The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[Meg]

Does anyone have any good tofu recipes? Tofu basically absorbs whatever flavor it's being cooked with but I still have no recipes for it and considering i eat a lot less meat than I ever did back home I get worried about protein.

I've recently gotten into eating pumpkin seeds and they are quite high in protein, but also high in calories. Basically for 100 g (which is quite a bit to be fair) you get 600 calories and 23 grams of protein. I'm not sure the protein outweighs the calories though...have no idea about these things. thoughts?

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

I do alot of tofu stirfrys meg....just normal vegetables in a wok with soy sauce a bit of tabasco and tofu, I usually have it with egg noodles it's very versatile as you can put whichever veg you feel like in.

I usually have a couple of desert spoons of sunflower/pumpkin seeds each day because of the good fats and oils in them...I like to toast them first though (not so much that they lose their properties) for example after ur cooking a meal in the oven just put a baking tray in a couple of minutes before the cooking time is up, switch off the oven, take out the empty tray...scatter some seeds on and put it back in, they'll expand slightly leave them in for a couple of minutes or so, they get a much more nutty texture i find.

 

[Meg]

i like to eat them as is with an apple but i got a realy crap brand this last go around. anyway toasted pumpkin seeds are the bees knees! Thanks for the stir fry suggestion

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

I sometimes put seeds on pasta too, or sometimes in yoghurt...give it a bit of crunch....I've also blended them into a kind of powder before and used them in porridge and yoghurt like that.

 

[Meg]

ah the grinding bit is brilliant! Can you suggest some other seeds/nuts other than pumpkin and sunflower?

 

[Ella]

ah the grinding bit is brilliant! Can you suggest some other seeds/nuts other than pumpkin and sunflower?

This might help:
http://www.foodsubs.com/Seeds.html

 

[Bonchic]

cashews, pecans, walnuts are good too! Oh yes and macadamia nuts are good If you want tofu recipes check it out on google or go to your local library they have mannnyyyy recipe books for vegetarians

 

[Meg]

i just find cashwers, pecs and walnuts quite high in fat and therefore not the best to eat on a day to day basis.

 

[Bonchic]

well yes they say to eat nuts in moderation

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

Well I've also blended flaxseeds and sesame seeds (but I think the sesame ones are very fattening) in with the sunflower and pumpkin seeds. I also sometimes add flaked almond to things...

 

[tott]

I'm so anal about getting good protein that i always try to make sure I'm mixing beans/cereal.

Hummous with bread, lentils with rice...

I'm addicted to this hummous a store around the corner makes: plenty of garlic, parsley, lemon and coriander. Mmmmmm....

 

[fab_fifties_fille]

I love hummous! it's fattening though so I'm not aloud it at the moment *slaps hands*

I've made a one I had on a detox diet before but it just didn't seem the same consistency as the shop bought tubs, it was quite nice tho
I haven't had lentils yet this week, I was meant to put them in the soup I cooked today but I forgot..they're such an easy way to add some goodness to your food. Lentil and chickpea dahl just done with spices etc is also good.

 

[lostinemotion]

I think it's pretty boring to toss tofu with vegetables. Instead of soy sauce, which is NOT what restaurants use. They use Hoisin sauce and a bit of oil, and some chile paste....
However, there are so many things you can make with tofu from smoothies to even fish and chips. Have you been to vegetariantimes.com or drweil.com
they have awesome recipes.

 

[lostinemotion]

I love hummous! it's fattening though so I'm not aloud it at the moment *slaps hands*

I've made a one I had on a detox diet before but it just didn't seem the same consistency as the shop bought tubs, it was quite nice tho
I haven't had lentils yet this week, I was meant to put them in the soup I cooked today but I forgot..they're such an easy way to add some goodness to your food. Lentil and chickpea dahl just done with spices etc is also good.

I don't think hummus is fattening. it has olive oil, but that's good for you!

 

[lostinemotion]

i just find cashwers, pecs and walnuts quite high in fat and therefore not the best to eat on a day to day basis.

The good in nuts, outweigh the bad. Lots of doctors say, just a small handful, or just even a few pieces can make a huge difference for the better. There are great things in nuts that can not be found in supplements.

 

[lostinemotion]

Take a slice of hearty whole grain bread, spread it with peanut butter or almond butter and slice crisp green apples on top in place of jelly or jam. really good and doesn't make you feel like you just grew a belly...lol

 

[Meg]

I used to read the vegetarian times occasionally at home but I haven't seen it here. Thanks for reminding me of the website!

 

[woodenhouse]

all wonderful recipe ideas, love this thread!

For snacking, I love ganola or mizing walnuts in a bag with raisons. I like vegetarian chili too, which has a fair amount of protein.

 

[FrockRadar8]

I have been a vegitarian almost my entire life (18 years) I am looking into becoming a vegan. Does anyone have any tips on making sure you get enough protien and calcium, and good repalcements for dairy. Thanks!

The only thing you might want to keep an eye out for is your Vitamin B-12 levels...I learned in several nutrition classes that that's like 99% only found in dairy. Luckily some soy/rice milks come fortified with that Vitamin. It's essential for metabolism, cell synthesis and prevention of certain anemias. Good luck! I'm thinking about becoming vegan too, the idea of drinking another species milk kind of bothers me. Especially the way it's done now..It would be like aliens taking over and hooking all women up to machines and hormones so we're constantly lactating...

 

[Bonchic]

any good recipe for a thanksgiving side dish? I'm trying to figure something out I can take that way I actually have something to eat but that tastes great for everyone else as well.. Any ideas would be welcomed!