this whole vegan/vegetarian thing...

[axsis]

I was vegetarian for 7~ years (and had periods where I tried going vegan but I love dairy too much). I have no intention of going back my health is much better eating low carb high fat with mostly meat. I'll agree the most dangerous thing is sugar, you really have to watch sugar intake it's a very convenient way to add flavour and there are many ways you end up consuming sugar unknowingly to some degree. So while this isn't directly related to your post, if you want to feel better don't eat junk with meat or junk meat.

Edit: To me, it sometimes feels like veg/vegan are all we hear about in media these days. Pick up pick n pay fresh living magazine and it's urging you to eat more vegetarian meals, watch TV and it can't stop telling you how dangerous meat is (despite very very weak evidence), discovery vitality health checks don't like eating fat and red meat, discovery healthy shopping scheme (I'm not on vitality because I can't benefit from it) only views lean meat as healthy, dieticians push that fat and red meat are bad, one at my work said to eat only a palm-size of red meat (I eat almost a 500g steak daily so that's not going to cut it, and yet my cholesterol is all in perfectly normal ranges). Cooking shows push more and more veggie meals etc.

 

[Neuk_]

In the pursuit of feeling better all round I wouldn't mind trying to follow a plant based diet say 1 day a week or for a single meal of each day etc, there are many benefits to this and if you would like I could go into this or someone who knows better could possibly. Anyway for me all things in moderation and i can't see myself in the short term (or ever) swinging to this "extreme" completely.

Not that I am against vegetarian/vegan/plant based diets but where does this notion that it is healthier for you than including animal products come from? Is it the recent spate of largely vegan propaganda documentaries like Forks over Knives and Game Changers? I eat animal products and most likely always will but my girlfriend and I have meat free meals fairly often which I do enjoy.

 

[My_King]

 

[Grant]

i don't want to eat a burger patty that isn't an actual burger patty for example

try these
i love a rare roast beef, lamb chops, fatty biltong etc - but these burger pattys are really really good.
when they first arrived on the shelves there were always samples to be had - i always walked past.
one day the lady convinced me to try a sample. i never leave the store without them now.

its not a vegetarian thing for me - they just taste so good.

**i never use them as a burger patty
i usually stack some stir fried veggies on top with potato salad on the side

 

[Mylky]

To add to your original question re convenience and take out, don't get discouraged by the usual noise that vegetarians can't find anything to eat when they go out or that vegetarian options are expensive.

If you expand your palate beyond Spur and McDs there is a lot you can discover on the flavor and variety of vegetarian takeout.

Most Indian and Asian restaurants have extensive vegetarian menu sections and they are cheap and quick and can be ordered for delivery like any franchise. I regularly get my takeout via uber eats and Mr Delivery when I'm feeling lazy.

After 15 years vegetarian, my biggest problem isn't finding food for take out but rather choosing from all the options available these days.

Good luck. The suggestions on this thread are great so far!

 

[saor]

yeah the salad thing is gonna be an issue... veggies i actually enjoy except say spinach and cabbage, kale etc (the green leafy k@k basically

for me the difficult part is seeing it being practical, non expensive and enjoyable.

Veg curries are super easy. If you have a pressure cooker even more so when you can cook your own beans & chickpeas etc. Lentils also cook really quick. Saute some onion, add the dry herbs for a few secs than throw everything else in, lid on & cook. Stews are very similiar.

Roast veg or oven chips - quick & easy too, really just chopping the veg & potatoes, tossing in some oil and baking.

Maybe skim a few vegetarian food blogs, not for specific recipes, but just to get some ideas on the kinds of things you might want to make.

https://cookieandkate.com/
https://ohmyveggies.com/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/
etc.

 

[grok]

Veg curries are super easy. If you have a pressure cooker even more so when you can cook your own beans & chickpeas etc. Lentils also cook really quick. Saute some onion, add the dry herbs for a few secs than throw everything else in, lid on & cook. Stews are very similiar.

