I really want to be a vegitarian...but

Question

its hard when i go out with my parents for diner and theres nothing to eat but salad. and i get super hungery without enough protine. any suggestions....also how do i use tofu, can i use it like chicken...OH btw, i have completly eleminated red meat from my diet. and pork. only chicken right now...but now i want that gone as well.

Answer 1

i've tried tons of times before.

just take it slow.

first lets just say you eliminate beef

and then pork

and then sea food

and then this

and that.

personally, i eat chicken and seafood.

with Tofu you can eat it in soup!!

oh wait i didn't even finish reading your question.you already did the eliminating thing.

idk take it slow soon you won't care thats what happend to mee! just think about the poor chickies

Answer 2

I have had the same issue before; especially in my home country where people would just not understand what do I mean a meal with no meat... But, if you just ask nicely most of them will make you something even if they don't have it on the menu. For example, if the menu says omelette with ham, I ask them to put cheese instead of ham; if it's fettuccine primavera with chicken, I just ask them not to put chicken, etc. In fact I’ve worked at a restaurant, and most restaurants have the ‘no chicken’, ‘no bacon’, etc. options on the computer that the servers use to make the order.

As far as the protein goes, it's just a misconception that you have to eat meat to get protein. Soy and soy products (my favourite are smoked tofurkey and smoked tofu) have lots of protein. So do milk and dairy products, nuts and eggs. And I’m sure there are lots more, those are just my favourite ones.

Answer 3

When eating out, I typically try to custom order my dishes. It is not too difficult. Also, try to go places where everyone in your family can be happy. Ruby Tuesdays is a great start. Their salad bar is filled with pasta and yummy veggies!

As for feeling hungry, try to eat food that are high in fiber. Avocados are great to prevent hunger. Nuts and legumes are also good for you. They contain complex carbs and protein that will prevent hunger too. If you are eating a lot of bread and rice, this will give instant energy but a crash later on.

I read a lot of www.nutritiondata.com. This site is great. Again, try to focus on protein, fiber, and complex carbs. You will not have a hard time staying full - trust me!

Here is a list foods with the highest amounts of protein.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-00007...

Legume proteins

http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-01607...

Answer 4

They do have substitutes.  My brother and I are both vegetarians.  He has been for a year and two months and I have been for 8 months.  Anyway, at Costco and Safeway they have fake hamburger, fake chicken strips, fake chicken cordon bleu, fake hamburgers/hotdogs, etc. I think the brand is called Yves.

You need to be getting the proper protien, so eat lots of nuts, peanut butter, eggs, etc.

oh and at restraunts, what I usually do is order a couple different appetizers instead of one of their meals.

Answer 5

First of all, the idea that vegetarians don't get enough protein is an ancient myth.  Protein is found in abundance in plant foods, and scientific studies consistently show that vegetarians get plenty of protein. Great vegetarian sources of protein include legumes and foods made from them (e.g., beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, peanut butter, tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and soy-based mock meats), nuts, seeds, nutritional yeast, and whole grains.

It was once thought that various plant foods had to be eaten together in order to get their full protein value, but research has shown that this is not the case; a varied diet of nutritious plant foods provides all the protein that you need, plus lots of health-boosting vitamins and minerals. Unlike animal protein, plant-based protein sources usually also contain healthy fiber and complex carbohydrates. Animal products are often high in artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, and consumption of animal protein has been linked to some types of cancer.

According to the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. Plus, it's suspected that the high sulfur content of animal protein weakens people's bones. For example, a study by researchers at the University of California found significantly less bone formation in meat-eating women than in vegan women.

As far as going out to eat with your parents, that's an easy fix.  You just have to train yourself to read the menu differently.  There will be meat in most of the entrees, but the restaurant WILL carry vegetarian foods.  You have to stop looking at the whole meal and simply read the ingredients instead.  Here is an example:

You see that the restaurant has an entree of penne pasta in a garlic sauce topped with chicken and broccoli.  Order the pasta and request it without chicken, and instead ask them to just add more broccoli, or another vegetable of your choice.  Here's another example that I use all the time:

You're at lunch and you see one entree that is a BLT with fries, and another one that is a mushroom burger with fries.  So you already know that this restaurant has burgers, buns, bacon, cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes and french fries.  So what do you order?  You ask for a BLT with NO bacon, but to substitute it will some grilled mushrooms and fries on the side.

It's as easy as that.  Remember, look at the ingredients, not the entrees.  As a paying customer you are allowed to ask for special orders.

Answer 6

when you go out to eat find something that sounds appealing to you. then try to imagine it without the meat and order it that way. most times the chef has no problem with it and it tastes just as yummy! as far as using tofu, its very simple. tofu takes on the taste of anything you cook it with.  stir fry is one of my favorite dishes with tofu with lots of veggies.  first you fry the tofu just until it is brown.  this wont take long and will work best if you drain the tofu and pad it dry before frying it.  then find a stir fry sauce that looks good to you (they can be found in almost any grocery store). finally put veggies of your choice (cut up into bite sized pieces) into the pan you had the tofu in and fry them.  after they seem tender add your sauce and stir in the tofu.  from there its only a matter of seconds until you're done!  as far as the veggies you use its totally up to you but i enjoy things such as broccoli, carrots, celery, mushrooms (i know its not a vegetable), and bok choy.

Answer 7

Here's a tip, don't be vegetarian. Chicken is fine. Eat chicken and fish, they're both good sources of protein and vitamins.  

Answer 8

The next time you go to the restaurant with your family, ask the server or waiter/waitress if they can make a certain food item without the meat. If they can, they will take a dollar or two of the bill to save your parents some money that way to because I did it this way once because I have been a vegetarian for about 4 months now.