Oct
30
Published in
veggie, Vegetarian, vegetables by
Shae
It was kind of crazy that it happened so naturally since I didn't eat well and often had to drag myself out of bed at 2 o'clock in the afternoon because my energy was that of a sloth on Vicodin. Cutting red meat out of my diet forced me to start preparing well-balanced meals. I knew if I didn't change my horrible eating habits I would never be able to continue without it, and at the time, that thought simply made me sick to my stomach.
I'm not trying to convince you to become a vegetarian or to hate meat, because it's a very personal choice, and frankly it might not be the right choice for you. (I know a vegetarian whose hair started falling out because they weren't getting enough protein in their diet). But what I will say to you is this...
Just because you're a meat eater doesn't mean you should completely count out vegetarian meals. How many times have you gone to a restaurant and not ordered something because it was a vegetarian dish, even though it sounded really good? Do yourself a favor and try it next time. You won't be crossing some strict line that says you can't go back to eating meat.
Another benefit of eating vegetarian meals is that you'll improve your chances of getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Because vegetarians are forced to find creative ways to balance their meals, a meat eater can benefit from this wisdom. Do you find yourself eating a disproportionate amount of carbs and proteins? You don't have to eat vegetarian at every meal, but once a day or a few times a week will help you equalize those food groups.
Inspiring Cookbooks
When I made the decision to leave red meat behind, my step dad gave me a cookbook called The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine by Rose Elliot. My step sister, a strict vegetarian, had cooked for years with this same cookbook. It was one of the best gifts I've ever received. It's out of print, but you can pick up a copy online for super cheap.
The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine has one of the most comprehensive pictorial and written descriptions of food, herbs and spices I've seen in a book and online. Some of the recipes are more complicated with a long list of ingredients, but there are plenty of quick and easy recipes, many that I prepared over and over in college.
Another book I found really inspiring was 30 Minute Vegetarian Recipes by Mary Gwynn. Her dishes are simple and full of flavor.
Vegetarian cooking has come a long way and there are many great cookbooks. Browse around the bookstore and I guarantee you'll find something that appeals to you.
Even if becoming a vegetarian isn't in your future, you'll notice something as you research those recipes. You'll be inspired to make sure that fruits and vegetables are no longer an afterthought. Vegetarian recipes will give you some tasty ideas for side dishes and even some great desserts!
Have you considered becoming a vegetarian? Are you a vegetarian with advice for others? Share your comments below.
omnivore, but raised primarily pescetarian...
written by emily, October 30, 2008
Balanced diet-er.
written by kang, October 30, 2008
...
written by thehungryengineer, October 30, 2008
...
written by Lynn, October 30, 2008
Meat Lovers Can Eat Vegetarian, Too
Published in
veggie, Vegetarian, vegetables by
Shae
No Moral Guilt, Here
Let me be clear. I'm not one of those vegetarians that have a problem with other people eating meat (red meat in my case). I've learned to be around the smell of it without getting all woozy, and I've prepared meat for others with no adverse side effects. (That horn growing out of the side of my skull is from something else...and no I don't want to talk about it).
My foray into what I like to call "partial vegetarianism" came about gradually and unexpectedly and not because of some moral guilt or political belief. I grew up a beef eater and while my dad became a vegetarian later in life, I lived with my mom, and her household always served pot roast, steak and meatloaf.
Goodbye Cow, Hello Fruits and Veggies
During college I started to eat less beef, partially because I had to prepare my own meals and it wasn't in the budget - and partially because I just wasn't craving it as much. Over a period of about a year I went from eating meat a few times a week, to once a week, to once a month. Eventually, it just got to the point where I found the taste, the smell and the sight of it absolutely revolting.
This was a rather odd phenomenon considering my other tastes were changing and I was being more open-minded about foods I used to hate. As a kid, I refused to touch tomatoes and onions but just as I found myself incorporating those into my diet more frequently, my taste for beef was regressing.
It was kind of crazy that it happened so naturally since I didn't eat well and often had to drag myself out of bed at 2 o'clock in the afternoon because my energy was that of a sloth on Vicodin. Cutting red meat out of my diet forced me to start preparing well-balanced meals. I knew if I didn't change my horrible eating habits I would never be able to continue without it, and at the time, that thought simply made me sick to my stomach.
I'm not trying to convince you to become a vegetarian or to hate meat, because it's a very personal choice, and frankly it might not be the right choice for you. (I know a vegetarian whose hair started falling out because they weren't getting enough protein in their diet). But what I will say to you is this...
Just because you're a meat eater doesn't mean you should completely count out vegetarian meals. How many times have you gone to a restaurant and not ordered something because it was a vegetarian dish, even though it sounded really good? Do yourself a favor and try it next time. You won't be crossing some strict line that says you can't go back to eating meat.
Another benefit of eating vegetarian meals is that you'll improve your chances of getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Because vegetarians are forced to find creative ways to balance their meals, a meat eater can benefit from this wisdom. Do you find yourself eating a disproportionate amount of carbs and proteins? You don't have to eat vegetarian at every meal, but once a day or a few times a week will help you equalize those food groups.
Inspiring Cookbooks
When I made the decision to leave red meat behind, my step dad gave me a cookbook called The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine by Rose Elliot. My step sister, a strict vegetarian, had cooked for years with this same cookbook. It was one of the best gifts I've ever received. It's out of print, but you can pick up a copy online for super cheap.
