DUers who've converted to vegetarianism......How did you satisfy your meat cravings?

[marmar]

I'm trying....I really am, but yesterday I broke down and had a corned beef sandwich because I was having a meat fit. ..... I don't like tofu, and I'm really not fond of beans, though I'll eat them. I like Boca Burgers, but they haven't been able to quite fill that void.
Did anyone ever really find a substitute for meat....or is it just one of those phased evolutions where you eventually lose your appetite for it?

[mainer]

1. I tried. I lasted two weeks and then ate a huge pork roast.

After two weeks, I was dreaming about meat, and feeling weak and listless. I finally gave up and started eating meat again. Some people just aren't meant to be total vegetarians.

[katzenjammers]

68. No human is meant to be a total vegetarian. We have evolved to be omnivores and anyone who

tries to defy that lineage is stupid.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Seitan jerky

The best flavor of this product is:

"Teriyaki Seitan: Non-GMO vital wheat gluten, water, naturally brewed soy sauce, expeller pressed canola oil, licorice root, unrefined cane juice, yeast, sea salt, natural vegetarian spices."
http://store.veganessentials.com/primal-strips-vegan-jerky---1-oz-strip-p652.aspx

I've been a vegetarian for over ten years.

[Oregone]

3. Blood

Its the only thing that works. 3 ounces at night. Bovine satisfies more than fish. Human is best.

[underpants]

65. YUMMO!

:rofl:

[rucky]

4. tempeh has a more meatlike texture

you could also try a protein supplement. it's tough without beans in the diet.

[marmar]

6. "it's tough without beans in the diet"

I know. That's why I force myself to eat them, even though I don't like the texture.....I've been eating at Indian restaurants a lot because I don't even notice the beans when they're mixed in with the various curries.

[Cleita]

38. Do you cook your own beans?

Maybe that's the problem. This is where a crock pot comes in handy. If you simmer the beans for eight hours, it makes them more palatable. A low oven will also do the job. In Latino households a pot of beans is always on the stove over low heat. Use cumin and other Indian condiments like black mustard seeds too, which you have to pop in a frying pan before using in the beans. Google some recipes from other ethnic cuisines. Every country has a bean recipe. Find one that you like and stick with it. You can eat the same staples every day using seasonal produce for variety. Most country people do. Most seem to have their own variations on rice and beans that they eat every day. Find a combination that you like and stick with it.

On edit: I forgot to add. You need to soak your beans overnight and then toss the water using fresh water to cook with. There are other shortcuts but they don't produce a digestible final product.

[Warpy]

5. First, I found "should" and "ought" to be insufficient motivators.

Second, instead of trying to swear off meat overnight, I simply did it gradually and as I learned to cook better and better things; meat just sort of faded away. I was a fairly strict vegetarian for many years without even trying. I just found I preferred plant foods and I certainly preferred the way I felt when I ate them.

Now I've added fish back into my diet, mostly for the oils in things like sardines and other oily fish.

However, what you need to do is pay attention to the way you feel after you eat. If you feel better when you eat meat, then you probably need to eat some of it, just not three meals a day, seven days a week. If you feel better eating plant foods, then start exploring what to do with them and transition gradually.

Oh, and do learn to cook. That frozen stuff in the health food store is really not very good or good for you, although I find the Quorn products satisfy that once a summer fried chicken Jones.

[marmar]

9. I'm definitely going to have to start cooking more......

When you go out with friends, you realize that lots of places aren't all that vegetarian-friendly. How many salads can you eat?

[Warpy]

19. When you learn to cook them properly

you might actually find you enjoy beans.

I do a navy bean red posole that's to die for.

[Goblinmonger]

31. Shoot me that recipe, homes. n/t

[Warpy]

34. I don't actually have a recipe

I just load soaked beans (kidney, pinto, Anasazi) and dried posole into the crock pot with onion, garlic, clean out the fridge veggies, cumin, oregano, and half a cup of chile powder and let it go overnight. The next day I either thicken it with cornmeal or just mash some of the beans. I usually serve it over rice or sometimes eat it right out of a bowl garnished with cheese, sour cream, scallions, avocado, or whatever.

