:
Kale Happy Foody

and this Apple Avocado Sushi makes a yummy snack:
Apple Avocado Sushi Happy Foody

[HeatherPrins]

foods containing protein (no meat)
Table 2: Protein Content of Selected Vegan Foods

FOOD AMOUNT PROTEIN(gm) PROTEIN(gm/100 cal)
Tempeh 1 cup 41 9.3
Seitan 3 ounces 31 22.1
Soybeans, cooked 1 cup 29 9.6
Lentils, cooked 1 cup 18 7.8
Black beans, cooked 1 cup 15 6.7
Kidney beans, cooked 1 cup 13 6.4
Veggie burger 1 patty 13 13.0
Chickpeas, cooked 1 cup 12 4.2
Veggie baked beans 1 cup 12 5.0
Pinto beans, cooked 1 cup 12 5.7
Black-eyed peas, cooked 1 cup 11 6.2
Tofu, firm 4 ounces 11 11.7
Lima beans, cooked 1 cup 10 5.7
Quinoa, cooked 1 cup 9 3.5
Tofu, regular 4 ounces 9 10.6
Bagel 1 med.
(3 oz) 9 3.9
Peas, cooked 1 cup 9 6.4
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), cooked 1/2 cup 8 8.4
Peanut butter 2 Tbsp 8 4.3
Veggie dog 1 link 8 13.3
Spaghetti, cooked 1 cup 8 3.7
Almonds 1/4 cup 8 3.7
Soy milk, commercial, plain 1 cup 7 7.0
Soy yogurt, plain 6 ounces 6 4.0
Bulgur, cooked 1 cup 6 3.7
Sunflower seeds 1/4 cup 6 3.3
Whole wheat bread 2 slices 5 3.9
Cashews 1/4 cup 5 2.7
Almond butter 2 Tbsp 5 2.4
Brown rice, cooked 1 cup 5 2.1
Spinach, cooked 1 cup 5 13.0
Broccoli, cooked 1 cup 4 6.8
Potato 1 med.
(6 oz) 4 2.7
Sources: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18, 2005 and manufacturers' information.
The recommendation for protein for adult males vegans is around 56-70 grams per day; for adult female vegans it is around 46-58 grams per day (see text).

[audrey77]

I love this slow cooker recipe. You don't miss the meat!

Mexican Minestrone Recipe

[vanguardgator]

Originally Posted by annaaspnes

I'm not vegetarian but I love to eat that way when I feel so inclined.

I just made the following recipe at the weekend and will add it to our rotation. Quinoa is a great grain for vegetarians because it is a complete protein. Rinse a few times in warm water before cooking to remove it's natural bitter coating.
Double Broccoli Quinoa Recipe - 101 Cookbooks

I also love this Sushi Bowl for lunch:
Sushi Bowl Recipe - 101 Cookbooks

and this Raw Kale Salad:
Kale Happy Foody

and this Apple Avocado Sushi makes a yummy snack:
Apple Avocado Sushi Happy Foody

OOOH. I love using kale, but have never seen a raw kale recipe. I put it in smoothies all the time or braise it. Can't wait to try that one, thanks Anna for the link.

[annaaspnes]

Originally Posted by vanguardgator

OOOH. I love using kale, but have never seen a raw kale recipe. I put it in smoothies all the time or braise it. Can't wait to try that one, thanks Anna for the link.

You're welcome. I added leftover roasted beets and walnuts to it this week and it was REALLY could. I slice the kale really fine and then *Massage* it with a splash of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt before adding the lemon juice and *squished* avocado. Love my salad! Enjoy

[Myra]

Thank you Katrina and Anna for sharing 101Cookbooks! I LOVE this site! So many wonderful recipes I want to try! Making my shopping list...

[shhbabymine]

Oh thanks for the site links, I am 2+months into vegan eating and I havent looked back either... One of our favorite meals right now, is roasted veggies (peppers, carrots, zucchini, onions, tom, garlic, etc) fresh hummus and homeade tortillas, my kids LOVE them, and have been asking for them almost daily... we do coconut milk smoothies too.
my kids really like the one that is one cup spinach, 1 sm avacado and 1 c coconut milk and a drop of agave nectar... also find that we do soups a few times here, just made a spiced carrot and ginger soup with coconut milk that was really good.
thanks for the ideas ladies - so glad you shared that recipe too myra, i was going to ask you about it!!!! Happy healthy eating!!

[FlowerGirl]

Originally Posted by carollee

Carnivore here, sorry!

As for Vegan, is that where you basically don't eat anything that, for want of a better description, has eyes or come from something that has eyes (eg milk from cows, or eggs from chicken)? Or was someone having me on when they told me that description?

Except for potatoes

[katrinak]

No animal products or any product of an animal is another way to think about it, including fish and shellfish. White sugar and honey are on the list for many vegans as well.

I wear leather shoes, but only the ones I bought before becoming vegan. No new leather purchases

[Aino]

Wow impressed. Not ready to give up meat, but I am all for healthy eating.
More into low-carb stuff myself.

Thanks for all the great sites and ideas!!

I will try that quinoa salad Myra!!! Sounds yummy!!

[jonipossin]

Thank you everyone for the great response to my recipe quest... and the links, ideas, and conversation!! I am loving vegetarian life... feel good and have lost 12 pounds! I am having so much fun playing with the recipes! I have to take a picture of my organized refrigerator for a layout. Veggie foods at my fingertips! I've stopped eating white sugar and white flour, eggs... but not ready to give up regular cheese yet. Off to my new cookbooks to find something interesting for dinner.
Joni

[Netleigh]

Have a look at these recipes, I love the cookbook I have of theirs with a lot of veggie dishes and there is a new one called Plenty due to be published soon in the UK, not sure if it will be in the USA at the same time.
Ottolenghi - Recipes

[katrinak]

This Chow Noodles recipe has entered our rotation as a family favorite! I've been making it with onions from our garden and whatever veggies we have from other recipes during the week. I've also been using cremini mushrooms from the farmer's market in place of the mushrooms he suggests.

[HeatherPrins]

another great recipe site

Linda McCartney Foods – Meat Free Food

[Jen D]

I commend those who can make that life change. I can not. So I focus on making sure that we eat the best there is. Free range chickens, grass fed beef, hormone free everything ... and so on. It is expensive but worth it to me. I read The Kind Diet too... loved it.

Anywhoo... here is to health and happiness!!!!

[Myra]

Ok, just made my own version of this: Heather's Quinoa Recipe - serious yum!!!

I'll be giving some others mentioned here a try also.