Vegetarian, Vegan etc

[Nyktelios]

Are you a veggie? Anyone in your family a veggie? Are there any problems at meal times if not everyone in your family are veggie?

Both me and my other half are meat eaters but my mums a veggie so when she comes to stay my other half gets all huffy because of the lack of meat (it doesnt bother me, I'm happy without meat for a week or so when she's here) but I always have a bit of a panic when she comes - what on earth do I feed her?? Thankfully I have a load of veggie recipes already in my recipe book but it does make me feel a bit out of sorts lol!

Has anyone read Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet? She says some strange things in there, like how she feeds her dogs and cats vegan food, but in general I think it's a decent book that's a simple and informative introduction to veganism/vegetarianism. Half the book is made up of some very nice recipes, as well.

I tend to go through phases of eating meat and avoiding it, along with milk and eggs (which I don't even like). I'm in a veggie phase now, and I want to commit to it, but since I just finished school and am living with my parents, I rarely am able to do my own grocery shopping/cooking. Does anyone have any tips about sticking to vegetarianism (I don't want to be strictly vegan, but since I don't like eggs or dairy, I'll probably lean that way anyway) under these kinds of circumstances?

[Melamphoros]

She says some strange things in there, like how she feeds her dogs and cats vegan food

 
The dogs are a bit more understandable because they are technically omnivores, but cats?  She only feeds the carnivorous animals she keeps as pets vegan food?  Is anyone else reminded of that one episode of Futurama where those anti-meat eating hippies tried to feed a lion nothing but tofu?

[Melamphoros]

Is anyone else reminded of that one episode of Futurama where those anti-meat eating hippies tried to feed a lion nothing but tofu?

 
I knew the clip was kicking around Youtube somewhere:

[video=youtube;nRSLQu-d6ZQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRSLQu-d6ZQ[/video]

[Finn]

The dogs are a bit more understandable because they are technically omnivores, but cats?  She only feeds the carnivorous animals she keeps as pets vegan food?

 
This... gets my proverbial goat. In a way that that vegan couples who feed their baby a vegan diet doesn't. Animals. Eat. Other. Animals. Humans are omnivores and can sustain themselves via many different kinds of protein. Cats... aren't. At least, not until we genetically engineer them to be.

[veggiewolf]

This... gets my proverbial goat. In a way that that vegan couples who feed their baby a vegan diet doesn't. Animals. Eat. Other. Animals. Humans are omnivores and can sustain themselves via many different kinds of protein. Cats... aren't. At least, not until we genetically engineer them to be.

Cats are hyper-carnivores.  They cannot survive or remain healthy with no meat.

[Finn]

Cats are hyper-carnivores.  They cannot survive or remain healthy with no meat.

 
Bingo. It gets my goat that people do this to their animals... which is, literally, killing them.

[LeaLynne]

Cats are hyper-carnivores. They cannot survive or remain healthy with no meat.

My dad is being told by his doctor he should go almost vegan, meaning he can have milk but no fish or meat or beans or eggs....and minimal carbs...I am the cook in the family so this means I am learning a whole new way too cook....any suggestions?

[Inca]

My dad is being told by his doctor he should go almost vegan, meaning he can have milk but no fish or meat or beans or eggs....and minimal carbs...I am the cook in the family so this means I am learning a whole new way too cook....any suggestions?

 
I think it is important to know what the doctor exactly wants to eliminate. You probably can't go round replacing all meat with cheese and nuts, because they probably carry the same disadvantages (when eliminating meat on a principle basis, those are excellent choices.)
If he wants to eliminate the protein for example, then you shouldn't replace the meat with other protein sources.  If it's fat, then sundried tomatoes and olives on oil and hollandaise sauce may need consideration while lean meats may permissible.

(Quite frankly, without carbs and meat and eggs and reducing either fat or protein or both, I could not out of the blue come up with a satisfying meal. Perhaps it is wise to talk to a dietician once or twice to be sure what your dad should and shouldn't eat, and then work out healthy meat plans from that.)

Consider several small dishes, some of which do contain the things your father can't eat, because others still may need those to be healthy and satisfied.

[mandrina]

My dad is being told by his doctor he should go almost vegan, meaning he can have milk but no fish or meat or beans or eggs....and minimal carbs...I am the cook in the family so this means I am learning a whole new way too cook....any suggestions?

