HELP!!! Desperate Vegetarian

[bread]

My mother has been Lo Carbing for a month now and can't stop talking about how fantastic it is. I am determined to try it out too but don't quite know how to as I am a vegetarian. No meat, chicken or fish. Please help me. What can I eat!?!?!?! Where can I find info?

[kacey]

ME TOO!
I am veg, no fish and not too many eggs even. I don't digest wheat very well and so I gave that up a long time ago. But out went corn and rice with low carb as well and I DON"T MISS IT!
I am amazed. I am really enjoying my food and feel great.
Hre is a little list of my favs
veggies of course
cheese and lots of it!
dairy but of course not milk
I am exploring goat and sheeps milk cheeses as well..YUM
I discovered that ricotta has lots less carbs than cottage cheese and is more vesatile as well
If you can eat soy then some tofu's have only 2 grams and as a fellow veg you know also how versatile that is.
If you like eggs they are great too.
Sesame tahini is also wonderful and low in carbs. You can sweeten it and use it in dressing and all kinds of things.
Nuts but you gotta be careful cause some like cashews are kinda high. and nut butters too.
avocados and ditto on versatility
and coconut too, the frozen, unsweetened kind has less carbs and coconut milk too.

Doesn't this sound yummy? :exclm: :)
Let me know what you think, got anymore ideas!!!?? :thup:

[Rosebud]

Hi Bread, welcome!

Did you know we have a Vegetarian subforum here? ;) It lives under "Other Low Carb Plans."
Here's a link to it:
http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=109

:rose:Rosebud:rose:

[Cindy007]

I am no longer vegetarian, but I don't always want meat and I sometimes freak about cooking it. I bought some soy protein powder from Universal Nutrition called SoyPro. You can cook with it. I have been making pudding and pancakes. So yummy! You can make muffins and many other things. I also really like Boca burgers. High in protein and low in carbs. Good luck!

[bread]

Thanks for your help. I feel far more positive now. I was so scared about having to eat tofu and eggs all day everyday. :-)

Can you give me an idea of what your average day's meals are like?
Do you eat a protein with every meal?
What are these Protein Powders that I keep reading about?
Why no milk?
Which cheeses are okay? - I have read that Cheddar is bad.

HELP! Soooooooooo many questions!

Thanks!

[Laura D]

Have you gone to fitday.com and openned up an account yet? I highly recomend you do, it is very helpful to keep track of the carbs you are eating.

None of the "fake meats" like boca burgers are in there, so you will have to take the package to the computer and enter it all in your self and save it.

Tips-

Some brands tofu have more carbs than others, read the pack and pick the lowest carb one.

Boca burgers are a pretty good carb deal. Remember you can subtract the fiber from the carb count.

Keep lots of hard boiled eggs in the fridge. They are great for beefing up salads or for an emergency snack.

What are these Protein Powders that I keep reading about? You can buy protien powder at the health food store (check ingredients for carbs) and blend with ice and cream for a protien shake. You can cook with them too, but I don't know about that.

Why no milk? Well, milk is pretty carby because it has alot of natural sugar. Unsweetened soymilk is your best bet, but it can be tough to find. If I need to add something milk like to a recipe, I usually use some heavy cream and water (or just cream yum yum)


Which cheeses are okay? - I have read that Cheddar is bad. I have never read that cheddar is bad, but a lot of what you are allowed to have depends on what plan you chose. I do Protien Power, and I don't recall them saying anything bad about cheddar. Different plans have slightly different rules about stuff like dairy, how much fruit, how much nuts ect. You should pick up a book or two and study some plans to pick what you want. I recommend PP, I find it is more lenient than Atkins, but some people need the strictness I suppose.

Can you give me an idea of what your average day's meals are like?

Let see, a typical day would be:

Three egg omlett with pepper jack cheese for breakfast and coffee. (some plans don't like caffiene, but NO ONE WILL TAKE MY CAFFIENE FROM ME!! :mad: )

Few celery sticks with cream cheese for a snack.

