Today is the first day of my new life. That is my mantra.
I have switched to a 90% vegetarian lifestyle for the next 90 days and if this works I will continue on. The reason for the 90% is because I have 2 camping trips coming up that the meals are pre-planned and set up at the end of the month. (1 scouting, 1 Church retreat) and I am not going to throw a wrench in those. I am also going to be staying WAY down on the processed carbs (pasta, breads, muffins etc) which are my issue. Eating sweet potatoes or yams or 1/2 a baked potato instead of heavy pastas and rices, and trying to stay 'raw' during the daytime with dinner being my only cooked meal.
Reasons:
I need to lose 50 lbs. I NEED to lose 50 lbs and what I am doing so far is not working and can't work with my DH being the wonderful cook that he is.
My cholesterol is probably high (waiting on test results I am too embarressed to go get from the Dr from 2 months ago)
I do not enjoy meat on a regular basis and usually if I do it is only fish and occassionally chicken. I just find I am eating it because it is 'there' when I make the family dinners or I choose not to eat it.
I need to treat my body like a temple because I need it for the next 60-70 years. And I have been mistreating it.
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I am looking for suggestions for learning, books, easy beginner one person meal ideas that are quick and dirty. Suggestions, things that you really enjoy to eat.
I love beans and most veggies. I am allergic to balsamic vinegar.
Location: The best thing you've ever done for me is to help me take my life less seriously - it's only life after all
Posts: 11,713
I'll throw a few things out there: for weight loss, limit that delicious temptation we call CHEESE. And if you have high cholesterol, I suppose you should limit your egg yolks if you'll be eating eggs. Cheese might as well be a fatty prime rib in terms of nutritional value, but it sure does taste better.
Try to base your meals around beans and vegetables and lowfat dairy if you want to avoid too many carbs. One of my favorite easy-peasy lunches is a can of black beans heated up and big mess of salsa on top. Another one is a can of cannelini beans with arrabiatta sauce.
You can also wrap up all kinds of yummy stuff in a low carb wrap - like the black beans, or veggie meatballs with marinara, etc.
More quick and easy: an egg white omelet. A pb& j sandwich or wrap. A boca burger with lettuce and tomato (I put them in wraps, too. I'm on a low carb wrap kick this year). Smart dogs with no buns - I just dip them in mustard and eat veggies on the side. Salads with lots of garbanzo beans. Hummus and veggies! Falafel and hummus and veggies. yummmmm. Scrambled tofu (that's what I had for breakfast today - all mixed up with potatoes o'brien and tomatoes). Tofu stir fried with veggies. I'm a big fan of the smoothie for breakfast, too.
Location: But what it takes to cross the great divide seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside. But we get to have some answers when we reach the other side. The prize is always worth the rocky ride.
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Christy - I really need some guidance for quick/easy meals that are less carby and more veg/pulse-y.
I was going to do more crust-less quiches with asparagus for snackies too. Roasted veggies are a fave for me too for supper... Greek seasoning is my lifesaver.
i recently joined the dr dean ornish program for reducing and preventing heart disease - right now the program is just in wv and pa that i am aware of, but the diet guidelines go like this:
vegetarian, fat free dairy is allowed - 2 svgs per day, 1 full fat soy a day is required, 6 svgs or more of whole grains including ww pasta, brown rice etc - you can have more than this, you just need at least that many. 2-4 fruits per day, 4 veggies a day or more, 0-2 svgs of a fat free sweet like sorbet or fat free frozen yogurt and 3 low fat protein sources (vegan burgers, veggie crumbles etc). the biggest thing is reading labels - if it has hydrogenated oils put it back! nothing more than 3g of fat per serving besides your full fat soy, if it has canola, olive or another healthy oil included in the ingredients you can have 3 of those items a day. he has a couple of books out that have recipes or if you google "dean ornish recipes" i know at least the other hospital in my area that does the program, their site will come up (wvu hospital) and it has a ton of recipes. i have lost 10 lbs on the program so far and feel sooooo much better! it takes 3 days for the meat to completely get out of your system and you will really be able to tell a difference! oh and watch out if you go veggie and then eat meat, you will be in the bathroom!!! try to stick with white meat chicken, turkey or white fish if you are going to eat meat after being vegetarian for a while, it will also help prevent gallstones. good luck and enjoy your new life!!
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"women belong in the house....and the senate"
Put me on a lake in Canada and I'll always be happy...
kale, veggie sausage and potato soup - i posted the recipe on the yummy food forum - you can omit the veggie sausage and add pureed and whole canneloni (sp?) if you like
zuchinni "boats" stuffed with textured veggie protein (tvp commonly called - it will be your new best friend - super cheap and easy to make a batch in seconds in the microwave which is great for preparing meals for one or two), tomatoes, bell peppers and mushrooms and baked until the veggies are tender
tomatoes stuffed with bulgur, chopped jalepeno, onions and zuchinni
tvp "taco" salads made with a little taco seasoning (the reduced sodium has added oils so i use regular "strength" - lots of veggies, salsa and a dollop of fat free sour cream - so easy and i could live on these
tomato soup (campbells has no added oil, some store brands do) with twice baked potato with soy cream cheese, soy sour cream, shredded carrots and shredded zuchinni in the mashed mixture
lettuce wraps with edanamae, peppers, squash, zuchinni and siriachi sauce
Last edited by wvmountainmama : 05-21-2008 at 10:40 PM.
Reason: correct wording
Location: The best thing you've ever done for me is to help me take my life less seriously - it's only life after all
Posts: 11,713
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChasingChe
Christy - I really need some guidance for quick/easy meals that are less carby and more veg/pulse-y.
I love what you've said so far - any insight?
how quick and easy do you need? I am really lazy about cooking right now, so I have quite a repertoire of weird legume-based crap I'll eat. Like throwing a can of garbanzo beans, a cup or two of cauliflower, and some curry powder into a pot and calling it my lunch.
how quick and easy do you need? I am really lazy about cooking right now, so I have quite a repertoire of weird legume-based crap I'll eat. Like throwing a can of garbanzo beans, a cup or two of cauliflower, and some curry powder into a pot and calling it my lunch.
My stomach growled when I read that
Last night's supper was taco's for the family but I subbed in red rice, black beans and corn mixed together instead of meat and it was delicious! I would eat it daily, srsly.
And I have been mistreating it. 
& Dylan (7) 
I love your ideas!
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