In some places, maybe. I remember back in the dark ages when we had two choices for a school lunch each day...the usual school lunch, which was always a hot meal consisting of a meat entree, a veggie or two, milk, and Jello-o or a cookie, or a brownie. The second choice was always vegetable soup, made there in the school kitchen, plus half of a peanut butter and honey sandwich. That was usually my choice for school lunch. All these years I've remembered that soup at John Tyler Elementary school!
Contrasting that with the "food" my son was served at school. I'll never forget the last day of school in fifth grade, hubby and I had lunch with him. He ate a couple of fried mozzarella sticks. Well, he ate the breading that was on the cheese. Nothing else. I used to pack his lunches until I discovered that he was regularly throwing them away and trading his fruit for junk. I figured I had control over his lunch, snacks at home, and dinner so I didn't sweat the lunch thing too much. But would have preferred that he ate something healthy of course.
Just read in the article More School Lunches Going Vegetarian that some schools "across the nation" are going to try vegetarian meals in schools. I have to say that, personally, pasta with a lentil sauce doesn't sound too appealing. I cook with lentils and enjoy them. But they are not pretty after being cooked. I can't imagine what a lentil sauce would look like, but I'm sure fourth grade boys everywhere would have no shortage of words to describe the sight, taste, aroma, and texture of lentil sauce.
If the kids eat it, I'm all for it tho. In the dark ages when I was in school, teachers sat with their classes and made sure that we ate. We didn't necessarily have to clean our plates, but we had to eat a sufficient amount. And we didn't touch dessert until we had eaten a sufficient amount. I once asked why my son's school served the junkiest of foods and they said that that was what sold, and it was "all that the kids would eat." They would have to throw away the healthy stuff and, besides, the healthy stuff "cost too much." Alrighty then. We didn't have that problem in the dark ages...we ate what was there or went without. We could carry a lunch box, or have two choices in the cafeteria. But what do I know? I'm a hopeless throwback. :)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Is being a vegetarian more expensive than eating a meat-based diet?
I don't think so, personally. At the grocery store today, most roasts cost around $11. A roasting chicken was $9. The roast would feed my guys one night. The chicken, there might be enough left over for a sandwich, but that was one mighty puny bird. A london broil was $12. Then you add some potatoes and a veggie, maybe some bread. That's fairly expensive. A bag of rice was around $2, depending on size and brand. Pasta and a marinara sauce isn't expensive, especially made with home grown tomatoes or tomatoes from a friend or farmers' market. Veggies are relatively inexpensive, and you can compost the remains of veggies...the peelings, etc.
One of our favorite things is flavorful steamed veggies. Gather a bunch of your favorite veggies. Typically, our steamed veggies are one zuchinni, one squash, one or two tomatoes, half an onion, a handful of green beans or snow peas (we like both), some carrot, sliced into half-inch circles, maybe a small eggplant. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, add to a glass dish (photos next time I cook this). Cut squash, zuchinni and eggplant (if using) into circles, not too thick or thin. Cut the ends off of green beans and string the snow peas. Add sea salt, pepper, and parsley (fresh is best, dried is OK) to taste. I also add a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Coat the veggies with the seasonings, cover the glass dish with foil and cook in a 350 degree over for 20-25 minutes. Inexpensive and good for you! With some rice this makes a meal for me, and a side dish for hubby and son.
I recently saw a recipe for Ultimate Veggie Fried Rice in the September 2009 Vegetarian Times magazine. That whole issue is a keeper..I'll probably make everything in it! Someone else kindly put the recipe on their blog, which you can find here: Ultimate Veggie Fried Rice I made this and it was soooooo yummy. (Please kill me if I ever say "yum-o"!)
Here's an article about vegetarian vs. meat eating, cost-wise:
Why eating meat is simpler
One of our favorite things is flavorful steamed veggies. Gather a bunch of your favorite veggies. Typically, our steamed veggies are one zuchinni, one squash, one or two tomatoes, half an onion, a handful of green beans or snow peas (we like both), some carrot, sliced into half-inch circles, maybe a small eggplant. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, add to a glass dish (photos next time I cook this). Cut squash, zuchinni and eggplant (if using) into circles, not too thick or thin. Cut the ends off of green beans and string the snow peas. Add sea salt, pepper, and parsley (fresh is best, dried is OK) to taste. I also add a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Coat the veggies with the seasonings, cover the glass dish with foil and cook in a 350 degree over for 20-25 minutes. Inexpensive and good for you! With some rice this makes a meal for me, and a side dish for hubby and son.
I recently saw a recipe for Ultimate Veggie Fried Rice in the September 2009 Vegetarian Times magazine. That whole issue is a keeper..I'll probably make everything in it! Someone else kindly put the recipe on their blog, which you can find here: Ultimate Veggie Fried Rice I made this and it was soooooo yummy. (Please kill me if I ever say "yum-o"!)
Here's an article about vegetarian vs. meat eating, cost-wise:
Why eating meat is simpler
Being a vegetarian in a mixed family...
From time to time, people who know that I am a vegetarian say that they would be vegetarians but that their family is comprised of all meat eaters and, well, they just sorta go with it. They have to cook it so they may as well eat it.
I have a husband, son, and a dog. All are meat eaters. And I do cook meat. I would prefer to not cook meat, but I do. I purchase meats for the guys from small farms, not factory farms or grocery stores. I purchase eggs from a farm where the hens are free range. What produce that I do not grow, I buy from the farmers' market.
As our son gets older, he eats the majority of his meals away from home in the evenings, due to work or school activities. The times that he is home, I try to make a homemade pizza with veggies (our current fave is a spinach and feta pizza), or a pasta dish with homemade marinara sauce from tomatoes grown in our garden.