Note that New Mexican chile powder is not the stuff you get in the little jars at the supermarket. You can order the real thing online by the pound or, if you're really ambitious, you can get dried red chiles, seed them, toast them, and buzz them in a blender with a little water to get the same effect.

[Goblinmonger]

36. I can handle that

Can I use Masa Harina in lieu of dried posole? I think a local spice place has chile powder.

[Warpy]

50. No

A can or two of cooked hominy about half an hour before it's done will do the trick.

Masa would thicken it but not add much else.

[Goblinmonger]

52. Solid

I will stop hijacking this thread for my own culinary interests now.

[Cleita]

42. That seems really good.

I think I will try it next weekend. :-)

[T Wolf]

7. Became vegie in 1976, and haven't turned back yet. And back then, the "alternatives"

were little better than cardboard.

Now, you have so many options that actually taste good that it should not be too difficult to make the transition. Like everything, it is more easily handled if you do not deal in absolutes (don't beat yourself up over that corned beef).

I happen to love seitan (or is it Satan?). Tastes very meaty.

Just do your best, esp. at the beginning.

Good luck.

[FLPanhandle]

8. I spent a couple of months in India w/o meat

I NEVER got over the craving.

[JanMichael]

10. Free range eggs

best if it's a local farm or friend who keeps chickens "pets" so you know they are really running around outside.

Also, we still drink milk (local farm), and eat butter and cheese (from the same farm)-

[Hekate]

62. Keeping your own hens is fun, too, although they do dig up the garden something fierce....

Which is why chicken wire was invented, I imagine. They are very sweet creatures, in their own way.

The 4 hens I "inherited" stop laying in the winter, but when they're producing they give the two of us so many that I started sharing with others -- half a dozen here and there to neighbors and guests. I wish I'd known about keeping chickens when my kids were still living at home.

Hekate

[dipsydoodle]

11. Did you know

that the root of the word vegetarian isn't anything to do with vegetables ? The root apparently comes from the Latin vegetāre, to enliven something / goodness. :shurg: Anyway - corned beef is good so go ahead. :)

Vegies should call themselves herbivores.

[marmar]

13. I'm a linguistics aficionado, so I love those kinds of factoids.....

:)

[mod mom]

12. For me it was seeing a PETA ad just after getting my 1st dog.

K.D. Lang asking the question "Why are some animals our pets and others our dinner?" I have no cravings but actually feel ill at the smell of cooking meat. I have a tendency to eat a lot of Italian foods-pastas & pizzas which use cheese as a protein.

BTW... here is my favorite veggie burger recipe, which topped with dill pickles, organic ketchup & mustard really satisfies me. :hi:

Serve on a toasted bun with pickles, shredded lettuce and ketchup. Oh so good.

(Almost) Northstar Cafe Burger

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 cup cooked, sliced beets (you can used canned, just don't use pickled beets)
1/2 cup brown rice
1 - 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
3-4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
toasted buns
lettuce
pickles, etc

In a medium size skillet, heat the olive oil to medium high heat and add the onion and garlic. Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until the onions are translucent and begin to brown a bit. Deglaze the pan with the soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, cooking for another minute or two or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, combine the onion mixture, beets, brown rice, black beans, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper. With a pastry blender or potato masher, begin to mash the mixture. Mash well until most of the black beans are no longer whole.

Once the mixture is very well combined, add a couple tablespoons of flour. Test the mixture. If it holds together fairly well, then do not add anymore flour. But it may need a tablespoon or two extra flour until you can form patties.

Form 6 patties. If you wish, you can throw them in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

Heat a large skillet to high heat. Once hot, reduce to medium high, and add the vegetable oil. Cook the patties, about 3-5 minutes per side.

