A Question For Vegetarians....
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Whoami

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 04:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hello. Just a question.

My Mom is very skinny, and is now in desparate need of nutrients. One of the things she doesnt' really have a stomach for any more is meat. She's not a vegetarian. But she does prefer her veggies, fruits and taters over any meat. She has a very small appetite, and will usually eat these things first, end up getting full, and put the meat away for "later." It usually sits in the fridge until it's too old to eat, and she throws it out.

So, the question is, what foods can she eat that will give her the same proteins (and whatever else she's missing out on) from not eating meat? She's very persnickity (at least, her stomach is), and I'm sure she won't go for things like tofu or whatever.

Any suggestions?

Tess

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Can she eat peanut butter or eggs? I'm not a vegetarian but I do know that both of those contain protein.

Oregonfire

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I think that legumes, or lentils and all the other beans, are a good source of protein, as are nuts and seeds. And spinach is good for iron, something else she might be missing out on if she isn't eating meat (though one website I checked refutes this). She should also be getting plenty of calcium to fight osteoporosis if she consumes dairy, also a good source of protein.

Also a multivitamin might help?

Wcv63

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:09 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
A drink such as Ensure would help your mom. Can you convince her to drink one every so often?

Karuuna

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually, it's pretty much a myth that veggies are missing out on protein. You really don't need as much as once believed. There are ten essential amino acids, and they are as readily available in veggies & fruits, as they are in meat.

If she eats a variety of fruits and veggies, as well as grains and beans, she's getting all the protein she needs. If anything it sounds like she may be missing out on the grains and legumes, so you could look into that.

Nuts are a good source of protein, but also a good source of fat. If she's skinny, that wouldn't be much of a problem. How about a peanut butter sandwich on some nice, *whole* grain bread?

She also needs good sources of calcium - so either dairy products, or green, leafy vegetables will provide those.

Seamonkey

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
If she likes avocados, they are tasty and full of GOOD fat and calories and other nutrients as well.

Hereiam

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 05:52 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
We are not vegetarians but we do a fair number of meatless meals (we eat meat maybe twice a week). The things that work well for us are:

(1) a variety of bean things - Beans & rice, bean enchiladas, soft tacos with beans & cheese, ect...
(2) spinach stuff - spinach stuffed manicotti, bread with spinach filling, spinach salads
(3) other legumes & vegetabls - lentil soups, hummus, vegetable soups, pasta
(4) Eggs - omelets, scrambled, ect..

Hope that helps some.

Whoami

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 06:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
These are great ideas so far!

Anyone have some good recipes? That spinach stuffed manicotti and bread with spinach filling sounds interesting.

She also can't handle greasy things (like cheese). She also doesn't do well with creamy sauces. She did try Ensure once, but it made her all shaky and wierd feeling (we think it's cause it has sugar in it).

Peanut butter and eggs are things she eats. We've often just had scrambled eggs for dinner!

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a legume?

Fruitbat

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 06:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I agree with Karuuna. I think there may be some underlying problem with Mom that is not about protein. It is very rare to be protein deficient.

Tess

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 06:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Legumes are things like peas, beans, peanuts.

Oregonfire

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 06:17 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LEGUMES are: Soybean sprouts, Soybean curd (tofu)
Soybeans, Lentils, Split peas,Kidney beans, Navy beans, Lima beans, Garbanzo beans

So basically beans. Has your mom had a check up recently?

the below fact sheet for protein seems pretty useful:

http://www.peta.org/mc/facts/fsveg1.html

Wargod

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 06:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Who, you can get Ensure for diabetics. Not sure if you're mom is diabetic or not, but it has no sugar in it.

Kaili

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 07:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bring on the questions- I have been a vegetarian since I was 12, my mom and two aunts since they were about 18, plus my cousin for about 15 years now.

Protein is rarely something people lack. The only thing vegetarians cannot get without a supplement is vitamin B-12.

