Frugal Vegetarian

[ssn01]

I dont know how many of you out there are veggies (like me) or are interested in it (health benefits, recipes, frugality, how to create filling meals that men & kids will eat and won't say "hey, where's the steak?")...

but I'd like to start a little discussion about it.

I'm a relatively holistic person and try to make sure my vehicle (or body) is cared for - mentally, physically & for those of you who are - spiritually.

I've been a veggie since I was 10 years old. It was a struggle within my family, a southern family used to having on their plate: meat, 2 veggies, bread of sorts & a dessert.
Boy did they think I'd gone off my rocker!!!

I'm not here to preach to anyone saying "meat is bad"... I'm guilty - I sneak a bite of something new here & there - just to say I've tried something new... and it gives me ideas of when I'm cooking how things taste & taste together.

However, I've had many discussions with people (outside of the forum) regarding today's health worries about 'mad cow' & such about eating less (for health & diet reasons as well as health concerns).

What I learned and found intriguing is how little protein we really need in one day (think McD's hamburger size) vs. how much we really eat (think Longhorn steak).
And... what natural foods already contain a decent amount of protein. Besides the green veggies that everyone claims to be ever-healthy... grains (like rice, barley, oats) contain a decent amount of protein.

No I dont eat just sticks & twigs and nuts & seeds...
I make lasagna, spaghetti, salads, mac&cheese, green bean casserole... same things you can make... just minus the meat.

Okay, so a stock of green beans isnt the same w/out a ham hock or bacon or mac&cheese isnt the same w/out ham steak, and it's just not right to eat mashed potatoes w/out a meatloaf...
keep eating it! If it's good, you like it & it's not something you eat everyday... GO FOR IT.

I'm just here to discuss.

I dont want to be preached at - so I shan't either.

And so ends my post!

Sue!

:giggle:

[homesteadmamma]

Great post Sue.

I did the vegetarian thing awhile back and felt really good. For some reason I went back to eating meat, but not near as much of it as I had before. I'm working now at getting back to being totally vegetarian because I know for myself I felt so much better.

Our family eats way less meat than it use to and for years we haven't eaten beef (cost was a factor). Last summer we quit eating pork as well. However, during a difficult financial time, we were given both beef and pork which I cooked and we ate but in a limited amount at each meal. I still have some of the first bunch we were given.

My family refuses to go completely vegetarian which is really difficult because I found your cooking 2 different meals. Thats not easy living in Canada and with the food costs here.

But I continue to give them more meatless meals and more natural and organic foods. They haven't noticed the difference BUT cut that meat out and both dh and ds#1 are complaining.

[ssn01]

CJ,

First... thanks for replying.

Now, I completely understand about the rising costs of food - especially meat.
I found when I cooked for my family (as growing up it was my duty to cook for the family when I got to a certain age) that my meals I cooked whatever I wanted. If it was a casserole, I had my own little casserole dish or skillets. But since the rest of my family wanted to eat meat... I used less - tho they didnt notice always.

In honour of frugality, an recipe my sister loved was ham in her mac & cheese. Well instead of using two good sized ham steaks chopped in big pieces... i took one & cut it smaller - more bits in each bite! So it looks like you used the same if not more. Saves on cost & helps those to eat less meat!

It's about being creative. Thankfully my family (bf / son) are not veggies, but when they crave meat - they go out to a restaurant and eat it there. I can cook it if necessary, but they prefer their own fast food hamburgers & such that I just cant compete with.

If you can eat it and it's on sale - i'd recommend using soy products. Most do taste just like real meat. However I'm allergic to soy so I stear clear of it!
But it's a great alternative as far as looks & flavour. However, it depends on how you feel about soy (which report you read: is it good or bad for you?!?!).

