Vegertarian Diet?

[JimNotJon]

Hello fellow foodies! I am after some help.

I have recently been ill and quite run down having a few various medical problems (not going to the loo as Id like for one), I won't go into anymore detail as it is a food forum afterall, but after a lengthy talk to my doctor I need to diet to vastley improve my health. I knew this from the start but this and my recent (and still current) not feeling my self, has kicked me up the backside somewhat.
He suggested I become a temporary veggie cutting out meats (especially red). The thing is, I am 23 and for all of those years I have never not eaten meat so therefore have no idea on veggie dishes that taste good, give me energy for work (im a delivery driver but lift heavy crates imbetween).

Any help on the matter would be fantastic, I have done a google search but would also like a view of the PH masses.

Thanks, James.

[madbadger]

Clearly your doctor should be sectioned for being a mentalist.

However if you are serious then take a tip from countries where veggiism is the norm - so look at curries. Most decent Nepali / Indian diets will include loads of Dahls and veg dishes that will do the job.

Otherwise Mousakkas, lasagne, Cauliflower cheese, stews etc can all be made without meat.

You can piss about with nut roasts and the like but I would avoid artificial meat substitutes as I would have thought you could do more harm than good.

[Simpo Two]

Well, you could cut out red meat and still eat the rest and see how it goes.

Your doctor isn't a veggie perchance?

[tangent police]

Is the guy a pseudo-religious veggie nutter?

I've heard of docs recommending that veggies start eating meat but not the other way around.

Sounds like a quack to me.

(I used to teach bio/food myself). Bloke is a fking nutter IMO.

[grumbledoak]

It isn't healthy at all to simply cut out all meat; I can only assume that he is some kind of preachy lentilist himself. I'd get a second opinion.

If you want to try a few alternatives to individual red meat dishes but keep enough starch (potatoes, pasta, rice) for energy you've plenty of choice. I'd completely avoid any meat substitute crap (veggie sausages, etc, Quorn, or Tofu), and maybe consider
a. pasta with (blue?) cheese sauce (creme fraiche and blue cheese ain't hard),
b. pasta carbonara (there's only a bit of pork in it)
c. baked potato with tuna and spring onion (mix with mayo)
d. brocolli and blue cheese soup (needs potato for your energy needs)
e. chicken Kiev is easy, have it with mash and peas

Any use?

For more ideas, I'd consider typing "<ingredient> <ingredient> recipes" into google:
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...

[madbadger]

grumbledoak said:

It isn't healthy at all to simply cut out all meat; I can only assume that he is some kind of preachy lentilist himself. I'd get a second opinion.

If you want to try a few alternatives to individual red meat dishes but keep enough starch (potatoes, pasta, rice) for energy you've plenty of choice. I'd completely avoid any meat substitute crap (veggie sausages, etc, Quorn, or Tofu),

I quite agree.

But as for your veggie recommendations...

grumbledoak said:

and maybe consider
a. pasta with (blue?) cheese sauce (creme fraiche and blue cheese ain't hard), Veggie
b. pasta carbonara (there's only a bit of pork in it) Not veggie
c. baked potato with tuna and spring onion (mix with mayo) Not veggie
d. brocolli and blue cheese soup (needs potato for your energy needs) Veggie
e. chicken Kiev is easy, have it with mash and peas Not veggie

2 out of 5.

Rubbish effort!

[FraserLFA]

Pasta and Rice. Loads of cooking options for variety, and full of goodness

Fish is essential (if you can stomach it)

nuts are also good.

Buy a veggie cook book if you're serious though.

Although, one suggestion, cook pasta, add cubes of blue cheese, salad leaves and walnuts, add a dressing and enjoy.

[Simpo Two]

To be fair the OP might have some kind of meat intolerance and the GP might be normal!

[A911DOM]

Simpo Two said:

To be fair the OP might have some kind of meat intolerance and the GP might be normal!

Its possible, but most veggies are mental arent they...... (he says taking a peek over his shoulder to see if the Mrs is looking)

I eat vegetarian at home as the Mrs and family are being brought up that way.

There are lots of different things you can do with those funny vegetable things - and you can pretty much convince yourself that you still have a meat diet with the range of 'alternatives' on the market now.

Now I know a lot of people scoff at these products (no pun intended), but tonight we had veggie burger, mash, fried onions and beans for a quick easy tea.

