Meat "substitutes"???????
 

My Dr. recommended to me to try eating vegetarian. Unfortunately ALL the vegetarian diets I've come across push "meat substitutes" such as TVP, or morning star meats.... All these have additives. I'm attempting to stay whole foods as possible.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I posted in your whole foods thread. What vegetarian diets are you looking at that push meat substitutes? The only one I've heard is Skinny B*tch which is a book I haven't read.

Oh and I should say that I have heard some people recommend meat substitutes as a transition but I think overall it is better to avoid meat substitutes for the most part.

I've recently started eating Vegan again (only 3 weeks ago). This time instead of just trying to replicate my non Vegan days with meat subs like Hot Dogs, Burgers, Chicken pieces I've gone totally wholefoods and I feel so great.

I think subs are ok every now and again but it's not something I would recommend for everyday eating.

Since I started wholefoods I've eaten so many different things that I would never have tried before, there's so much variety that I haven't really thought i'm missing out on anything.

tempeh, tempeh, tempeh!

(Or have I said that already?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempeh

Tempeh, Tofu, Beans (You can soak overnight and cook on either stove, crockpot, or pressure cooker and they are very affordable and come in many varieties), especially soy beans, Quinoa (a whole grain, I purchased a medium sized bag of "Bob's Red Mill" from Costco, commonly found at health food stores), Nuts and Nut "Butters" (High in protein, but also high in healthy fats, so limit), Whole grain breads and rices.

Think of meals that naturally present a combo of these proteins. Beans and Rice, Vegetarian Chilli, Soups (which are great for weight loss) You can combine whatever you like into a soup. Think of bean soups, or Japanese style miso soups with Tofu, Mushrooms, and Spinach/ Seaweed. Stir Fried Vegetables with Tofu or Tempeh. You can cook some Quinoa with Mushrooms, other veggies, onions, garlic, tomato sauce and 1 cup veggie stock, 1 cup Quinoa, and just have some nice steamed veggies on the side. In the morning you can have a piece of toast (I use whole grain, sprouted "Ezekiel" bread- free of additives and vegan with whole proteins, found at trader joes, Whole foods, and other health food stores) with some peanut/almond/other nut butter sparingly spread onto it. Or a cup of yoghurt or soy yoghurt with some granola or fruit. Snacks: Bean dip with veggies (For low calories and high protein). I think all these meals contain protein which can help you "replace" meat without the "replacements".