Thursday, May 23, 2013

I'm a vegetarian. What are some simple recipes?

Q. I recently bought tofu and a few broths from whole foods. I didn't even know what I was doing when I was grocery shopping. Anyway, please let me in on some good recipes and/or vegetarian cookbooks.
Excluding the obvious of course. i.e. SALAD! Haha. I need some real meals. Also, I don't eat fish or shellfish because I am allergic. Keep in mind I am 16 (going on 17) so simplicity is key.

A. What about a tofu scramble. You can use it the same way that you would use eggs. I go on tofu binges often so I cook it so many different ways. There are so many different types too, silk or firm are my favorites.
For a tofu scramble it is simple I will give you 2 recipes. One I make is a soy scramble, use soy or tamari. I saute some minced garlic, onions, carrots until tender then add the tofu and scramble it like it was an egg, then top with soy, salt, pepper, and for me always some hot asian chili paste or sauce and green scallion If you have black bean add it with the veg. Another one is to use Balsamic, oregano or basil and the some peppers if you like. More italian or greek influence. So now you have the basic try your hand on a scramble. Another thing I make is chili, I use the tofu like ground turkey or beef. I cook the onions, garlic, spice then add tofu and beans and more spice. You can even make a burrito scramble and put it in some whole wheat tortillas for breakfast or lunch. Tofu curry is always good, tofu with ginger, scallions, peanut oil and soy cold is good. It is good in noodles. I always make tofu curry with eggplant, longbeans, garlic, and thai green curry with a little kabocha pumpkin. The skies the limit with what you can do, make a tofu and veggie meatloaf or a loaf with chickpeas and veggie or lentils and veg. Good luck!


Vegetarian diet, what do i eat?
Q. I have recently turned vegetarian. I'm not sure what to eat and my parents are annoyed with me because i don't get enough protein.

What are simple meals that are healthy and that i can do everyday and still get full nutrition?

A. Food, silly.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and beans--that covers quite a bit of ground, wouldn't you say?

As for protein, even vegans get more protein than they really need. You don't want too much protein because it strips calcium from your bones (animal protein is especially acidic, causing calcium loss) and taxes your kidneys.

If you're parents think you aren't getting enough protein there are three possible reasons: 1) they've fallen for the protein myth like most people; 2) you don't get enough calories; or 3) you eat mostly junk food.

Some simple meals: A bean and rice burrito with salsa or grilled veggies.

Pasta witih marinara sauce. If you saute some kale/collards/greens and pour the marinara over it, it's really healthy.

A stir fry with cubed tofu or tempeh instead of meat. Many grocery stores also carry vegetarian meal-starter strips that are designed for stir-fries or fajitas. Lightlife makes "beef" and "chicken" varieties.

A veggie burger with oven-baked fries.

If you like meatloaf, you can make veggie versions. Google Vegetarian Loaf Studio, and there's a website where you can customize your own veggie loaf.

www.vegweb.com has tons of recipes.


What are some good food alternatives? (lower fat/healthier alternatives)?
Q. anyone have a list of good healthy foods that are alternatives to some of the most common popular foods?
some of the foods i like are
pizza
burgers
meatloaf
baked potato (loaded)
pastas
burritos
chili
etc.

A. PIZZA:
Buy small frozen "individual" pizza's by health brand's such as: Kashi, Amy's, Weight Watcher's Smart One's, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc.
Or ..
Order a pizza (consume 1/2 small pizza, 2-3 slices medium and 2 slices large/ extra large). Order thin crust or wholewheat crust with basic tomato sauce and "light ammount of cheese". Order with a variaty of vegetables/ fruits (pineapple/ tomato/ peppers/ onion/ spinach/ zuchinni/ broccoli/ etc) with optional lean meat on pizza (ham/ sliced chicken breast/ anchovies- fish or extra lean ground beef- lean ground turkey).
Dip crust/ pizza in a marinara sauce or light creamy salad dressing (light ranch salad dressing)

BURGERS:
- Try ordering "veggie" burger's at fast- food joints or a kid's single patty burger (no cheese).
Also try turkey burger's/ grilled chicken burgers (no mayonaise).
Or .. Make you're own with extra lean ground meat/ lean ground turkey or purchase a Boca Burger and consume on a wholewheat bun/ pocket with ketchup/ mustard/ relish and vegetable toppings with optional slice of light cheese- light shredded cheese and optional avacado/ guacamolie/ light creamy salad dressing- vinagrette (eg: light ranch salad dressing)
Consume with crunchy vegetables and hummus- cottage cheese, cooked vegetables in olive oil or side salad with light dressing/ vinagrete with optional baked potato wedges/ baked yam wedges.

MEATLOAF (Make with extra lean ground beef- lean ground turkey, basic tomato soup, diced vegetables, ground bran cereal and a egg. Check "google" for hearty meatloaf recipes).
Use tomato sauce as a gravy or onion soup.

Baked potato with a small ammount of either; 1% cottage cheese or light sour cream with chives and herbs/ spice's. Add TBSP ketchup/ tomato sauce/ chili sauce for added flavour.

Pastas (use a wholewheat pasta and with a tomato sauce or drizzeled with olive oil, diced vegetables and herbs. Add optional light laughing cow wedge in pasta or 1-2TBSP grated cheese. Add optional lean protein- turkey meatballs/ meatless meatballs, sliced chicken breast, lean ground beef- lean ground turkey- ground soy crumbs, diced tofu, shrimp, scallops, salmon, tuna, prawns, etc)

Burrito (use a wholewheat flour tortilla, ~ two 6' tortillas), use salsa instead of sour cream, lightly shredded cheese, variaty of cubed vegetables (peppers/ onion/ tomato/ lettuce/ etc) with spices/ herbs and either baked beans in tomato sauce- spices, lowfat refried beans, fajita steak sliced, fajita chicken sliced or salmon/ trout sliced or sliced tofu)
Consume with side salad and light dressing/ vinagrette or cooked vegetables in olive oil with optional brown- long grain rice.

Chili (buy canned vegetarian/ turkey chili).





Powered by Yahoo! Answers

No comments:

Post a Comment