how can i stay vegetarian through the winter?

**quiltingmommy** · 10-13-2008, 10:36 AM

Anyone else wondering that? I went veg at the beginning of the summer with all the fresh bounty around me. DH & DS are omni/somewhat omni so I've had to change our menu to reflect our tastes. I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to cook this winter. I used to roast a whole chicken (free range), eat a meal, make a soup, etc with the leftovers. Pot roast, the same thing, make beef stew, etc. Now I'm thinking...what the heck am I going to eat this winter that is't the same old vegetarian thing? Plus veggies will cost more since they're not in season. (I know, frozen veggies - but DS only eats raw veggies to begin with.)

what do other vegetarians living in an omni world do?

**perSue** · 10-13-2008, 10:47 AM

well i've been veg for tons of yrs...
and my secret: i shop seasonally.

lol not much of a secret, i know!

Fall/Winter foods are squashes, and other root veggies... like potatoes.
If a food is on special, grab it & get creative.

Otherwise, lots of homemade soups (with rice, beans, barley, root veg, other grains), pasta dishes (on stove or in oven... TONS of options here!).

Now, I don't eat cheese, but there's always the soup & sammy dinner... grilled cheese (add onions, tomatoes, pickles... whatever you like to make it fancy or just eat plain

).

There's "lentil loaf"... and it doesnt always have to be made w/lentils!

You can make a gravy if you like or just top with a chutney of sorts.

Some fruits are also seasonal... so those are great as snacks, breakfasts and desserts... apples, some melons are good choices.

I tend to shy away from "cold" foods in winter... so fewer salads (unless i have a warm bean, mash or something to go with it).
so lots of soups, stews and baked casseroles.

cooking is meant to be fun and creative... see what's local and seasonal in your stores... foods you like and are complimentary with what you have on hand.

Example:
Spaghetti squash. Bake, scrape from gourd... naturally creates a "spaghetti" look... add your choice of sauces (cream sauces would be good here), tomato sauce/chutney, just butter & herbs, or top with a "primavera" sauce/veg combo.

Kids tend to like it too... it has a slight sweet taste to it, but doesnt overpower anything you may add to it (ie, sauces).

**quiltingmommy** · 10-13-2008, 11:03 AM

DH and I LOVE spaghetti squash (and all winter squashes!) but DS wont eat it because it's a cooked vegetable. He's also the only kid I know who will not eat mashed, baked, boiled potatoes! Or mac n cheese! or soup. or casseroles (incl lasagna). loves chili though!

I already plan on making soups with my vege base but since this is my first winter without meat, I'm having trouble coming up with menus that everyone likes, without having to make 3 different meals.

for instance: if I make a stir fry, i fry up some chicken, tofu, vegetables all separately and make the sauce seperately. then each of us can put whatever we like on our plate and sauce it. but I can only make so many stir fries. pasta is made at least once a week. hm pizza another time per week. regular burgers for them, vege (or portabello) for me. chicken for them, tofu for me. steak for them, a bunch of beans and stuff for me. It's just getting old and the vegetarian recipe books aren't helping me!

DS did say the next time I make enchiladas, he would try one. (beef & cheese for them, bean, tvp and cheese for me) we'll see if he actually follows through with that though! (btw: he's 9 - not an easy age to get him to try things)

**perSue** · 10-13-2008, 11:20 AM

lol i totally get what you're going through.

there are some nights i make 2 very separate meals... one for me... and another for ds & dh. i dont want to impose my diet on them, and they do try a lot of things i make that are veggie. so i "treat" them by making something special (like sloppy joes the other day).

there are lots of tricks to "trick" kids... and it's about nutrition, not getting them to eat foods they may/may not like.

for instance, mashed potatoes i'll add some cauliflower for bulk, fiber and nutrition... has no taste, cant tell the difference.

so, what i've done is make the "same" dish for each of us... and do half&half on the guys' plates... if they actually notice the difference... then i wont do it again... otherwise, there are plenty of times i make things w/out meat for them and they don't notice... they don't however like the fake meat products (nor do i for that matter). lol

for the 9yo, try finger foods... chicken nuggets, not the greatest, but try the "fake" ones... don't say anything tho. just say it's a different brand (which is true!)... have the usual ketchup or whatever with it...

make taquitos (baked not fried) with beans, cheese, and/or meat in them.
(more finger food!)

also doing a "buffet line" can be really great! tacos are a great example.
have him help out w/chopping lettuce or whatever... and just have "bowls" of foods to choose from... make taco salad or whatever... keep your "meatfree" separate from the "meat"... and have 'em "try" it... just to see what the "difference" is... make it like a game... "mom can't tell the difference... she needs our help"

or just use beans instead of fake meat.

everyone's happy. they feed themselves... should work.

let me think a bit more on this as well... i need to hit the road... back later on. feel free to IM me.

**Palooka** · 10-16-2008, 03:41 AM

Originally Posted by quiltingmommy

Anyone else wondering that? I went veg at the beginning of the summer with all the fresh bounty around me. DH & DS are omni/somewhat omni so I've had to change our menu to reflect our tastes. I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to cook this winter. I used to roast a whole chicken (free range), eat a meal, make a soup, etc with the leftovers. Pot roast, the same thing, make beef stew, etc. Now I'm thinking...what the heck am I going to eat this winter that is't the same old vegetarian thing? Plus veggies will cost more since they're not in season. (I know, frozen veggies - but DS only eats raw veggies to begin with.)

what do other vegetarians living in an omni world do?