The burgers and sausages available from quorn (dont let anyone else in PH here you mention quorn though, its generally regarded as horribly ghey ) or from Linda Mcartney are ok, and you can still wack some cheese, onions, salsa etc with them to hide the small lacking in real 'meatiness'.

Its also pretty easy to make up rice based dishes, and then for an added bit of flavour and presentation, you can stuff a larger vegetable product with the already cooked vege concoction you have created - for example:

Stuffed Peppers when roasted are really quite tasty.
Stuffed (large) mushrooms are excellent with a good bit of cheese included too.
Stuff tomatoes - again the big bu99ers work well and will flavour nicely with a good roast and stock.
Artichoke if you can be bothered with the prep.
Make up large yorkshire puds, then fill with chilli / bolognese (all of course made with vege mince but the rest of the prep is exactly the same).
Stuffed courgettes - Not bad when you get them right!

Theres lots more obviously which Im forgetting right now.

You can also use the pulses / beans / lentils etc to make up a nice concoction which still offers plenty of protein and energy! Watch out for the chickpeas, you'll generate enough wind for you own offshore farm

There are masses of cook books available now, and as long as you're prepared to give them a go, there ARE actually a lot of meals you can make up that actually have flavour in them despite the obvious lacking of meat, poultry or fish!

For the record, I am a fake vege and will happily consume all manly meats when not under threat of death from the Mrs - Im so brave...

[JimNotJon]

Simpo Two said:

To be fair the OP might have some kind of meat intolerance and the GP might be normal!

As embarrassing as it is (im sure we have all gone through it before) I have had really bad constipation, and apprently meat (reds especially) take a long time to get broken down not helping the problem.. so he told me! Thats why he said go for a veggie diet for a while. Sorry should of said from the start. I did think it was a little weired.

I have no known allergies so should be ok, love nuts (any particular ones to avoid?) not a fan of cheese to be honest but love fish. All other suggestions I like.

Thanks for the suggestions, I think its just being sensible, cutting down red meats, ok for a treat and just smaller portions.

[Simpo Two]

JimNotJon said:

As embarrassing as it is (im sure we have all gone through it before) I have had really bad constipation, and apprently meat (reds especially) take a long time to get broken down not helping the problem.. so he told me! Thats why he said go for a veggie diet for a while. Sorry should of said from the start. I did think it was a little weired.

Veggie = fibre = constipation in my view.

You should do what my mate did. Somebody gave him aa tin of prunes. He ate them all. Then he shat himself

[grumbledoak]

There is a lot of crap talked about meat, particularly red meat, being bad for you. Much of it is ignorance, or propaganda by various special interest groups. Try here

[thinfourth2]

Another vote for proper indian food

Loads of beans and veggies

A good potato curry is a fine thing

[OnTheOverrun]

Get a second opinion.

[Mobile Chicane]

I agree that your doctor sounds like a crank.

A vegetarian diet can be just as unhealthy as a carnivorous one: most veggies I know eat a lot of cheese and are overweight as a result.

I'd look at replacing white bread, rice etc with brown, and eat more salad and fruit. I love fruit but can't be arsed with peeling and chopping it.

Thankfully, Asda sell 340g trays of peeled and chunked pineapple, melon or mango for £3 for 2. I have one of these every day for breakfast.

[OnTheOverrun]

Mobile Chicane said:

A vegetarian diet can be just as unhealthy as a carnivorous one

Don't think I've ever met a human who is a carnivore, though I try to get as close as I can. The vast majority of people are omnivores.

[Simpo Two]

OnTheOverrun said:

Mobile Chicane said:

A vegetarian diet can be just as unhealthy as a carnivorous one

Don't think I've ever met a human who is a carnivore, though I try to get as close as I can. The vast majority of people are omnivores.

You can easily tell what food an animal (inlcuding us) is designed by nature to eat by looking at its dentition.

An exception is detritivores - I don't know what they have... probably chitinous nibbly bits...

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 25th February 22:48

[fatboy b]

If your doctor is seriously suggesting becoming a veggie to improve your diet, I would change doctors. Talk to a nutritionist or dietitian. Doctors (esp GPs) do not know an awful lot about nutrition.

[Herbie58]

He's not really suggesting you become a veggie is he? He's telling you to cut out red meat for a while. Fish, seafood, poultry are all still ok to you yes? One single item can't make that much difference to your eating patterns surely?