Spinach salad with a few walnuts and blue cheese dressing for lunch.

Dinner, some baked tofu slices with melted mozzerella and basil, with just a touch of the lowest carb maranara you can find. (I call them tofu pizzas LOL! )Maybe some cooked broccolli on the side.

I snack on sunflower seeds in the shell all the time. They are a pretty good carb deal, and since you have to crack each one it takes forever to eat a significant amount. Keeps me from raiding the vending machine at work.

Like I said, some plans are different. If you are planning the full on Atkins plan with induction, I don't think you can have nut on induction.

Quicker meal ideas-

Take a 10oz pack of frozen spinach, cook in microwave, drain excess water, and then mix in some shredded cheese and nuke until melted. (I love spinach though, I eat this all the time!)

This morning I was in a rush and we had no quick food so I microwaved a boca burger and ate it with a fork, dipping into a dab of mustard and mayo.

Don't forget to drink a lot of water! I carry a water bottle around with me everywhere, it really help weight loss!

[Paleoanth]

You are welcome to look at my fitday account to see what I eat. Be warned that I don't cook much! I am going to start eating fresh squash as soon as I can get it here.

http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Paleoanth

[bread]

Hi all

Thanks so much for all the advice. I am so exited about my 'new way of life' - I think I drove everyone mad at the office telling them about it! :-)

I ate eggs, cheese and tofu today. I made the famous Tofu Pizza's for supper tonight and they were delicious! Thanks for the great tip!

I am a bit confused as to which vegetables I can eat with what but you know what, I am just going to take it real slow for now. I have ordered some books from Amazon and am going to educate myself over the weekend.

What really blows my mind is that I get to eat so much cheese! MY FAVOURITE!

I opened an account on FitDay and see that my Fat % for the day was 56%. Isn't that BADBADBAD? Am I doing something wrong here? What %'s should I be aiming for in PRO., FAT and CARB every day?

Thanks for all your help. I am so exited. I went to the Health Store to get load of Tofu today..... they didn't know what I was talking about with the Protein Powder though.. I am stuck out here in Germany so I might have to find someone here who knows a Brand Name or something.`

Thanks everyone! :-)))

[Laura D]

No that much fat is not bad, in fact, as a vegetarian you should be concerned that you get enough fat. Fat fills you up. Many LC meat eaters are eating fatty steaks and pork chops and such, think of how much fat they get from all that.

Remember, you are not eating (much) carbs. Your body needs fat and protien for energy. My fat percentage ranges from 50 to 80%. Just depends on what I felt like eating that day.
Carbs are bad, fat is your friend! If you cut out the carbs, you can eat fat.

When you cut out carbs, your body stops storing the fat away. Has to do with lower insulin levels. It's kind of complicated, but the Protien Power book explains it very well. It's just too much for me to go into now when I should be working :p

Spinach, broccolli lettuce cabbage and cauliflower are really low in "effective"carbs. I eat these all the time. They are my "main" veggies that I allow myself to pig out on. They actually do have some carbs, but the majority of it is fiber, and you don't count fiber because it is not absorbed by the body. There are other veggies you can have to, but those are real carb bargains.

[bread]

I actually found Protein Powder in the health shop in my little German town! How exiting! I made a milkshake with it this afternoon and am wondering what else to do with it. Will trawl the net to get some ideas. (Am still starving though... maybe I should raid the cheese stockpile again!)

I am so exited that 'Spinach, broccolli lettuce cabbage and cauliflower' are 'good' veggies. I was worried that they had too much carbo. They are my favourites.

I found some Tofu Pasta at the health shop as well. This still has zillions of grams of Carb which was majorly depressing. I just don't know how I am going to live without my soy spaghetti bolognese. :-(

Great to know that I can go wild with the fat. Wow up to 80%! And you still loose weight Laura?!?!??!??!??! :-)

I feel like I have stumbled upon the secret to happy eating. Cheese is calling!

