protein ~ for Laurie

[Guest guest]

What it all comes down to is you have to choose the

best way to become a vegetarian for yourself. For some,

it is instantanious and they just want to quit eating all

animal related products. Usually this is based more on

an ethically based decision. For others, it can be better to

go more gradual, replacing a few animal products in their

diets over time and getting a feel for the new life change

as a learning process. It can be a bit overwhelming for this

type of person to just clear out the cupboards and begin

anew in seemingly uncharted territory.

 

I have every confidence that as you begin replacing certain

food items in your diet with vegetarian alternatives, you will

find it quite easy to do and also very delicious. There will not

be that sense of " having to settle " or going without that many

people newly contemplating vegetarianism fear will happen.

 

The one myth we all hear as vegetarians is that we are in

some sort of danger for becoming protein deficient.

In modern day living, finding yourself lacking in any nutrients

is really hard to do if you eat a balanced diet, unless you have

a certain medical challenge you are facing.

Just about everything we consume has some protein in it

and the idea that we won't get enough of it is rather amusing.

Read your labels and do a bit of math to see how much protein

you are getting daily, just as a way to assure yourself. An

average sized female of 140 lbs will usually only require 50

grams of protein daily ( about 65 grams for the average male).

Now, for myself today for breakfast, I ate one vegetarian sausage

patty, a bagel and a tablespoon of cream cheese. I did a little

calculating and found I already ate 18 grams of protein, well

on my way to getting more than enough from just one meal!

 

We have many delicious recipes for sandwich stuffers,

salads and wraps already in our files section. Do go and

check them out when you have time:

 

 

If you every have any questions about vegetarian foods or

meat replacement items, do feel free to ask us here. We

have many experienced and helpful people on this list who

are willing to share their opinions/info. Enjoy your new chosen

path.

 

~ PT ~

 

I don't tell the truth any more to those who can't make use of

it.Ê I tell it mostly to myself, because it always changes me.

~ Anais Nin

~~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

, " Laurie B " <laitaina@h...>

wrote:

 

> I like the gradual idea. Lately, I've been kicking myself for

slipping up.

> One day I came back from lunch and realized I'd ordered a CHICKEN

caesar

> salad, instead of a regular caesar. Whoops BTW, thanks for

explaining

> the terms. I was wondering what " lacto-ovo " meant.

>

> >What do you mean specifically about not having

> >quite mastered alternative protein sources? Perhaps

> >some us on this list can help you with some aspects

> >you are finding challenging by telling you about things

> >that have worked well for us. Again, good to have you here.

> >

> Thanks. I heard vegetarians had to be careful to consume enough

protein,

> since they're not getting it from meat. I'm not particularly fond

of protein

> shakes, even though they are easy to make.

>

> I'm looking for very basic recipes to start out with (ideally ones

that

> don't involve a stove <g>). Having grown up in the south, I am only

really

> familiar with the vegetables you would find in a stew. I also do a

great

> deal of driving. Healthy food is hard to come by on the road, so I

grab

> salads or fresh sandwiches where I can and keep cereal bars handy

for

when

> they're not. In a world where it's easier to find Coke than water,

it would

> seem healthier to brown-bag it.

>

> I thought I'd start out with things like homemade salads, pitas and

wraps.

> What would be good to put in those? I love hummus spreads and

refried

beans

> but am not sure what they go with. I'm also interested in learning

to use

> lentils, chick peas, tofu and salsa.

>

> Laurie

>