Young Vegetarian [entries|friends|calendar] Caley [ userinfo | livejournal userinfo ] [ calendar | livejournal calendar ]

(1 thought | share your thoughts) Fruit Salad [10 Jul 2007|01:51pm] Literally. I love putting fresh fruit in green based salads. It's really easy to make and hard to mess up! ( Summer Raspberry Salad )

(2 thoughts | share your thoughts) Rice [07 Jul 2007|09:51pm] [ mood | contemplative ] This isn't exactly a super secret, but I find if I make stirfry one night (like I did tonight) and just make 2 cups of rice (ends up being approximately 4 cups) and just chuck it in the fridge, it's much more motivating to cook. It's not quite the same as leftovers (which I vehemently despise) and then I don't have to think about cooking rice for 40 minutes. Any tricks you use to make your cooking go smoother?

(2 thoughts | share your thoughts) Grocery Shopping [07 Jul 2007|06:14pm] [ mood | hungry ] Before you go and spend all your money, make sure to think carefully about what you're about to purchase. I know it's cliche, but sit down and make a loose menu of what you plan to eat for the next few days. I don't mean plan your whole week detailed, but it does help to pick which vegetables you'll eat and so forth. Mine looks something like this:  ( Read more... ) Post your grocery shops and any good tips you have! :3

(2 thoughts | share your thoughts) Vegetarian Nutrition [07 Jul 2007|05:31pm] As a vegetarian, it is important to get a balanced diet of fats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. However, there are some guidelines you should follow that will make it easier to plan meals. I've compiled them into a nice pyramid, so it's easier to understand.  Essentially, it's very similar to the RDI pyramid and basic common sense. Eggs are very high in cholesterol, so you should eat them seldomly, or just the whites. Even vegetarians are allowed to have sweets once and awhile, and the saying "anything in moderation" applies.  Using this pyramid as a guideline will help you maintain a balanced diet if you consume foods from each food group. However, each of the foods represented in the pyramid provides some, but not all, of your required nutrients. Foods in one group can't replace foods from another. Each group is equally important, so don't try to cut out the fats or carbohydrates. Protein The plant sources of protein can alone provide all the protein you need, given you are consuming a variety of them. In my case I am a female, 115lbs, I should be consuming roughly 45g of protein a day. If you google, you can find a chart that states how much protein you should be eating a day. Iron As a veggie, you will be consuming a lot of iron, especially if you eat lots of dark, leafy greens. However, your iron reserves will be lower than an omni's because iron from plant foods isn't absorbed by the body as well. It is especially important for menstruating teenage girls to consume enough iron, whether they be omnis or veggies. It is easier to absorb iron with foods that contain Vitamin C, so have some fruit juice with your meal!

(share your thoughts) Becoming a Vegetarian [07 Jul 2007|05:16pm] [ mood | cheerful ] Maintaining a healthy vegetarian diet is quite easy, once you know the basics. If you're still on the fence, there's a few questions you need to ask yourself: 1. Why am I choosing vegetarianism? We all have our own personal reasons, whether it be health or animal rights. The fad to believe is that if you become a vegetarian, you'll lose a lot of weight. This isn't necessarily true. If you are eating a healthy and balanced diet, along with a multivitamin supplement, you will likely maintain your normal body weight. Some people do lose a lot of weight making the transition, but it does not happen to everyone. It should not be the swaying factor in choosing to be a vegetarian.  2. Do I eat a diet mainly consisting of meat? If so, should I cut it out gradually or go 'cold turkey' (no pun intended)? This is a difficult question, as no two bodies will react the same. In my personal expierience, I gradually replaced meat in my diet. If you plan to do this, this is what I did: 1. Stopped eating red meat (beef, pork, veal, game) 2. Stopped eating poultry (chicken, turkey, etc) 3. Stopped eating fish and seafood There are vegetarians who are pescatarians (those who eat fish), so whether or not you eliminate fish from your diet is completely your choice. Remember to leave a few weeks in between each step. Some people (like myself) expierienced 'meat withdrawl', where you crave meat. It's a hard stage to go through, but keep persevering and the cravings will pass in a few weeks. Go at your own pace.  3. Do I like to eat vegetables, legumes, or fruit? I know this seems a bit redundant, but it is important. If you don't like to eat leafy greens, beans, or other produce, maybe vegetarianism isn't right for you. Your body cannot subsist completely on starches (breads, other grain products) and fats. A big percentage of the vegetarian diet is (duh) vegetables and produce. You will likely not be a healthy veggie if you don't eat them. Make sure to consider these basic questions carefully. It's better to be a healthier all around person than a sickly vegetarian.

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