Going vegetarian? Or low meat?

[anonemouse 1]

Anyone else thinking of doing that? meat is getting pretty expensive (especially when you consider how much I waste), and I'm always paranoid about how well I cook it when I cook for just myself (for some reason, I'm not paranoid about it when I cook for other people) and wind up over cooking it, which isn't band-friendly. I'm trying to get to where I eat more vegetables and non-meat Protein like Beans and tofu. I'm not super-fond of the flavor of Beans, but I don't have to worry about getting sick if I undercook them. And on the upside, I don't really have to worry about overeating with them, either, since they aren't exactly something I love, just something that I know I can eat.

I still love meat, especially a very good steak, but I think I'm going to start limiting it to restaurants.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

:::Raising hand:::

Chewing chicken to a liquid makes me start to gag. liquid chicken doesn't do anything for me. I'm seriously going to practice with tofu and see if I can make that doable.

It's not really the cost for me as I don't waste it. What I don't eat the dogs do. I just can't stand it anymore and prefer going back to my veggie ways from years ago.

[anonemouse 1]

:::Raising hand:::

Chewing chicken to a liquid makes me start to gag. Liquid chicken doesn't do anything for me. I'm seriously going to practice with tofu and see if I can make that doable.

It's not really the cost for me as I don't waste it. What I don't eat the dogs do. I just can't stand it anymore and prefer going back to my veggie ways from years ago.

I found a lot of tofu recipes that sound really good. There's veggie recipes at the same sites, too. Go here and here.

[Chickie 15]

I love, love, love beans! I have been veggie now for almost 2 years, and it was the best thing I did for my health (aside from banding, naturally!)

Cost is not the issue for me either. It actually works out about the same, and maybe a little more expensive for me to eat the way I do now, than when I ate meat.

[skyeblu79 0]

I only eat some poultry and some seafood. I was doing this pre-band since 12/04. When I do buy meat, I usually zip lock bag it and freeze it in servings. Sometimes I cook enough for more than one meal or lunch. Sometimes I bring leftovers for coworkers to try or someone will come over.

It's easy sometimes just to do a single turkey burger on the George Foreman grill.

I am loving Beans more than ever now. I usually season them w/smoked turkey, onions, or add cheese...I like them kind of sweet, so I will add some splenda or zsweet.

I need to try tofu. I keep buying it and letting it go old before I try to use it.

[skmsu 0]

I found a lot of tofu recipes that sound really good. There's veggie recipes at the same sites, too. Go here and here.

Some of those sound really good. Thanks for posting that. I have never been a big beef or red meat eater and am much less of one since getting the band. I found a great lentil Soup recipe on Andrew Weils site. Dr. Weil Article

I should have cut it in half though. I had to freeze a bunch of it. The only thing that I changed was to add garlic. Garlic makes everything better! Lentil's are cheap too.

[anonemouse 1]

Some of those sound really good. Thanks for posting that. I have never been a big beef or red meat eater and am much less of one since getting the band. I found a great lentil Soup recipe on Andrew Weils site. Dr. Weil Article

I should have cut it in half though. I had to freeze a bunch of it. The only thing that I changed was to add garlic. Garlic makes everything better! Lentil's are cheap too.

Yes, garlic does make everything better! I always have to add garlic or extra garlic to just about everything. You can DEFINITELY smell when I'm cooking. I like meat, just not when I'm cooking for myself. If I cook for my family, I never worry about whether something is cooked enough, for some reason. It it's just for myself, though, I worry. Unless I'm making soup or chili. Then, I don't worry, since it usually cooks forever.

I LOVE an excellent filet mignon. My brother's father-in-law is a chef, and we eat at his restaurant in Memphis occasionally (the food's on the house). He mostly does fish and seafood, which I don't eat, but he makes excellent filet mignon. It's top-notch meat, the best he can buy.

[anonemouse 1]

I'll have to make that recipe. I got a bag of lentil last night at the grocery store.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I just bought some tofu last night. I'm going to soak it in soy sauce and garlic. Mmmmm

[Daisalana 33]

I'm semi-vegeterian due to restriction. I am not intentionally going to cut out meat, but it seems that's the hardest thing for me to get down and I give up on it a lot.

I swear, I'm still wanting to try tofu! I finally told DH last night about my finds on tofu and how I'd like to try it. He said one of his 'hippie friends' took him to some 'hippie restaurant' and they gave him something with tofu.. he said it had no taste and was like eating a sponge, so he's weary. But I told him everything I learned about how it absorbs taste of whatever you make it, how it can be versatile, etc.. and he said he's willing to try it again if I want to cook it. woot!

Next time we go grocery shopping, I'm getting a list of tofu recipes I think look good and getting all the ingredients to make it.

[anonemouse 1]

I just bought some tofu last night. I'm going to soak it in soy sauce and garlic. Mmmmm

So did I. I'm trying to think of different ways to prepare it, because I bought 3 blocks of it.

Anyone know if it can be frozen long-term?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

So did I. I'm trying to think of different ways to prepare it, because I bought 3 blocks of it.

Anyone know if it can be frozen long-term?

I was wondering the same thing. After I soak it in "stuff" can it be frozen? It will take me forever to eat one of those things.

I was going to use soy sauce, garlic, onion, and maybe Rosemary. I don't really have many spices since I don't cook a lot.

Should I be putting pepper in there?

[anonemouse 1]

I was wondering the same thing. After I soak it in "stuff" can it be frozen? It will take me forever to eat one of those things.

I was going to use soy sauce, garlic, onion, and maybe Rosemary. I don't really have many spices since I don't cook a lot.

Should I be putting pepper in there?

Maybe chili flakes? I dunno. I think there was a marinade posted by someone in one of the other threads.

[rumar 1]

I've not had my 1st fill yet (going tomorrow--yippee) but I've not had beef or pork since being banded and just in the last 2 weeks settled on baked fish. It's easy to un-thaw and quick to bake. It's not that I hate beef/pork but I just made a conscious decision to eat mainly fish, turkey and chicken but primarily vegetables. You should try black beans.............they are my favorite and full of Protein and other good stuff. I eat it at least 4 times a week. The funny thing is before being banded, I loved Pinto , Blackeye and Crowder peas but after pureeing them one day I gagged and just don't want them anymore. I also eat a lot of green Beans, turnip and collard greens............yummy!!!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I've not had my 1st fill yet (going tomorrow--yippee) but I've not had beef or pork since being banded and just in the last 2 weeks settled on baked fish. It's easy to un-thaw and quick to bake. It's not that I hate beef/pork but I just made a conscious decision to eat mainly fish, turkey and chicken but primarily vegetables. You should try black Beans.............they are my favorite and full of Protein and other good stuff. I eat it at least 4 times a week. The funny thing is before being banded, I loved Pinto , Blackeye and Crowder peas but after pureeing them one day I gagged and just don't want them anymore. I also eat a lot of green Beans, turnip and collard greens............yummy!!!

Did you see the black bean burger recipe that was posted? It sounded pretty good.