You know what is weird with society? Some think they have to have meat for different seasons. Why?

I eat pretty much the same. Okay with maybe cheaper produce..

In the winter I am all about French bread! Did I say French bread. Sad American made I know.

**growfly** · 10-16-2008, 06:04 PM

I also have an omni husband. My deal is that if he wants meat he has to cook it himself. We often do buffet lines, but we rarely eat different meals because DH can eat meat at work. If you're a veg. there is no reason you should have to cook meat for anyone.

As for winter foods, you can make many hearty meals with tofu, TVP, and other protein products. We also often use squash for our meals. My fav. is squash soup with sweet onions and croutons. Find a new vegetarian cook book or website to help you stay motivated.

Best wishes this winter. You are wise to look ahead and see where your challenges will be. If you are prepared you will have no problem sticking to your veg. diet.

**Momof3girls** · 10-16-2008, 06:41 PM

For me, the following are staples to my winter diet:
soups
mexican dishes, like burritos, taco salad, cheese enchiladas, chili relanos.
Italian dishes-veggie pizza, eggplant parmesan, veggie lasagne

I make a meat version for dh and use the same ingredients, less the meat for me.

**quiltingmommy** · 10-16-2008, 08:40 PM

wow, this is long...
I made enchiladas tonight, beef (with some soy meat - they never know!) and cheese for the guys and bean, cheese and black bean for me. DS even liked them! (finally got him to try) with rice on the side, etc. tomorrow night DH & I are having spinach, artichoke dip with tortilla chips and a salad and DS will probably have spaghettios (healthy version) and milk.

I don't mind cooking meat for the guys (I only make 1 boneless chicken breast for the 2 of them or a burger for each or 1 small steak) and then I cook/grill tofu, mushrooms or veggie burger for me. I just don't want to get in to a veggie-cooking rut because they are slowly coming around to my way of eating and I don't want them to feel like "that's all vegetarians eat?" DS actually eats very healthy, only raw veggies (including spinach and chard) pasta, rice, nuts, tomatoes and a little meat. DH has tried little pieces of tofu a couple of times and has liked it. The recipe books aren't enticing me right now. And yes, we love winter squash, sweet potatoes (except ds), etc so we do eat those adn make soup with them.

**JerryG** · 10-17-2008, 10:51 AM

is a standard in this house for the winter.

**vigilant20** · 10-17-2008, 11:18 AM

Some good suggestions here

I buy a bit less produce during the winter. Whatever is in season, on sale, or still reasonably priced. I fill in with more soups, pastas, rice dishes, and casseroles. I modify my normal meals, like my breakfast green smoothie, by using frozen fruits and frozen orange juice instead of fresh. And find foods I can make from the pantry like hummus from dried/canned chickpeas, lentil "meat" loaf, quiona pilaf, bean burritos, etc.

**itsahumanzoo** · 10-17-2008, 11:29 AM

I'm going to have to repeat what has already been said. Squash. Lots and lots and lots of squash. Winter is my favorite season because winter squash is my favorite! You can do so much with squash. Soups, casseroles, mashed, baked, and spaghetti squash is amazing! I could just eat a butternut squash right out of the oven. Okay, I'm sounding a little crazy, but it's good stuff.

**Judi Dial** · 10-17-2008, 07:10 PM

Try Anna Thomas' Vegetarian Epicure v2. If you're not a lacto/ovo avoider, I'd recommend the chiquiles (both mushroom and plain). There's squash & tomato stew, works great with canned or fresh tomatoes, and the cornmeal dumplings are terrific. That's also in the same cookbook. Make soups, stews, casseroles, etc.

You don't have to start with a chunk o' meat to eat on something for two or three days. If you get tired of it as a main course, well, make it a side dish and cook something else to go along with.

Judi

**quiltingmommy** · 10-17-2008, 09:12 PM

Thanks Judi Dial! I'll have to pick up that recipe book. The squash and tomato stew sounds great!

**ClairS** · 10-21-2008, 06:49 PM

If it's raw vegetables you want and higher prices you're trying to avoid, then grow your own during the fall and harvest into the winter. Eliot Coleman has year round vegetables, and he lives in Maine.

It requires a greenhouse to start with. Here is a page that shows a nice, easy to construct PVC greenhouse.

http://www.frugal-living-freedom.com...reenhouse.html

It also requires that you cover up the crops inside the greenhouse with row covers or something similar. Here is a page that discusses growing and harvesting cool and cold weather vegetables.

http://www.frugal-living-freedom.com...egetables.html

We currently have turnips, lettuce, Swiss chard and kale in our greenhouse, and we expect that we'll be harvesting well into the winter. We also harvested 175 pounds of winter squash, so we're set for vegetables as far as we can see.

Clair

**joyofsix** · 10-21-2008, 07:41 PM

My dd has been a veg for 4 years. I usually either serve us all veggie or kish hers out before I add meat. Some of her favorite cold weather foods are veggie pot pie, veggie stew and roasted veggies(turnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, squash). Pasta's and soups like all have said. Being a teen pizza is a huge mainstay for her too. She also eats lots of baked potatoes with broccoli&cheese, or cheese and salsa.