Thanks everyone. I am getting more and more exited about this every day!!! :-)))

[Cindy007]

Just make sure you don't go over the 4 oz limit per day on cheese. That really isn't all that much. :yum:

I have soy protein powder from Universal Nutrition brand. It has zero carbs and is good for baking. Not sure if they all are. I like to either add some water and 1 tbsp oil and make pudding or make it into pancakes. I could live off of the pancakes they are so good! 1 scoop powder, 1 egg, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp oil. Enjoy!

--Cindy

[KM1]

I'm not a vegetarian anymore, but was for 2 years or more. I still love veggie meals. Here are a few things I've had recently:
salad with thinly sliced zuccini, red onion, tomato, fresh basil, feta cheese, lemon juice, salt, olive oil.
salad with chopped and blanched broccoli, cauliflower, mayo, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds
soup made with cauliflower, two cups broth, salt (blend smooth then add sharp cheddar cheese and heavy cream to taste
Also spaghetti squash is a good pasta substitute.
Remember to put your recipes in fitday to watch your carb count. Good luck and don't give up!

[bread]

Oh dear. I thought that I could eat as much cheese as I liked. 4oz really isn't that much. About 8Tbs? Wow. I think I just had that for breakfast in my omelette. Okay, I think that I have to stop being lazy and have to start cooking vegetables.

Thanks for all the great recipe ideas. I am going to try the pancakes tonight and will have the basil salad for lunch. Bliss.

My Atkins books arrived last night and I have started reading it and can't wait to increase my knowledge. I just hope that it all makes sense.

What on earth is Spaghetti Squash? Have never heard of it... is is something I can make or something I can buy ready made? HELP!

I am sipping my morning coffee as we speak... no way am I ever going to be able to give that up.

ah, talking about beverages..... I am a bit confused as to what I may drink. True that fruitjuices are 'bad'? So that breaks it down to water or nothing? gulp. (I guess the 2 glasses of wine I had last night are a definate no-no?!?!?!)

Thank everyone. I feel thin already! :-)

[Paleoanth]

Actually a good slice of cheese is about an ounce-so I allowed myself 3-4 slices a day on induction. Just look at the package and it should tell you. One ounce = about 28 g, and sometimes the serving size is in grams on those packages.

Speghetti squash is a vegetable that has a speghetti like interior that you scoop out and use like pasta. I hear it is very tasty. There are some pretty low carb sauces out there-Classico Brand is around 7 g for 1/2 cup and I usually use 1/4 cup on top of things.

As far as beverages are concerned-I never gave up my coffee and it seems to be OK-I do count the coffee carbs though-I input my coffee consumption in fitday, so that I don't over do it. You need to drink your water-but they have come out with flavored waters, sweetened with Splenda-Fruit2O is one. Juices are a definite no no. Wine should not be consumed on induction if you go the Atkins route-mainly because your body will burn the alcohol before it burns fat, so you might be slowing your weight loss down.

[bread]

I think I had closer to 10oz of cheese today. Okay. Tomorrow I will cut down on that. So meals can only really be loads of veggies and soya/tofu or eggs.

I have never seen Spaghetti Squash out here. (germany) I wonder if it has another name? I will ask around at the vegetable market.

Ditto with Splenda - we don't have it here. I am SO frustrated about that. I can't find anyone out here who knows about Atkins which can help me find these products.

Feeling a little crazy today. Headaches and flashes. Maybe it is just the hot weather?

We have friends coming over tonight and they always bring loads of Pralines and crisps. Oh my. I just hope I can manage to NOT EAT them!

[Paleoanth]

Try having celery and cream cheese on hand or some deli meat roll ups with some cheese. That should help keep you away from the goodies.

I wonder if you can order some Atkins stuff online to have shipped to Germany?

[bread]

Good plan - I have cream cheese and some raw veggies in the fridge.