 
This almost sounds like a protein restricted diet.  Why is the doc recommending this, and is it the proteins that he wants to eliminate.

[LeaLynne]

This almost sounds like a protein restricted diet.  Why is the doc recommending this, and is it the proteins that he wants to eliminate.

 
She (the doctor) recommended it because he has major kidney problems as well as heart problems and told him he needed to remove almost all of his protein from his diet. Unfortunately that means I'm cooking 2 meals a night right now trying to feed him and my 2 teen siblings. Now we've found out he's diabetic as well (type b) so now I've been instructed to feed him much smaller meals than he is used to every 4 hours.

My main problem is that his diet now clashes with everyone else in the family, particularly me as I am at high risk for type a.

[yewberry]

My main problem is that his diet now clashes with everyone else in the family, particularly me as I am at high risk for type a.

As the only (mostly) non-meat eater in the house, I've found it's simplest to create a vegetarian entree and a meat side dish.  The meat can be either served on its own (small steak or a chicken breast, f'ex), or cooked and seasoned to be added to the vegetarian entree as desired (browned ground beef or turkey added to a ratatouille).  

It appears to me you're going to have to create veggie-heavy entrees, which is pretty much what I do.  I like exchanging pasta or rice for a veggie base like chard or spinach.  You can add lots of rich, meaty flavor (without protein and with minimal carbs) with mushrooms.  I love dried shiitakes in soups and sauces for this reason.

Soups in general are so versatile, and it's easy to add meat and carbs (pasta and starchy veggies) after the fact.  You can load them up with low-carb veggies.  And because he's saving so many calories with the lack of carbs, you can add rich fats (both animal and vegetable) that add tons of flavor.

Brina

[mandrina]

She (the doctor) recommended it because he has major kidney problems as well as heart problems and told him he needed to remove almost all of his protein from his diet. Unfortunately that means I'm cooking 2 meals a night right now trying to feed him and my 2 teen siblings. Now we've found out he's diabetic as well (type b) so now I've been instructed to feed him much smaller meals than he is used to every 4 hours.

My main problem is that his diet now clashes with everyone else in the family, particularly me as I am at high risk for type a.

 
Oh joy, a renal, cardiac, and diabetic diet rolled into one.  I'm surprised milk is still in it.  No oranges, no potatoes, no citrus, no bananas, low fat, count those carbs.  watch his renal labs, have the doctor tell you exactly what to avoid and where the labs are supposed to be, and if he follows it, he might just stay off dialysis. You may also really need to read labels, as potassium hides in prepared backed goods as a freshening agent. I suggest you also be anal about those blood sugars.  My mom's on one of those diets.

[mandrina]

Oh joy, a renal, cardiac, and diabetic diet rolled into one.  I'm surprised milk is still in it.  No oranges, no potatoes, no citrus, no bananas, low fat, count those carbs.  watch his renal labs, have the doctor tell you exactly what to avoid and where the labs are supposed to be, and if he follows it, he might just stay off dialysis. You may also really need to read labels, as potassium hides in prepared backed goods as a freshening agent. I suggest you also be anal about those blood sugars.  My mom's on one of those diets.

 
I'd also recommend going to a dietician to help you create menus.

[yewberry]

You may also really need to read labels, as potassium hides in prepared backed goods as a freshening agent. I suggest you also be anal about those blood sugars.  My mom's on one of those diets.

I'd be cooking entirely from scratch, personally.  Only a slightly bigger hassle than trying to make sure your prefab doesn't contain no-nos.

Brina

[mandrina]

I'd be cooking entirely from scratch, personally.  Only a slightly bigger hassle than trying to make sure your prefab doesn't contain no-nos.

Brina

My dad pretty much has to.  He rotates between less than 10 main dishes with vegetables, a little meat or beans, no dairy, and rice, pasta, or bread.  It's just the two of them, and he can rattle off the carbs, proteins and fats and potassium in a mom sized serving of each and every one of them.

My mother should be a record of some sort.  She has been a diabetic for 50 years, diagnosed in 1961 with 'juvenile', she's been insulin dependent since diagnosis at 19, she has never been overweight.  She still has both legs, is able to walk, (but finally has given into the need for a wheelchair for long distances), has been sitting on the dialysis list for over 10 years, just in case she needs it, but hasn't because she's so careful with her diet and labs.