tasty vegetarian meat substitutes?

wrote in message
ps.com...

oregonchick wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

oregonchick wrote:
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll
eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for a
week.
She
generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but are there any
good
tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind eating it myself
once
in
awhile. I used to really enjoy garden burgers, but they don't have
all
that
much protein in them. Much of what I have tried in the past was
downright
yucky!

No. I've tried all the veggie burgers I know about and they all taste
terrible, but the good news is if your daughter is drinking milk and
eating eggs there is absolutely nothing to worry about. If she turns
vegan there is still nothing to worry about as long as she eats an
assortment of plants. All those old concerns about getting enough
protein are not well-founded....unless someone is undereating in
general. It is harder to get the needed calories on a vegan diet for
some people and if you don't get enough calories, you might not be
getting enough protein either. Soy is loaded with protein of course
also. Problem is most soy products are not very tasty, IMO, so I don't
eat very much soy. One exception, IMO, is the chocolate soy drink
called Silk. The plain is kind of nasty, but I do occasionally drink a
little of the chocolate Silk. You might try that if she also decides to
give up milk as many vegetarians do. To me, of course, there is no
problem. I would love it if my daughter gave up meat because I don't
think it is as healthy as plant foods. dkw

HOnestly, I expect this to be a passing phase. I was just hoping to have
something on hand for days she decides to be vegetarian.... I guess
cottage
cheese will do it for now.

Absolutely. Milk products are full of protein. She will be fine without
ever eating meat. Another way to look at it is that she has made a
decision, even if it is short-lived based on concern for animal
welfare. That seems to me to be a very good sign. I would be more proud
of her than concerned, but I'm vegetarian and agree with her. dkw


I have absolutely nothing against vegetarians. To each their own. But our
family is "dyed in the cloth" meat eaters. Steak, pork, chicken, we aren't
picky. Just give us some meat to sink our teeth into.

oregonchick wrote:
"jmk" wrote in message
...
oregonchick wrote:
"jmk" wrote in message
...
oregonchick wrote:
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for
a week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but
are there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind
eating it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden
burgers, but they don't have all that much protein in them. Much of
what I have tried in the past was downright yucky!
How much protein does a 9 yo need? 50-150 g?
(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nut...-kids/NU00606). Yikes!
What a range! OK.

Boca burger (13 g for original burger)
Boca burger crumles (13 g / 2 oz crumbles)
Seitan (wheat meat) really easy to make at home, btw
(http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjseitan.htm) - white wave original seitan
31 g protein/3 oz serving
cottage cheese (13 g / half cup)
Greek yogurt (13 g / half cup

What is greek yogurt?
Strained yogurt, thicker than "regular"

Whole Foods carries it (http://www.fageusa.com/products.html) as does
Fresh Market in my area. The downside is that it's pricy (twice as
expensive at Harris Teeter!). Oh, and I misspoke, it's a 5 oz container,
not 4 oz.

I have got to find some of that!


I really like it a lot. I feel that it's too expensive ($1.69 each
around here) to have every day but I do get it from time to time -- and
after posting my first message I made a lunchtime stop at Whole Foods
;-) The yogurt that I brought for lunch will wait in the mini fridge
until tomorrow VBG.

Someone told me that Trader Joe's also has Greek yogurt. I don't have
one of those near me so I don't know but I'm sure someone else (Chris?)
will fill us in!

--
jmk in NC

oregonchick wrote:
are there any good
tasting meat substitutions? I

We like the Yves stuff (www.yvesveggie.com). Lots of fake lunchmeat
that my 13 YO stepson really likes. Also the morningside (morningstar?
whatever-green box) farms stuff is good. I like their fake sausage and
fake corndogs the best.

I've been a vegetarian for about 17 or 18 years. Only started eating
fake meat stuff a couple of years ago, when it seemed to really become
widely available. It's pretty convenient, esp. now that my work
schedule and commute have increased.

Finding the products can be challenging, though. Sometimes they're in
with regular lunchmeat or frozen breakfast items, sometimes they're in
the "health food ghetto", sometimes they pop up in the cheese section.

Give them a try, though, they've improved dramatically in the last few
years, I think.

kellye

oregonchick wrote:

I have absolutely nothing against vegetarians. To each their own. But our
family is "dyed in the cloth" meat eaters. Steak, pork, chicken, we aren't
picky. Just give us some meat to sink our teeth into.