The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine has one of the most comprehensive pictorial and written descriptions of food, herbs and spices I've seen in a book and online. Some of the recipes are more complicated with a long list of ingredients, but there are plenty of quick and easy recipes, many that I prepared over and over in college.
Another book I found really inspiring was 30 Minute Vegetarian Recipes by Mary Gwynn. Her dishes are simple and full of flavor.
Vegetarian cooking has come a long way and there are many great cookbooks. Browse around the bookstore and I guarantee you'll find something that appeals to you.
Even if becoming a vegetarian isn't in your future, you'll notice something as you research those recipes. You'll be inspired to make sure that fruits and vegetables are no longer an afterthought. Vegetarian recipes will give you some tasty ideas for side dishes and even some great desserts!
Have you considered becoming a vegetarian? Are you a vegetarian with advice for others? Share your comments below.
Copyright © 2008 The Collegiate Gourmet. All rights reserved. Photo © Jon Sullivan
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written by emily, October 30, 2008
Great blog! I'm not vegetarian but I understand (and totally respect) those who choose meat-free lifestyles, whether its for moral or health reasons, or simply taste preference. I was raised by a vegetarian (pescetarian, to be more precise) mother, so I never really noticed whether we were having meat or not.
Like you, when I got to college, it was just easier to not eat meat...until I was forced by my body to accept a vegan lifestyle for a year or so. Then, suddenly I was craving meat. Weird. But the cookbook that got me through that period of time, and which I still find myself referencing, was the Voluptuous Vegan. I still cook recipes from there, although I admit to taking non-vegan shortcuts now that I can. I don't know that I could ever give up meat now, but I do my best to consume it in moderation. As Kang (above) said, moderation is the key to a balanced diet.
Also: Do you eat fish at all, or do you just avoid red meat?
Thanks!
-emily
Chicago Dining Examiner
Like you, when I got to college, it was just easier to not eat meat...until I was forced by my body to accept a vegan lifestyle for a year or so. Then, suddenly I was craving meat. Weird. But the cookbook that got me through that period of time, and which I still find myself referencing, was the Voluptuous Vegan. I still cook recipes from there, although I admit to taking non-vegan shortcuts now that I can. I don't know that I could ever give up meat now, but I do my best to consume it in moderation. As Kang (above) said, moderation is the key to a balanced diet.
Also: Do you eat fish at all, or do you just avoid red meat?
Thanks!
-emily
Chicago Dining Examiner
written by kang, October 30, 2008
I grew up in a family which not only loves to eat, but loves trying all kinds of foods. So this herbivore vs carnivore debate almost completely does not apply to me because my approach when it comes to food is : I will eat stuff that tastes good and will tend to avoid stuff that's not good.
That's the taste factor. Then there's the healthy factor as well. Being quite a health concious person, I recognise the importance (rather, I place emphasis) on having a balanced diet. Not only does this promote healthy lving, but more interestingly, it allows me to eat more colourfully. Proteins from meat, fbires from greens , carbs from rice , etc that kind of thing.
However having said that, it does not imply that vegetarians can't have balanced diets, becos the various nutriets can be replaced by vege options quite easily. I suppose the opposite is true for red meats, too much of it is not exaclty healthy.
And hence, back to my original championing of a balanced diet. Everything in moderation and variety - is the spice , and recipe for life
That's the taste factor. Then there's the healthy factor as well. Being quite a health concious person, I recognise the importance (rather, I place emphasis) on having a balanced diet. Not only does this promote healthy lving, but more interestingly, it allows me to eat more colourfully. Proteins from meat, fbires from greens , carbs from rice , etc that kind of thing.
However having said that, it does not imply that vegetarians can't have balanced diets, becos the various nutriets can be replaced by vege options quite easily. I suppose the opposite is true for red meats, too much of it is not exaclty healthy.
And hence, back to my original championing of a balanced diet. Everything in moderation and variety - is the spice , and recipe for life
written by thehungryengineer, October 30, 2008
I'm personally likely to not ever adopt a completely vegetarian diet, however, there are times where I plan meals where my husband and I don't consume meat - and I've certainly reduced the amount of meat we consume considerably. I've even caught myself doing this once or twice by accident.
And you're right - there are tons of great cookbooks out there. One that I've particularly enjoyed (amazingly enough) is Veganomicon. I'm not wild about the notion of faux meat, but I love their full-flavored, legume-heavy vegan mains - those ladies do beautiful things with lentils.
And you're right - there are tons of great cookbooks out there. One that I've particularly enjoyed (amazingly enough) is Veganomicon. I'm not wild about the notion of faux meat, but I love their full-flavored, legume-heavy vegan mains - those ladies do beautiful things with lentils.
written by Lynn, October 30, 2008
As an omnivore, I respect the vegetarian's right to decide what he or she wants to consume. In fact, my father would consume only vegetarian meals on the first and fifteen of every lunar month for religious reasons. When I dine with him on those days, I'm perfectly happy with the mock fish among my fried noodles with vegetables. While I don't know if I'll ever be ready to go all the way and become a vegetarian, I do believe that eating a greater portion of vegetables and fruits over meat is better for one's health in the long run. Just my two carrots' worth.
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@Emily @Lynn I eat fish and chicken. I could easily give up chicken but I could never give up fish. I love sushi too much.
@Kang I think most people agree with you that everything in moderation is a good motto.