[marmar]

17. thx for the recipe

nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. Give it protein and give it time

Part of the craving is taste and texture and nostalgia for favorite foods, part is a craving for protein. I became a vegetarian in the mid 70's and my last cravings were for roast beef and White Castle hamburgers. Eat more nuts for an alternate protein source, and of course dairy if you are willing to eat that. An ex once once had a great recipe for a cottage cheese nut loaf. It had a lot of crushed walnuts cottage cheese and other stuff I can't remember in it ( I think eggs, some chopped onions etc. and things I totally forget) Baked it like a meat loaf and it tasted really really good. But even eating mixed nuts from time to time gives you a protein hit and the sense of biting into something of substance.

[Cleita]

15. Bread.

Also, you need to wean yourself off of meat slowly. You will find once you hit a balance of what works for you that meat becomes unappetizing. Tofu shouldn't be eaten like meat. In Asian cuisine, it's taken only in small quantities. There is seitan, which is wheat gluten that has a sort of meat like consistency. I have never found a way to prepare it though that's tasty although I have found some really good seitan in Chinese vegetarian restaurants so maybe some DUers have good recipes here. Try some tortilla wraps. Use refried beans to coat the tortilla and fill it with veggies that you like to eat. You will find it more filling than a boca burger.

[marmar]

16. The tortilla suggestion sounds like a good one. Thank you.

:think:

[Eric J in MN]

18. If you want pieces of something chewy with your noodles or rice, then...

...cook mushroom pieces separately until the mushroom pieces are dried out.

Mix the cooked mushroom pieces with the cooked noodles or the cooked rice.

[AnArmyVeteran]

20. How about meat grown in labs rather than slaughtering animals?

Did you see the story where 'meat' was grown in laboratories and the scientists believed it could be a way to increase the food supply without all of the environmental damage caused by animals bred for slaughter.

Would you eat lab meat if it was identical to the real thing?

A lot of foods we eat are byproducts of tiny organisms, like cheeses or yogurts. Would this be that much different?

[Radical Activist]

21. I found that eating red meat after a period of eating vegetarian

produced some uncomfortable results in my digestive system. That became quick motivation to get back on track. So the occasional lapse may be a good reminder of why you stopped eating meat.
But, I'm not vegetarian anymore so I'm not be the best to give advice.

[KansDem]

22. Try these!

Field Roast products
http://www.fieldroast.com/

I particularly like the veggie Italian sausage! With pasta...

And the apple-sage sausages I like with a potato and sliced tomatoes. Or in a hot-dog bun with Cesar salad dressing and soy-Swiss cheese...

And the Chipotle sausage is great with eggs and potatoes! I also use it to make a breakfast burrito with egg-substitute, soy-Monterrey Jack, salsa, and diced cilantro wrapped in in a tortilla...yummie!

Also, I like Morning Star Farms veggie-meat products
http://www.morningstarfarms.com/

The meatless burgers are very tasty on a hamburger bun with all the trimmings. And I like the veggie-chicken strips for making fajitas: saute sliced onion and bell pepper in a frying pan, put in veggie-chicken strips and a can of diced tomato/green-chilis. Cook a few minutes, then put on tortilla with hot sauce and diced cilantro! Mmmmmm...

Oh! Oh! And the BBQ riblets are to die for! Warm them up and place on French roll.

And don't forget the sausage-style crumblies! On Sunday morning, I place a package in a frying pan and cook until they're crispy. Then I pour in unsweetened soy milk and a little flour. Cook until it starts to get a little thick and serve on hot biscuits! My daughter, a vegetarian, just loves it!

All kinds of possibilities! :)

And now I'm hungry! :(

[Warren Stupidity]

23. I consciously became a veg at 14.

Prior to that I was only dimly aware that this was a choice (this was a very long time ago.) Over the next 45 years I've had several periods of mammal-eating, the last one about 20 years ago. None of them lasted more than a year or so. I sometimes eat fish, but less often now than a few years ago.

Don't worry so much. It isn't a religion (for me anyway) there is no veggie god that you have angered. If you eat a burger, oh well.

[bergie321]

24. I have found

That becoming a non-mammal eater (still eat fish and fowl) works better than a strict vegetarian.

[orwell]

25. Anything made with Seitan...

...which is made form wheat gluten.

Smart Dogs are great fake hot dogs.