Roast veg or oven chips - quick & easy too, really just chopping the veg & potatoes, tossing in some oil and baking.

Maybe skim a few vegetarian food blogs, not for specific recipes, but just to get some ideas on the kinds of things you might want to make.

https://cookieandkate.com/
https://ohmyveggies.com/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/
etc.

I'm not vegan and don't plan to ever be, nor a vegetarian, yet I eat vegetarian food regularly.
I love the taste, and I feel it kinda makes up for not enough regular veggies so call it a supplement if you want.

I also do meal prep and sometimes make in bulk so I can freeze & don't have to cook later & vegetarian food is just so convenient for that.
I watched Struggle Chef on youtube & started buying pulses & legumes in bulk & store it in glass jars in the pantry = saves a lot of money.

I bought an Instant Pot a while ago, and use it for everything (incl meat!) but I find veggie stews & curries the most convenient to make.
You basically drop the ingredients into the pot in the order they cook, add your spices and some water on top, seal, set to pressure cook and walk away.
It's got a keep-warm function so sometimes I load up & start the IP, then go out or go do something only to return to a pot of delish veggie curry just waiting to be nommed.

That said, I'm of the opinion this vegan craze is going to be our electrolytes (from the movie Idiocrazy)..

By that I mean the current global push to veganism (in order to save the planet) is going to help trip up our civilization (like Feminism did) & we're going to end up like in Idiocrazy.
Obviously the food is not the problem, quite the opposite - it's kind of a good idea to consume more veggies - but it's the masses blindly following stupid ideas that will push us over.
Already we see how people believe for example that sending lightning strikes to whack your enemies is science & worth investigating.

 

[Scary_Turtle]

I've done the vegetarian thing for a few months it just wasn't for me.

I didn't feel any better or any worse and found that it isnt "so expensive" as some suggest. I did find some awesome places that i wouldn't have gone to if it wasn't for trying the vegan thing like Fresh Earth, Gravity and still buy my worse (gluten free) occasionally from a little place in linden (will add name when I remember).

I feel that balance in your diet is best because I run a lot I need more slow release carbs for energy and protein for muscle repair but see lots of runners have gone the full vegan slow release carb direction.

 

[satanboy]

Best vegetarian burger patties


Almost on par with the Beyond Burger, but price makes this one win.

 

[Spizz]

Best vegetarian burger patties
View attachment 781556

Almost on par with the Beyond Burger, but price makes this one win.

Which shop do you get them from?

 

[zeridine]

Which shop do you get them from?

I've only seen and bought it at Checkers. [edit: and as previously noted, it is really good]

 

[satanboy]

Which shop do you get them from?

SO gets them at Checkers.

 

[Brontosaurus]

I'm a little late to the party here, but my SO and myself do meat-free Thursdays.

I would also like to preface this with the statement that I like to lift at the gym 3 - 5 times a week.

So far, the only issue I have is the horrendous farting from all the black beans and lentils, but otherwise it's not too bad.

Could absolutely not do it everyday though.

Breakfast - Oatmeal:
The night before soak 2 tsp chia seeds in milk and maple syrup (how much is based on your sweetness preference). I use about 2 tbsps.

Crush a banana in a bowl and add 80g oats. Cover with boiling water and nuke in the microwave for 3 minutes.

Add the chia seeds as above and some walnuts and desiccated coconut.

Lunch - Black bean burrito:
Fry onions and red peppers. Once onions starting to brown, add tsp garlic, tsp cumin, half tsp chili powder, half tsp oregano, and a diced jalapeno.

Add a can black beans (drained and cleaned) and fry for about 5 minutes or until beans start to break apart. Add juice of 2 limes.

In the wrap place some cream cheese, guacamole, salsa, rice (slightly undercooked) and bean mixture. I also add some crushed Doritos for crunch.

I cook the bean mixture and rice the night before, just nuke in the microwave prior to wrapping up.

