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Can you help me go vegetarian again, Portland?After about 12 years out of the game, I'm getting close to making my triumphant return to cheese pizza and peer resentment, but I've got kind of a big problem: I love the taste of almost any meat, and I hate most vegetables if they aren't on a pizza or covered in curry. Give me your tips, Portland! Possible topics: Places to eat! Blogs! Replacing protein with things that aren't lentils! (cook)Books! Meat-avoidance strategies! Gracefully deflecting inquiries! Etc.!
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18 Answers
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staffTacos. I was just introduced to "soy curls," I'm still not exactly sure what they are (reconstituted... something), but they're awesome in tacos. Also the tofu tacos at the Bonfire are 100% delicious.
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Will you still eat cheese and eggs? I recommend going heavy on the cheese and eggs. Keep several kinds of cheese on hand because any vegetable tastes good covered in cheese. And eggs are always satisfying.
And on that note: get your restaurant fix at breakfast - there are always more veg options on any breakfast menu than for other meals.
Don't try to have lunch at a crappy bar. It's next to impossible, unless you're satisfied by iceberg lettuce salad. But you can almost always get vegetarian bar snacks. These things are important to me.
When I am cooking at home, my fave thing to do is make a bowl of grains (rice or cous cous), a bunch of steamed veggies, and a yam, mix up, add some grated cheese, and top with scoop of sour cream and hot sauce. Very satisfying and healthy comfort food.
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Can I ask why you want to go veggie if you love meat so much? I can understand if it has to do with the standard, moral objections to slaughterhouse conditions, etc. Personally, it doesn't bother me that animals might suffer before they get slaughtered, because they're going to die regardless. What concerns me more is when sloppy, unsanitary conditions result in mad cow or other horrible shit turning up in the meat. If that's why you want to go veg, I support you, but there's no way I can help you. I also love meat and hate most veggies.
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staffI'm a vegetarian, but I'm kind of a terrible one--I don't eat meat, but that doesn't mean I eat in any way that resembles "healthy." So you should probably take my advice with a grain of salt.
That said:
Places to eat: I'm a huge fan of the Bay Leaf (4768 SE Division), especially their Hot and Sour Soup, which has magical healing properties. I'm also rather fond of Chaba Thai (5810 NE Sandy), which has a ton of solid tofu and vegetarian options. Also, I'm friends with the couple that runs it, so screw any sort of objectivity, but the DC Vegetarian food cart (http://dcvegetarian.com/menu) has a ton of fantastic vegetarian and vegan choices, a lot of which are based around quote-unquote "meat." (Another good food cart is Wolf and Bear's: http://bit.ly/2WJ5Kk.) I eat a lot of gardenburgers, and my favorite in town is at the Goose Hollow Inn (1927 SW Jefferson)--the veggie patty is nothing special, but they put the thing on a toasted roll and melt the cheese on the bun, not the burger. Somehow this makes it more or less entirely amazing.
Alas, I'm useless when it comes to meat-avoidance strategies (other than knowing that decent garden sausage is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing, which is the only thing that keeps me from breaking my decade-long stint as a vegetarian every time I go out to breakfast). As for getting protein from non-meat and non-lentil sources, I'm still working on that one; lately, I've been trying to eat as much tofu, beans, peanut butter, eggs, and peanuts as I can, which is no small feat when you're as lazy/incompetent of a cook as I am. (I hear good things about these, though, regarding quick, easy, and fairly protein-rich vegetarian meals: http://bit.ly/CFghP.)
Anyway, good luck. As for the gracefully deflecting inquiries, you're (presumably) in like the one city in America where you don't need to worry about vegetarianism being a big deal--so many people are vegetarians in Portland that it's easy to find something vegetarian at just about any restaurant. Whenever I go back to Utah, where I was born, telling people I don't eat meat is like telling them that I no longer require oxygen or water; blank and bewildered stares are the only response I get. I eat a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches and french fries there.
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I strongly recommend avoiding fake meat products, especially if you like meat now. They don't taste as good as meat and they'll just make you miss it more. Fake meat is the gateway back to real meat. I know this from experience. After a while you really won't miss it.
I find that tofu is the only non-meat substitute that doesn't make me miss meat.
I gave up meat largely because of the planetary impact - the carbon footprint of a steak is staggering... However, tofu is really not that far behind in terms of poor farming practices and the amount of oil it takes to ship to your local grocery. So that may be something you want to consider too. If you can find good local tofu, let me know.
Cook at home a lot. At first I had a hard time coming up with ideas for cooking at home. Then I signed up for one of those farm delivery services where yuo get a box of produce every week. That seriously forces you to get creative and eat your vegetables. I've expanded my recipe box sooooo much and I eat so well I never miss meat.
Become good friends with nuts and veggies with protein like quinoa, broccoli, asparagus, etc.
Good luck!
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I know it's not always popular, but tofu can be great. Try marinating it in something you like (curry sauce mayhap?). Then fry that shit! Olive oil is especially delicious and healthy for this. Canola or veggie oil works well, too. This improves the taste and texture 800%.
I ate a lot of cheese while vegetarian, too. ...and beans. Vegetarian burritos are great!
Red beans and rice is satisfying (and cheap!) too, and especially easy to prepare if you have a crock pot.
