20 of your tales of vegetarian woe

[Redfairen]

What do vegetarians eat in a country where refusing meat is regarded as a sign of madness? A Magazine feature published last week raised this question, and there was a huge response from readers.


(great stories on the link)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21122072

[upaloopa]

1. How many times have I been asked in this country

"What do you eat?" "How do you get your protein?"
My mother-in-law always says I'm a picky eater or it is hard to cook for me. I always think of saying "I'm not the one who is 100 lbs over weight and has had 3 heart attacks and needed a knee replacement because of the weight." But I never say it or anything because I don't need to justify my eating habits.

[undeterred]

10. Asking about protein is a legitimate question.

People don't know that there are many non - meat sources of protein, so they have to be educated. I think I might have made the move a lot sooner if I had known, but I believed in the 4 food group myth I was taught growing up. Unfortunately that still dominates in the US and people think its a healthy diet, when in fact its killing them.

I've found that once I launch into my sermon on non meat sources of protein people shut up pretty quickly. They just don't want to think about the other reasons why giving up meat might be a good thing.

[Kalidurga]

2. I am a pretty new non meat eater.

I am so new I still eat soy burgers. I probably won't give them up, I don't know yet. Anyway, the first thing since I am out and about frequently and don't usually bring food with me, was that it's difficult to find vegetarian options. I mean meat is freaking everywhere and even in most salads.

It is even more difficult if you don't eat eggs or dairy, in some cases nearly impossible. It is so difficult that I have on occasion had to resort to having a V8 and a bag of Sun Chips, of course I had a hard time finding Sun Chips that didn't have cheese on them.

I am not vegan yet, though so I will occasionally eat cheese. But, sometimes I am just not in the mood, so when I can't have a meatless cheese-less meal, it is a bummer. Once, I had to go all over the school just to find an egg salad sandwich. Obviously this was before I quit eating eggs. But, I still have mayo sometimes. Quitting that soon too.

I dread the day I am full on vegan for this reason. I will never be able to leave my house without bringing my own food. I pretty much have to make all my food from scratch, because finding good vegan or vegetarian food is not as easy as it looks.

[otherone]

7. I'm new too..

when i get into a jam i snack on taco bell..

[mucifer]

16. If you can afford it, Chipotle is much better.

[Flaxbee]

9. Do you have a 5 Guys in your area? Yes, it's a burger joint, but they have a veggie burger -- all

vegetables on a bun.

Honestly, it's not bad. It's pretty good.

Though, the veggies are probably grilled on the same grill as the meat.

[LiberalElite]

13. I've been a vegetarian for a couple of decades -

but I live in a major metro area and there are lots of health food stores that sell tofu salad, etc. What kinds of food are you looking for? Maybe it can be purchased online. As for mayonnaise, there are vegan alternatives but my fave is Vegenaise, manufactured by Follow Your Heart.
P.S.: FWIW, I still eat soy burgers.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

3. At the company holiday buffet

I was assured by the chef what was vegan. I had a salad with a balsamic vinagraitte and mentioned to them that the dressing was very good. "The secret is anchovy paste" they told me.

I wanted to kick him.

[flvegan]

4. In other words, selfishness is intercontinental.

[freshwest]

5. No woes to report.

[freshwest]

12. Found this site with lots of information, take a look around:

Problem Nutrients (if there are any) for Vegetarians and Vegans:

http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/nutrientsvegan.htm

Quick and easy recipes for Health on the Go:

http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/ongo.htm

Healthy recipes (all plant based foods):

http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/healthy.htm

And snagged a quart of coconut milk kefir to get over that dairy craving in the store today. After eliminating more, I am on my third day of sleeping better, with I have more stamina and not waking with a splitting headache.

[LeftyMom]

6. All my best stories involve my mother:

First there was the time I had to pick her up very early to take her in for day surgery. She called me before I was going to head over to ask "Is Miracle Whip vegan?" I explained that it isn't, it's got eggs in it. "Oh, because I was going to make you a tuna sandwich. That's okay, I'm not sure the bread is vegan."



Then there was the time she asked me to bring flvegan over for Thanksgiving. "Oh, are you going to make something for us?" I asked. Her response, I swear to god: "Is Pepsi vegan? Because we'll have that. And the veggie tray, but I guess you can't have ranch dressing. Oh, and potato chips." Because nothing says Thanksgiving with the family like baby carrots, plain Lay's chips and Pepsi.

[otherone]

8. what a great thanksgiving

[mucifer]

11. That's pretty similar to the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Popcorn toast and candy if I remember correctly.

[LiberalElite]

14. My brother's mother-in-law

didn't know what to do for me for Thanksgiving - to her, the area on my plate where the turkey would have been had to be filled in with SOMETHING - so one year it was cheese tortellini and another year it was a potato knish. She tried.