Dinner - Lentil and chick pea curry:
My SO makes this so not too sure, but it's basically a Thai red, yellow, or green curry with lentils and chick peas.

 

[saor]

Breakfast - Oatmeal:

Can also soak the oats with everything else for overnight oats. No need to cook in the morning. Nice for summer.

https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2019/03/07/how-to-make-overnight-oats-recipes/
https://cookieandkate.com/overnight-oats-recipe/

 

[Thugscub]

Dived into my girlfriend. Was horrified to find out she tasted like a bloody carrot.
Gone back to good old tuna steaks again.

 

[TofuMofu]

So this isn't gonna be what I lured you in here with, first up I am an avid meat and animal product lover, in fact I am quite fussy and find eating meat and animal products just easier and quicker, I am all for veggies of most forms - however i detest salad foods), however...

In the pursuit of feeling better all round I wouldn't mind trying to follow a plant based diet say 1 day a week or for a single meal of each day etc, there are many benefits to this and if you would like I could go into this or someone who knows better could possibly. Anyway for me all things in moderation and i can't see myself in the short term (or ever) swinging to this "extreme" completely.

Here comes the "problem", our society is so driven and focused towards us being meat eaters that it is simply easier to eat meat, think of takeaways or going to your local spar for example. Have any of you tried this and have suggestions on how to do this easily, healthily and affordably? I envision this hopefully becoming a practical recipe guide essentially.

And go...

edit: i don't really want this to become a debate around the benefits or the falseness of them, can we stick to practical ideas?

Oh hi, full time vegan here. Been vegan for almost 10 years now.

The myth around it being expensive and impractical is just that, a myth.

It's really easy to swap out meat in a stew for some sort of bean or mash chickpeas, add some vegan mayo (which costs the same as the egg variety mayo), salt, pepper and parsley and voila, you have a "egg salad" for your sandwiches.

Dischem sells a soy mince for R30 from which you can make numerous meals. Use Ia Paarman's beef/chicken stock (both vegan) to re-hydrate and give it some flavour, add some veggies or a pasta sauce and you have a "mince" to add to pasta.

Don't know how you feel about tofu, but I love it and eat it a lot. It's super cheap at any Chinese supermarket. They also have other vegetarian options like dumplings and faux meats (many have egg or whey in, so vegetarian and not vegan).

There are also MANY vegan restaurants out there if you live in any decent city and even Spur has vegan options on their menu. So does Steers, Mc Donalds, Mugg 'n Bean and plenty other main stream fast foods.

When I started it was a real struggle, but it really is so easy now. 1 day a week is a great way to go about it. It makes a huge difference to yourself and the environment.

 

[Paul Kemp]

Spent two weeks on a plant based diet not because I am anti meat but just as a bit of an experiment. Can’t say if I felt better on that diet but most certainly not worse off. It did however expand my food choices and palette a little.
Tofu and soy are all over my vegetarian cook book but I just can’t enjoy them. I put that down to my ability(lack of) to get the right textures and flavours going.

Foods that I found easy to buy and prepare: (what I can remember now)
Beans - lots of options here.
Spinach - cooked or as replacement for lettuce in salads.
Mushrooms.
Sweet potato and pumpkin grilled on a baking pan.
Steamed vegetables.
Pumpkin and corn fritters. Easy prep and great lunchbox fillers.
Spring rolls.
Veggie samosas.
Vegetable soup.

Not big on takeouts but Indian and Chinese restaurants hit the spot if I must.

 

[Aghori]

I was born vegetarian and am a giant of a man height and weight-wise as well. Meat is for whites and blacks, the Aryans are mostly vegetarians.

 

[wizardofid]

I was born vegetarian and am a giant of a man height and weight-wise as well. Meat is for whites and blacks, the Aryans are mostly vegetarians.

I was born intolerant to vegans......

 

[rustypup]

cos lettuce

Not food and extraordinarily wasteful to produce and transport.

For the record, veggies are awesome.. .as long as they're not boiled.