Hubby began eating some of the things I was eating and has come to prefer meatless chili, and prefers marinara sauce over meat sauce. He remarks how much better he feels for not eating ground beef, and so I have not had to buy ground beef in over a year! I do not, ever, cook bacon for any reason. If hubby and son want it, they have to get it at a restaurant. Bacon smell is one that I cannot tolerate.
He still likes chicken, and fish. But as he gets more of an idea of things that are tasty and filling, he's becoming more accepting of the vegetarian meals I fix. When I first went cold turkey (pun intended), I just ate whatever didn't contain meat. But our diet had become pretty much the same old same old, all the time, and was boring.
I thought back to the book that I first read in the 70's, Diet for a Small Planet. I bought the updated version and got lots of ideas. I hit the bookstores and began reading vegetarian cookbooks and magazines, such as Vegetarian Times. I learned about so many different foods and ways of preparing them that I will never get to all of the recipes that I'd like to try!
I love Mexican food. So I have been experimenting with making enchiladas and quesadillas without meat. Even my teen son liked the vegetable quesadillas (photos soon).
The health benefits of eating vegetarian have been amazing...I lost 30 pounds, and my blood pressure, at age 52, is 112/80. I feel better, I have more energy.
Eating vegetarian in a family of meat eaters is possible...nothing is perfect tho and there may be times when you have to prepare 2 meals. I try to plan meals ahead according to our schedules and plan as many meat free ones as I can. When I do have to cook meat, I make sure that there is plenty available that I will also be able to eat. Tofu is amazing because it takes on the flavors of whatever you are cooking with and flavoring with. A vegetarian friend made an avocado/tofu sushi that was out of this world.
Planning meals ahead of time is key to being able to make sure everyone is happy at mealtime. I am currently researching vegetarian comfort foods for the fall and winter months (the Almanac is predicting a frigid winter for most of the USA). They have to be tasty, filling, and healthy as well as vegetarian. While I do watch the fat content in many foods, there's nothing like a big bowl of homemade mac and cheese (not from the little blue box!).
If you've read this far and haven't become bored to tears, thank you! This blog will be evolving over time. I hope it helps.
I have a husband, son, and a dog. All are meat eaters. And I do cook meat. I would prefer to not cook meat, but I do. I purchase meats for the guys from small farms, not factory farms or grocery stores. I purchase eggs from a farm where the hens are free range. What produce that I do not grow, I buy from the farmers' market.
As our son gets older, he eats the majority of his meals away from home in the evenings, due to work or school activities. The times that he is home, I try to make a homemade pizza with veggies (our current fave is a spinach and feta pizza), or a pasta dish with homemade marinara sauce from tomatoes grown in our garden.
Hubby began eating some of the things I was eating and has come to prefer meatless chili, and prefers marinara sauce over meat sauce. He remarks how much better he feels for not eating ground beef, and so I have not had to buy ground beef in over a year! I do not, ever, cook bacon for any reason. If hubby and son want it, they have to get it at a restaurant. Bacon smell is one that I cannot tolerate.
He still likes chicken, and fish. But as he gets more of an idea of things that are tasty and filling, he's becoming more accepting of the vegetarian meals I fix. When I first went cold turkey (pun intended), I just ate whatever didn't contain meat. But our diet had become pretty much the same old same old, all the time, and was boring.
I thought back to the book that I first read in the 70's, Diet for a Small Planet. I bought the updated version and got lots of ideas. I hit the bookstores and began reading vegetarian cookbooks and magazines, such as Vegetarian Times. I learned about so many different foods and ways of preparing them that I will never get to all of the recipes that I'd like to try!
I love Mexican food. So I have been experimenting with making enchiladas and quesadillas without meat. Even my teen son liked the vegetable quesadillas (photos soon).
The health benefits of eating vegetarian have been amazing...I lost 30 pounds, and my blood pressure, at age 52, is 112/80. I feel better, I have more energy.
Eating vegetarian in a family of meat eaters is possible...nothing is perfect tho and there may be times when you have to prepare 2 meals. I try to plan meals ahead according to our schedules and plan as many meat free ones as I can. When I do have to cook meat, I make sure that there is plenty available that I will also be able to eat. Tofu is amazing because it takes on the flavors of whatever you are cooking with and flavoring with. A vegetarian friend made an avocado/tofu sushi that was out of this world.
Planning meals ahead of time is key to being able to make sure everyone is happy at mealtime. I am currently researching vegetarian comfort foods for the fall and winter months (the Almanac is predicting a frigid winter for most of the USA). They have to be tasty, filling, and healthy as well as vegetarian. While I do watch the fat content in many foods, there's nothing like a big bowl of homemade mac and cheese (not from the little blue box!).
If you've read this far and haven't become bored to tears, thank you! This blog will be evolving over time. I hope it helps.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Getting enough protein
A recent interesting discussion prompts this first post...how much protein do we need, and from what sources can we get it? Those questions, and others, are answered here:
Nutrition for everyone The Basics: Protein
Many are apparently under the misconception that vegetarians and vegans do not get enough protein. Most of us get more than enough protein but, for those interested in how we get our protein (I'm a vegetarian who eats a lot of vegan meals), here is some information:
Protein in the Vegan Diet
Nutrition for everyone The Basics: Protein
Many are apparently under the misconception that vegetarians and vegans do not get enough protein. Most of us get more than enough protein but, for those interested in how we get our protein (I'm a vegetarian who eats a lot of vegan meals), here is some information:
Protein in the Vegan Diet
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