Comments on: My Vegetarian Daughter http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/ Testing the Plot Monkey Blog Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:10:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Qua http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12937 Qua Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:17:07 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12937 Wow I tried to become a vegetarian but was unsuccessful in my attempts I did give up beef for about a month until recently when my mom cooked chilli and that's all we had to eat Hopefully you get some insight into the world of vegetarianism Wow I tried to become a vegetarian but was unsuccessful in my attempts

I did give up beef for about a month until recently when my mom cooked chilli and that’s all we had to eat

Hopefully you get some insight into the world of vegetarianism

]]> By: ev http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12887 ev Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:03:09 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12887 let's see if it lets me change my email addy let’s see if it lets me change my email addy

]]> By: Janelle http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12841 Janelle Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:58:25 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12841 You all have been so helpful -- Thank you!!! :thankyou: You all have been so helpful — Thank you!!!

]]> By: Diana http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12830 Diana Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:29:24 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12830 I grew up on tofu and love it. Yum yum yum. My mother makes the best tofu dishes. That's probably why I love it so much. I used to be vegetarian. In college I decided to give up meat just to see if I could do it, and after realizing that it wasn't so difficult, I continued with my vegetarianism. However, I started to miss seafood and poultry after a while, so I gave up my vegetarianism. I still don't eat beef or pork, and honestly, I don't miss them all that much. When my sister and I became vegetarian in college, I think my parents were also concerned that we wouldn't get enough nutrients, etc., but Janelle, like you've discovered, one can get enough nutrients with a meat-free diet. Also, my mom started eating less meat as a result. I have a friend who's been vegan for many years, and I could never do that. I love cheese too much. I grew up on tofu and love it. Yum yum yum. My mother makes the best tofu dishes. That’s probably why I love it so much. I used to be vegetarian. In college I decided to give up meat just to see if I could do it, and after realizing that it wasn’t so difficult, I continued with my vegetarianism. However, I started to miss seafood and poultry after a while, so I gave up my vegetarianism. I still don’t eat beef or pork, and honestly, I don’t miss them all that much. When my sister and I became vegetarian in college, I think my parents were also concerned that we wouldn’t get enough nutrients, etc., but Janelle, like you’ve discovered, one can get enough nutrients with a meat-free diet. Also, my mom started eating less meat as a result. I have a friend who’s been vegan for many years, and I could never do that. I love cheese too much.

]]> By: Alison http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12820 Alison Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:00:10 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12820 My daughter, 25, became a vegetarian at 13 after seeing the movie Babe. She does eat fish, but for a long time did not, relying on soy, nuts & beans. She hates tofu. We would go to Taco Bell and make special orders, replacing the ground beef with beans, etc. She's not vegan, so eats eggs and cheese and milk, but to this day the girl who LOVED Chicken McNuggets has not eaten beef, chicken, or pork in 12 years. All because of a movie about a pig. Oh, and yes to Morningstar farms and Boca. She brings her own soy (faux) chicken from Boca (I think) to Thanksgiving! My daughter, 25, became a vegetarian at 13 after seeing the movie Babe. She does eat fish, but for a long time did not, relying on soy, nuts & beans. She hates tofu. We would go to Taco Bell and make special orders, replacing the ground beef with beans, etc. She’s not vegan, so eats eggs and cheese and milk, but to this day the girl who LOVED Chicken McNuggets has not eaten beef, chicken, or pork in 12 years. All because of a movie about a pig. Oh, and yes to Morningstar farms and Boca. She brings her own soy (faux) chicken from Boca (I think) to Thanksgiving!

