i've almost successfully cut meat out of my diet, now i'm really trying to work on cutting out junk/pre-prepared foods. i'm not sure what i can really eat except for apples and salads though.. i looked up recipies online but they all involve so much stuff. i'd really be shopping for myself, and since i don't drive the only vegetarian place i can shop is my local produce junction, since its within walking distance. what else can i do to help me transition into total vegetarianism?
Philly has loads of veg restaurants. try searching "vegetarian + neighborhood name" seems you have mass trans, too: http://www.septa.com/ give the So you want to be a Vegetarian? section a good look, too, esp. the FAQ. http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/forumdisplay.php?f=442
There is a lot of simple stuff you could make! Add veggies to pasta with pesto or some kind of seasoning or even butter. Same with rice and veggies, they sell stir-fry sauce, soy sauce, curry sauce, check it out! Also beans with onions and peppers with taco seasoning works... or instead of taco seasoning use cumin and chili powder and salt and veggie broth, I make that pretty often and its yummy and really easy. All those things are pretty easy! And when you don't feel like cooking, there's always the pre-packaged food, there should be tons of vegetarian things in the frozen section but I guess they are kinda pricey. But its always good to have some veggie burgers around. I also like frozen bean burritos that you can buy for a quick lunch or something. And yeah other than that get some nuts and fruit and you're good! I mean thats just my suggestion! I hope it helps!
I'd much rather think of meals on my own than follow a recipe. I agree, just starting out, there are so many ingredients to buy and it becomes kind of expensive. If you do go the recipe route try to either find a bunch of recipes that are different but have a lot of the same ingredients or just do what I do and use the recipe to inspire something of my own. At first its going to take a lot of planning, but after a while it'll become really easy. Right now, I'm dreaming of a salad with spinach greens, balsamic vinagrette (I just mix olive oil and balsamic vineagar), sauteed portabello mushrooms, walnuts, pomegranate seeds and avacado. Mmmm... I have everything but the walnuts and pomegranates at this point. I'll run to the store after the holiday. Definately use the mass transit you have out there. I lived in philadelphia for a year and I got so much exercise walking and rollerblading everywhere. I also used the bus and subway system a lot. I was not however veg then, so I wouldn't be able to help you with hot veggie spots.
absolute basics: canned beans frozen veggies (esp broccoli) pasta (whole grain if you can, very very filling) fruits with this, all you need to do is boil water and heat the beans. (steam the veggies).
i always cook up big batches of stuff [usually beans and veg] and store portions in containers in the fridge add rice, water, re-heat last one was yams, tomatoes, spinach, with african curry seasonings, hot and sweet today doing a cajun thing, celery, bell pepper, onions, salty and hot cheap, only two days of serious cooking per week, easy to find ingredients [even in produce-poor eastern montana] oh yeah, get a bike, faster and less tedious than walking, and actually better exercise
I agree with everything that's been said. When I first switched, I found that small amounts of almonds & sunflower seeds added to my meals - or nibbled on as snacks seemed to help with a bit of that "gotta-have-meat" feeling. Playing with my condiments has also helped. For some reason I would (and still DO) get incredible cravings for "something with mustard" or "barbecue sauce on ANYTHING!" and I've turned it into an adventure to try new & fantastic ideas and combinations of foods that go well with traditional "meat-toppers." You'd be amazed what a little barbecue does on your typical green salad in lieu of traditional dressing - or how wonderful baked fries are when sprinkled in cayenne & dipped in a tiny bit of mustard! love, mom
there is possibly a thing every vegetarian should investigate i cannot remember where i read this but it should be easy to google it involved a fifth 'taste', savory, added to the original four--salty, sweet, bitter, sour? meat was heavily featured as was kelp, and msg which comes from kelp, and i saw some non-meat items that fit the bill [nuts?] this might help with the meat cravings? [mmm...black beans cooked with kelp, seasoned with soy sauce...] i am going to do some research and post here, maybe some experiments can follow...
