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MrsR
My love.
Member since 5/05 6247 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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I am thinking about giving up meat....
and possibly eggs and dairy too - but I can use some encouragement...anyone a vegetarian or vegan that can offer some support?
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Posted 2/20/08 3:45 PM  |
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lilqtny
-Crossfit & pitbull addict
Member since 7/06 2830 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
me me me
I love it and have never felt healthier than I do now. 
oh yea, you can FM me questions too!!
I do not eat eggs, but I do use milk and eat yogurt.
Message edited 2/20/2008 6:06:00 PM.
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| Posted 2/20/08 5:33 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I think you're making a great decision for your health! I gave up meat 9 years ago and eggs and dairy 4 years ago and I'm so happy with my decision. Feel free to FM me with any questions!
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| Posted 2/20/08 5:39 PM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Jen, I have been a veggie since Junior year of college... Now back then, it was bagels from the campus center and eggplant parm from Paesans (sp?) . But obviously over the last 12  years, I have learned how to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
I do eat dairy, BUT I mostly have soy dairy products (at least when I am cooking myself), and when I eat eggs, I only eat egg whites (except if it's in a cookie!).
I will tell you, I think being a vegan is extremely difficult. If you are always making your own food, that's one thing-- but even being a lacto ovo vegetarian, it's a pain to go out to eat, go to someone's house to eat, etc.
I think you should try cutting meat out first, and gradually make other changes and see what works best for your lifestyle. If you need some ideas for foods-- I can help!
BTW, I track what I eat every day and I get about 55 to 65 grams of protein a day-- which is probably even more than one needs in a day. Americans eat WAY too much protein (i.e. meat) which contributes to a lot of health problems.
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| Posted 2/21/08 9:39 AM |
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RadioLau
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2179 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I am a vegetarian of sorts. I eat fish and dairy. I have recently cut way down on my dairy because I think I am allergic to it and I have felt much better.
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| Posted 2/21/08 12:27 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by randella
I will tell you, I think being a vegan is extremely difficult. If you are always making your own food, that's one thing-- but even being a lacto ovo vegetarian, it's a pain to go out to eat, go to someone's house to eat, etc.
Being vegan can be a pain in the butt sometimes, especially at first as you're learning what you "can" and "can't" eat, as well as what you should eat. But it gets so much easier with time. Eating at other peoples' houses can be a pain sometimes, but for the most part it's fine. I've also learned to cook and bake, so I have people to my house or bring something with me.
Like Randi said, it was easier for me to do it in stages. First I gave up red meat (which wasn't too big of a deal for me), 6 months later I gave up fish and poultry. Then there was an adjustment period where I gave more things up after finding out they contained or were made with dead animals (gelatin springs to mind). A few years later when I decided to go vegan I first stopped buying anything that I knew wasn't vegan, but finished what I had in the house, because I didn't want to waste. Now I don't eat animal products at all and know pretty well what to eat when I'm at a restaurant or a friend's house.
The most important thing is to make sure you eat a well-balanced diet, not just french fries and romaine lettuce salads. I try to eat lots of fiber, fruits and veggies and make sure to get a bunch of protein and some "good" fats. Don't be afraid to try new things - seitan and tempeh, especially!
For example, here's what I'm eating today:
Breakfast: Multi-grain hot cereal w/ flax seeds, w/ a banana and brown sugar.
Lunch: Seitan "chicken" slices sandwich w/ veganaise and mustard (no lettuce or tomato in the house  ). Carrot sticks.
Snacks: Bean salad, BBQ rice chips (no fruit in the house, either )
Dinner: Veggie stir fry w/ brown rice
Dessert: Dark chocolate
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| Posted 2/21/08 1:15 PM |
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BlondeJD
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 1068 total posts
Name:
Me!!!
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I gave up all meat (red meat, chicken and pork) about 6 months ago. It was MUCH easier than I thought it would be, especially considering that I used to eat a lot of meat as a low-carber. I still eat fish, but now I eat fish once or twice a week. Mostly, I have a lot of beans - curried lentils, vegetarian chili with soy crumbles (they add a meat texture the chili). I still eat dairy but it grosses me out a bit, so I've started buying soy cheese. I tried soy milk, but it wasn't for me. Good luck!
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| Posted 2/21/08 1:55 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I have been thinking of doing the same thing. Not giving up dairy (I don't have too much dairy anyway). I only eat chicken and turkey but thinking of giving that up also.
