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Vegitarian help please....

Motokid

Motokid

New Member
My daughter (almost 13 years old now) has decided she wants to be a vegitarian...and we're trying to be sympathetic to her wishes. So last night we all tried our first veggie burgers. Morningstar Farms to be exact.

http://www.kelloggs.com/cgi-bin/brandpages/prodfam.pl?family=363&company=23&template=burgers

I grilled them. I was pleasantly surprised. We will be trying the Morningstar Farms chicken fingers here soon too. I'm wondering what other vegitarians eat to replace the nutrients in meats. Is Morningstar a good place to start, or is that the crap-de-la-crap of all things veggie?

I realize that buying frozen/store-bought is not as elegant as from-scratch/homemade, but we're just getting started here. I plan to try to get more involved as time moves forward, but as a place to sort of, dip your toe in the water to find out if the water's hospitable, I'm looking for help and advice.

Right now I'm looking for the emotional substitute for hamburger and chicken. We like to grill it quite frequently. Is there a "best" substitute for hamburgers on the grill, and/or chicken on the grill?
 
Motokid said:
My daughter (almost 13 years old now) has decided she wants to be a vegitarian...and we're trying to be sympathetic to her wishes. So last night we all tried our first veggie burgers. Morningstar Farms to be exact.
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Make her eat the veggie burgers but don't eat them yourself unless you actually want to. When kids start this vegetarian crap they seem to want to enforce their new found beliefs on others. Slap her about the head and tell her that you'll respect her wishes to eat veggie stuff but she shouldn't expect others to conform to her way of living.
 
We have no intention of "making the family go veggie" just because of her.

I just want to try some of the stuff too. The veggie burger was pretty good. I could see alternating beef and veggie every now and then, but never giving up on meat completely. I like both the red meats and the chickens and such too much to give it up.

That's why humans have different kinds of teeth. We are supposed to eat some meats. It's more "natural" to eat meats than not. But I don't have a problem with trying out some of the veggie stuff too.
 
we aren't vegetarians but we eat a lot of vegetarian meals. a lot of tofu. japanese is very easy to make veg.
 
I was a vegetarian for 15 years, and they were the most healthy years of my life...then I met and married an Italian chef, and although the spirit was trying to be willing, the flesh got weak ( well caved in immediately actually).

Now I'm about 5 kilos overweight and have a cholesterol level to die for (literally).

Just make sure your girl is getting enough protein through cheese etc, don't knock her if she succumbs to temptation, and warn her to get her defence ready, I had to defend myself to so many people over something I wasn't doing, it got to be a real pain.
 
I am a veggie but he who believes meat rules the world and daughter are not. There are many different options. I don't know the brand you're talking about but we don't eat veggie burgers anyway.

There are many salads that can be eaten by everyone.

In our household, food is cooked with veggies first for me and then put into a bowl/plate and then they add meat to finish the dish. Handy with stir-fries.

Stewart - I decided to be a veggie at the age of 9 and I haven't changed.
 
Nice to see you agian Geenh,

yeah, we're big on salads, but that's always been the case.

The kid does still eat seafood too. At least for now. Which is good.

The main thing I'm looking for is the replacement/substitute for meat/chicken.
 
I'm a veggie also.

Am not aware of the brand you cited Moto - not sure if we get it over here.

There is much more choice aside from the usual veggie burgers/fingers/pies etc. Veggie lasagne is great, theres the usual salads,various pasta dishes, stirfrys etc.If you miss the 'chunky meat taste' in your vegetables then there is a vegetable alternative called Soya, its available in chunks as well as minced, apparently it tastes just like chicken.

ready made or quick meals are available but i find that only a very small percent of them actually taste good - veggie burgers are one of the exceptions - mexican style veggie burgers are very tasty.

I guess the nutrients issue depends on whether she's giving up just meats or eggs etc as well. In any case i'd be happy to pass on some quick easy recipes.
 
Motokid said:
I'm wondering what other vegitarians eat to replace the nutrients in meats.
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My sister and I are vegetarians, but we never really "replaced" the meat with something else. Sure, we'll eat quorn sometimes, but according to the nutritionist my sister consulted, there really wasn't any need for a replacement... Just make sure you eat different kinds of stuff.
 
Motokid said:
The main thing I'm looking for is the replacement/substitute for meat/chicken.
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How do you mean, replacement? Are you looking for something that imitates the taste or an equivalent in terms of nutrition? If you are looking for something with the same taste and feel, as regular meat eaters, I doubt that you will find it, but as far as nutrition is concerned there are plenty of healthier alternatives to meat products.

I'd say go out and get a good veggie cookbook. I used to make a mean nutburger, and no jokes please, they were really delicious. You may find that it's all a bit more labour intensive, as you tend to have to do a bit more preparation, but that's good isn't it? There are some great cookbooks around, and not everything involves lentils!
 
we eat tvp (textured vegetable protein, is tastier than it sounds) a lot too. it works great in any dish that usually requires ground beef ie tacos, spagetti, cabbage rolls.
 
oh yeah, she still eats eggs too....for now....

any simple recipes would be appreciated.....

she had veggie lasagna at a restaurant and loved it. I think it was spinach lasagna to be exact.
 
Motokid said:
I've heard of falafel....what is it? Is it like tofu?
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It's basically deep fried peas. I think chickpeas are most commonly used.

You should be able to get it at any place that serve kebab. Around here it's not uncommon that hamburger stands has it.
 
Wolhay said:
It's basically deep fried peas. I think chickpeas are most commonly used.

You should be able to get it at any place that serve kebab. Around here it's not uncommon that hamburger stands has it.
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I googled it....chic peas it seems is the "material"....thanks, I'll look into it....
 
Stewart said:
Make her eat the veggie burgers but don't eat them yourself unless you actually want to. When kids start this vegetarian crap they seem to want to enforce their new found beliefs on others. Slap her about the head and tell her that you'll respect her wishes to eat veggie stuff but she shouldn't expect others to conform to her way of living.
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Stewart your so bloody right i went though this with my oldest girl a few yrs ago,and she tryed to get us all to eat vegetarian crap! But this only lasted a couple of weeks till she missed mcdonalds! :)
 
I think there is much more "abuse" coming from those that want to change her mind then visa-versa. She's understanding enough to know this is her choice, and not a crusade to take-up against everybody else.

Which is exactly why I don't mind trying to accomidate her wishes, and to try some of the food myself.
 
Motokid you just have to go with her on this,it will either pass or she will become a vegetarian for the rest of her life! :)
 
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