You can find canned seitan in oriental markets. It comes in 10 oz. cans and is marketed as faux duck, beef, chicken, even abalone. It has a very meaty texture. I use it in chicken/beef stroganoff, soups, and oriental stir frys.

Nature Burger is a dried mix that you add water to and cook like hamburger. Use plenty of oil to fry and it is very satisfying. Don't forget to put everything on that you would on a burger - grilled onions, great condiments, ripe tomato and pickles.

If you are near a Trader Joe's their vegetarian meatballs are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. I use them in pasta sauce and crumble them up to use in chili or lentil soups.

I still occasionally eat fish when I feel I need meat. My preference is for wild caught salmon, yellow fin tuna, or shrimp.

I have been vegetarian with fish for over two years. The smell of cooking meat now makes me slightly sick to my stomach.

Good luck.

[Codeine]

26. Weirdly I never really had a meat craving.

Even after twenty years I don't ever have a hankering for it.

Donut cravings, OTOH. . .

[CrispyQ]

55. Harr! I could have written your post!

There used to be a little donut shop called Renegade Donuts about two blocks from where I live. Every morning I had to deal with my glazed donut craving!

[Eric J in MN]

63. Is the issue donuts made with animal fat....

...or with dairy or just the calories of donuts in general?

[Codeine]

69. Eggs seem ubiquitous in proper "donut shop" donuts.

Vegan donuts are kinda meh.

[Eric J in MN]

70. Have you tried Vegan Donuts by Nutrilicious?

http://store.veganessentials.com/vegan-donuts-by-nutrilicious-p223.aspx

[flvegan]

27. It seems like you're being too hard on yourself.

First, as with any big change, you may "fall off the wagon" now and then in the beginning. I imagine you've been eating this way (meat, etc) for a long, long time. The important thing is that you are trying, so don't beat yourself up.

That said, I think the "ease" of transitioning to a veg diet is in the motivation. For me, it was very easy once I learned about how animals were treated. Just flipped a switch inside, never looked back. I never had a craving for meat in the first place. I craved good tasting, filling, nutritious food. If you just adore the taste and mouthfeel of London broil, you'll never find a substitute for that. Burgers, chicken, bacon...easily made veggie. Learning to cook made it much easier for me.

Also, we do have a vegetarian forum here on DU. Lots of good recipes and cookbook suggestions have been posted over the years. Please come join us.

[TheKentuckian]

28. Far as I've come is giving up pork and I can tell you that made a difference in how I

feel. It did take 3-4 years to no longer crave country ham or barbecue spareribs but now I can't even stand the smell of bacon frying or a pork roast in the oven. So, my suggestion is to thin the herd rather than cold turkey. Give up on one animal to start, then wean yourself off of red meat, then warm blooded creatures, and then if you still feel the need look at eliminating cold blooded animals.

Like others have said, you must substitute other forms of protein or there will be trouble maintaining the lifestyle and/or your health. My methods may have only partial effectiveness (or not since I never really was serious about being a vegetarian but wanted to feel better) but alot of times a gradual move might actually have more lasting effect than trying to go full bore, having set backs, and finally just shelving the idea entirely.

At worst, getting away from large warm blooded animals will cut down on the ole carbon footprint and have some real health benefits.

[Dappleganger]

29. Giant baked potatoes...

with all the fixin's did it for me.

[Goblinmonger]

30. Lentils rock.

They have great protein and can kind of give the feel of meat. There is a lentil taco recipe in the Veg group that is great.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=231x497#2855
I make it all the time. If you get good at the texture of the lentils, it give a similar texture.

I also have a lentil spaghetti (that's what my kids call it, I guess it is more of a vegetarian bolognese type sauce) that is really good.

[freddie mertz]

32. I don't have them anymore.

It's been years.

Just try to persevere.

[Cal Carpenter]

33. Bacon

Or sausage gravy. LOL.

It was a brief phase a long time ago :)

[Lorien]

35. I lost my taste for it. But you might try Quorn products or Morningstar farm

spicy black bean burgers (I think that's what they're called).

[ET Awful]

37. Here are a few places to look (and things to look for).

First, the aforementioned Morningstar Farms.

