Veggie Thread Week of Dec 11-17

[soya]

Hello Veggies,

Kekka: Good for you for talking about being veggie. It can be so hard because many non-veggie people feel defensive and guilty immediately when faced with a veggie.

I try to lead mostly by example and convince by cooking great food, and giving it to my meat eating friends. I sometimes talk about it... but try not to be judgemental... as it seems to make most people really defensive, really fast (and doesn't lead to any change on their parts at all.)

Sometimes I mention that meat production uses lots of resources: wrecks land in poor countries, wrecks topsoil. Sometimes I talk about the health effects of meat, or the suffering of the animals... or how I grew up in a "non-violent" household and was taught that all killing was wrong unless in self-defense. With my partner, I say that there are a few good reasons to eat meat: taste and tradition. Beyond that, there are hundreds of reasons not to.

Anyhow, I weighed in today, up 1.8 lbs from a month ago! Arg! But I made some poor choices around the TG week, so I need to be back on track in a big way. I avoided sweets yesterday! Did a l.5 hour walk/run and did step aerobics this a.m.

It is great to hear from all of you veggies and folks who are cutting down a bit on meat! I really do believe that even if folks are not complete vegetarians, lightening up on meat helps our health and the environmental effects of meat production too!

Have a great day!

Soya

[seniorbiker]

Been a lacto-ovo veggie for a very long time.
Mostly due to the chemicals/hormones/animal byproducts the animals consume to increase the meat production. I feel these chemicals contributed to not only my own cancer but also to my DH's cancer.
Eileen

[kekka90]

Hi there!!
I'm feeling heavy this week, but it must be pms or something.
I was super diligent yesterday, and went through recipes and made a shopping list for the week. I have dinners and lunches planned for the week up until thursday,(we go to ohio to visit DH's family on friday).
this trip is going to be interesting, because DH's dad is a hunter and they are big meat eaters. however the neighbor across the street is a veggie, and a good family freind, so I'm hoping to spend some time with them, and maybe get some good recipes. I also looked up some veggie resaurants. other than that I guess I'll just make my own food descretely.
How is everyone doing so far this week?

[soya]

Hello Veggies,

Kekka: Sounds like a trying time! When I am around hunters, I just remember that humans have hunted since the dawn of time! It is only now that we have the luxury to choose not to kill things (and I am glad we have that luxury!). You will have to share good recipes if you find some you like.

Eileen: I love your screen name! Are you really a biker? I know a senior biker couple from my town.... very cool folk. They are a Democrat/Republican couple who cancel each other out when they vote. They make me laugh! I do like the fact that being veggie has so many health benefits! I must admit that the non-violence factor is my major incentive for being veggie, but all the aspects are good for staying the course.

Veggies, I am still having a hard time with my no-sweets plan. I did well yesterday, but today... well, if I went into it, it would be tempting others to break down, so I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that I used 9 pts on things I had decided not to eat just two days ago. Constant recommitment. Must recommit in the morning, not evening.

But, my homescale was down this a.m., at least!

Okay, have a great day/night.

Soya

[soya]

Hello Veggies,

What do you all have for breakfast? I don't like cereal much, cold that is, and am so sick of oatmeal and toast.

I am in a rush, most mornings. What else do you all do?

Soya

[seniorbiker]

Yes, I am a 'biker babe'. Currently we have a Honda Goldwing, but over the years have had most every Honda motorcycle ever made. No Harley's in our past. We do go on a lot of the Harley rides though, especially their cancer support one as we love to take the 'survivor's' walk up to the podium.
I even have a tattoo. It is the bc ribbon around one of my radiation port marks on my chest. When you read this, remember I am an old broad in my early 60's going in and saying 'I want a tat, a special one'. They did themselves proud.
On this bike I ride pillion. It is a tad too big for me to handle alone. But anything under 1000cc I can handle with no problem.
Life as a veggie can be a royal pain in the caboose in some of the little out of the way places we tour. "You want what? What is soymilk?" Etc.
Eileen in E. WA state.

[suzie_lightning]

Soya, breakfast ideas from another thread:

1) Steel-cut oats with cinnamon, skim milk, and sliced frozen peaches

(2) Egg fried on top of fried polenta slices (1 or 2 tsps. EVOO)

(3) Bulgar with cinnamon and milk, flax/walnuts for 1 point

(4) Banana Baked Oatmeal or any of the Baked Oatmeal Recipes

(5) Tofu scramble--soft tofu scrambled up in a pan with onions, tomatoes, cilantro (or whatever veggie combination), with fruit

(6) Shredded wheat or puffed Kashi with banana and strawberries

(7) Cream of wheat made with skim milk

(8) Suzie's Core Upma (http://www.healthdiscovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105030)

(9) Breakfast Sandwich: 1 or 2 pieces of toast, 1 pts worth of your favorite garlic/herb cheese spread (I use Laughing Cow light), and a fried egg, with cooked or raw tomatoes and onions

(10) English muffin pizza: English muffin spread with marinara sauce and veggies, sprinkled with some part-skim mozzarella

(11) Whole-Grain pancakes (I use Bob's Red Mill brand) mixed with pumpkin, or topped with sauteed frozen peach slices and cottage cheese

(12) Lower-point Bran, Blueberry, or Pumpkin muffins with a glass of soymilk

[suzie_lightning]

Welcome Eileen! Glad to have you on board, buddy! :D

[soya]

Thanks Suzie, for Breakfast ideas.

When I have time, weekends and summers, I make pancakes and scones, and scrambled tofu, and lots of dishes.... but short on time when teaching, I sure am getting tired of toast and oatmeal!

I think I may make bulgar and other grains with soymilk and sweet spices. I remember that I used to make cous-cous breakfast pudding with raisins, which was great!

Eileen: I feel what you are saying about it being hard to be veggie elsewhere. I have traveled and lived in rural Central America and in Mexico City and it can be hard to explain. Also, eating endless combos of beans, tortillas and rice is pretty boring after a while!

Soya

[Wild Lotus]

I'm a new veggie. Can anyone share some of their menu ideas with me?

[suzie_lightning]

Soya, I didn't see the "quick" part! I'd definitely recommend baking up a batch of the baked oatmeal (it doesn't actually taste like oatmeal, more like a muffin or cake) and slicing it up for the week. So good!

Welcome Wild Lotus! Here is my menu for today:

Thursday, December 15th

B: Tea with milk and sugar (1); Cream of wheat with milk and sugar (4.5)-->5.5
L: Minestrone with Chickpeas, Salad (5.5)-->11
S: Orange (1) --> 12
D: Tofu Fried Rice (6); Steamed Broccoli; White Wine (4) --> 22

[soya]

Hi Wild Lotus, and others!

My menus often include tofu and beans of all sorts.

I make lots of soups starting with garlic and onions, then a variety of veggies and beans, with herbs and spices. I often add some brewer's yeast to give it more flavor!

I love tofu. I make scrambled tofu and use it in lasagna, make tofu balls to put over spaghetti, or just fry or stir-fry it. I often marinate it in soy sauce, vinagar and Splenda, sometimes with garlic and other spices, too.

Oviously, veggies, and grains play a big role, as do whole grain bread and tortillas. Yum!

Soya