Jill Smi asked:


Probably one of the most perplexing thoughts a person has when they transition to vegetarianism is keeping their diet filled with a variety of fun, diverse, and nutrient-dense foods. It can sometimes feel like you\’re cutting many options out since you\’re no longer consuming meat, and it may seem you\’re losing even more options if you\’ve also decided to cut dairy and eggs from your diet as well. With a little creativity, planning, and forethought, you might be surprised how much variety you can achieve with your new vegetarian diet – perhaps even more than your meat-eating days!

There are some simple substitutions you can experiment with and use as substitutions in your favorite meat recipes. Tempeh, which is cultured soybeans with a chewy texture; tofu (freezing and then thawing gives tofu a meaty texture; the tofu will turn slightly off white in color); and wheat gluten or seitan (made from wheat and has the texture of meat; available in health food or Oriental stores) are all great items to start with.  Milk and other dairy products can also be easily replaced with vegetarian-friendly items. Try soy milk, soy margarine, and soy yogurts, which can be found in health food or Oriental food stores. You can also make nut milks by blending nuts with water and straining, or rice milks by blending cooked rice with water.

A good way to introduce beans to the diet is to use them instead of meat in favorite dishes, like casseroles and chili. Because of their many health benefits, beans should be eaten often. Some great examples are chickpeas, split peas, haricot, lentils (red, green or brown), and kidney beans.

Many nuts and seeds are available both in and out of the shell, whole, halved, sliced, chopped, raw, or roasted. Cashews, peanuts, walnuts, almonds are some easy-to-find favorites. Sunflower and sesame seeds are excellent choices for spicing up salads and other vegetable dishes.

And don\’t worry that you\’ll have to give up your favorite Mexican, Italian, or other favorite dishes now that you\’re vegetarian. Many of them can still be enjoyed and only require slight variations. Some popular and easily convertible dishes include: pasta with tomato sauce, bean burritos, tacos, tostadas, pizza, baked potatoes, vegetable soups, whole grain bread and muffins, sandwiches, macaroni, stir-fry, all types of salad, veggie burgers with French fries, beans and rice, bagels, breakfast cereals, pancakes, and waffles just to name a few. The freezer sections of most big grocery stores carry an assortment of vegetarian convenience foods such as veggie bacon, burgers, and breakfast sausages. 

So get in the kitchen and let your creativity lead the way! You\’ll probably be pleasantly surprised just how much more variety your diet will have as a result.



Allan

Sharon Hopkins asked:


• It helps in reducing hormone-related cancers like ****** and colon, capability of preventing osteoporosis and also in dealing with effects of menopause.

• Many of Soya bean products like tempeh (fermented soybean cake), miso (fermented Soya bean paste), tofu (a cheese-like substance), Soya drinks and shoyu (soy sauce) have low content of saturated fat and cholesterol, proving to be very useful for your health.

• Soya beans are mainly used for extraction of Soya oil which is used as cooking oil.

• The Soya bean flakes contain as much as 90 per cent protein which is a very popular in cattle feed in western countries.

• Soya has become popular mainly because of the benefits it provides similar to fish, eggs, meat and milk.

• Soya protein and isoflavones lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and also decreases blood clotting, which help in reducing your chances of heart attack and stroke.

• Soya protein and isoflavones also provides antioxidants which improves your blood pressure and boosts healthy blood vessels.

• The presence of protein also increases your body’s ability to retain and absorb calcium in the bones.

• It is very useful for people with diabetic conditions and kidney problems. The soluble fiber modulates the glucose level and any of kidney filtration.

• Soya beans are a great source of iron, vitamin B12 and protein.

• Soya is very useful for problems like red eyes, red face, high blood pressure, constipation and thirst. As Soya is termed as a cool food it becomes very useful for treating problems like hot flushes and vaginal dryness.

• People who have digestive problems (loose stools, irritable bowel or bloating) thyroid disorders, signs of dampness (mucus, tumors, cysts, parasites or yeast sensitivity) should avoid Soya products.

• One of the constituents of Soya products is the Soya milk which does not contain calcium buy soy isoflavones which reduces your chances of osteoporosis. It is a good source of vitamin E and lecithin. It is also rich in magnesium which is very useful for bones, heart and arteries.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.



Sheila

Lil’Mama asked:


I feed my 11mo old son tofu mixed in with fruit and oatmeal almost every morning. I have heard a rumor that soy releases estrogen. Is this true? Are there any other negatives to feeding a baby tofu? I want to make sure my son gets his protein. He does eat chicken and some beef, but doesn’t always want to eat those things. He eats tofu really well.
The tofu is organic (95% of his food is organic)

Beatrice

Jessi asked:


I need any recipes for a diabetic. My main ingredient is going to be tofu.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Juan

Lee Dobbins asked:


Can vegetarians opt for low carbohydrates and still be healthy? The answer is yes and there are a number of low carb vegetarian foods that anyone can include in their diet. Also, opting for a low carbohydrate diet has been proven effective for most people who wish to shed pounds. The best option is of course to go for vegetables and fruits that are low in sugars as well as to go for oils that come from fruits and certain nuts.