Second, look for Gardein products (can be found at Whole Foods if you have one nearby).

Third, go to May Wah: http://www.vegieworld.com/ Place an order. Savor and enjoy. Their "Citrus Spare Ribs" are freakin' awesome. The "meat" chunks are great for doing "steak" subs too. The "Vegan Smoked Chicken Ham" when grilled with some peppers and onions is extremely tasty.

I haven't had a thing from them yet that I dislike.

There are also some brands like "Fantastic" that make soy based taco filling, burger bits, "chicken" chunks, etc. that are very tasty.

[jgraz]

39. Try sauteed mushrooms. I like cremini

I love meat and still eat it, but sauteed cremini mushrooms give that same satisfied feeling.

Heat butter over medium heat until it stops foaming. Add enough sliced mushrooms to cover the bottom of the pan and increase the heat to medium high. Let the shrooms brown undisturbed for a few minutes then stir and flip them with a spatula. You can add thinly-sliced onions at this point. Sprinkle the whole mix with a decent amount of salt and pepper (white pepper if you have it).

Let the mushrooms brown until their released liquid starts to evaporate. Then pour in dry vermouth or marsala and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the wine reduce until it's almost absorbed. Turn off the heat, adjust the seasoning and you're done.

Once they're done, you can mix them into scrambled eggs, serve them with rice, pasta or bread -- or just eat them as is. It definitely gives a meaty feeling to a meal.

[DoBotherMe]

40. Potato Chips!

When I crave fat and salt, I eat too many bags of chips. I roast or stir fry my veggies and eat lots of legumes and grainy bread, plus a little olive oil and masala seasoning on almost all my savory dishes. Dana ; )

[jobycom]

41. Don't beat yourself up over it. Do what feels right to you.

I never tried to become a vegetarian. I started avoiding meat for health reasons, but took about ten years to give it up. I went through phases, even, when I gorged and when I avoided it for weeks. I never really tried to make myself become vegetarian, I just avoided it. I gave up cooking it, but would eat it sometimes when I went out. i did that for about ten years.

Then I had a personal tragedy (it wouldn't make sense to others, probably) and I couldn't look at meat the same after that. I'm sure part of it was all the preparation of the previous ten years, when I learned to eat non-meat based diets, but the tragedy shocked me into not eating meat, and since then I can't see it as food.

Everyone is different. My kid became vegetarian about two years ago when she saw a film about meat, and it just clicked for her (combined with my influence, I suspect). I've known a small handful of vegetarians who just quit because they decided they wanted to, but for most people something happened which shifted their perspective on meat, and it was easy after that.

Do what you feel good doing. If you are trying to go vegetarian and are still craving meat, try to fight the urge, but don't beat yourself up over it if you don't win. Just conclude that you weren't ready, or that the slip had to come, and move on from there. By the time I went vegetarian, I already knew what else I could and wouldn't eat, and for my kid she had me as an example for many years, so it was easy for her. If you don't know what else to eat, it's very difficult. Most people who try it that way slip up a lot at first.

What I'm saying is be proud of what you've accomplished, and build on that. It's hard for a couple of months, and a lot of people slip, or outright fail. You know some things that don't work now. You don't like beans much, and don't like tofu (although tofu can be prepared in so many ways I don't think you should shut that door yet). Build on other options.

The two basic paths to take are to completely revision your diet to avoid the idea of meat, or to find a substitute for meat that fills the same place in your diet and pallat. I think most vegetarians do a little of both, but lean one way or the other. Some go completely away from meat-like meals (by that, I mean a meal based on three portions, one being meat, one being starch, and one being a veggie). They form their diet around one-dish meals involving grains and vegetables, or they form it around a grazing type diet, with a variety of smaller portions, and even a variety of smaller meals. The secret there is whole grains. They will fill you up, make you healthier, and give you a lot of nutrients. They are chewy like meat, so you don't feel as empty (most of the battle is psychological, so that's important).

