I'm going to try being a Flexitarian.

[Lisa0825]

I am a meat eater. I love meat. I do very well at losing weight on high protein diets. But for a variety of reasons, I have decided to add more vegetarian meals to my menu. (From Wikipedia) A flexitarian "seeks to decrease meat consumption without eliminating it entirely from his or her diet. There are no guidelines for how much or how little meat one must eat before being classified a flexitarian."

• Meat is expensive.
  
• There is a lot of environmental expense involved in raising animals for meat.
  
• Mass produced meat is full of hormones, but organics are even MORE expensive.
  
• Factory farming is a nasty business, but again, free range, locally grown meat is EXPENSIVE. (At least around here)
  

I generally eat a high protein diet when dieting, but I am going to give a serious shot to adding more vegetarian meals to my menus. I printed out a bunch from RecipeZaar yesterday (if you are not familiar with that site, it ROCKS!!!).

Is anyone here a veggie or flexi? Anyone have some favorite recipes? My problem is I don't really like many veggies, so I have to work really hard to find recipes I actually want to eat. I think tonight I will be trying to make Risotto for the first time. I already know the next repice I try is going to be Black Bean and Tortilla Bake. Sounds yummy! (note to self: buy Bean-o)

Here are the first three recipes I have picked out...

http://www.recipezaar.com/Black-Bean-and-Tortilla-Bake-34881
http://www.recipezaar.com/Magnificent-1st-Prize-Risotto-32295
http://www.recipezaar.com/Oven-Fried-Eggplant-Aubergine-49387

[handmade34]

1. vegetable lasagna is really good!

You list all good reasons for cutting down on meat consumption, especially the affect on the environment. I have been a vegetarian off and on for 40 years, eating meat when I am able to grow my own. I quit eating meat for good when I was traveling on Route 50 through Kansas 2 years ago and passed miles and miles of commercial feed lots. I am thoroughly put off by commercially raised, butchered, processed meat.

good hearty vegetable stew
quinoa with sauteed onion, mushrooms, peas, etc.
curries
baked garlic in olive oil and good hearty italian bread
I love tofu and tempeh(pan sauteed with olive oil, soy sauce and maple syrup) but I realize its not for everybody
etc., etc.

[Lisa0825]

2. I have made veggie lasagna with white sauce before, and it was yummy!

The thing is that I don't do well with "substitutes," whether it is fake meat, or trying to do the same recipe using veggies instead. They never turn out AS GOOD as the original recipe. So I am just having to expand my collection of recipes to include original recipes that never inicluded meat, if that makes any sense. I found some AWESOME sounding risotto recipes that I look forward to trying.

I actually think this change is going to be much easier for me than before. The last time I tried reducing meat/increasing vegetarian meals, #1 I went about it the wrong way (subbing vegs/fake meat) and #2 I wasn't really ready for it. In a weird way, I think using a high protein diet to lose weight has actually prepared me for moving toward vegetarian eating. I have lost about 13 pounds in the last 6 weeks, but I am frankly tired of meat right now, and I miss some old standbys like rice, potatoes, tortillas, etc. So THIS TIME I am actually looking forward to trying this new way, as opposed to it being the "deprivation" phase of my diet. I have gotten used to whole grains since the last time also, so the carbs I choose will be better ones than the previous attempt.

This week, I made a chicken dish in my crockpot. I threw in half a bag of frozen mixed veggies, a third of a cup of lima beans, chicken breasts, and cream of mushroom soup, along with spices, then added rice an hour before it was done cooking. It was really good, but I actually finished the rice and veggies first and fed the rest of the chicken to my kitties.

[handmade34]

3. I'm hungry

you are correct- it doesn't really work to try to substitute. Over time I have developed a real taste for good fresh vegetables and whole grains.

I'm headed out to try to find a good Indian restaurant for lunch. I move every 3 weeks and I am in Yakima, WA right now. Hope I find something....

[flvegan]

4. I'm a vegan, and I highly recommend the Vegetarian Forum here on DU.

They have a great recipe thread pinned to the top. Lots of vegetarian recipes there.

[Lisa0825]

5. I'm kinda scared...

Too many vegetarians and vegans I have known have been such strong activists, that I have not felt comfortable talking to them about it, since I only want to be in-between. As a meat eater, even visiting sites for vegetarian recipes can be intimidating.... some are open and welcoming, but others have so much talk about murder, and how horrible people like me are for harming the environment. I saw a lot of bitching at a few websites about the term "flexitarian" and how it's horrible because it keeps people from just going all the way to veg.

Is the Veg forum here better?

[flvegan]

6. I think that it is.

You don't have to post if you're uneasy, but do please check out the pinned thread for recipes. Also browse some of the other threads there, and I think you'll see that we're a pretty good group.

[Lisa0825]

7. Cool, thanks :-)

I just finished making my first "intentionally vegetarian" meal. Sure, I have had cheese pizza before, spaghetti w/o meatballs, etc, but this is the first time I cooked a recipe I chose because it was veg. I made Risotto with mascarpone and pesto with a side of sauteed mushrooms. The recipe called for chicken stock, but I used veggie stock. It's quite yummy, gooey, and satisfying :9

GAWD I love cheesey wonderfulness! A vegan, I could never be! LOL

edited for wrong cheese!

[flvegan]

8. Good for you!

And yeah, veganism is tough for the cheese lovers. We've started coming closer with gooey cheese goodness. Teese came out this year, and it's pretty fantastic.

That dish you made sounds excellent, btw.

[Lisa0825]

9. I am very hungry today.

I think I am still coming down from being accustomed to high protein levels. I may have to have a second shake today to supplement. I am also up 1.5 pounds. I know, it's just water, but it's still annoying :-/