Veggie check-in!

[phoenix130]

Hi everyone,

This is a check-in thread for anyone who is vegan or vegetarian or if you are just transitioning or just plain old interested in what it is and what is involved.

I have never been a big meat-eater (the food and other considerations). I started eating ground beef and chicken (basically the only things I would eat) because I thought I had to eat something to get my iron and protein requirements. But I never really liked it that much. I always was a kind of vegetarian even though I didn't know it and really had no idea how to eat either.

My turning point became when I hit my highest weight ever and knew it was time to take control of my health again. I'm at risk for diabetes (it's all over my family) and I picked up this book by Dr. Neal Barnard about reversing diabetes that convinced me to finally just make the switch and become vegetarian. So five weeks ago, that's what I did.

I'm still learning...still VERY new at all this! But I have to say that I have never felt better and have started to lose weight again. I'm trying to find good recipes and learn more so that I am meeting all my nutritional requirements and trying to find all these new foods that I didn't know anything about before.

So feel free to join me here on this check-in and we can share information!

[story1267]

Hi Nancy, thanks for starting this!

Way back in the day I was the unhealthiest.vegetarian.ever. I mean, maybe technically a pound of white pasta swimming in butter and buried in cheese is "vegetarian" but I was really missing the boat.

No surprise I was exhausted, bloated, fat, and crabby. A practitioner said I really needed to get some animal protein in me. So I did.

Fast forward 20 years later to current day. My diet has evolved - whole foods mostly, some actual vegetables appear, but still having meat, dairy, eggs.

Lately I feel like the dairy is causing trouble - digestion, skin, so I'm eliminating conventional dairy. At the same time I'm making all the meals I have that aren't shared with the family vegan. Just because.

I've requested a couple of vegan cookbooks for Mother's Day.

Today, for the first time I tried using nutritional yeast on my (white - DD cooked - I eat whatever she makes in support of her cooking efforts ) pasta. Yummy! Who knew?

A little Earth Balance spread too - that stuff is great as well.

There's another thread or two detailing my coffee creamer conundrum. Coconut milk works. And the MimiCreme ice cream is a really lovely surprise. That something entirely vegan could taste so good.

I'm enjoying that there are so many perfectly edible substitutions that aren't just artificial petrochemical yuk.

[kariev]

Hi ladies. This is a great idea. I'm slowly transitioning. I just started yesterday I also just ordered the book "Flexitarian" which eases one into vegetarianism but isn't super strict. So for me, i'm really just trying to cut out red meat and chicken. I still would like to eat dairy (for now), eggs, and fish. Since my diet relies heavily on chicken and turkey I have decided to first just cut it out of my lunch but still have it for dinners. Once I start learning new recepies I will transition. I actually just tried a low carb diet for about 2 weeks and I felt sooooooo terrible. Moody, tired, no energy whatsoever, constipated, etc. I think that the amount of protein we need to be healthy is way overrated. I'm hoping that overall, i have more energy on this type of diet. I love veggies so I don't think that will be the problem. I also love beans and plan on going to the store later to load up. Is this checkin thread staying here or going over to the checkin message board?

[phoenix130]

Suzanne:
I had no concept of it either when I was growing up and just didn't like meat. I had no idea what kind of foods were out there or what it really meant. It was basically pasta and junk.

Sorry to hear about the dairy issue. I haven't had a lot of dairy in years. A few years back, I developed some allergies (still not sure the trigger). I never had them before and then I would break out in hives constantly for days and months at a time. It would go away and then reappear. I started to think it was milk or some dairy because it seemed to be the only constant. Ever since I switched to soy milk and started to have less dairy products, it hasn't been a problem. It might flare up here and there for a day (but not 6-9 months like before) and there is usually some kind of milk ingredient in what I have eaten (especially processed foods). My whey protein powder is OK and sour cream seems to be OK. But cow milk and cheese seem to be bothersome.

What cookbooks did you ask for?

I tried nutritional yeast the other day for the first time too! It was good! The book I have recommended using it and said that it has a cheese-like flavour. Definitely keeping it around - sort of get a cheese-like taste without the digestive issues. And a lot more nutritious!

Kariev:
Thanks for joining us! I wasn't sure where to create the check-in. I thought the other forum was more for fitness discussions so I created it here since it seemed to fit best.

It sounds like you have a good approach. I can say I have had more energy in the last five weeks than I have in years. I actually have enough energy to do Cathe's workouts (even if they are still tough). Before when I would try the workouts (even shorter ones), I just had nothing even if I could do the moves.

[Stephanie0523]

Hi ladies! Great to see the check-in! I'm going to need it! It has been a crazy weekend. I have stuck to eating vegetarian, but I have also eaten cookies and other not-so-healthy stuff! I live in Tennessee and the whole mid-state is under water from flooding. We've luckily not had any flooding in our yard, but the kids are out of school tomorrow and my middle child has a stomach virus. When it rains it pours (pun intended ). So I've not been keeping up with my workouts or fine tuning my eats like I should for the past few days. Hoping this next week I get back to being healthier!

I'll be leaning on you guys for answers and recipes and general newbie vegetarian questions!

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

[phoenix130]

I'm still eating vegetarian but I haven't really been planning meals lately so I'm kind of getting stuck for meals at the moment. Good incentive to stop procrastinating and plan!

Stephanie:
That's good that you haven't had any flooding - hope it stays that way. I haven't been fine tuning either but I had a bunch of Amy's frozen stuff on hand so that has helped me the past few days.

[kariev]

Hi guys! Been sticking with a plan and slowly easing my way into it. I've been reading this book called "Flexitarian" and it basically teaches you about vegetarianism (especially pescatarian) and slowy eliminates meat products. Its got some good recipes in it so if your interested check it out.

[phoenix130]

kariev:
Thanks - I'm definitely adding it to my list of cookbooks to check out.

I'm getting to that point that I really need to start collecting some good recipes and making my own meals instead of relying on packaged or frozen meals. I stuck with some frozen stuff at first to make the transition easier but now I'm ready to prepare my own stuff.

[kariev]

Hi guys! I have a confession, for the past 2 days I have tried a low carb diet which means lots of meat, poultry and cheese. That being said I have never felt so terrible. I feel lethargic, cranky, tired, moody, heavy, etc. Doing this made me realize that all this animal protein isn't all its cracked up to be. Plus, I don't do well on low carbs. Anyways, I'm going to the store for food shopping today. I'm going to load up on tofu, beans, veggies, and fruit. I'm actually going to subscribe to vegetarian times magazine which is a veggie recipe magazine. I think the hardest part of this is learning what to eat since i'm so used to grabbing animal protein. Anyways, hope all is well

[story1267]

Nancy - I asked for Veganomicon and the Flexitarian book. (I think!) That was a few days ago and things are hectic.......

Kariev - I think I'd feel a bit ill on what you're describing too.

I was surprised to get that response from the actual manufacturer of MimicCreme in that thread! I didn't know if it was ok for her to post like that but the sticky in the OD just limits commercial threads about other DVD's. It may be close to the line...maybe...but I was glad to get the info anyway.

While I wait on ordering some of the coffee creamer I've gotten the French Vanilla flavor of the So Delicious coconut milk coffee creamer. It's fine but I find it wicked sweet. Overly so. Today I picked up just the unflavored one. I hope it's less sweet.