One dish meals can be a stir fry or a stew or just a rice bowl, using whole grains (brown rice, or quinoa, or kasha, or barley... experiment) and some type of veggie topping (including beans, which you might find less monotonous if they aren't the whole base of the dish). Multi-dish meals can be, say, a side of rice, a side of beans, a couple of veggies, fruit, bread, cheese or eggs if you aren't vegan, nuts... Whatever sounds good.

They other way is what you're talking about. Find a good meat substitute or three and center meals around that whenever you have a craving. Mix it up or you'll get bored. I don't know what stores you have, so you might be limited, but seitan is often sold prepared in a lot of different ways--as barbeque, as roast, as flavored meats, for instance. Tempeh is okay, but it's a bit difficult to prepare well at first--experiment with it. Some companies make a field roast that has a good flavor and a solid meat feel. Find a few of them, then cook your favorite meat meal and substitute that for the meat.

Then there are the frozen options--Quorn, Boca Burgers, Tofurkey products, and a whole slew of veggie burgers and chicken nugget imitations.

A good substitute for a burger is a portabella mushroom. Just brush it with some oil and seasonings, and grill it or sautee it until it's a mushy mess, then drain and press it a bit to make it usable, then use it like a burger patty.

When you feel like it, experiment with tofu. I've never met a tofu-hater who didn't like my veggie-tofu lasagna, for instance, because I use the tofu as a cheese instead of a meat substitute (it really is a cheese, if you know how it's made). You can cook it to feel or taste like anything. Most people taste it raw and unprepared and think they know what it's like, but never bother cooking it properly. If you have a Pei Wei diner near you, order something from there with the tofu and see if you like that better. You want recognize it as tofu.

Anyway, what I'm saying is this--find what you like, and have it around the house ready to use. Try eating meals without meat, but when you want meat, have an option ready that you like, even crave. You might get there all at once, or you might move that way over time as you get more used to the new diet. But don't beat yourself up if you get starved one night and go to Wendys and order the triple cheeseburger. Some things are only moderately in your control, and if you starve yourself eventually your body is just going to make you eat something. Don't feel like you've failed if that happens, just go with it and make what adjustments you think are necessary. Most people don't get as close as you have.

And find a few staples. Make them easy for you. You can buy a cookbook with six hundred recipes (and you should) and subscribe to magazines and search the Internet, but you will wind up with a few staples you eat over and over because you like them and they are easy to prepare. Find your staples, and experiment with other recipes when you have the time.

The whole key here is to make it easier to eat what you think you should eat than to fix yourself something you don't think you should eat.

And find your own comfort zone. I refused to call myself vegetarian for a couple of years because I felt like it trapped me. I didn't eat meat, didn't want meat, but I didn't want to feel I was following someone else's definitions, either. I thought that was strange, but last week I met someone else in exactly that stage of it, so maybe it's normal. I also met a man a few weeks ago working at a Whole Foods who said he was vegetarian until he started having blackouts from being weak, so he started eating fish now and then. He was almost apologetic, like he was asking permission, when he said "I don't eat any land-based animals." That's not my solution, but it was his, and it's an admirable one, but he felt guilty because he wasn't a complete vegetarian. Don't worry about the label. Do what you feel is right ethically and dietarily, and what you feel you need to do, and do that. Adjust it later if you need to. Don't beat yourself up about following someone else's rules or definitions, just do what you feel is right for you.

Anyway, I know that's godawful long and I would edit it, but I just typed what I thought of and I don't have time to edit. Sorry, but hopefully you can find something in there to use.

[ZombieHorde]

43. Try onion pizza. nt

[petersjo02]

44. Never craved meat in my 68 years.

Ate some bites as a kid because Mom made me. Ate less and less meat over time. When I had a heart attack at age 51, no more meat, ever. I do cook meat for my husband. Even thinking about meat makes me nauseous and often find myself gagging while preparing it. Never liked the idea of eating a piece of a dead animal. Even my husband eats much less meat than he did 20 years ago.

[fishbulb703]

45. Tempeh, grilled for hours, ground into burgers. Seriously, if you eat meat every now and again, no

big deal. I still eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and my Mom's favorite meal is italian sausage and peppers with pasta, so I cooked that for her on Mothers day.

