Vegetarians - Meat replacements

Yes I definitely feel healthier for the changes in my lifestyle. Probably the main difference is the amount of energy I have.

I have always been reasonably active but like everyone as you get older you pop on a bit of weight, convince yourself its perfectly natural. Still I went for walks most weekends, a little jog here and there but then one day me and the missus went on a tough walk and it was such hard work, I just did not enjoy the experience. That was the turning point really, something I loved doing was being spoilt by my own lifestyle.

From that point on I started cutting back, exercising more and then went Veggy and I have never looked back since. That was the key change though, it massively improved my energy levels, allowing me to exercise more and also, a key thing mentioned in game changers, I recovered much quicker so was able to train more often. It was like a snowball effect really, the weight dropped off (lost 2 stone) and the running became more enjoyable, encouraging me to run more and more. Along with footy its the most enjoyable thing in my life now.

I tried to become Vegan initially and I share your sentiments. My love for Cheese, Milk Chocolate resulted in me failing quite quickly. I have changed my milk to Almond and Soya which I have got used to. It was not for me so not going to beat myself up about it.

To be honest mate it sounds like you eat pretty well and have identified where, if you want, you can improve. Being Veggy suited me as my personality, to enable change, requires lines in the sand to motivate me. But fully understand why others don’t.
Good sound advice there pal, thanks.

What meat and meat based meals do you miss the most, or do you not miss meat nowadays? And also do you have a more balanced state of mind because I think that all the growth hormones and steroids injected into meat affects peoples moods, and possibly causes cancer? I've read eating the right kind veggie food can boost energy levels so that is positive.

And i must say to @GoatersLeftShin great read there, thanks for sharing: )
 
made meat free meatballs in sauce and pasta the other night, fuckin vile, enjoyed the sauce and pasta the balls were awfull, Linda macartny ones too which I researched and said to be the best, nah it's not for me
To me the Linda McCartney range is the worst. I eat the meatballs from Tesco , much better in my opinion.
 
Tried the McPlant recently, found it inedible and poor standard even for mcdonalds, went in the bin.

I probably eat too much meat but I'm not adverse to trying new things in general or vegetarian substitutes. Quorn chicken was decent when I adapted a recipe for it, quorn mince is poor.

Adapted a Japanese recipe once (from an itsu book) to use tofu instead of meat, was tasty, although I realised it wasn't vegetarian afterwards because I'd used fish sauce.
 
Tried the McPlant recently, found it inedible and poor standard even for mcdonalds, went in the bin.

I probably eat too much meat but I'm not adverse to trying new things in general or vegetarian substitutes. Quorn chicken was decent when I adapted a recipe for it, quorn mince is poor.

Adapted a Japanese recipe once (from an itsu book) to use tofu instead of meat, was tasty, although I realised it wasn't vegetarian afterwards because I'd used fish sauce.
Worcestershire sauce isn't veggie! Has anchovies in it!
 
Tried the McPlant recently, found it inedible and poor standard even for mcdonalds, went in the bin.

I probably eat too much meat but I'm not adverse to trying new things in general or vegetarian substitutes. Quorn chicken was decent when I adapted a recipe for it, quorn mince is poor.

Adapted a Japanese recipe once (from an itsu book) to use tofu instead of meat, was tasty, although I realised it wasn't vegetarian afterwards because I'd used fish sauce.
Do McD's still do the bean burger? That was alright
In the States Burger King has the impossible burger (which would be good if it arrived hot but always luke warm) but McD's don't do anything
 
Do McD's still do the bean burger? That was alright
In the States Burger King has the impossible burger (which would be good if it arrived hot but always luke warm) but McD's don't do anything

Don’t think they have ever done a bean burger in the UK, not that I've seen.

Over here It’s grilled on the same area as meat burgers so it is isn't vegetarian though.
 
If you think about the great cuisines in the world (Chinese, Indian, Asian, Italian etc) then most of it uses a lot of plants anyway - onions, garlic, turmeric, ginger, basil, soy sauce, lemongrass etc. In many cases it's the plant based sauce which makes the meal tasty.
I've had to cut down on meat intake recently for health reasons and this is so true. We used to eat a lot of chicken/beef stir-fries but swap that for tofu now and it makes no discernable difference to my enjoyment of the meal. If the sauce is nice, it doesn't matter what the protein is.

Also had an M&S "no chicken" kiev last night, which was really tasty. Looking forward to trying out other veggie alternatives as I want to go meat free for at least 3-4 days a week now, which will represent a HUGE change for me!
 
Seems like you have made a successful transition to vegetarianism so well done to you both.

Would you say you feel healthier being meat free?

A mate of mine suggested I watch the game changers so on your advice I will make sure i watch it. He told me it will change my outlook on life and what i eat. He looks a lot healthier nowadays having suffered i minor heart scare about 4 years ago. You still a meat eater but he he doesn't eat junk food much and tries to eat healthy.

At the moment I am eating healthier than I was but I know I'd only be lying to myself if I said I hadn't been eating too many takeaways and junk food in the past 12 months or so. My fault as I'm a competent cook, just succumb too easily to the convenience fast food sometimes. I'm a carer for my mum and she won't tolerate rubbish food so i have made and baked her good old traditional English food but i try and cook pasta, and burritos as long as she doesn't suss out it's "too foreign tasting"! Lol.

I will listen to good advice all day long. It's just the ones who preach and ram it down my throat about my meat eating sins so to speak, who get on my nerves. For now I'm a meat eating carnivore but i am interested in cutting out meat gradually to possibly become vegetarian.

I don't think I could ever become vegan because I enjoy dairy products too much, and I've tried almond and soya type milk in a cup of tea and they taste rank to me. And i don't ever fancy eating vegan cheese.

I used to eat Quorn in spag bols over 25 years ago as my ex Mrs wanted to try meat alternatives, We and thought Quorn to be quite tasty and I wouldn't be adverse to trying quorn sausages and similar products nowadays. But the thing is for now now i is eat farm traceable organic free range pork sausages which are absolutely delicious.

As for breakfast food I tend to try and eat a healthy breakfast and my favourites are a bowl of full fat Greek yoghurt with drizzled honey and mixed nuts with with a chopped banana added. I also like a bowl of porridge. Mornflake Organic oats are my favourite.
I would second watching Game Changers. One of the parting comments is Arnie saying you won’t transition to a plant based diet in one go which I would echo completely having tried to translation in one go!!!

We went all in and got pretty fed up straight away, so we adapted and now after two years are pretty much plant based with a bit of milk in tea and cheese on sarnies - vegan cheese to me is rank! I had a heart scare a few years ago and mum diagnosed diabetic when she was 60 so it seemed sensible.

Personally I feel better for doing it lost a bit of weight although that was never the intention. I occasionally eat fish and more rarely meat - mainly just for a change now and again. We eat what we do for our own pleasure not to please or upset anyone else. If some one were to tell me I can’t wear leather shoes etc I would not be in their company for very long.

Give Game Changers a go but take it with a pinch of salt as I am sure you would and make up your own mind. Seaspiracy is another good one to watch and it had more of an affect for us - not ate salmon since! I’ll avoid controversy and leave it at that!
 

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top
  AdBlock Detected
Bluemoon relies on advertising to pay our hosting fees. Please support the site by disabling your ad blocking software to help keep the forum sustainable. Thanks.