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Location: Everybody is going to hurt you, you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for-B Marley
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Sorry, in ME--lol
Slowly over the years I've cut most meats out of my diet b'c I found I was getting grossed out whenever I ate it. I quit eating steak and other meats years ago but I've been having a hard time stopping my occasional favorite of all--meatballs and spaghetti (I make the best meatballs on the planet, I swear). Last time I had them I got grossed out and didn't enjoy it. Maybe I'm brainwashing myself or something, I dunno, but I'm glad it's happening. I feel like I'm almost there.
How did everyone else decide to become a vegetarian and accomplish it? It seems like there's so much to know and I know none of it.
I love those too! I am usually no fan of "fake meats" but I do like those and I also like the Boca italian sausage and "bratwursts"....
To your original question... even as a kid, meat would often gross me out and after I learned more on how these animals live their sad tortured lives and how they die, I decided to quit contributing to the meat industry. At first I ate eggs or dairy, but then slowly eliminated them. I got a fairly simple vegetarian cookbook and just went from there. I would go to Amazon and just type in vegetarian cookbooks and read the reviews. Also check at your local library and get some of the books for recipe ideas. Where we used to live, they had a very active vegetarian group, which was helpful for new veggies and our pot-lucks used to have some amazing food. You might want to check out the vegetarian times magazine, which always has good articles and recipes. There are so many books out there on vegetarianism and cookbooks now! This wasn't the case 25 years ago when I went veggie.
Check out this forum for ideas and if you have questions, ask away...
__________________
The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. ~Henry David Thoreau
... The first thing that came to mind was "MEAT BALLS!"
Here's a recipe that is not mock meat but it stands on its own and is wonderful. Several of my omni friends make these for themselves. Sorry I can't show you the picture Enjoy!
Tofu Spaghetti Balls
Serves 4-6 Makes twenty-four 1 1/2" balls
Mix together well:
3/4 pound tofu, mashed
1/2 cup flour, bread crumbs, rolled oats, or corn flakes (I use whole wheat flour)
1 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine (I use dry with equivalent measure from jar directions)
1 small onion, chopped fine
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp black pepper
Roll into 1 1/2" balls. Roll balls in flour and fry in 1/2" oil over medium heat until browned all over. Turn each ball about every three minutes. Serve with hot spaghetti (and Italian style tomato sauce).
Per Ball: Calories:58 Protein:2gm Fat:4gm Carb:3gm
Most of my meals are vegi, but I do like meat from time to time. For the last 20 yrs I have found it really quite easy to be a vegitarian if you simply stop trying to replace meat. I don't need a bunch of special cookbooks although I have two for vegi meals. I can still use the wonderful old cookbooks I have too. Many of the dishes I made with meat can be made without. One thing I think is important to note is that many of the vegi substitute burgers, sausage, etc. have a lot of sodium. I only wish I would have paid attention to sodium 10 yrs ago, because now I have to. Also, for a meal of what used to be baked potato, steak, vegi now just take out the meat and have an extra vegi or two. And some fruit. And grains. Have a nice salad. Mix grains such as rice in with your spinach salad. Anyhow, have fun and use the K.I.S.S. system in life.
Location: Everybody is going to hurt you, you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for-B Marley
9,516 posts, read 20,050,372 times
Reputation: 9419
Quote:
Originally Posted by whatnow
Most of my meals are vegi, but I do like meat from time to time. For the last 20 yrs I have found it really quite easy to be a vegitarian if you simply stop trying to replace meat. I don't need a bunch of special cookbooks although I have two for vegi meals. I can still use the wonderful old cookbooks I have too. Many of the dishes I made with meat can be made without. One thing I think is important to note is that many of the vegi substitute burgers, sausage, etc. have a lot of sodium. I only wish I would have paid attention to sodium 10 yrs ago, because now I have to. Also, for a meal of what used to be baked potato, steak, vegi now just take out the meat and have an extra vegi or two. And some fruit. And grains. Have a nice salad. Mix grains such as rice in with your spinach salad. Anyhow, have fun and use the K.I.S.S. system in life.
With me, it's not that I try to replace meat b'c I don't. I don't even miss it unless I want spaghetti and meatballs. Unfortunately, that happens to be my favorite meal. I have it about once a month. More like once every 6 to 8 weeks now that I think about it.
That's good to know about sodium. I have to watch mine too b'c of htn.
One day we realized we had not eaten meat for two days, so we just decided to be vegetarian. We haven't had meat in several years now. I never really liked killing things anyway.
Here's a recipe that is not mock meat but it stands on its own and is wonderful. Several of my omni friends make these for themselves. Sorry I can't show you the picture Enjoy!
Tofu Spaghetti Balls
Serves 4-6 Makes twenty-four 1 1/2" balls
Mix together well:
3/4 pound tofu, mashed
1/2 cup flour, bread crumbs, rolled oats, or corn flakes (I use whole wheat flour)
1 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine (I use dry with equivalent measure from jar directions)
1 small onion, chopped fine
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp black pepper
Roll into 1 1/2" balls. Roll balls in flour and fry in 1/2" oil over medium heat until browned all over. Turn each ball about every three minutes. Serve with hot spaghetti (and Italian style tomato sauce).
Per Ball: Calories:58 Protein:2gm Fat:4gm Carb:3gm
Oooh, I do have this cookook but I never have used it and I have not cooked really in a while, at least from scratch so I am probably no help! I do like to cook but just never really seem to "get" there... small, cluttered kitchen that get messey fast, Doesn't help!!!
I have a bunch of books too!
Anyway, good for you, Public_Newsense!
I bet you will find that you feel better, with higher energy and also may even enjoy eating more (not "more" food... ) but look forward to eating meals that are new and healthier!
happy exploring!!!
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I do like to cook but just never really seem to "get" there... small, cluttered kitchen that get messey fast, Doesn't help!!! 
) but look forward to eating meals that are new and healthier! 