]]> By: Nicole http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12813 Nicole Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:22:07 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12813 I became a vegetarian when I was 15 and have now been one for about nine years. I was one of those people who thought I could never give up meat, but I did and it was much easier than one might think. I do think it helped that my mom became a vegetarian many years before I did (we had different reasons), and that was before all this new veggie food came out! I cannot imagine how hard it was to find good food to eat before the 90s. Although I have one big peeve about meat-eaters (not all of them!): when they make fun of vegetarians and demean them. While I'd rather everyone didn't eat meat, I don't judge them, tell them they're wrong, or try to change their minds about eating meat. Not that I'm saying anyone here is that way. :) I hope that you live in or around a big city because that is where there is a bigger selection of vegetarian food. Some brands in the frozen section to look for are: Morningstar Farms, Boca, GardenBurger, Amy's who have whole dinners, Quorn, and those are just the major names. In the refrigerated section there is Lightlife (or LiteLife, I forget how it's spelled) and Yves. They have faux chicken, sausage, bacon, veggie dogs, chili, pepperoni, "meatballs", "meatloaf", and that's just a small smattering. Here are some (hopefully!) helpful websites: http://www.happycow.net/ http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianlifestyle/tp/freethings.htm http://www.vrg.org/index.htm http://www.vrg.org/press/95decproduct.htm http://www.thevegetariansite.com/recipes_subs.htm http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Vegetarian/Main.aspx I hope some of this helps you with your daughter! If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to answer to the best of my abilities. I became a vegetarian when I was 15 and have now been one for about nine years. I was one of those people who thought I could never give up meat, but I did and it was much easier than one might think. I do think it helped that my mom became a vegetarian many years before I did (we had different reasons), and that was before all this new veggie food came out! I cannot imagine how hard it was to find good food to eat before the 90s.

Although I have one big peeve about meat-eaters (not all of them!): when they make fun of vegetarians and demean them. While I’d rather everyone didn’t eat meat, I don’t judge them, tell them they’re wrong, or try to change their minds about eating meat. Not that I’m saying anyone here is that way.

I hope that you live in or around a big city because that is where there is a bigger selection of vegetarian food. Some brands in the frozen section to look for are: Morningstar Farms, Boca, GardenBurger, Amy’s who have whole dinners, Quorn, and those are just the major names. In the refrigerated section there is Lightlife (or LiteLife, I forget how it’s spelled) and Yves. They have faux chicken, sausage, bacon, veggie dogs, chili, pepperoni, “meatballs”, “meatloaf”, and that’s just a small smattering.

Here are some (hopefully!) helpful websites:
http://www.happycow.net/
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianlifestyle/tp/freethings.htm
http://www.vrg.org/index.htm
http://www.vrg.org/press/95decproduct.htm
http://www.thevegetariansite.com/recipes_subs.htm
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Vegetarian/Main.aspx

I hope some of this helps you with your daughter! If you have any specific questions, I’ll be happy to answer to the best of my abilities.

]]> By: Heather Harper http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12807 Heather Harper Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:47:31 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12807 If she will eat peanut butter, Peter Pan Plus includes minerals/vitamins/and IRON. It is what I fed my kids until the recent salmonella scare. Once it's back on the shelves, I'll buy them some more. Also, I make sure my kids have a multi-vitamin every day that has extra iron. Honestly, there are some veggies that are high in iron. A vegetarian can get enough of what they need if they are selective, plus, she isn't ingesting hormones from the meat. I'm from the South, so becoming vegetarian in my family would be a major stretch. But I would consider it. I'm not big on tofu, but I LOVE the green soy beans in the McDonald's Asian salad. I could eat those all day long. :thumbsup: If she will eat peanut butter, Peter Pan Plus includes minerals/vitamins/and IRON. It is what I fed my kids until the recent salmonella scare. Once it’s back on the shelves, I’ll buy them some more. Also, I make sure my kids have a multi-vitamin every day that has extra iron.

Honestly, there are some veggies that are high in iron. A vegetarian can get enough of what they need if they are selective, plus, she isn’t ingesting hormones from the meat.

I’m from the South, so becoming vegetarian in my family would be a major stretch. But I would consider it. I’m not big on tofu, but I LOVE the green soy beans in the McDonald’s Asian salad. I could eat those all day long.