My only problem is that my DH is a huge meat eater and I really don't want to have to make 2 dinners 
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| Posted 2/21/08 3:00 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by pmpkn087
My only problem is that my DH is a huge meat eater and I really don't want to have to make 2 dinners
You don't have to make two entire dinners! Not every night, at least. My DH doesn't eat much meat, but once a week or so we'll make veggie side dishes and I'll have a seitan cutlet and he'll have chicken breast. So our meals are mostly the same except one simple thing. Also, if you're making dinner, he should eat what you make. I'd say "this is what I'm making for dinner. I'm making enough for you, but if you'd like a steak, feel free to make one." I'm a grate A b!tch, though. But you can def. make most of the meal the same and then a simple meat dish for him in addition.
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| Posted 2/21/08 3:25 PM |
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KellyNYC
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/05 650 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Can you tell me what kind of Seitan you buy and how you cook it? I am new to not eating dairy and meat as well but have eaten Seitan at restaurants quite a bit and LOVE it. However, when I see it in Whole Foods it looks too intimidating!
TIA!
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| Posted 2/22/08 9:58 AM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by KellyNYC
Can you tell me what kind of Seitan you buy and how you cook it? I am new to not eating dairy and meat as well but have eaten Seitan at restaurants quite a bit and LOVE it. However, when I see it in Whole Foods it looks too intimidating!
TIA!
I actually make my own at home. I buy Vital Wheat Gluten Flour (you can actually make it from scratch with whole wheat and white flours, but I find that to be too time consuming and labor-intensive) and have several recipes I use. Most of the time I just kneed the flour with water and boil it in a broth (water, soy sauce, nutritional yeast and spices). When I do it this way, when it's done boiling (but usually the next day or whenever - I make a ton and freeze it) I'll bake it for 20 minutes or so, sometimes marinating it in BBQ sauce or something first. If I'm not using a sauce, I'll make a quick simple gravy using the same broth recipe, whisking in some flour and letting it thicken. Yum! This week I made it differently by mixing the flavorings I use in the broth right into the flour with 3/4 cups of water, formed a roll and baked it for 90 minutes and it came out very dense and slicable, so I'm using it on sandwiches. The recipes I usually work from are the chicken and turkey flavors in Sarah Kramer's La Dolce Vegan. There are tons of different ways to prepare seitan and you'll find a different way in just about every vegan cookbook.
If you buy the prepared stuff (I don't recommend this, because it's expensive and making it yourself is incredibly simple), I'd marinate it and bake or saute it.
HTH!
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| Posted 2/22/08 1:16 PM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by Whamtastic
Posted by KellyNYC
Can you tell me what kind of Seitan you buy and how you cook it? I am new to not eating dairy and meat as well but have eaten Seitan at restaurants quite a bit and LOVE it. However, when I see it in Whole Foods it looks too intimidating!
TIA!
I actually make my own at home.
you are freaking hard core!!
I NEVER make that stuff-- nor buy it at Whole Foods. I usually just have beans and high protein carbs, soy cheese and nuts at home.
Is it really that easy???
I actually prefer Tempeh though-- but, I feel you need to put too much oil in it when making at home. I only tried it once though.
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| Posted 2/22/08 1:26 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by randella
Posted by Whamtastic
Posted by KellyNYC
Can you tell me what kind of Seitan you buy and how you cook it? I am new to not eating dairy and meat as well but have eaten Seitan at restaurants quite a bit and LOVE it. However, when I see it in Whole Foods it looks too intimidating!
TIA!
I actually make my own at home.
you are freaking hard core!!
Is it really that easy???
It's SO easy! If you buy the vital gluten flour it's a matter of adding water (or whatever liquids) and spices (optional) and boiling it in broth (you can just use store-bought veggie broth if you don't want to season your own) or rolling it up, wrapping in foil and tossing in the oven. Super simple. And you can make a ton at a time, because it freezes really well, so I make like 8 cutlets at a time and take them out when I want one.
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| Posted 2/22/08 1:47 PM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Do you have a basic recipe you can send/post? With exact amount of each ingredient, etc.
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| Posted 2/22/08 2:03 PM |
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MrsR
My love.
Member since 5/05 6247 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Thanks all.
I am on day 2 without meat - so far it isnt hard but I haven't really been presented with any challenges yet.
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| Posted 2/22/08 2:04 PM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by randella
Do you have a basic recipe you can send/post? With exact amount of each ingredient, etc.