Also use food colouring if necessary. I tricked an old bf who was "mr carnivore" into thinking he was eating meat. I made a light brown colouring and put it on ricotta cheese as I made lasagna. The meat is usually ground anyway - cant really taste it unless ya get a good chunk in the sauce. I used a little extra seasoning to give it a stronger taste... he LOVED it ... and swore up & down that I'd used meat in the lasagna... because he "saw" it!

:giggle:

Feel free to contact me if you want any ideas...

otherwise... i'm here for support & plenty of creative cooking ideas!


Sue.

[QuilterMom]

We don't eat beef or pork. Just organic poultry and different types of seafood.

We have a natural living forum (Eco-friendly,veganism,vegetarian topics. Natural family living guide. Organic-Whole foods, Green living, recycling.) here on FV that you might want to check out - http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/...?s=&forumid=52

[forestdale]

I agree completely, Sue. Most people eat way too much protein.

I'm a vegetarian but in the past year I started eating fish again. My DH and the son who lives with us both love meat. My other son who lives in an apartment is vegetarian as well but he will occasionally eat organic meat.

I've made it work by eating whatever they eat, minus the meat. If they have something that has the meat combined within the vegetables, like casserole or soup, I make a little side version for myself that I make without the meat.

We also have several meatless meals during the week, although my son, who is a chef, eats at work on these nights. lol

[guest2]

Great thread! We do eat meat here, but eat much less of it than what is considered "normal". I really like experimenting with different foods and love most vegetarian dishes. I was blessed to grow up in Hawaii where I was exposed to foods from many different cultures and find that I do not miss meat in most dishes if they are seasoned well. Indian food is one of my favorites with it's wonderful combination of spices!

[ssn01]

Debbie,

What an excellent point!

So many "foreign" dishes use little or no meat.

It's known that meat is relatively expensive in most areas of the world - due to much of it having to be imported!

The main "meat" is fish - something which few americans eat - and when they do it's "fish sticks" - which, yes it's real fish, but it's whiting... which is the cheapest, most abundant & has the least nutritional value (somewhat like shrimp - but the whole mud-vein thing & "bottomg dweller" grosses me out).

:giggle:

But a valid point.
Spices can definitely make or break a meal!

[DaisyLady]

We eat several meatless meals a week. I used to be a vegan but found it too much work when the rest of the house wouldn't comply. I stretch my meat when we do eat it and I am looking for a source of organic meat esp. chicken.

We can't eat fish (DH is allergic) and we eat soy in moderation. I don't buy veggie food that imitates the "real thing" as I figure with the prices and the processing I might as well just eat the real thing!

[britbunny]

Dh and i began eating a couple of meatless meals per week in the last year and it has just gone from there. Occasionally we will eat soy mince or whatever and we tried Quorn for the first time this week, but I don't miss meat at all so I don't see it as being a substitute it's just something different to add to our menu. Dh likes to have the texture of meat in dishes such as curry so we bought quorn for that purpose.

I have recently become very interested in the nutrition aspect of food and have been looking into develping a menu where we can get the maximum benefits from all the foods we eat.

I have never liked fish, in order to get my omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids I have started eating sunflower and other seeds which have these nutrients.

As with many things that we have taken on in the last year things began as a frugal thing but have developed into something else. As we have started to control our money we have been able for the first time to live more according to our values. We can't buy everything organic as we don't have the money but we buy according to what someone called the "Law of LOAF" which means to try to buy things that are either Local, organic, animal-friendly or fairtrade.

Another isde effect is that I throw less food away, I am trying to make the most of everything we buy, and our shopping bill has reduced evern further!

[DaisyLady]

Britbunny, I like your Law of LOAF. That is what we try to practice and that's a great way to describe it!

[mommy2many]

Witht he cost of meat going sky high everywhere lately. I too have been thinking about going with a meat free diet. We are eating way less meat than we used already but I haven't been able to find any recipes that are meat free that the man of the house and the kids are willing to eat. I was hoping to clikc on this thread and find tons I'll check out that thread in Natural living....