Comments on: One Week as a Vegetarian http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/ Restaurant reviews from Richmond, Virginia and beyond by real fans of good food. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:11:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brenda http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/comment-page-1/#comment-370 Brenda Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:48:55 +0000 http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/?p=295#comment-370 <p>I have a difficult time accepting that otherwise compassionate people do not find killing and eating animals revolting. If anyone can give me their well-thought out feelings on this issue, I will be grateful(i.e. do you believe animals do not feel pain, or do you believe they feel pain, but you simply do not care?) I am not trying to "convert" anyone; I am simply seeking to understand. Thank you.</p> I have a difficult time accepting that otherwise compassionate people do not find killing and eating animals revolting. If anyone can give me their well-thought out feelings on this issue, I will be grateful(i.e. do you believe animals do not feel pain, or do you believe they feel pain, but you simply do not care?) I am not trying to “convert” anyone; I am simply seeking to understand. Thank you.

]]> By: MessyChef http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/comment-page-1/#comment-362 MessyChef Tue, 05 May 2009 22:02:22 +0000 http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/?p=295#comment-362 <p>Loomis:</p> <p>Thanks for your links and encouragement!</p> Loomis:

Thanks for your links and encouragement!

]]> By: Loomis http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Loomis Tue, 05 May 2009 16:38:08 +0000 http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/?p=295#comment-361 <p>You put your finger right on the hardest part about being a vegetarian, even part-time: that we are programmed in this country to plan our meals around meat. It's always meat plus something else. Chicken and something. Beef and something. This is a fairly arbitrary (and historically recent) way of thinking about food, and it takes a few weeks to break the habit. And a big yes to the fact that restaurants tend to cater to meat eaters, especially "nice" (read: pricey) restaurants in small cities like Richmond, where vegetarians are usually stuck with some bland, half-hearted pasta dish. The ethnic places (Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, most Asian, etc.) tend to have more variety.</p> <p>Other tips: freeze your tofu overnight and let it thaw before you cook it. It completely changes the texture, makes it more like pork and less like a quivering white mess. Seitan is higher in protein than tofu. The texture is closer to meat, and you're not consuming as much soy, which has some (alleged) health consequences. Forget tempeh, it's just revolting. Rice is your friend. There are a hundred different varieties of rice, and it makes a nice foundation for just about any meal that you can cook. Nuts and beans are good sources of protein. The best source of recipe inspiration is to find a top-notch vegetarian restaurant (e.g. www.goborestaurant.com or www.vegetatedc.com or www.watercoursefoods.com or www.crystalsunflower.com) and replicate the menu.</p> You put your finger right on the hardest part about being a vegetarian, even part-time: that we are programmed in this country to plan our meals around meat. It’s always meat plus something else. Chicken and something. Beef and something. This is a fairly arbitrary (and historically recent) way of thinking about food, and it takes a few weeks to break the habit. And a big yes to the fact that restaurants tend to cater to meat eaters, especially “nice” (read: pricey) restaurants in small cities like Richmond, where vegetarians are usually stuck with some bland, half-hearted pasta dish. The ethnic places (Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, most Asian, etc.) tend to have more variety.

Other tips: freeze your tofu overnight and let it thaw before you cook it. It completely changes the texture, makes it more like pork and less like a quivering white mess. Seitan is higher in protein than tofu. The texture is closer to meat, and you’re not consuming as much soy, which has some (alleged) health consequences. Forget tempeh, it’s just revolting. Rice is your friend. There are a hundred different varieties of rice, and it makes a nice foundation for just about any meal that you can cook. Nuts and beans are good sources of protein. The best source of recipe inspiration is to find a top-notch vegetarian restaurant (e.g. http://www.goborestaurant.com or http://www.vegetatedc.com or http://www.watercoursefoods.com or http://www.crystalsunflower.com) and replicate the menu.

]]> By: Scott Burger http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/comment-page-1/#comment-360 Scott Burger Tue, 05 May 2009 14:19:56 +0000 http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/?p=295#comment-360 <p>I keep trying. I am doing "Meatless Mondays" now. </p> <p>Why? Its not for animal rights reasons. It is for economic and environmental reasons.</p> I keep trying. I am doing “Meatless Mondays” now.

Why? Its not for animal rights reasons. It is for economic and environmental reasons.

]]> By: Haley J. http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/2009/05/04/one-week-as-a-vegetarian/comment-page-1/#comment-359 Haley J. Tue, 05 May 2009 03:26:21 +0000 http://www.messycuisine.com/blog/?p=295#comment-359 <p>Bravo! What a noble effort! I attempt to eat two meals a day following a vegan diet, and then allow a moderate meat portion for the third if I am so inclined. I also have no ethical issues with meat itself, but the mass-produced, hormone-injected stuff worries me. My husband's cholesterol is dropping like a rock, so it's definitely working for him. Good luck!</p> Bravo! What a noble effort! I attempt to eat two meals a day following a vegan diet, and then allow a moderate meat portion for the third if I am so inclined. I also have no ethical issues with meat itself, but the mass-produced, hormone-injected stuff worries me. My husband’s cholesterol is dropping like a rock, so it’s definitely working for him. Good luck!

]]>