]]> By: Donna M http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12797 Donna M Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:48:01 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12797 Janelle, your daughter is lucky that her family is so supportive of her. My youngest was so picky ( a different matter altogether) so I sympathize with you on having to cook differently for her. As long as she is getting the nutrients her growing body needs it is okay. I grew up with a dad that hunted, my brother hunts I'm never giving up meat!!! :hissyfit: No way! I admire anyone that can commit to the a veggie lifestyle but it is not for me. Janelle, your daughter is lucky that her family is so supportive of her. My youngest was so picky ( a different matter altogether) so I sympathize with you on having to cook differently for her. As long as she is getting the nutrients her growing body needs it is okay. I grew up with a dad that hunted, my brother hunts I’m never giving up meat!!! No way! I admire anyone that can commit to the a veggie lifestyle but it is not for me.

]]> By: Tina Martinesi http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12780 Tina Martinesi Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:18:13 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12780 Janelle, Welcome to my world!! My daughter made the decision to become a vegetarian at the age of 4!! I'm not kidding. We had gone pumpkin picking in New Jersey followed by a trip to a turkey farm, which has a restaurant that serves THE BEST TURKEY dinner you will ever eat, needless to say my daughter was horrified. She had the worst hissy fit I've ever seen and I really just wanted to crawl under the table:hide: Like you I was concerned about what to feed her. I know most people are thinking she was a baby and I being the "adult" should have been able to force her to eat meat, but anyone who has a child like mine knows that when they make up their mind about something :wallbash:there is no room for compromise. So we visited our Pediatrician who said meat was not necessary to maintain a healthy diet. He recommended soy products (morning star has a great selection) and a daily multi vitamin. In the beginning it was tough, as the years passed its gotten easier, more and more places offer vegetarian choices, even Burger King offers a veggie burger. My daughter is now 19 years old, healthy (thank God), and still extremely stubborn...and the joy of my life! Janelle,
Welcome to my world!! My daughter made the decision to become a vegetarian at the age of 4!! I’m not kidding. We had gone pumpkin picking in New Jersey followed by a trip to a turkey farm, which has a restaurant that serves THE BEST TURKEY dinner you will ever eat, needless to say my daughter was horrified. She had the worst hissy fit I’ve ever seen and I really just wanted to crawl under the table
Like you I was concerned about what to feed her. I know most people are thinking she was a baby and I being the “adult” should have been able to force her to eat meat, but anyone who has a child like mine knows that when they make up their mind about something there is no room for compromise.
So we visited our Pediatrician who said meat was not necessary to maintain a healthy diet. He recommended soy products (morning star has a great selection) and a daily multi vitamin. In the beginning it was tough, as the years passed its gotten easier, more and more places offer vegetarian choices, even Burger King offers a veggie burger.
My daughter is now 19 years old, healthy (thank God), and still extremely stubborn…and the joy of my life!

]]> By: katie http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12779 katie Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:13:44 +0000 http://www.plotmonkeys.com/354/my-vegetarian-daughter/#comment-12779 Another thing about vegans...no chocolate (or at least the good stuff) because it contains milk! I think it is great that you are supporting your daughter. Vegetarianism would be pretty easy for me, veganism is a different story. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great to have that kind of beliefs, but you know......I get worried about their health (most of my friends are vegans). I don't mind it that they have those beliefs, but I went to a wedding where they were vegans (the bride and groom) and they stood up and instead of touting their marriage, touted veganism (to a bunch of meaties) and had brochures around the reception. That's a little extreme. Another thing about vegans…no chocolate (or at least the good stuff) because it contains milk! I think it is great that you are supporting your daughter. Vegetarianism would be pretty easy for me, veganism is a different story. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is great to have that kind of beliefs, but you know……I get worried about their health (most of my friends are vegans). I don’t mind it that they have those beliefs, but I went to a wedding where they were vegans (the bride and groom) and they stood up and instead of touting their marriage, touted veganism (to a bunch of meaties) and had brochures around the reception. That’s a little extreme.

]]>