Vegetarians also have soy foods as the best group that is low on carbohydrates. Tofu, a top soy food product is highly recommended. Meat substitutes for vegetarians are usually soy-based such as veggie burgers, vegetarian sausages, fake cold cuts and ground beef substitutes. They have been prepared to be like meat in terms of taste and smell so vegetarians can still enjoy their taste without having to really eat actual meat. They can be incorporated in excellent vegetarian foods like in salads and stir-fry. These are excellent low carbohydrate foods for vegetarians since they contain high amounts of proteins. A new soy-based food has been developed that is also low on carbohydrates is called textured vegetable protein. This may come as dry granules or in chunks and is available in any health food store. It contains proteins and fiber with little carbohydrates. It can be prepared to make excellent vegetarian recipes that are low in carbohydrates such as vegetarian chili or to prepare it by simply boiling it and flavoring it with seasonings.

Another low carbohydrate vegetarian food is seitan or wheat gluten. However, unlike tofu and other soy-based food products, it is low in protein and has been reported to cause a number of food reactions.

For lacto-ovo vegetarians, dairy or milk products can also be a good protein source. Dairy is a common source of weight loss delay for many people and can be problematic in other ways for many others such as for those who have allergies in them. Also, it’s very hard to get enough protein from dairy without going over one’s daily carbohydrate limits. Use dairy products as an addition to the main foods, if you use it at all to make them more flavorful and tasteful for example. Eggs are also good protein source that are low in carbohydrates that lacto-ovo vegetarians can go for. Egg yolk is also an excellent source other nutrients so they could also be added to the vegetarian diet.

Vegetarians that wish to eat only low carbohydrate food could also opt for low carbohydrate vegetables as well as nuts and seeds. For fruits, go for those that are low in sugar. Oils that are naturally found in avocados and olives are also highly recommended as additions to a low carbohydrate vegetarian diet. Go slow on refined sugars and remember that in this case of going for low carbohydrates, vegetables are much better than fruits.

As in any diet, read labels always to get the gist on the carbohydrate content of the food that you are consuming. Avoid foods that have too much seasoning in them as seasonings could also add up to the carbohydrate content of your food. The same goes for example, for tofu that comes with flavor already. The flavor could come only from seasonings so it may be best to simply buy the tofu and flavor it yourself. In adding flavor to your food, go for seasoning like cayenne pepper, herbs, garlic, and a variety of cheeses. Theirs is not need to sacrifice flavor for as long as you are aware of what seasonings and flavorings find their way in your food. One can also never go wrong with stir fried vegetables as well as grilled vegetables. You may take these with lo carbohydrate pasta so you get the best of flavor and filling without actually going overboard with the carbohydrate intake.

A precaution however, in any vegetarian diet is deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals. Iron is one example. For vegetarians, an excellent option for iron source is beans and nuts. Deficiency in iron could lead to anemia so there is a special precaution for vegetarian women who are pregnant or if they are already anemic. This may be remedied by taking iron supplements.

Low carbohydrate food for vegetarians can also be a little bit pricey and many of them are also processed foods. These are some of the factors to consider in choosing foods that one wants to include in a low carbohydrate vegetarian diet.



Jon

Monkeybear Vancougle asked:


Or at Panda Express they have tofu and eggplant, does anyone know the recipe for that?
Or just something using simple engrideients at home like maybe some spices found in the cabinet etc…?
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks?

Nicholas

SUBHASH CHAND asked:


Protein is without a doubt, the most important nutrient for packing slabs of lean muscle mass onto your body. You may lift weights until you turn purple or consume all the carbohydrates, fats, and other micro-nutrient in the world, but if you fail to feed your body with adequate amount of protein, you can forget about having a lean muscular physique. High protein consumption is a must for serious mass development and also for repairing muscle tissue damaged after an intense iron blasting workout.

How much protein must one consume daily to build muscle successfully? For proven results, the general rule of thumb should be approximately 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight. So if you weigh 150 pounds you should strive to consume about 150 grams to 225 grams of protein per day. For more details www.build-own-list.com Now how does one consume a large amount of protein on a daily basis? No worries as I’ve compiled a list of 7 high protein foods that can help you build muscle in record time.