Which Atkins things are good? I would like to order them - you're right. I am sure they will ship them over here. I wonder if our customs will let them through. :-?

Gotta go, preparing beds for visitors!

[Paleoanth]

I am not really sure-you can check out their website: //atkinscenter.com

You do realize I meant veggie deli meats, right? LOL!

We have a brand over here called Smart Deli that are veggie deli slices-taste good!

[bread]

I did it.
Ate NO crisps. ice rream. chocolate, candy and garlic bread.
I am am own hero!
Plus I am sure I am thinner. :-)

[Paleoanth]

Go you!

[bread]

I thought I had lost so much weight on my first week of Atkins. This morning I established that this is not the case. My jeans are still just as tight. Yes, I do have more evergy and yes I do feel great but why is everybody else loosing major weight on a weekly basis. And I don't even cheat. :-(

Does this mean that I should cut out my cheese?

Anyone else have suggestions on a way to go from here?

Help!

[rumford]

If you are feeling dizzy,etc. make sure you are eating enough. Not a good idea to do low carbs AND low calories. The glucose you need comes from protein, so your protein is doing double duty. I'm not a vegetarian but these are the recipes that I use regularly:

1. Pureed cauliflower: known in low carb circles as "imitation mashed potatoes," it is actually one of the best recipes, diet or not: boil cauliflower, slightly softer than usual, puree in food processor with butter and salt. Different but better than mashed potatoes. Many variations: use as a bed to serve fried eggplant on, etc.

2. From Arabic cooking: break cauliflower into flowerlets. Deep fry until brown. Drain on paper towels salt. Eat right away.

3. Sauteed cucumber. Peel cucumbers. Cut in half the long way. Scrape out seeds with a spoon. Slice (makes crescent shapes). Sautee in butter on medicum heat. Stir to keep the water from coming out. About 5 minutes.

4. Precision zucchini. Slice zucchinis into 1/4 inch slices. Bring large amount (compared to the zucchinis) of water to a rolling boil. Put in zucchinis. Boil exactly two minutes. Immediately drain and add butter or olive oil. Different zucchinis may be slightly different and, of course, thickness will change time. A little experiment will tell you what to do but it is really a matter of seconds, too much or too little and you don't have anything good. Of course, sauteeing with garlic is less demanding but precision boiled can be superb.

[melody 1]

Hi, I am new to this game and also a vegetarian. I have two recipes that have kept me sane!!! Check the carbs and save these for an evening meal.

1. Stuffed field mushrooms with cheeses on bed of rocket

2. Halloumi kebabs.


For the stuffed mushrooms, buy some large field mushrooms. Line a tin with olive oil. Place peeled mushrooms into tin, 2 or 3 if you need them. Dot with butter. In a bowl, mix full fat cheese with grated cheese, I try and use a few different, smoked is really nice in there. Divide mixture between mushrooms, spread to edges and add black pepper. Some finely grated fresh parmesan on top is good. Drizzle with olive oil and bake in hot oven 200C for about 25 minutes until brown, may leak out, but use a fish slice to transfer onto bed of rocket. Add a bit of mayonnaise if desired.

2. Buy a bar of halloumi, (Cypriot cheese, bland, salty and delicious when charred, similar to tofu, but more rubbery). Cut into chunks, thread onto skewer with 1/4 onion thickly diced, 1 large mushroom, 1/8's, and small red pepper, chunky. Drizzle with oil and char under hot grill, or better still use a heavy chargrill pan. I add a dressing of coconut cream (about 1dessertspoon, mixed with a little sour cream. Very filling, and nice cold with salad the next day.


Hope this may inspire some of you. I need some new recipes quick. Day 12
and have found myself craving, but have never felt such a lack of hunger. I had a blip last week and it took 48 hours to get back on track, so I am really trying. Weekenda are hard. This forum may be the difference between disater again or success. Looking forward to meeting you. :wave:

[Paleoanth]

Thanks for the recipes! Those mushrooms sound good.

