need reintroduction to vegetarianism

Hi Sheila,

My local chain groceries here in florida carry several brands of "Veggie Crumbles" which add good
texture to chili, I just made some yesterday. It's a bit softer, and in smaller bits than real meat,
but a great substitute. Btw, if my rural grocery stores carry it, you can get it anywhere : )
Usually in it's own vegetarian frozen section, but in some stores it's with the frozen breakfast
meats. Also, sometimes there's refrigerated stuff in the produce department. I especially like
Melissa's taco "meat", though it may seem a little vinegary until you get used to it. Oh, when you
try veggie burgers, enjoy them for the veggie part, not the burger part.

Oh, one more thing, try riblets if you like bbq. They're made by gardenburger, and are really yummy.
If you like McRibs (heaven forbid) you'll love these.

Stay away from the cheese! It's as bad for you as the meat (imho). There's plenty of protein around
without resorting to dairy.

Have fun, there's so much more out there than there used to be!

Allison

"WhansaMi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm going

back

Quoted message said:

to it. However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was

that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest form!).

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in

chilis? I

Quoted message said:

love chili, and make one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't

really

Quoted message said:

like it. Any other suggestions?

TIA!

Sheila

(WhansaMi) said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm going back to it. However, one of
the reasons that I went back to eating meat was that I *craved* dense protein. So, a couple of
questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian (oh so long ago) I pretty
much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at the food co-op, and had to be pressed, as
it only came in the softest form!). Do you have other recommendations today?

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in chilis? I love chili, and make
one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't really like it. Any other suggestions?

TIA!

you can use tvp in place of the ground meat ... one can barely tell the a difference ... if you do a
google search on tvp you will find scads of recipes ...

and as for protein -

vrg.orgprotein.htmOpen ↗

and

naturodoc.comprotein.htmOpen ↗

they show how easy it is to get all the protein we need from a vegan diet.

Pen

"WhansaMi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm going

back

Quoted message said:

to it. However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was

that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest form!).

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

Protein is not a problem. You get plenty from other sources: grains, legumes, soy, etc.

Quoted message said:

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in

chilis? I

Quoted message said:

love chili, and make one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't

really

Quoted message said:

like it. Any other suggestions?

Why do you need a meat substitute? You will always be disappointed trying to replicate your present
chili with meat. Try something different. I make great chili using several kinds of beans and corn.
I like it way better than the chili I used to make with meat or meat analogs.

[email hidden] (WhansaMi) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm going back to it. However, one
of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was that I *craved* dense protein. So, a couple of
questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian (oh so long ago) I pretty
much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at the food co-op, and had to be pressed, as
it only came in the softest form!). Do you have other recommendations today?

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in chilis? I love chili, and make
one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't really like it. Any other suggestions?

TIA!

Sheila

amyskitchen.comamyskitchen.comOpen ↗ Amy's makes INCREDIBLE vegan chili and burgers as well as many other
vegan items, if you cannot find it at local grocery stores there is a store locator on the Amy's
web site. Their chili tastes, I think anyway, like chili.This will definately help you out, the
first time i tried their chili i kept rereading the can, yep, its vegan! Peace and welcome back to
being veggie!

"WhansaMi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm going

back

Quoted message said:

to it. However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was

that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest form!).

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in

chilis? I

Quoted message said:

love chili, and make one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't

really

Quoted message said:

like it. Any other suggestions?

TIA!

Sheila

If you want to be a veggie then embrace vegetarianism, do not try and make faux dishes. Products
like 'veggie burgers' and vegetarian chilli are for veggies in denial. If you want a burger have a
burger, if you want to be a veggie have lettuce soup.

"Benfez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"WhansaMi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20031229215330.15174.00001881@mb-
m04.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Hi everyone. I was a vegetarian 15-18 years ago. I'm thinking I'm

going

Quoted message said:

back

Quoted message said:

to it. However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was

that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest

form!).

Quoted message said:

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

2. Similarly, what would you recommend as a substitute for meat in

chilis? I

Quoted message said:

love chili, and make one pot a week. I used tempeh long ago, but didn't

really

Quoted message said:

like it. Any other suggestions?

TIA!

Sheila

Quoted message said:

If you want to be a veggie then embrace vegetarianism, do not try and make faux dishes.

Faux dishes are great for people transitioning into vegetarianism.

Quoted message said:

Products like 'veggie burgers' and vegetarian chilli are for veggies in denial. If you want a
burger have a burger, if you want to be

a

Quoted message said:

veggie have lettuce soup.