1. Whey – Without shadow of a doubt, the king of all protein sources. In terms of quality and biological value, whey protein is definitely way ahead (pun intended) of other protein sources. We’re talking about a top quality, complete protein source which has significantly faster absorption rate compared to other high protein foods, and includes every essential amino acid for increase strength and quicker muscle growth.

2. Eggs – Never forget to add this natural food source to your muscle building diet as they are jam packed with protein, vitamins, and other essential minerals. Eggs are regarded as the standard food for developing an impressive muscular physique and have long been treated as a bodybuilding staple. One whole egg contains approximately 6 grams of high biological value protein. Eggs are also easy to prepare and simply delicious to eat.

3. Fish – Another great high protein food. A can of tuna in water for example, provides about 30 grams of protein and here’s the kicker; it has absolutely zero carbohydrates and fat! If tuna is not your thing (I don’t really fancy it either), you may try other types of fish such as Spanish mackerel, cod, or salmon fillets. Most fish fillets have approximately 22 grams of protein per 3.5 oz serving. Apart from being an excellent source of protein, fish also contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for proper functioning of the body and brain.

4. Chicken or turkey ****** – A list of high protein foods that build muscle is incomplete without this excellent protein source. Chicken ****** is considered among the best sources of protein available because it comprises of mostly lean white chicken meat that contains minimal fat, and loaded with vitamin B6 for optimal heart protection. For more details www.37-list-building-secrets.com Best of all, this portion of the meat is extremely high in protein. How much protein you ask? Well, a staggering 30 grams of protein per 3.5 oz serving! Consuming 7 oz of chicken ****** nets you about 60 grams of protein which is almost half of your daily mass building requirement if you weigh 150 pounds.

5. Red meat – An extremely tasty protein source which has all the trimmings of a great muscle building food. A large 6 oz steak provides about 40 grams of high quality protein. Beef is rich in B-complex vitamins and also loaded with creatine to help you hit the weights aggressively by boosting your cellular energy through the roof.

6. Milk – This beverage serves as a decent muscle building source due to its high protein content including a large array of amino acids for promoting muscle growth. If that’s not enough, this highly nutritious beverage also offers many health benefits by providing a respectable amount of vitamins, mineral, and calcium. Drinking milk is a great way to achieve your daily protein target. Have a 6 oz serving of steak plus 375ml glass of milk which supplies approximately 11 grams of protein. That’s a total of 51 grams of muscle building protein in just one single meal!

7. Tofu – I included tofu among the list of high protein foods that build muscle largely because a lot of vegetarians who are into bodybuilding consume tofu almost exclusively in order to meet their daily protein requirement. I’m not a vegetarian but I do eat some tofu every now and again because they are a good low-calorie protein source, perfect for adding mass and getting lean. Aside from its high protein content, tofu is also cholesterol free and contains calcium, B-vitamins, and isoflavones making it one of the most nutritious high protein foods available. Half a cup of Tofu can supply your body with about 20 grams of protein.



Bill

Alena M asked:


I make tofu jerky often so I go through a lot of tofu. It just came to me that watering my houseplants with this liquid may be beneficial to the plants – it is a nutrient dense substance. Any experience with this? I’d rather not waste it if my plants will like it.

Patrick

santosh kumar asked:


To some people, the phrase “Vegan Cuisine” sounds like an oxymoron. To others, it sounds like the road of a ******** food nutritionist. “Scary,” was the word used by my roommate when I announced I was going to try to become a vegan. What most people don’t realize is that it’s very possible, indeed even probable, for a creative chef to make vegan food just as exciting and full of variety as any other type of cuisine.

What is veganism, first of all? Strictly put, veganism is a diet which contains no animal byproducts. Not only do vegans not eat meat, like vegetarians, but they also do not consume any food created by animals. No milk, no eggs, no dairy of any kind. No pasta derived from eggs. No gelatin. When you stop to think, it is surprising how much of the typical American diet is animal-derived.

All of this, I admit, can sound rather scary to the typical meat and milk lover, and certainly to the typical American who is surrounded by fast-food hamburgers and bologna sandwiches from a young age. But veganism is not as intimidating as it sounds. In fact, when the right choices in recipe and menu are made, it can be extraordinarily flavorful and rewarding.

Think of it this way: Vegan cuisine can’t rely on heavy, flavorful ingredients like meat and dairy to get its flavor and substance. So what do they do instead? They replace those ingredients in a way that makes you never even miss them- with fresh vegetables, heady spices, wonderful texture combinations and delicate wheat-based starches.

One of the most uniquely vegan foods on the market, and the one that tends to scare the layperson the most, is tofu. Tofu is basically a soybean curd with a sponge-like consistency and a bland taste that absorbs whatever flavors are around it. Am I tempting you yet?