Here is a site for low carb recipes, you'll have to weed through them to get to some veggie friendly ones:

http://www.carb-lite.au.com/index.html

[melody 1]

thanks for the link, I shall take a look. NEED a treat! :spin:

[bread]

Hi Melody1

Oh my. Your recipies sound fantastic. I LOVE Haloumi and have never used it to make kebabs. I will try them tomorrow.

Today I am also having a hard time. I keep wandering around and around in the kitchen looking for something to snack on. No I am not hungry but feel desperate for something....... have had more cheese and some soya TVP but it is not doing the trick. I am dying to eat my crisps and candies that a friend gave me. (she have me 1kg of chocolate which I gave away the very next day!) I just have to get through this weekend.

Are you doing Atkins or the Carbo Addicts diet?

I am drinking loads of coffee today, I hope that this stops the cravings for candy and bread!

I agree with you... chatting here is a life saver! :-)

[Cindy007]

One of my favorite snacks on Atkins is a variation on chips (crisps right?). Take an oz or 2 of shredded cheddar. Put it on a pan that you have sprayed w/olive oil or Pam. Top w/some parmesan and garlic. Bake until crispy. Or you can put it on a plate a microwave it for about 2 minutes or so. Yum!!!! Induction friendly too.

--Cindy

[bread]

Cindy. I am going to try that tonight. My husband will be eating popcorn and I WILL SURVIVE with my Cheddar Chips!

[melody 1]

I appear to have ground to a halt and do not know what to do. This is my third week of Atkins. I have lost 7 pounds, but most of that in the first week. My family had a barbecue at the weekend, so I drank red wine, but had no dessert which for me is no mean feat. My appetite is nil, and my LTS are deep purple, but I just cannot get below this 1/2 stone. I could never get past this on a conventional diet either, but really thought this was going to work, and the lack of hunger has really pulled me through. I can't say I am enjoying food, and wonder if I should try another low carb diet, even only as a temporary measure? Any advice from you experienced low carbers would be appreciated.

[Paleoanth]

Have you been taking measurements? I often will stop losing actual weight, but shrink instead.

I think it is normal to take a pause after induction or the first 2-3 weeks. Your body is getting used to the weight loss and is trying to decide whether you mean it or not. My losses have not been every week at all. Some weeks nothing, then I will lose a couple of pounds in a couple of days.

My best pieces of advice are take measurements, patience and post some menus here or in the general forum to see if there is anything we can point out.

[bread]

Hi All. Time to confess. I have switched from Atkins to the Carbo Addicts diet. After 2 weeks on Atkins I lost NOTHING. Not a kilogram. I think it had to do with the high fat thing. I have switched to CA which advocated Low Fat meals. 2 x protein meals a day and one time limited carbo meal a day. I am going to give this a try instead. No fat permitted and no snacking. I think this will work better for me. Has anyone else tried this?

For my carb supper I just had my first potato in about 3 weeks... and let me tell you it didn't taste as good as I thought it would!

Hold thumbs for me please... I really need this to work. I weighed in at my all time high EVER today. I weigh only 3 kgs (about 6 pounds?) less than I did when I was pregnant! GULP!

[melody 1]

Appreciate the feedback, I suppose I do feel thinner. I have noticed a lot of people talking about measurements, and have never really bothered before. It may well be the boost I need. You said that you often lose pounds in a block and then nothing for a while. This is inspiring, as I think it may be my problem. I feel too ashamed to post menus at the moment due to my weekend alcohol content :rolleyes: but will note this weeks and drop them in if I don't get rolling again x Now where is that tape measure...........

[smurf]

hi bread,
i am in Germany also and have found that low carb products are impossible to find. You have to order them from the UK. I did read that Splenda may be coming to Germany early next year! I also found sugar free jello at an English import shop. Have you found "silken tofu" and a good soy flour?

