Vegetarian Chatter

[luna moth]

OK, I've started this thread because I wanted somewhere to vent, enquire, debate and chit chat with other vegetarians - without being preachy or facing the "but where do you get your iron?" stuff that might be found in other threads.
So, who else is out there, why are you veg*n, what do you eat, what great resources do you have? Oh, and where do you get your iron?

I'm here in Brisbane, I'm a vegan for environmental and economic reasons. I've been vegie for three years, vegan for one. I'm quite good at making up my own recipes and have a nutritional library locked up in my little beany brain. I get my iron mostly from haricot and cannellini beans, my favourite recently, and also from organic dried apricots.

[Arimeh]

Hey snuggles buggles - we aren't vegetarian but would like someone to convert us. So do you have any lessons for total beginners? We hate the thought of eating meat, and would love to get around that, but we need some serious help!!!

I thought I would write it here, as it may help convert other people as well, who are scared to give it a go because they don't know how to do it

[Michelle71]

I will be watching with great interest. My knowledge of a varied, vegetarian diet is seriously limited. I could do with the help

[*Ash*]

Hello snugglybean, I am a vegan too...have been for 13 years. My DH is a vegan, and we are raising our kids vegan. Thanks for starting this thread. It is nice to 'meet' you! I was inspired to become vegan for animal rights and environmental reasons. But I now also enjoy the health and economic benefits.

We mostly obtain our iron from legumes, whole grains, and dark leafy greens.

Resources wise, I love 'The China Study' by T. Colin Campbell. I love Neal Barnard's books. I read Vegan Voice magazine (and I write a column for the mag on the topic of raising vegan children). I LOVE vegfamily.com

Arimeh, I take up the challenge to convert you!
Check out whyveg.com and goveg.com and the resources I mentioned above.
There are vegetarian socities in each state. Are you in QLD? Check their web site for recipes and inspiration. Also, I am happy to help you with ideas to convert your current favourite meals to vego. What do you enjoy eating now? Also, check out your local library for vego recipe books.

[Kailani]

Hello snugglybean, I am a vegan too...have been for 13 years. My DH is a vegan, and we are raising our kids vegan.

I wish my DP was a vegetarian! I could never convert him, he is a true carnivore. I am going to have a lot of trouble when DS starts solid...we still haven't negotiated his diet DP is happy to eat anything, so I try and provide only veggie meals, but he'll always choose a meat dish when we have takeaway or eat out and he's already warned me he will be taking DS out to get burgers and souvlakis Grrr!

[angelaartsstudent]

LSA is mega yum in porridge!

We have both been vegan in the past. I am vege now and husband is omni. He might get the occasional piece of fish into me once or twice a year though!

I started solely vegetarian in my early teens simply because I didn't like the taste of red meat. I didnt eat chicken or fish becuase I dislike overfishing and the conditions chickens are farmed.

I would LOVE to go vegan again but for some reason I found it complicated...poor planning I guess.

I already have no dairy in my diet because I am lactose intollerant...so basically it's just cutting out eggs and honey.

[krysalyss]

Hi guys! Thanks for starting this thread. We are a little family of 3 vegetarians. DH and I would like to go vegan. It is a work in progress.
I love being vegetarian but it took a few goes. It is like giving up any habit - sometimes it takes a few tries. I feel like DH and I are natural meat eaters but most substitutes are good if I really get cravings. Anyway will drop in again a bit later.

[Kazbah]

I'm wanting to return to vegetarian, I loved it! Then did a couple of sporting things and got preggers & lazy ... so returned to meat. DH likes his meat and he will eat vego as well, so guess that I'm more interested in stuff that I can eat as a main, that will be a side for DH / DS. Cause I really want to return to vego.

My friend is vego and turning vegan, and she & I discussed Pip's diet in some depth - we both agree that it's best that he make the choice himself when he's able.

At the moment I have a soup in the slow-cooker for my lunches this week - soup mix (inc barley) and water, tinned tomatoes, fresh parsnip, grilled capsicum (home-grown), vege stock & dried herbs

But really I want to be able to cook for both DH & I at the same time !

[Kailani]

I've been a vegetarian for a while, not sure how long exactly, maybe around 5 years. I decided to become a vegan about a year or so later, however since falling pregnant I was advised to have dairy in my diet until I ceased breastfeeding, so I'm now eating dairy! I chose a vegetarian diet for...I guess you could say, philosophical reasons! Animals rights, or whatever! I was never a big meat eater anyway, so it wasn't a big sacrifice at all. I love animals

I have soup a lot - I LOVE soup! Pumpkin soup, carrot celery & paprika, potato & leek, minestrone, mixed veggie & lentil. I could live off of it, however I don't think everyone else in the household would appreciate it lol. With a side of garlic bread mmmmm.

We also have curries with rice maybe once a week...mostly with eggplant, green beans, tomatoes, sometimes potato.

Casserols/stews with carrot, beans & potato.

Noodles with stir-fried veggies: beans, capsicum, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower

...just to name a few things I love

Umm I love the veggie sausages you can get from the supermarket special diet/kosher section. The chickpea & spinnach ones are sooo good. Also veggie/lentil burgers, you can make with mashed potato to bind thye ingredients.