Wait. Let’s try this. Imagine a dish of Italian stuffed shells, loaded with tomato sauce and basil, garlic, and oregano. Now imagine that instead of cheese, the shells were stuffed with a mixture of soft tofu, blended with fresh spinach. The tofu absorbs the Italian spices and has a delicate, creamy flavor all its own. Would you notice the absence of the cheese? Sure. Would you miss it? Not likely.

There are many recipes unique to vegan cuisine that is truly surprising in their variety and tastiness. Curry is one of the darlings of vegan cuisine, and is available in all forms and flavors. Other wonderful vegan dishes include several types of stir-fry, swimming in soy sauces and fresh vegetables; salads overflowing with fresh beans and sweet oil dressings, and many spicy and exciting side dishes and appetizers. Many people, for example, love the wonderful garlicky zing of hummus and do not realize that it’s a distinctly vegan food.

Give vegan cuisine a try. Once you stop relying on meat and milk for your flavor and fullness, you might just discover a whole new world out there, where spices are abundant and soybean curd can be delicious.



Arlene

Eugene Armand asked:


Protein is without a doubt, the most important nutrient for packing slabs of lean muscle mass onto your body. You may lift weights until you turn purple or consume all the carbohydrates, fats, and other micro-nutrient in the world, but if you fail to feed your body with adequate amount of protein, you can forget about having a lean muscular physique. High protein consumption is a must for serious mass development and also for repairing muscle tissue damaged after an intense iron blasting workout.

How much protein must one consume daily to build muscle successfully? For proven results, the general rule of thumb should be approximately 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. So if you weigh 150 pounds you should strive to consume about 150 grams to 225 grams of protein per day. Now how does one consume a relatively large amount of protein on a daily basis? No worries as I’ve compiled a list of 7 high protein foods that can help you build muscle in record time.

1. Whey – Without shadow of a doubt, the king of all protein sources. In terms of quality and biological value, whey protein is definitely way ahead (pun intended) of other protein sources. We’re talking about a top quality, complete protein source which has significantly faster absorption rate compared to other high protein foods, and includes every essential amino acid for increase strength and quicker muscle growth.

2. Eggs – Never forget to add this natural food source to your muscle building diet as they are jam packed with protein, vitamins, and other essential minerals. Eggs are regarded as the standard food for developing an impressive muscular physique and have long been treated as a bodybuilding staple. One whole egg contains approximately 6 grams of high biological value protein. Eggs are also easy to prepare and simply delicious to eat.

3. Fish – Another great high protein food. A can of tuna in water for example, provides about 30 grams of protein and here’s the kicker; it has absolutely zero carbohydrates and fat! If tuna is not your thing (I don’t really fancy it either), you may try other types of fish such as Spanish mackerel, cod, or salmon fillets. Most fish fillets have approximately 22 grams of protein per 3.5 oz serving. Apart from being an excellent source of protein, fish also contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for proper functioning of the body and brain.

4. Chicken or turkey ****** – A list of high protein foods that build muscle is incomplete without this excellent protein source. Chicken ****** is considered among the best sources of protein available because it comprises of mostly lean white chicken meat that contains minimal fat and loaded with vitamin B6 for optimal heart protection. Best of all, this portion of the meat is extremely high in protein. How much protein you ask? Well, a staggering 30 grams of protein per 3.5 oz serving! Consuming 7 oz of chicken ****** nets you about 60 grams of protein which is almost half of your daily mass building requirement if you weigh 150 pounds.

5. Red meat – An extremely tasty protein source which has all the trimmings of a great muscle building food. A large 6 oz steak provides about 40 grams of high quality protein. Beef is rich in B-complex vitamins and also loaded with creatine to help you hit the weights aggressively by boosting your cellular energy through the roof.

6. Milk – This beverage serves as a decent muscle building source due to its high protein content including a large array of amino acids for promoting muscle growth. If that’s not enough, this highly nutritious beverage also offers many health benefits by providing a respectable amount of vitamins, mineral, and calcium. Drinking milk is a great way to achieve your daily protein target. Have a 6 oz serving of steak plus 375ml glass of milk which supplies approximately 11 grams of protein. That’s a total of 51 grams of muscle building protein in just one single meal!

7. Tofu – I included tofu among the list of high protein foods that build muscle largely because a lot of vegetarians who are into bodybuilding consume tofu almost exclusively in order to meet their daily protein requirement. I’m not a vegetarian but I do eat some tofu every now and again because they are a good low-calorie protein source, perfect for adding mass and getting lean. Aside from its high protein content, tofu is also cholesterol free and contains calcium, B-vitamins, and isoflavones making it one of the most nutritious high protein foods available. Half a cup of Tofu can supply your body with about 20 grams of protein.



Margaret