Vegan and vegetarian food on the cheap

lightisfading · 6 January 2007 at 8:40PM

angeluk69 wrote:

But I have got a bit stuck with what to cook without cooking loads of different meals. My husband wnats to lose weight ( as do I ) but I don't want him missing out on vital minerals and vitamins...Am I over reacting???

I need some good ideas, that are quick to make (he works shifts) without being salads or soups. We have been out today and bought a load of veg (courgettes, cauliflower,broccoli,onions, potaoes,carrots, spring onions, tomatoes,cucumber, lettuce, mushrooms etc...)

I really hope someone can give me some tips, about how to make sure he is getting everything he needs from a vege diet.

Thanx in advance

As you said yourself you are kinda overreacting re: minerals and vitamins. The key things veggies need to watch for are iron (wholegrain cereal/flour, green leafy veg, pulses, dried fruit ie apricots), b12 (fine if you eat eggs/dairy), and protein (need faaaar less than people think, easily obtained from a bit of dairy, beans etc). As long as he's eating a varied diet with plenty of veg and not subsisting on cheese on toast he'll be fine.

Might be worth picking up a copy of any student vegetarian type cookbooks, as they generally cater for quick and easy, healthy, balanced and cheap!

thriftlady_2 · 6 January 2007 at 9:16PM

What about fish Angeluk ? If he's eating fish he'll get plenty of low-fat protein from it and omega 3 oils if he eats oily fish. Anyone know about iron in fish, I'd have thought darker fleshed fish (tuna, mackerel) might have some iron ?

angeluk69_2 · 6 January 2007 at 9:44PM

Sorry to take so long to get back to you thriftlady.... he's saying no to fish, which I did ask him to keep in his diet for a bit, for the reasons you pointed out, but he has decided not to eat any meat.

amyandoli · 6 January 2007 at 9:49PM

loads of receipes online bbc food, veg society etc.
just sub quorn/tvp for meat
you'll hardly taste the difference!
good luck x

anniestar · 6 January 2007 at 10:59PM

First thing is DON'T PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My DH had turned veggie just as I met him.I was a bit worried, but now after almost 15years thonk that cooking veggie food has made me a better cook.For me Quorn is wonderful and their range is always expanding. (I am not veggie but almost always eat the same as DH) at first why not do the "usual stuff" shepherds pie, chillies etc. You will grow in confidence as you get used to it.I buy DH unsalted nuts from Tesco eo make sure he gets the full range of minerals and vitamins. Incidently DH has been very seriously ill over the last 6years(thankfuly better now)and has given literally 100's of blood samples, all of which showed no deficiencies whatsoever (honestly nothing to do with diet at all meningitis(sp) and various other nasties after that)Again, DONT PANIC, RELAX AND have FUN!

Peem · 6 January 2007 at 11:10PM

Found it

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=257885

laughing_cow · 6 January 2007 at 11:28PM

I think someone has already mentioned the BBC website, which is great for recipes. For books I'd recommend Cranks (much more modern and less lentil than they used to be!) - particularly those by Rose Elliot or Nadia Abensur. There's a book called Cranks Fast Food which has plenty of everyday recipes, and a few fancier ones which are easy to make. I'd imagine you could get these books in the library if you don't want to buy any.

I've just Googled their names and the word 'recipe' and come up with a site for Nadine: http://www.nadineabensur.com For Rose Elliot there were a few sites with her recipes.

If you like Middle Eastern or Turkish food, I'd also recommend books by Claudia Roden which have good, tasty veggie meals.

Also, the The Vegetarian Society has lots on it's site:
http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/

fabwitch_2 · 6 January 2007 at 11:52PM

Hubby and I are vegatarians but my children eat meat if they wish. Often if we have guets they do not realise they have had a vegatarian meal for example if I do a roast I add a quorn roast wwhich slices up just like chicken or have vegi mince ( taste like mince meat) and onion pies or quorn (taste like chicken) and mushroom pies. Qorn sausages are delicious and when ever we have BBQ, I cook meat and vegi/quorm sausages/burgers and guest always eat all the vegi/quorn sausages/burgers first not realising they are not meat. Eggs are also a good sauce of protein. I cook Ouja which is onioms, leeks, mushrooms fried with a little chili powder then add eggs scramble it all together then add tin of tomartoes. Its delicious on toast or crisp bread we sometimes have it for breakfast or an early brunch. Do not panick your Hubby will be able to have a good healthy diet.

mushroom1982 · 19 July 2007 at 5:19PM

Hello! Me and my partner haven't eaten meat for the past few weeks and I'm all up for trying to find new recipes. If anyone has any they would like to share with me I'd be greatful. Also any suggestions with regards to nutrients and health would be appreciated.

Penelope_Penguin · 19 July 2007 at 5:37PM

Gingham Ribbon has done 3 fantastic Vegetarian meal planners.

Hang on while I find the links..........

..............here you go:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=399846
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=257885
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=453694

Enjoy! Penny. x

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Vegan and vegetarian food on the cheap

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