I have been an 'almost' vegetarian for a couple of years now. My new hubby of 7 months has always been a big meat eater with terrible heartburn to show for it. Since he's been eating my mostly vegetarian dinners he feels much better, but I'm looking for some new meal ideas. The meals need to be made of ingredients he would recognize. He's still afraid to try 'strange' food although he has recently agreed to try tofu! A major breakthrough!

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2002

Answers

Gosh, I haven't tried tofu yet, not sure I want to either, and I have been mostly vegetarian for a long time ;-)!!!

A good book with lots of vegetarian recipes, as well as minimal meat recipes is the New T-2000 Diet Book, I forget the author, but it had great and easy recipes with ordinary ingrediants. I use alot of brown rice, bulgar, and whole grain wheat and oat breads and pastas, and use all types of canned (easy and quick to use) beans, I must have 7 different types of beans in the pantry right now.

Check out your library for more vegetarian type cook books, our very rural library had at least 12 of them, yours should to.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

He's in love isn't he!! Ha!

I know this is boring but I can't cook at all so I eat brown rice and steamed vegies at least 4 times a week. Some butter and soy on top. Along with that maybe french bread and some canned peaches.

Say have you guys had your 1st fight yet?.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Get an ethnic cookbook for some great almost- and vegetarian recipes. Most folks will try Chinese foods or Vietnamese noodle dishes. You can omit the bean sprouts if he finds those too weird.

Start slow and make vegetarian versions of favorites. Like lasagna with veggies and not meat, chili without the beef, egg salad and pizza with veggies or just cheese. Try lots of dips like skordalia, hummus or black bean dips. Baked potatos as a meal with a variety of steamed veggies and/or sauces.

Tofu is surprisingly good in the right recipes. You can even buy it 'puffed' (fried) and it is easily incorporated in stirfries. Tempeh is a good meat substitute but I don't like it as much.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Debra, this is just a suggestion for when he DOES eat meat, or even if he doesn't: if he is having digestion problems, he is likely deficient in digestive enzymes. As we age our production of hydrochloric acid (breaks down food in the stomach) decreases, which helps the manufacturers of TUMS type products remain so successful! Hydrochloric acid can be "reseeded" in the stomach;I did this myself a few years ago and it works great. Its very simple, cheap, and safe, and often on its own will cure heartburn problems.

The other place digestion is affected is of course in the intestines; we need to periodically re-establish a good colony of good bacteria, most notably acidophilus, especially after being exposed to antibiotics or a lot of sweets.

Additionally, I always take a couple of digestive enzymes when I eat a meal that contains no raw food, (raw food will provide them naturally), and always TRY to include some raw food with every meal when possible. These digestive enzymes are necessary to break down the proteins and fats properly.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Annie- Thanks for the book tip. I sat down at Barnes and Noble one night and looked at every single vegetarian cookbook they had. There was only one that used virtually all 'normal' ingredients. It is called "The Compassionate Cook". I didn't notice till I got home that it was put out by PETA a group I have some differences of opinion with. But, oh well the cookbook is just what I was looking for. Still, I was hoping to get even more ideas for meals with 'normal' ingredients. So far Joe's favorite dishes are red beans and rice and potato, leek, onion and bay leaf soup.

Earthmama- How did you 'reseed' the hydrochloric acid? Sounds interesting.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2002

Company's Coming has a Vegetarian cook book. I agree with umm..whoever said (oh gosh i forget WHO said it!!) to make regular dishes vegetarian too ease the strain of coming up with new recipes. Veggie lasagna, chili, spaghetti etc. I have used TVP in recipes with good success though hubby prefers the real thing (MEAT! what a caveman). Best of luck and make sure you are getting your proper nutrition dearie. Off to pop an acidophilus capsule .......

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2002