I'm not a big recipe person- I throw a lot of stuff together and hope for the best usually :) but I do have a few good cookbooks and there's tons of recipes for everything on the web. As for greasiness of cheese- soy cheese solves that. It is expensive though and if it is vegan it doesn't ment (regular soy cheese has a milk byproduct that allows it to melt). If milk is a problem, soy milk works great (I use it for everything) and takes a long time to expire.

Let me know if you need to know anything else- my mom and my aunt (the vegetarians) are both nurses and could probably give me other information that may help.

Knightpatti

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 08:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I love Morning Star Breakfast Patties. I eat them with an English muffin and cream cheese. They are soy products. I do not know if you Mom will care for them. She may not like the texture of meat and that is why she is not eating meat anymore.

Kaili

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 08:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm thinking...
Does she like vegetable soups? You can get a lot of good vegetables in that way- spinach, beans, tomato, etc

Pasta? I have tons of pasta vegetable ideas...

Pesto, couscous, artichokes, zuccini? Pizza? There are good vegetarian pizzas where you can go light on cheese or use soy cheese..

Tofu can be cut in small pieces and often will take on the flavor of whatever it is cooked in. This may not be something you want to try, but it can easily be cut into burritos and stir fries.

I personally hate mushrooms, but you can do a lot with portabella and I am even willing to eat them in sandwiches. Another sandwich idea is to spread some hummus on- an aquired taste for some but it's good stuff on bread with fresh spinach and tomato.

Kaili

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 08:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Morningstar also has good roasted vegetable patties that aren't really that meaty in texture- they have chunks of zuccini and stuff in them. Not all stores seem to carry that particular kind (I have to go across town to a different store for those) but they have a good pizzaburger as well. All soy.

Kaili

Monday, July 01, 2002 - 08:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Pasta Primavera:

3 cups of assorted veggies (carrots, peas, broccoli, zuccini, etc)
1.5 cups broth (I use veg. broth but chicken would work too)
12 oz pasta (spirals or whatever- tortallini would be good too)
3/4 cup herb/dill sour cream dip

Simmer veggies and broth until tender, add pasta and dip- stir together and heat

Spinach bread:

4 cups flour (white or mixed with wheat- don't use more than 2 cups wheat though)
2 cups lukewarm water
2 cups spinach (fresh, cut)
1.5 tbsp dry yeast
1 egg
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
1-3 tbsp olive oil
half cup chopped peacans (optional)

-Put 1.5 cups water and sugar in bowl- stir in yeast and let it foam (5-10 minutes)
-Puree spinach with remaining water
-Add spinach to water/yeast bowl and stir
-Add salt, egg, oil, and pecans- stir
-Add flour one cup at a time, stirring- start kneading after 3rd cup if necessary
-Knead for a few minutes
-Preheat oven to 375- cover the bread mix at this time and allow to rise for about 40 minutes
-Put in greased baking pan and cook for about 20 minutes until knife in middle comes out clean

(I never tried this recipe so I don't know how it will work, but I want to after reading it! Yum!)

Hereiam

Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 07:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Who - I will type in the spinach recipes later today. They are not true vegetarian(vegan) since there is some cheese. But, they are quite good - even the kids eat them!

Is there a special recipe thread? Or should I just put them here?

Kaili

Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 07:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
There is/was a recipe thread somewhere- I remember seeing it a long time ago...Might be a good idea (I should have done it as well) so more people will be likely to see it.

When I make spinach manicotti I mix a box of frozen spinach and frozen chopped broccoli with ricotta and (sometimes) cottage cheese. I mix in crushed garlic and stuff like that as well then shove it in the shells, cover in sauce and cook it. I'm not a big recipe person so I pretty much pick a temperature and leave it in the oven or a long time (until the noodles cook themselves in the sauce).

I do spinach lasagna in a similar way, only with lasagna I have more chances to layer other stuff in like zuccini, eggplant, or whatever.