It really depends on weather you want to be a veg on ethical, health, or environmental grounds.

[mkultra]

46. i was a vegetarian for 4 years and i eventually was disgusted by meat

Fat enjoyment is a learned response that can be unlearned(and in my case, relearned latter)

[skipos]

47. I think these are amazing:

[skipos]

49. I also only had cravings for about a year. Now most meat smells disgusting to me.

Videos like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4 inspire me to stay on course.

[MidwestRick]

48. For me it's been 3 months.

Sure I see ads for good looking meat, and am a foody so I watch a ton of Food Channel programs and the food looks good, but I don't and haven't had any type of meat withdrawal *knocks wood*.

I do eat cheese and eggs so I am not even close to being vegan, but my wife is a great cook and has been feeding me quite well compared to what I thought I would be eating. Look into Indian food, and Mediterranean food. Went to a great Lebanese joint last night and had a great Falafel sandwich and a bowl of Foul (fava beans and spices).

[CrispyQ]

51. Some kick ass veg recipes in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=231&topic_id=497&mesg_id=497

And on this site, too: http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=recipecategories

I make baked tofu crumbles that I take to pot lucks. Often times people think it's chicken. ;)

My advice - convert at least three of your fave comfort foods to vegetarian. It will take some trial & error, but it's worth it. Then when you get a craving, make the veg version. If you have any questions about ingredient replacements, visit us here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231 We love to talk about food!

Good luck!

[Goblinmonger]

54. Baked tofu crumbles are the bomb.

I could eat them like popcorn.

[CrispyQ]

56. If I don't put them away as soon as they come out of the oven, they simply

. . . disappear! :9

[Goblinmonger]

57. What I think is the best about them

is that you can just put whatever you want on them for spices. I've done cajun seasoning, chipotle powder, Chinese five spice. Whatever. Probably going to make some tonight, now.

[snooper2]

53. more sex

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[harun]

58. Dishes with Lentils or cheese.

Both high in protein and filling.

[HopeHoops]

59. I don't have any. I quit eating meat in '89.

[ThomThom]

60. I'm not a vegetarian but I don't eat meat or chicken very often

I think that eating food that is raised in a sustainable way is the responsible way and the right position for me. I try to buy organics and meat/poultry that is raised free range. I also support my local growers as much as possible. If you are set on being vegetarian that is great just keep reminding yourself why you are doing it and walk on by.

[The Midway Rebel]

61. Google up the recipe for "Japanese Steak House Style Zucchini &Onions"

I am not a vegetarian but last summer I went meat free for spurts of days and cut down on meat consumption for months.

I had a bumper crop of zucchini and onions staring at me from the kitchen counter and no money for eating out. So, I went searching for recipes and found that one. The onions cooked in that manner, mixed with the oils and spices tasted and chewed just like that soft and greasy strip of fat on a KC strip steak. The zucchini was still veggie like but absorbed a smokey-meaty flavor. (I added cherry tomatoes to the mix at the end of cooking for that blood red color in my food.) I did not miss meat at all during those days and became more conscious of what I was eating when I did eat meat again.

I felt GRRREAT! like Tony the Tiger and, not be crude, my bowels were very happy with the experiment. Thing ran very sm--o--o-o-o-thly. I bicycle hard rides in the summer and did not get the bloat you can get from exercising after eating either. I lost 10 pounds in a few months too.

I freakin' cannot wait till the home grown veggies come up again this year!!!

[undeterred]

64. I'm converting slowly.

I'm working on finding healthy vegetarian meals that I really like and want to eat instead of cutting out meat entirely. Every now and then I crave a burger- so I'll have one. For me it is a 'phased evolution'.

[aikoaiko]

66. When I tried to go meatless, I never found any substitute.

[katzenjammers]

67. I became a humanitarian.

:D

[Hawkowl]

71. Cheese?

Dairy products reportedly dampen hunger cravings. Have you tried Quorn products? It's not soy but type of a mushroom based meat substitute. Personally, I never had meat cravings.