Recipes are all at home, but I can post some over the weekend.
I mostly work off of Sarah Kramer's mock chicken and mock turkey from La Dolce Vegan, though.
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| Posted 2/22/08 2:55 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by Whamtastic
Posted by pmpkn087
My only problem is that my DH is a huge meat eater and I really don't want to have to make 2 dinners
You don't have to make two entire dinners! Not every night, at least. My DH doesn't eat much meat, but once a week or so we'll make veggie side dishes and I'll have a seitan cutlet and he'll have chicken breast. So our meals are mostly the same except one simple thing. Also, if you're making dinner, he should eat what you make. I'd say "this is what I'm making for dinner. I'm making enough for you, but if you'd like a steak, feel free to make one." I'm a grate A b!tch, though. But you can def. make most of the meal the same and then a simple meat dish for him in addition.
You make a great point and I am on day 3 with no meat!!!!
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| Posted 2/23/08 7:52 AM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Posted by MrsR
Thanks all.
I am on day 2 without meat - so far it isnt hard but I haven't really been presented with any challenges yet.
Same here!!! This is my 3rd day.
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| Posted 2/23/08 7:53 AM |
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MrsB-07
proud RELAXIVIST
Member since 11/07 2027 total posts
Name:
b
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I am!! FM for any info! I have tons of cookbooks and stuff I can suggest - it's hard at first because most restaurants and such serve meat... but once you get used to it, it's easy to know how to eat and what to eat! Also, it's very important to take proper supplements! The most important is B12 because that 95% comes from meat products... otherwise you'll never be healthier! Congrats on this decision!
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| Posted 2/23/08 8:45 AM |
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Whamtastic
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 997 total posts
Name:
Big Fat Baby with a Blackberry
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
Here are the two seitan recipes I mentioned:
From Sarah Kramer's La Dolce Vegan Faux Chicken Cutlets (I usually use an entire box of gluten flour and multiply everything so I have tons of leftovers):
Basic Instant Gluten
1/2 cup instant vital wheat gluten flour
1/2 cup water
In a medium bowl, stir together the wheat gluten and water until it becomes elastic. Knead for 5 minutes. Form into cutlets.
Faux Chicken
2 cups water
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 heaping teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
In a medium sauce plan, bring all of the broth ingredient to a boil. Add prepared seitan into broth. Reduce heat and cover with lid. Let simmer for 50-60 minutes stirring every 10 minutes, until broth has reduced completely. Use chicken immediately in your dish of choice or store in the refrigerator (for up to 6 days) or the freezer (for up to 6 months)
OR
Alternately, I've also made it this way, which is great for slicing for sandwiches (so you don't have to eat heavily processed faux deli slices):
1.5 cups instant vital wheat gluten flour
3/4 cups water
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 heaping teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Preheat oven to 325°.
In a large mixing bowl mix dry ingredients. Mix the rest of the ingredients (liquid ingredients) in a smaller mixing bowl. Whisk well until mixed.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix well, then knead for a minute or two.. it doesn't need long.
Form into a log (6-8" long), wrap tightly in foil, twisting ends. Bake for 90 minutes. When done baking, unwrap and leave out to cool all the way. Then wrap it foil or plastic and refrigerate. Slice to use as desired.
Message edited 2/26/2008 5:10:08 PM.
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| Posted 2/26/08 1:45 PM |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
I am a vegetarian...just recently converted I can't ignore the reality of the cruelty that exists in the meat and dairy industry. It's been a lot easier to "convert" than I thought it would be. I still eat eggs, but now I make sure that they are from cage free hens and I drink Silk instead of milk. I think you are doing a great thing for the animals and for your health. Good luck!
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| Posted 2/27/08 7:39 PM |
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conigs25
So in love with this kid!
Member since 5/06 11197 total posts
Name:
Michele
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
GOOD LUCK!!!! I admire you. I was a vegetarian in college and was an idiot bc i didnt really "do it" right. I basically ate veggie burgers and pasta. I went back to just poultry. So i dont consider myself a veg, but i dont eat any "meat" or fish.
I always wanted to go back. I dont really know why i havent.
GOOD LUCK
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| Posted 2/27/08 8:12 PM |
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Re: I am thinking about giving up meat....
ME! I'm a vegan...
But you already knew that!
And Cailen is a vegetarian!
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| Posted 2/28/08 5:49 PM |
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