Vegetarians

Assuming a few on here are maybe Vegetarians?

Have you been brought up vegetarian or have changed to vegetarian in later life? More interested in the latter as you'll have had the taste of meat before you changed to vegetarian.

I've often thought about it as I don't 'need' the meat I eat, I just like it and it makes quick and easy meals.

I've tried Quorn products in the past, but I think they are disgusting and supermarkets own brands seem a lot better/nicer.

My main source is beef. I like burgers, lasagne, spag bol, shepherds/cottage, etc.
My daughters main source is pigs, such as bacon, sausage, ham, etc.

We recently went to an Open Farm day and there was a pig there with personality but it's made my daughter think about going vegetarian. I don't mind the idea myself and
I'll support her if she wants.

Just wondering what, if any, recommendations people have regarding alternatives, such as sausages, etc.

Eat more fish?

We often have roast veg with sliced halloumi shallow-fried in a little oil, backed up with rice.

Steam your veg to retain more flavour.

Stuffed peppers, filling of rice, chopped mushrooms or whatever you choose, topped off with cheese, even breadcrumbs, in the oven.

Veggie lasagne...

Try someone like Mary McCartney's veggie cookbooks?

Keep meat for a treat!

MrsC was vegetarian for many years before we met and my brother has been veggie since about 1975. I'm pretty well acquainted with vegetarian options, though MrsC now eats meat occasionally too. 2 of my step-kids are veggies.

I actually like some quorn (the chicken pieces are great for stews and stir-fries) and the escalopes aren't bad.
The Tesco own-brand soya mince is good in bolognese and chili and it's vegan, rather than veggie (step-daughter is vegan).
Cauldron make better veggie sausages than Quorn and pretty much all the Linda McCartney range is very tasty (and vegan). Especially the pies and sausages.

Thanks Simon and Jim.

I usually only eat fish when it's from the chippy, or as fishfinger sandwiches I thought the whole point of being vegetarian though, was not to eat food that's been killed for it's meat?

I've seen the Linda McCartney range and it does look nice, but have never tried it. Might have a look again next time I'm in the supermarket.

As you've both said, I could just eat meat occasionally and/or as a treat. We'll see

Linda McArtney food is just rubbish processed food, the same as any other processed packaged rubbish sold by food giants. Full of bad fats and sugar, plus a host of additives. It's sad proof that the food industry have convinced people they don't have enough time to cook.

If you have ever listened to Supermarket "nutritionists" talk about the mix of stuff that goes into these things and the decisions made for various reasons, non of which is to do with health, it would shock you.

Fresh varied diet, that you cook yourself, your body will thank you.

What does annoy me is vegetarians who make it their lifes' work to let everyone know they are such a thing. Attention seekers IMHO. I don't like sprouts but have never felt the need to announce it at every opportunity and ask what the alternative is

I've been a vegetarian since high school.

I make lots of things fresh such as spanish chicken, casseroles, curries etc.
Some of the Quorn products can be a little dry, you have to be careful how you cook them, they are great with a sauce though.

The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are delicious and the new pulled pork ones aren't bad either.

Fish is not a vegetarian food. Cheese and eggs are.

We went vegetarian as a family when my son (now 22) at the age of four, was totally horrified when we had roast duck for Christmas dinner. He said "But I like ducks!" and refused to eat it, and any other meat, forever after.

We don't use much in the way of meat substitutes, but the Linda McCartney quarter pound mozarella burgers are amazing. Her sausages, not so good. Quorn is disgusting. It has a warning on the pack about causing the runs!

You can make a veggie shepherd's type pie by using tinned kidney beans (well rinsed), fried onion, and carrots, with vegetarian gravy (granules) to moisten it, then add a mashed potato topping, and oven cook. Or you can use a jar of curry (tika) sauce instead of the gravy.

Sometimes we have a "roast dinner without the meat", with cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes, and any other vegetables.

Pizza - with lots of salad and coleslaw - we have that once a week.

Then of course, there's fried egg, chips and baked beans.

I've just noticed someone else likes the mozzarella burgers - so that's two votes for those!

There are loads of vegetarian recipes online, after a while you just get used to cooking in a different way.

Callum's favourite is mushrooms and onions fried, with either pasata added or a can of chopped tomatoes, as a sauce to have on any pasta, with grated cheese on top.

Another lovely pasta sauce can be made with fried mushrooms and onions, with marscapone cream cheese stirred into it. You can also use Philadelphia but the marscapone tastes nicer.

We have a fresh basil plant in the kitchen and use a lot of that in almost everything.

Good luck! Even if you just eat a bit less meat it is healthier for you and better for the planet too. xxx

P.S. If you watched the movie "Earthlings" (it's on YouTube) you would never touch meat, or fish, again. I am not suggesting anyone should watch it though really because it makes you cry, and vomit!

And I don't EVER announce that I am vegetarian unless I am being asked what would I like from a pub menu, when it seems quite relevant and not a pain in the arse thing to say at all!

Annie you're correct about being "vegetarian" - I was employing the term in rather a lax way thinking which direction Theresa might like to take ......sounds like she doesn't use indicators

Fish is not "veggie" but is nevertheless healthy and a substitute for meat for some.

If I went completely vegetarian, I wouldn't eat fish as it defeats the point of being vegetarian.

