Anonymous wrote:I’ve been vegetarian for over 30 years and in that time I’ve never actually wanted to eat meat. So I can’t help you there, but if you want good vegetarian recipes, I’m happy to share. I think it’s best to not try to make substitutes for meals with meat. So much vegetarian cuisine is good in its own right.

I agree. I find most fake meat substitutes kinda gross but have no problem reading beans, lentils, and tofu. Do research essential nutrition because of you end up low in iron or B12 it won't be sustainable. My family takes supplements for those and might eat meat just a couple times a month from a farm I've visited.

I’ve been vegetarian for over 30 years and in that time I’ve never actually wanted to eat meat. So I can’t help you there, but if you want good vegetarian recipes, I’m happy to share. I think it’s best to not try to make substitutes for meals with meat. So much vegetarian cuisine is good in its own right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

No, we aren't. We don't spend any time talking about it. At all, unless asked what we'd like to eat. You just feel guilty, and blame us for whatever reason.

You might not, but there are vegans who post about veganism on social media. I’m a former vegetarian, current meat eater who does not care what other people eat or post, just make your choices and move on!

I think doing vegetarian at home and having meat when eating out once a week or so would probably help you. You don’t actually need a label for what you are or a rigid structure, just that many choose that. I think some people call it being flexitarian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

No, we aren't. We don't spend any time talking about it. At all, unless asked what we'd like to eat. You just feel guilty, and blame us for whatever reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some people who are vegetarian at home, and ... whatever when out of the house. Some of my kosher relatives operate that way as well.

This is what I do. Don’t eat meat at home. If I’m out, try to eat vegetarian or even pescatarian but if not, it is what it is. If I didn’t do it this way, I would just eat meat regularly and much more often.

This is how my family was growing up. Strictly vegetarian parents for 15 years but picky kids made getting adequate nutrition tricky. We didn't cook meat at home but were not vegetarian otherwise (though not going out 5x a week for steak!). I do cook meat at home, but as PPs have posted, purchase responsibly raised and still have many vegetarian meals. I'm comfortable our meat consumption is probably below average and that feels about right for us. I do think we should all reduce consumption generally, but these absolutes and needing to label oneself are not helpful to that end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

I think vegans are plenty tired of hearing "But but dont you miss BACON?!?!?!"
This response sounds fine to me.

There are annoying vegetarians and vegans. There are also annoying omnivores who take it personally that people make different choices than them. I’ve encountered a lot of them throughout my life. One of the most annoying (as in, couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try to bring it up and challenge my beliefs or even mock what I was eating) later became a vegetarian himself. Maybe it was his guilty conscience talking for all those years.

Anonymous wrote:DCUM unfortunately over the years has become more and more anti-vegetarian so you won't get the best responses here.

I've been vegetarian for about 25 years but also ate meat for the first 15 years of my life. It takes adjusting but honestly these days there are so many alternatives. Just start experimenting to see what you like. Check out Happy Cow to see which restaurants you could try. Visit an animal sanctuary to get up close to the issue - we love Poplar Spring. They have a Thanksgiving with the Turkeys coming up - https://www.animalsanctuary.org/events/annual-events/

^^ this.

I have been a vegetarian for roughly 20 years. It has never been easier to be one! So many restaurants have real vegetarian meals (not just sad salads of the past). I also highly suggest Indian food, Mediterranean food, and Japanese food (vegan sushi is one of my comfort foods). These cultures know how to cook vegetarian— and cook it well.

I applaud your efforts. Even cutting back on meat a bit will be good for your body and the planet. You don’t have to do it all at once.

Anonymous wrote:I know some people who are vegetarian at home, and ... whatever when out of the house. Some of my kosher relatives operate that way as well.

This is what I do. Don’t eat meat at home. If I’m out, try to eat vegetarian or even pescatarian but if not, it is what it is. If I didn’t do it this way, I would just eat meat regularly and much more often.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m one of the meat a couple times a week players…but do you want us to post specific suggestions for recipes, etc? Happy to do so if it will help!

This would be great! And thank you to everyone who’s posted with suggestions and encouragement.

Here’s a few that feel very substantial to me:
— enchiladas using black lentils ksntead of ground beef, but be sure to use lots of seasoning
— empanadas stuffed with mushrooms sautéed in olive pill with onion garlic thyme and a little white wine (let it cool before you stuff the empanada). Can add a little shredded machego if you want. I usually also make some that are just black bean and mozarella with spices, and some that are corn with cheese, just to mix it up.
— stuffed peppers with brown rice, black beans, shredded carrots, onion, garlic, oregano and cumin.
— tacos with the Trader Joe’s brand soyrizo with eggs, black beans, tomatos and avocado. And cheddar cheese if you want. This soyrizo is like the only meat substitute that I like.
— quiche with whatever. Feels substantial even without meat.
— cheese soufflé — surprisingly easy to make, and can serve with whatever salad or vegetable.
— saute broccoli with garlic and pine nuts or walnuts. Add cooked pasta with some pasta water. Stir in ricotta and top with shredded Parmesan.
— falafel. Once upon a chef has a great homemade recipe.
— lentil bolognese sauce.
— soup with brown lentils, barley, vegetarian bullion. Onion, garlic, minced carrot, finely chopped kale and Cajun spice mix. You can swirl in some sour cream if you want.
— chili
Two things I’ve wanted to try but haven’t ate the chickpea “tuna” salad, and a mushroom bechamel lasagna. I’ve tried several veggie burgers and my family complains — I think it’s just not a burger so maybe it would sell better if I called it something else (fritter didn’t seem to sell it).

I like Indian food a lot but I can’t sell the meat eaters in my family on like a big bowl of daal. I have done naan with la cheater’s Chana — just sautee garbanzo beans with garlic and onion and chopped carrots, add some tomatos, serve on garlic naan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

I think vegans are plenty tired of hearing "But but dont you miss BACON?!?!?!"
This response sounds fine to me.

I am down to meat once every other day (not anything heroic but it’s progress) and I did it by avoiding meat at one meal a day and then two meals every other day, etc. It’s a lifestyle change that means you have to find other meals that are appealing, nutritious, and feasible. I eliminated breakfasts and lunches first. Or you could just reduce the amount of meat at each meal and get the meat you crave through sauces that contain less meat, etc.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m one of the meat a couple times a week players…but do you want us to post specific suggestions for recipes, etc? Happy to do so if it will help!

This would be great! And thank you to everyone who’s posted with suggestions and encouragement.

OP, I’m one of the meat a couple times a week players…but do you want us to post specific suggestions for recipes, etc? Happy to do so if it will help!

I would check out some vegetarian cookbooks. I love Vegetarian India, vegetarian cooking for everyone, and Mark Bitman’s food matters cookbook.

If you want to cut out meat entirely, great. I think it just takes practice. But you don’t have to do all or nothing if that is also what you want to do.