Hello all, I'm new to the veggie board. I've posted on a couple of others here at 3 FC.

A little about me...I was a vegetarian for 15 years, and then suddenly about 6 years ago, I started eating meat (long story). As a vegetarian, I was very healthy (blood work was awesome) and wore a size 6. Over the past 6 years, as a became a meat eater, I gained over 60 lbs and developed type 2 diabetes. Yes, all of that can happen in only 6 years. I was just diagnosed with type 2 in August and have since gone back to my vegetarian ways. So far, I've lost 45 lbs, but I still have another 13 lbs to go. I'm in no way blaming my diagnosis of T2 diabetes on eating meat, but I do blame it for contributing to my enormous weight gain. I don't think my body knew how to handle the meat anymore after 15 years of not having it in my system. By the way, I am lacto-ovo vegetarian but often eat many vegan meals. My sugars have been fantastic, so I am very happy about that. Not sure how active this board is, but I look forward to posting here.

Welcome! i am sorry you had to struggle with gaining weight & diabetes. This board is pretty active. sounds like you are well on your way to slim new you! i am vegan but i am new, i am approaching the end of my first month. What is your favorite vegetarian meal?

-fm

Thanks for the welcome! My favorite breakfast is oatmeal with natural almonds; favorite lunch is South Beach whole grain wrap with vegetarian refried black beans, spinach, tomato, sprouts and chili garlic; favorite dinner is 2 cups fresh broccoli and 1 cup of mixed peppers and onions stirfried with 1 tablespooon of EVOO, light soy sauce, cayenne pepper, 2 eggs, chili garlic, and 1/2 cup of brown rice. Oh, my goodness...it is so delicious! As you can see, I love spicy food, so I use chili garlic quite a bit for seasoning. I eat these meals several times a week, but since I love to cook, I'll try other veggie recipes that are diabetic friendly.

Welcome! Have you seen Dr Neal Barnard's book on reversing diabetes? I really enjoyed reading it even though I don't have diabetes.

Hi, nelie! Yes, I actually read Dr. Barnard's book from cover to cover, and it was so interesting to me. I think the only fault I have is that I use EVOO, nuts and of course fat-free dairy and eggs to supplement my diet, which does not follow his low-fat, vegan diet. Maybe one day I can build up to becoming a vegan, but I do love my cheese. The book is really excellen, though, for anyone wanting to get healthy and lose weight.

My bf asked if we could do a week of vegetarian meals, so I am trying it out... I was vegetarian for a few years but started eating meat again at some point. First just chicken/fish- now I eat it all... I also feel a lot better when I don't eat dairy. I am thinking of just using this week as a jump back into the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle!

My biggest concerns right now are:

1. I don't want to end up just substituting dairy or bread/other carbs, which we currently don't eat a lot of, for the meat.
2. I need to find quick meals for when I work, because I get home right at dinner time!
3. Finding good meals that can be easily adapted when his daughter (4 yo) is over.

So- I guess I am glad to see that I am not the only one new to this!

Last night was our first vegetarian day... and bf caved! So we had pasta with sauce and veggies- he had meatballs, I had black beans.

Tonight I am planning to make grilled polenta & veggies. What should I do for protein? Beans again?!? I am trying to avoid cheese, though I could throw some on for him (or an egg?). I think I don't even need the additional protein since I am having a burrito for lunch, but I know he will want something more.

Any ideas?

I was just reading that you really only need to eat protein at 1 or 2 meals a day, so you don't really NEED to add anything... of course, if you want to, an egg would be a good idea, or parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, or you could blend something into the polenta... ground up seeds or silken tofu or something like that.

I would grill firm tofu while you are grilling the polenta. Just slice it into thick slices and brush with salt/pepper/olive oil and then grill it up. If you are grilling the veggies on skewers you could also add peices of seiten brushed with itallian dressing. Seiten grills on a grill wonderfully this way - it even gets charred like meat does.

Welcome sunnysand! I've been vegetarian for 15 years too (and counting!).

So glad eating this way is helping you lose the extra weight and get your diabetes under control.

Thanks for the ideas!! I especially like the thought of mixing some seeds into the polenta. I wonder how something like sunbutter would be?

I have a feeling bf is going to want a slab of meat tonight, though, lol. So I think I'll just have the meal as is and make him a chicken breast or something.

Have you ever bought Morningstar Farms Riblets? They come in the frozen aisle by the veggie burgers. It's like a big slab of fake meat covered in BBQ sauce. lol. Anyway, they are pretty good, most omni's I know like them, and they would go with polenta. The only downside is, most men would probably want to eat 2 and there are only 2 in a box which is like 4 bucks. lol, but compared to buying actually ribs that's a real bargain...

Might want to check out transitioning to some fake meat first. I buy fake meatballs at trader joes to add to my pasta sauce and I don't think people can tell the difference. Nate's brand also sells a similar product.

I am not a fan of all fake meat products, or really an Morningstar product but Gardenburger used to make those riblets and discontinued them. Tokurkey Itallian Sausages are good too, in pasta sauce or on the grill. Tofurky is the only fake meat product I eat on a weekly basis.

http://www.morningstarfarms.com/prod...q-riblets.aspx

http://www.cosmosveganshoppe.com/Mer...duct_Code=NMBS

http://tofurky.com/tofurkyproducts/sausages.html

The trader joe's fake meat balls are delicious