It sounds like you basically want to have some high protein items on
hand for 9yo to eat rather than items for a whole family meal, is that
right? If that is the case, I think that I'd lean towards having Boca
Burgers in the freezer and vegetarian chili/soups in the cupboard

Health Valley Split Pea
~ 220 cals per can and 20g protein
http://www.healthvalley.com/products...=119&cat_id=42
Health Valley Veg. Chili
~ 300 cals per can 18 g protein
http://www.healthvalley.com/products...=178&cat_id=49

I understand Hormel also has a vegetarian chili but I haven't tried it.

Anyway, it would be easy to pull these items and have something for 9yo
to have as an entree if she will not eat the same meal as the rest of
the family. Maybe she could share side items with you?
--
jmk in NC

"One" wrote in message
ups.com...
I've heard that beans and rice combined together give all the essential
amino acids a body needs.

I like stir fried tofu, maybe she will like that?

Good luck


I've got a recipe for you, Jenny. You said you like currys, so

Festive Curry Tofu at

http://vegweb.com/index.php?PHPSESSI...&topic=10786.0

If the link doesn't work go to the vegweb main page and type "Festive Curry
Tofu" in the search box.


Tonia

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for a
week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but are
there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind eating
it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden burgers, but they
don't have all that much protein in them. Much of what I have tried in
the past was downright yucky!


What was that gook you got when we were in the keys? What about that stuff?

Ok, other sources

Eggs
Milk
Soy milk
Tofu
Yogurt
Fish
Cheese
bacon/sausage
protein powder
Soybeans
Lentils
kidney beans
Red beans
pumpkin/squash seeds
Peanuts
walnuts
pine nuts
white beans
sunflower seeds
blackbeans
Pistachio nuts
pinto beans
flax seeds
chickpeas gag
cashews, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts
Lima beans
vegetarian baked beans
Oatmeal


Ok - knowing your kid, its not like she needs alot of protein every day. A
bowl of that oatmeal yo make in the morning with milk, yogurt or cheese with
lunch and nuts or something for a snack and she'll get plenty. You don't
have to try and make her get 120 grams per day. You only need to get her to
get 25-50g or so and she'll have enough. Fed with a balanced diet of
dairy, and veggies and she'll get plenty in simple things like beans, and
veggies.

Google "protein sources, vegan" and you'll find lots

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/protein.htm#table1 --- this site even gives a
sample menu for an adult's needs.

"LFM" wrote in message
news

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for a
week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but are
there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind eating
it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden burgers, but
they don't have all that much protein in them. Much of what I have tried
in the past was downright yucky!


What was that gook you got when we were in the keys? What about that
stuff?

Um, refresh my memory. Obviously you're not talking about the prune
yogurt...

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...

"LFM" wrote in message
news

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for a
week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but are
there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind
eating it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden burgers,
but they don't have all that much protein in them. Much of what I have
tried in the past was downright yucky!


What was that gook you got when we were in the keys? What about that
stuff?

Um, refresh my memory. Obviously you're not talking about the prune
yogurt...

no that keifer stuff. Wasn't it that.

I think both ended up being thrown out.

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for a
week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but are
there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind eating
it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden burgers, but they
don't have all that much protein in them. Much of what I have tried in
the past was downright yucky!

Get some TVP (the small granular kind) and you can make taco filling, sloppy
joe's and other meals that call for ground meat. As long as you get the
seasonings right (either mix your own or buy a packet of spices) it tastes
great. I love TVP tacos. I've also make a "meat"loaf out of it but it was
a little fragile. I think an egg or two would have been good in the recipe.
I've also bought the pre-seasoned stuff, made by either Boca or Morningstar
Farms, and I've added that to macaroni (with and without cheese), pasta
sauces etc.

I like all of the meat subs. Tofu, seitan, TVP, tempeh and Quorn! I bought
a Quorn roast a couple of weeks ago and it was great. Great texture and it
was yummy with some mushroom gravy.



--
Liz
HW:268 CW: 149.8 GW: 142-147

"LFM" wrote in message
. ..

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...

"LFM" wrote in message
news

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...
My 9 yr old is refusing meat. I don't know what is going on, one day
she'll eat meat, but then she watches animal planet and refuses it for
a week. She generally eats cottage cheese as a meat substitute, but
are there any good tasting meat substitutions? I really wouldn't mind
eating it myself once in awhile. I used to really enjoy garden
burgers, but they don't have all that much protein in them. Much of
what I have tried in the past was downright yucky!


What was that gook you got when we were in the keys? What about that
stuff?

Um, refresh my memory. Obviously you're not talking about the prune
yogurt...

no that keifer stuff. Wasn't it that.

mmmm. Kefir. Good stuff...