Weinermr

Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 09:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
TVCH Recipe Book

Donut

Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 12:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
wow , other morning star farm lovers! Their burgers called Grillers, veggie bacon and vegie hotdogs are all great too!
Whoami, what is the deal as far as cooking? Is preparation an issue? will she cook,or will someone cook for her, or do you want fast food?
like frozen dinners?
we have the same prob. with dad in law except opposite. he eats a piece of meat with nothing on the side.
I have found that giving him some local menus, or if you have a Takeout Taxi type of delivery service in town for her to have things that she likes delivered.
If she will eat fake meat stuff, tastes like meat but much lighter and made of soy usually, there are lots of good ones. Some include veggie meatballs, you can make them with spaghetti and a jar of sauce. Gardenburger makes good ones, and actually their gardenburger is good. tastes more like stuffing than a burger. Also boca burger makes chicken style patties and italian sausages.
all the morningstar products are great. they even make veggie corn dogs... Does she like fish or shrimp at all cuz salmon, or even salmon patties made from the can or baked fish with ritz cracker crumbs, or shrimp on pasta could be good. Trader joes would be a fun place to take her. they make some good prepared stuff. If she cant eat cheese, she could try veggie style cheese. they even make it shredded in the bag. you can find stuff like that plus other veggie stuff usually in the salad section of the supermarket.
i can come up with more later, being that i am a veggie, except i eat fish
you can totally be a veggie or eat like a veggie and gain weight. when i became a veggie about fifteen years ago, i put on a bunch of weight right away.

Lurkin

Monday, July 15, 2002 - 10:23 am EditMoveDeleteIP
There are soy protein powders that come in chocolate, vanilla etc flavors. I mix in milk, with ice cream, smoothies, milkshakes.

Aria

Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 11:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Okay I have a question for any vegan members (or anyone who knows the answer)

A while ago in one of the BB3 threads someone posted something about vegans not eating honey and I am wondering why.

Are bees considered animals? Aren't they a form of insect? I thought vegan mean't that you don't eat anything produced from an animal, fish, bird etc.

Kaili

Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 06:42 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Aria- It has something to do with the fact that bees produce honey and thus it is an animal product. Vegans also will not wear silk because it is an animal (silk worm) product. It is a fine line for many vegans in terms of just how extreme they will go.

Why wouldn't bees be considered animals? They are alive. The classification of "animal" covers insects, mammals, amphibians, etc.

Aria

Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Kaili, I thought it might be that. But now it opens up a whole bigger question for me. If bees are considered animals and therefore the honey they produce shouldn't be eaten, doesn't that also mean that the foods produced by the bees pollination should not be touched either? Without one there wouldn't be the other. That would mean no fruit of any kind, no beans and a whole host of other vegetables.

I am not trying to spark a debate, it just seems extreme in my opinion and I was trying to reconcile the concept in my mind.

Kaili

Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I found a better answer to your question at Vegan.com

Q. What's the buzz about honey?

A. Many vegans choose to eliminate honey from their diets because they believe honey belongs to the bees, just as cows' milk belongs to the cows. In addition, many people object to the cruelty inherent in beekeeping: some bees are invariably killed when the beekeeper gathers honey, and some beekeepers burn their hives at the end of each year.


I agree that it can be extreme, especially looking over that website. They mention certain beers are not vegan, products like film and tire rubber, etc that are hard to avoid. So I guess the concern is for the feelings of the bees. I guess....I don't feel sorry for them when one stings me but whatever. To each his own I suppose.

Aria

Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 11:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the link Kaili. Interesting reading. I think I'll try to find one of those books at the library.

I am not sure I can agree with all of the logic they employ, but being different is what makes the world go around.

I do find it interesting to find out where vegans are coming from so I can try to be more understanding when I come across somebody with those beliefs.

Kaili

Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 11:28 am EditMoveDeleteIP
There are certain people/beliefs I've heard of where they do think of eating plants as killing. I don't remember the name of these people but I assume that they don't live long.

The link for the A-Z animal products (or whatever it was called) on there takes you too Amazon and various books on the topic. That may give you some ideas as well.