Split pea soup (without the pork) is another veggie favorite of mine. ...and you can easily add curry powder and simmer for longer to reduce it to a thicker, dahl-like state and eat it with rice or naan.
Also, put Tony Chachere's on everything, and it'll taste like spicy meat.
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It must be going around because I too have decided to become a vegetarian. Something I read in Mother Jones about Americans only spending 10% of their incomes on food (and crap food, at that)- less than anywhere else in the world, and consuming the most meat really drove it home.
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I guess that means no more eating your own scabs.
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I've had a couple multiple year stints as a vegetarian, and more recently, as someone who will only eat meat that was raised and killed in the most humane way possible.
Assuming you're going veg because you care about animals too much to eat them (is there any other reason? no. it's not healthier.), here's what works for me: Whenever I want to stop eating meat, I do a google search for "factory farm videos". Watch a couple of those PETA infiltrates a farm to see how the animals are treated videos, and you'll be all set. Whenever you crave a burger, watch one. Whenever you crave bacon, watch one. The pig ones always get me.
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As a former meat lover and a former heavyweight the best advice I can give is give it time. Find a few things to eat that are just good enough to get by on. Eat these things for every meal, then as you tastes begin to change branch out.
If you are craving food from your past life don't cave until you stop by Food Fight on SE Stark and 12th. They have a ton of good "fake foods" to satisfy your cravings.
Good luck and welcome back.
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Roast veggies:
Preheat oven 350.
Cut all veggies into finger-size pieces. Use whatever you like: sweet potatoes, potatoes, squash, zucchini, beets, carrots.
Brush with a mixture of oil and an interesting sauce. I've tried soy sauce and the asian dipping sauce from TJs.
Do the long cookers for 20 minutes, turn over and add the fast cookers (carrots, zucchini). Sprinkle with fennel and rosemary. Cook for another 20-25 minutes.
Try different variations, do half the pan with the spices in case you don't like how they taste.
I thought I would hate the fennel/rosemary combo but it is one of my better veggie presentations.
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If you ate an all-potato diet you'd never poop again.
Just something to consider.
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There are so many reasons to go vegetarian. Of course concern for animal welfare is an important one. Contrary to other commenters misinformed opinions, health is definitely another, but there are also major negative environmental impacts that result from large scale animal farming for meat production, that should seriously concern EVERYONE.
The important thing to remember is to vary your diet if you just eat junk food, vegetarian or not, it's still junk food. Try to get good protein, beans and rice (whole rice not that white crap) as well as other whole grains (quinoa taste great and has an a high protien content) are a good place to start, but there are many other good sources of protein: tofu, tempeh, seitan, and many meat substitutes.
You said you don't like vegetables, do they taste bitter? Some people's have extreme sensitivity to bitterness, Try blanching your vegetables before cooking, it helps to stop the bitter flavors from developing. Do some research online, there's a lot of info out there on cooking techniques.
If you're more into eating out, Portland has a ton of great options, I've found this really helpful
http://www.portlandmercury.com/gyrobase/LocationSearch?diningFeature=452413&locationCategory=9365440 0
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In regards to Annie's post about tofu:
Bui's natural tofu on Glisan sells their own plain tofu and all kinds of amazing fried tofu for really cheap. Definitely recommend the place.
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I've been a vegetarian for 15 years, but I don't think it's for everyone. If you need "meat avoidance strategies" then it's probably not for you. I mean, pizza shouldn't really be your mainstay no matter your diet. But since other people are being helpful, I'll give a few tasty suggestions:
potatoes -- baked, diced & fried
squash -- it is fall, you know -- baked acorn squash with butter and brown sugar!
roasted root vegetables, as suggested below -- carrots, parsnips, etc
stir fry -- invest in a good wok and fry the shit outta some broccoli and tofu with soy sauce
grilled asparagus -- marinate in cheap italian dressing
eggplant parmigiana -- another easy, cheap, delicious, cheesy meal
egg scrambles with onion, mushrooms, tofu or soyrizo (new seasons/trader joes)
steamed snap peas and/or broccoli with tofu and peanut sauce
broiled brussel sprouts -- with olive oil and salt; sooo good
curry -- coconut milk + curry paste + chick peas, carrots, whatever, go crazy
spinach salads with cranberries and walnuts
good bread (dave's killer bread or kalamata loaf from new seasons) with cheese
green bean casserole -- look up the recipe if you don't know it alreadyI could go on and on. I guess it comes down to if you really want to go veggie and (more importantly) if you are willing to take an active role in what you eat by preparing more of your own meals.
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Can we help someone who doesn't like vegetables be vegetarian? No, but I will take the phone number of the girl you're trying to date. Tell her I make an amazing black bean and sweet potato chili (it's vegan!).
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check out NW VEg. they have classes, even mentors who will take you on and help you personally make it wotk for you
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No. Humans are omnivores, and we've evolved to eat meat as well as veggies/grains/whatever. If you love meat, seriously, eat meat! If it's your health you're worried about, there are TONS of healthy ways to eat meat. If it's the not-harming-life thing, then you had better start getting ready to give up everything else you love, like walking and breathing. Because you are killing billions of bacterium every day just by doing those.
Sorry. I know this won't be popular and I have glossed over tons of arguments for either side.
Since you asked: no, I can't help. I don't see why living a lifestyle you don't enjoy is of benefit to anyone. Whatever issues you want to support CAN be supported even while eating meat.
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