Well, veggie burgers are fine sandwiches in their own right. You don't have to pretend they are beef
burgers. I made chili the other night when the temperature outside was in the single digits. You can
see I don't include anything that pretends to be beef.

Vegetarian Chili

2 cups maitake mushrooms, chopped 1 can pinto beans, drained 1 can black beans, drained 1 can corn,
drained 1 Qt canned tomatos, with liquid 1 onion, chopped 5 stalks celery, chopped 1 bell pepper,
chopped 1 habanero pepper, finely chopped 1 Tbs garlic, minced ancho chile powder, to taste (about
1/4 cup) cumin powder, to taste (about 2 Tbs) salt, pepper to taste

Saute the onions, celery, and bell peppers in a little olive oil until translucent. Add the tomatos,
garlic, mushrooms, and seasonings. Simmer over medium heat until the tomatos have broken down some,
about 15 minutes. Add the beans, corn and habanero and continue to simmer until reduced by about
1/4, or sufficiently thickened. Adjust seasonings. Serve with optional garnish of chopped scallions
and grated jack cheese.

Quoted message said:

However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest form!).

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

Protein is not a problem. You get plenty from other sources: grains, legumes, soy, etc.

Yes, I understand that-- by the numbers-- I will not be nutritionally deficient in protein. What I
am saying is that, when I was a vegetarian I *craved* dense protein. Was it because *my* body needed
more than average? Was it because I was used to the texture, sensation? I don't know. But, whatever
the case, I can tell you that I will not be successful in not eating meat again unless I have
something to get me through those times. So, given that, I am going to be less concerned about what
I *should* need, than what I need to do to be successful.

Sheila

Quoted message said:

you can use tvp in place of the ground meat ... one can barely tell the a difference ... if you do
a google search on tvp you will find scads of recipes ...

Thanks!

Sheila

Quoted message said:

My local chain groceries here in florida carry several brands of "Veggie Crumbles" which add good
texture to chili, I just made some yesterday. It's a bit softer, and in smaller bits than real
meat, but a great substitute. Btw, if my rural grocery stores carry it, you can get it anywhere : )
Usually in it's own vegetarian frozen section, but in some stores it's with the frozen breakfast
meats. Also, sometimes there's refrigerated stuff in the produce department. I especially like
Melissa's taco "meat", though it may seem a little vinegary until you get used to it. Oh, when you
try veggie burgers, enjoy them for the veggie part, not the burger part.

Oh, one more thing, try riblets if you like bbq. They're made by gardenburger, and are really
yummy. If you like McRibs (heaven forbid) you'll love these.

Stay away from the cheese! It's as bad for you as the meat (imho). There's plenty of protein around
without resorting to dairy.

Have fun, there's so much more out there than there used to be!

Allison

Thanks for the input. I'll look for them.

Sheila

"WhansaMi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

However, one of the reasons that I went back to eating meat was that I

Quoted message said:

*craved* dense protein. So, a couple of questions for you:

1. What forms of protein do you recommend? When I became a vegetarian

(oh so

Quoted message said:

long ago) I pretty much had cheese and tofu (which I could only find at

the

Quoted message said:

food co-op, and had to be pressed, as it only came in the softest

form!).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Do

Quoted message said:

you have other recommendations today?

Protein is not a problem. You get plenty from other sources: grains, legumes, soy, etc.

Yes, I understand that-- by the numbers-- I will not be nutritionally

deficient

Quoted message said:

in protein. What I am saying is that, when I was a vegetarian I *craved*

dense

Quoted message said:

protein. Was it because *my* body needed more than average? Was it

because I

Quoted message said:

was used to the texture, sensation? I don't know. But, whatever the

case, I

Quoted message said:

can tell you that I will not be successful in not eating meat again unless

I

Quoted message said:

have something to get me through those times. So, given that, I am going

to be

Quoted message said:

less concerned about what I *should* need, than what I need to do to be successful.

I don't know what to tell you except you will need will power to get you through the short term. You
will have become acclimated in the long term. It's not difficult...just do it.

In article <[email hidden]>, WhansaMi

Quoted message said:

when I was a vegetarian I *craved* dense protein.

I know exactly what you mean. TVP chunks do the trick for me. Try these recipes:

veganpeace.comIndonesianSatay.htmOpen ↗
electronworks.comVegetable Fried Rice auVin.htmlOpen ↗

I buy my TVP mail-order from these guys:

healthy-eating.comtexturedsoy.htmlOpen ↗

--
-John electronworks.comrecipesOpen ↗