[kburns0016]

Hi Tweety thanks for the greeting
MaineEMT ...I may give that bag abd shake idea a try tonight if I can figure a few dishes to go with it!
We are a family of 9 so it takes loads to feed us, and I try to offer up a variety when ever possible, but I have only one idea for tonight so far I better get in the kitchen and get planning quick~

[Tweety]

Wow, I can't imagine cooking for nine! Yikes!

I wound up working extra last night and came home and just had a fake chicken patty on a Ezeikel bun. Health is Wealth makes a vegan chicken patty. I did have a nice veggie salad, so it was a relatively healthy meal but for the processed food.

[jenni82104]

I am very interested in cutting meat from my diet. So far I do not eat any beef or pork at all. That was very easy to do as I really didn't like how it tasted anyway. I am really having a hard time giving up chicken and turkey. Although I feel a vegetarian diet is probably way healthier then the average american diet, I am concerned about getting enough protein and essential amino acids. I think I remember from my nutrition class (many moons ago) that people need to eat some animal protein because of an essiential amino acid that you cannot get from plant protein. Does anybody know if that's true?

[Stanley-RN2B]

Originally Posted by jenni82104

I am very interested in cutting meat from my diet. So far I do not eat any beef or pork at all. That was very easy to do as I really didn't like how it tasted anyway. I am really having a hard time giving up chicken and turkey. Although I feel a vegetarian diet is probably way healthier then the average american diet, I am concerned about getting enough protein and essential amino acids. I think I remember from my nutrition class (many moons ago) that people need to eat some animal protein because of an essiential amino acid that you cannot get from plant protein. Does anybody know if that's true?

I am not aware of any need for animal protein. While I am a new vegetarian I have longtime veggie and vegan friends that have no animal intake whatsoever.

You can get more than enough protein in the meat replacements and other veggies. I however supplement my diet with a multivitamin and daily whey (from cows) protein shake.

Going veggie still leaves the animal protein option. You can get it from non meat sources.

If you plan to go vegan however I would get a vegan nutritionist involved.

[mytoon38]

Hi Everyone,

I too am a Vegetarian and a R.N. ! I am so happy that I found this thread on here. I have never seen it before! I am happy to meet other nurses that don't like to eat things with parents...LOL!

I love tofu, but I just can't cook it! I love it when it has the chewy texture. Most of the time when I eat it out at restaurants, it is good and chewy! I always buy the extra firm tofu, and I press it to get all the extra moisture out, but it still doesn't have the texture that I like. If anyone has any tips for me on how to cook it, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Mytoon38

[Stanley-RN2B]

Originally Posted by mytoon38

Hi Everyone,

I too am a Vegetarian and a R.N. ! I am so happy that I found this thread on here. I have never seen it before! I am happy to meet other nurses that don't like to eat things with parents...LOL!

I love tofu, but I just can't cook it! I love it when it has the chewy texture. Most of the time when I eat it out at restaurants, it is good and chewy! I always buy the extra firm tofu, and I press it to get all the extra moisture out, but it still doesn't have the texture that I like. If anyone has any tips for me on how to cook it, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Mytoon38

I can't figure out tofu either. Fortunately I am a hod with TVP.

I have also learned how to cook a lot of Middle Eastern and Greek food so I have been able to avoid tofu. My local Chinese resteraunt will make it for me any way I ask and I hurry home and add it.

[Sehsun]

Usually a vegetarian diet is lower in saturated fat than a meat-diet. Protein is in many foods we eat, just some have different amounts than others. You will find that many people will ask you "So how do you get your protein?" if you tell them you are a vegetarian/don't eat meat. I know that vitamin B12 is only found in meat, so I take a supplement for that. Also, B12 is stored in our body for about 5 years.

[MaineEMT2RN]

Originally Posted by jenni82104

I am very interested in cutting meat from my diet. So far I do not eat any beef or pork at all. That was very easy to do as I really didn't like how it tasted anyway. I am really having a hard time giving up chicken and turkey. Although I feel a vegetarian diet is probably way healthier then the average american diet, I am concerned about getting enough protein and essential amino acids. I think I remember from my nutrition class (many moons ago) that people need to eat some animal protein because of an essiential amino acid that you cannot get from plant protein. Does anybody know if that's true?

Read one of Vesanto Melina's books. I have "Becoming Vegan", and she also wrote "Becoming Vegetarian." Both are full of solid nutritional information about how to have a healthy animal free diet with rationales for everything she and co-author Brenda Davis suggests. Both are experienced Registered Dieticians and are considered experts.

Here's the link to the one that I have: http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Vegan...5433564&sr=1-2

FWIW, I have been vegan for years. I'm in my late 40's and in excellent health. I run marathons and have done a triathlon or two recently (although I hate swimming so I don't see a lot of this in my future). I am happy and abundantly healthy with no animal products at all and only a daily B12 supplement.

[jenni82104]

Thank you MaineEmt for the book recommendation. It looks like it has a lot of good information in it, can't wait to read and learn!

[Tweety]

Yes, you can get all the essential amino acids in a vegan diet. However, there are only a few foods that provide them all such as soy and quinoa. However, since amino acids are present in all foods (even broccoli) if one eats a variety of food you are more than covered in the essential aminio acids department.

I had a coworker ask me the "where do you get your protein from?" as he's eating his chicken fingers and fries. It's amazing that people who don't eat but one or two vegetables a day get so concerned with a veg*n diet. I asked him "where do you get your antioxidants, folate, Vitamin C, potassium and phytonutrients from???" The meat and dairy industry have been masters at brainwashing us about protein.

Not that protein isn't important. I sometimes supplement with a rice protein or hemp protein powder (I get enough soy) when I want to eat light but feel I need some protein, such as after a workout.

O.K., end of rant. LOL

I think the tofu in Chinese restaurants is deep fat fried. To get a chew texture try freezing it in the box. After thawing it becomes like a sponge and you can squeeze the tofu out like a sponge in your hand. This provides a more chewy texture when cooked.

I love tofu and eat a tofu stir fry probably weekly.