I'm going to try to give up meat....need advice

[Vallerina 2]

I want to stop eating meat completely. I'm going to let myself have tuna/salmon for awhile, but I'd like to give those up, too, eventually. I already take a multivitamin, but I know that I still have to eat right.

My main concern is when I have my period, my body is weaker and needs protein and iron. Are there cheap, meatless alternatives to giving my body what it needs during that time?

Are there any other tips to starting in the meatless world? Are there good places to buy food? What else has helped?

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[eeneR 3]

Tofu will become your friend.....oh and beans

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[wildblue 7]

My advice: don't do it

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[Vallerina 2]

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Tofu will become your friend.....oh and beans

That's my problem...I hate tofu.

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My advice: don't do it

Why not?

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Bolas 5]

Giving up meat and fish?

Are you becoming a nun?

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[SkyDolphin 0]

Whole Foods Markets are great if you have one near you. Trader Joes is another. Really any grocery store that has an organic or health food section. I find that most major stores carry it in urban areas.

I have been a semi-vegetarian (I still eat fish occasionally) for about 5 years now. I eat boca burger a lot and Garden Burger brand makes some really good meat substitutes like bbq ribs and meatloaf. There are lots of alternatives if you know where to look. By a good cookbook. There is one called Moosewood that is really good. I also recommend reading the Diet for a new America by John Robbins. It will give you some good information.

Hope this helps.

Rhonda

[Vallerina 2]

Oooh...I could always go to Trader Joes after work one day. I know there's one somewhere in the city. I'll just have to find it....

The grocery stores I went to don't seem to have a wide variety. I want to go meatless, but I can't see myself eating a Boca burger every night for the rest of my life. There has to be more!

I'll have to go Google that cookbook!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Remster 30]

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My advice: don't do it

Not THAT kind of meat, Wieedldbleue!

Remster

[eeneR 3]

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Wieedldbleue!

Do you have freakish ability to remember things??? or do you have this stuffed saved somewhere?

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[Shotgun 1]

I believe soy protein is a good meat alternative. Some of the soy products are gross, but I LOVE Yves Veggie Ground Round. I use it to make all kinds of stuff: tacos, spaghetti, "meat"loaf, pretty much anything that would normally call for ground beef... and I can hardly tell that it is not really meat.

I also really like the soy breakfast sausages, and I sometimes put the soy pepperoni on homemade pizzas. I've tried the soy hotdogs and bologna, but I didn't like either of those too much.

Just curious, why do you want to give up meat?

[sunshine 2]

Remember you can still at McDonalds. I'm pretty sure whatever they use to make burgers is NOT meat.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Tonto 1]

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Are there any other tips to starting in the meatless world? Are there good places to buy food? What else has helped?

Start smoking.
Drink lots of coffee
Eat plenty of sweets and crisps.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Remster 30]

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Do you have freakish ability to remember things???

Yes....

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or do you have this stuffed saved somewhere?

The only things I save are incriminating pictures. Now, where did I put thes ones about the chicks who were dressing up in all sorts of outfits....

Remster

[tigra 0]

Trader Joes is great! I'm sure they have a website where you can look up all their locations and find one near you.

PS: I'm with eeneR-learn to like tofu! You'll end up getting most of your protein from soy.

[Dagny 0]

Oh, how sad am I? I read your thread title..."I'm going to try to give up meat...need" and somehow read "condoms" which is the thread after yours.

LOL, so that's not the kind of meat you're giving up, then!

Whole Foods (if there is one near you) is an awesome store and has a vast supply of organic and meatless products. I don't eat a lot of meat at home (even though I love it!) and get my protein from alternate sources. My favorite ways are by eating beans and veggie burgers (I like Morningstar-8g protein).

Also, Bolthouse Farms (if you can find it near you) has a line of drinks which are SOOO yummy. My two favorites are Green Goodness (not so much protein) which is a thick, green drink that tastes great and the Vanilla Chai Tea with Soy Protein. That one has a great flavor and has 19g of soy protein in the 450ml bottle they sell. Here's a link.

Plus, stick with your seafood for now...tuna and salmon are my favorites. Also, eggs, milk, and, cheese are good sources of protein (if you're eating those things). Oh, yes, and protein bars. (I like EAS products, personally)

My only recommendation...don't go vegan. I know two people who tried it for a while and it's very hard on the body. It's also extremely difficult to find foods that are completely animal free. Their health both suffered and they are now vegetarians.

Good luck with it and enjoy your meatless diet!

Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic.
-Salvador Dali

[eeneR 3]

I love tofu...tastes like nuthin...so find some good sauce to cover it in...and it is all good

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[Bolas 5]

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Remember you can still at McDonalds. I'm pretty sure whatever they use to make burgers is NOT meat.

Horse and Kangaroo are meat...

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[sunshine 2]

I don't have a Trader Joe's down here. Someone needs to buy me some of those peanut butter filled pretzels they make and bring them to me at SDC next weekend.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[eeneR 3]

Here is the webside to Trader Joe's

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[PLFXpert 0]

Eat lots of nuts (sorry boys, I mean the kind that comes in a can at the grocery store)

I must eat 1/2 pound of nuts a day. Peanuts and almonds are best for you. I usually eat a mix of peanuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, a couple other nuts that I don't know the names of (ha!) and raisens. Raisens are a really good anti-oxident.

Eat lots of nuts in combination with natural fruits and vegetables, whole grains and soy milk if you want cereal, or whatever. It's actually pretty good.

I eat all of the above, plus lots of fish, mostly salmon. When I go out though, or to a friends for dinner, I will have steak or chicken, but I NEVER buy it.

So, are you looking to go vegetarian or vegan. If just vegetarian, then really there are tons of choices. Go to the bookstore and get a couple vegetarian cookbooks to help you get started.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[tigra 0]

I wll try and remember next time I go!

[vt1977 0]

I’ve been vegetarian for over 8 years now – it’s easy!

If you visit a health food shop, you should be able to find lots of meat free alternatives.

Tofu is good – especially the burgers! – but my favourite is quorn which comes in just about every form you can imagine (burgers, sausages, mince, pieces, roasts, deli stuff… etc…). I also use a lot of lentils and chick peas – I have some great recipes I could share if you are interested!

I just take normal multi vitamins with iron and have never had any problems (in fact, before I became vegetarian I was slightly anaemic and the problem has now gone away).

All in all, I’m happy as a vegetarian, I don’t miss meat at all and I feel considerably healthier and get far fewer colds than I ever did as a meat eater.
Feel free to PM if you have any more questions or if I can help at all.

Vicki

[sunshine 2]

Woohoo, tanks T.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Remster 30]

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I don’t miss meat at all and I feel considerably healthier and get far fewer colds than I ever did as a meat eater.

To be fair, I'm not sure thats a direct effect of not eating meats, as much as it is a fact of eating more of and more varied veggies (which of course if good!)

Remster

[PLFXpert 0]

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I eat boca burger a lot and Garden Burger brand makes some really good meat substitutes like bbq ribs and meatloaf.

You can read my above post on what I eat, but as a former vegan, and now pretty much still vegetarian, I still think boca burgers and the garden burger are NASTY. Turkey burgers are edible, but maybe you guys just make them differently.

I have had a lot of veggie burgers that taste great from a restaurant, but I have yet to taste any tofu, boca or garden anything that doesn't taste like @ss Ha!

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.