Breakfast is usually porridge with bonsoy and a banana. Sometimes just plain old vegemite toast and a fruit of some sort. Lunch, mostly dinner left overs, toasted sandwiches, or salad rolls.

I add LSA into a lot of my meals (linseed, sunflower(or was it sesame?) & almond meal) for protein. Also, flaxseed oil. I take iron/folate, magnesium and zinc supplements. Iron also from foods such as spinnach, broccoli, lentils, chickpeas. Vit B12 from veggie/soya sausages, tofu & other specialist foods where it's artifically added - oh and vegemite! I think vitB12 is the biggest nutrient deficiancy vego's face.

I'm pretty boring - I don't have the best vegetarian diet because I get lazy, so I need to take supplements! I wish I could be more creative so hopefully others can post some other ideas.

[Cherished]

AngelPunks] is all of this reading 'vegetarian'? I would say that all vegos are getting 2 serves a day out of nuts & seeds, legumes & grains... I know I am

[Cherished]

actually quite a few don't get the combination of complete plant protein - do you combine the two together - that is the only way to get complete plant protein

is all what reading?

I'm studying a Bachelor of Health Science with a major in Naturopathy - swapped from a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Biomedical Science and Chemistry.

Yes I would say that most vegos would eat 2 of those forms of protein combined together... I notice that you didn't mention anything about the types of protein that the body assimilates best (which I believe doesn't include meat or regular dairy protein)? and where does whey powder fit into it?
The books you have suggested we check out.... Are they about vegetarian nutrition?
Gee you'll have quite a title behind your name then
Maybe you could start up an nutritional advice thread and get some work experience in on BB

[surprised]

Great thread. We generally eat vego at home, and if we're out I will try to eat vego, but DH will have some meat. I find it hard when we have people over - we always end up buying meat because I feel bad not serving meat to visitors.

At the moment we're really struggling - I am constantly hungry (4.5 wks pg), but I don't feel like anything in particular. I'm overdosing on bread and other carbs, because it's quick and easy.

If anyone has quick, cheap and easy snack ideas that actually fill you up (but that won't puff me up! ), I would be very grateful!

[Peach*]

Good evening!

Snugglybean-(that's how I channel the pregnancy hormones, I write to pollies)- Bahaha crack up!
Where is green gormet?? We never ended up making it to lentil as anything unfortunately although it was always on the to-do list... Has anyone been to soul mama at st kilda? The view is beautiful, food very tasty, the price.... *groan* like everything at st kilda!

Aliash- I was at my SIL's place on the weekend and their house is on property surrounded by cows who all have calfs and one was suckling on its mummy and it really made me think "that is what cows milk is MEANT for" poor little babies... It makes me so sad people eat them without a second thought.

I have a sticker on my fridge with a photo of a lamb(so cute!) and it says "could you kill me? Then dont pay someone else to" and its so true... whenever I crave chicken I remind myself of an actual CHICKEN(duh) and think of killing it which horrifies me... craving banished!

Hope everyone is having a good night... I had hot chip sandwiches for dinner another lazy night! Last night we had friends over though, I made risotto with lots of tasty stuff in it(mushrooms, sweet potato,garlic, etc) and garlic wholemeal pitas.

Hope your all having a great night

[Peach*]

Hi Ladies,

Hope your all well! Im feeling rather festive- have had a couple of sneaky wines since DD went to bed
Dinner tonight Thai green curry-
Garlic,onion,red capsicum,snow peas,garlic chives,eggplant,mushrooms,cashews in tasty sauce with jasmine. Tried a different tofu and was more like silken so dissapointed and I couldnt put it in or it would have turned to mush so Im going to make the mousse recipie mentioned earlier.

Hope everyone is having a good night

[*Ash*]

Oh Peach. I wish I'd had dinner at your place! I just made pasta tonight.

Does anyone have any good eggplant recipes? A guy at out farmer's market grows the most delicious little eggplants. I am looking for some inspiration, I have used them in curries and lasagne and pasta thus far.

Cheers Peach, enjoy the wine!

[Peach*]

Cheers! Ive had to stop otherwise I will no doubt feel very seedy by the time DD is ready to feed.

Scroll back through the previous pages Aliash, Snugglybean posted an easy recipie for eggplant with zucchini.
I tend to do the same as you, just add it in curries, pasta etc. But this thread is inspiring me!

[*Ash*]

Thanks for the tip! I WAS going to write down all the recipes in this thread days ago, and as you can no doubt tell, I haven't.....Scrolling back now.

[luna moth]

I love making eggplant dip -
Chuck your whole eggplant(s) in a really hot oven (sometimes I p.rick the skin with a fork) til it goes all wrinkly. Process it with one or more of the following:
cannellini beans, soy mayo, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, mint, ground cumin, garlic
until you get a good dip consistency.

I always have at least one home made dip in my fridge. So easy. My other fave is beetroot, but I cheat and use canned
small can beetroot, 1/2 block silken tofu, 1 clove garlic, a few leaves of mint or parsley, and sometimes some toasted macadamias. Even beetroot haters love it.