I've added the mozzarella burgers to my shopping list to try

I like a lot of vegetarian stuff anyway, so it wouldn't do me any harm to eat more of that and eat less meat.

I'm the only person I know that only ever orders a mushroom omelette as a main meal from a Chinese takeaway The Chinese make lovely mushroom omelettes Unfortunately, my favourite Chinese takeaway said they were changing to vegetarian chinese and I thought great, I can still have my mushroom omelette, but they then decided to go Vegan, so no omelettes

I'll have a go at making a vegetable lasagne too as I make a lovely one with meat, so will have a go without meat

Shows how wrong one can be

All this talk about food is making me hungry for a homemade beefburger with chorizo, cheddar and fried onion

I'm not one to bash vegetarianism, but I just couldn't imagine not eating meat.

I probably eat meat (or fish) every day. Had some lovely kangaroo burgers last week.

I have been a veggie for 18 years, like lots of things, wine, cheese, olives & coffee you have to train yourself to like veggie food but once you do you really like it.

I would start with curries and chilli's but replace the meat with Quorn or own brand veggie alternatives. The flavour will be the main focal point but the chunks or mince help the consistency. Paneer chunks of cheese are good on curries too.

Pub type meals IE. chips, veg and burger are easily replicated just replace the meat with an alternative. I find veggie burgers are best in a bun with the usual trimmings.

Veggie hot dog sausages are exactly the same as meat ones....that basically have no meat in anyway!

I personally love cooking with a glass of wine and some good music. Yes it takes time but its satisfying.

Good Luck and if you do have a weak day don't despair as even reducing the amount of meat you eat helps many things.

Good luck.

Those are a big no for me, whether they have meat in or not

I don't eat hot and/or spicy food at all

I'll probably start with lasagne or spaghetti bolognese

Thanks for all the tips and help. It's not a massive lifestyle change, just needs a bit more planning that's all

I used to eat a lot of meat, and drink quite heavily, until meeting my wife around 15 years ago. She is Indian Punjabi and introduced me to the traditional food which is mainly vegetarian and nothing like what is sold in most restaurants. It helps that I have always loved spicy food- one of my other half's recipes uses 15 chillies!

Now meat is an exception rather than the rule and I feel loads better health wise as a result. I think that combined with cutting way back on alcohol have made a huge difference.

This was brought home to me at a 30 year reunion for a Sqn I used to work on in the RAF. Most of my mates from that time had continued with the diet I had left behind and were pretty much unrecognisable as a result, and a fair few with the related health conditions that come with the excess.

My wife and both Daughters are veggies, wife turned totally veggie when she was 18 ,after a trip to Godstone Zoo!, the girls did the same at about 8 or 9, they were eating McDonalds etc up to that point, then mind up their minds to stop eating meat. No pressure from mum at all. I'm still a meat eater... but not lamb...

I don't find Quorn too bad, ok with the right flavours. I find veggie Lasagne tastes better than a meat one.

When it's my turn to cook a meal. This is one of my favourites. Always goes done well

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2534664/veg-and-cheesy-rice-bake

Bit off topic & merely just from an observational point of view, in my lifetime I've only come across female vegetarians, usually of a certain age & usually with some life problem. One of my former colleagues not only a veggie, A lesbian as well. She also had a problem with men in general, as you can imagine my sense of humor went down like the Titanic. She & her partner had split up unbeknown to me towards her last days with our company. I couldn't work out how much of a pain she became until she left, then another female gave me the details. Just my experiences....

Oh yes Theresa, I wish you all the best for the future regarding your eating habits......

It's not a correlation I've come across tbh.....

Doesn't like meat I guess....

Indeed, this was my only experience with this. I never really knew she was veggie until she left. It was one of my other colleagues who told me things later. I never had any real issues with her, but she came over as very negative & angry most of the time. I was also told later that I was not alone in experiencing her negativity. I was not aware of other issues as well until she left our company. In my line we are not allowed to divulge personal information about client or colleague. Me being me I kept thinking what the hell have I done to upset her.

Lol, cheers Jim Definately not a lesbian and my only problem with men is that I can't get one for myself lol

I am angry and miserable though, but that's due to being surrounded by arseholes, arrogant, ignorant and selfish in general, other than that, I'm fine

Sorry to hear that Theresa. I know I bang on about post code lottery & how it affects your life in some areas. My neck of the woods has changed over the years, but to be honest we still have a laid back attitude combined with village mentality up here, somehow it works fine. I only met you the once & I could tell strait away you were among other things a positive honest person.

Yes totally of topic now.....

I have the embarrassing situation that my long suffering girlfriend is a meat eater and orders steak when we go out to eat as its a treat so when the food arrives they plonk the steak in front of me and the veggie food in front of her and I have to pipe up "Sorry the steak is hers" LoL....I guess its good that she eats meat though????

I see what you did there tOmO

So did I, I just couldn't think of a response

My cholesterol level is very low, and I'm sure this is because I don't eat meat.

Two words: omnivore teeth.

I'm on a largely carbohydrate-free diet, which means no potatoes, bread, spaghetti, rice... meh. I miss them.

But I do get to eat reasonable amounts of bacon and other high protein foods: eggs, cheese, yoghurt, meats, beans. I don't eat chicken or most fish, no seafood.

God, I wouldn't want to be trapped in a lift with you

It's ok. I carry a lighter.

Be sure you've got your gliding kit.....

Instant thermals.