:)

[melody 1]

Hope its going well. I did the CAD before, but totally went insane on my reward meal. I did find it a brilliant way to diet in terms of the disciplne it lent me. It was easier to resist the things I would normally feel that I was missing out on. But BOY!! did I go for it. In spite of all I stuffed away, Amazingly did not put any on. My plan was to use it as a longterm maintenance diet. I was really pleased when I read Atkins and he mentioned it. However, I am beginning to see the benefits of cutting carbs right down. I am scared that I will ever again be at the whim of my terrible chocolate craving. I may have to go to CAD soon, just for a rest if nothing else, but first need to get a good few pounds under this 1/2 stone which is just frozen defiantly!! Paleolanth inspired me to keep on track last night (thanks) and I took my measurements. I know I'm gonna learn a lot about this WOE, and am really glad that its beginning to form as a philosophy in my head, not just a "fad" diet. When I read Atkins I wasn't thinking it would or could be forever, but the folks on here have made me believe that it could be possible, with a little tweaking to suit........Anyway enough ranting, off to cook Tofu in a marinade of sesame oil, sherry vinegar, chilli sauce, and worcestershire sauce (inspired from one of the sites suggested on this forum), I am going to add toasted sesame seeds and one small head of pakchoi sauteed in sesame oil. Yum, Tum x :wave:

[melody 1]

By the way, can anyone expalin the stats at the side. I know I eneterd mine, but can't remember what they represent? Also, that little % thing. I was pleased to see mine said 10%, that cheered me up, but how do you change it if or WHEN you lose anymore?

[bread]

Hi Smurf

Wow - How exiting to find another person who lives in Germany. Great idea to look for foods in the British Store. We have one in Düsseldorf and I will try to find some sugar free treats there. No, I have not found silken tofu anywhere. Maybe in the Japanese Stores? We have loads here and I have not tried there yet. I will let you know if I find some there. I managed to find Soya flour a few months ago. It is not low carb though. I did find a Protein Powder drink that I have been using as flour. YUKYUKYUK.
I feel kind 'left out in the dark' doing Low Carb here in Germany... there are hardly any products or books.... or am I looking in all the wrong places?!??!

[bread]

Hi Melody
Yip, that's just how I feel...
On the one hand I am thrilled by the CAD's policy of no snacking and everything being low fat. I can definately deal with that a lot better than the freedom that Atkins gives you to dive into the high fat foods.
And:
On the other hand, eating my first carb in ages was TERRIFYING. I was convinced that I was going to spontaneously combust or something. I am going to try to go slow on the Reward Meal (Last night I ate 3 chocolate eggs left over from Easter!) and might even drop the carb totally, just to loose weight at first.

Have you tried any of the Atkin's bread or muffin recipies? I am too scared to try them... I am so worried that eating Atkins bread is just one step closing to my DOOM of eating loads of normal bread again.

What beverages do you have during the day?
Is black coffee REALLY slowing down my weight loss?

Happy Cooking!

[smurf]

hi bread,
It is driving me nuts trying to find anything low-carb. Even the mayonaise is not low carb. I will not order any low-carb bread, muffing, cake mixes yet as I do think that for me it will just push me into the real thing. Perhaps when I get to maintenance?? Right now when I really want something sweet I buy the Natreen sugar free creme dessert mixes and instead of milk use cream or even quark!! It seems to satisfy the sweet cravings. If I find Anything low carb I will let you know.
Have a great day :wave:

smurf(judi)

[melody 1]

Well, got stuck into a tray of chocolates today, I was planning a carb out, but it was not supposed to be a tray of chocs at 11.00am!! I did manage to finish well within my alloted hour, about 3 minutes acually until I felt sick, after I had pinched the best ones from the bottom layer. Still, feel quite philosophical about it. Maybe you should give youself one pig out on bread if that is your passion, bread (I guess your name says it all!) I shall be stalking the scales with interest. Feels good to have got it out of my sytsem, and I am hoping that the scales might budge. Watch this space (get smaller!!) :daze: