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opening minds to not eating meat
I'm not a full-on vegetarian, but I try not to eat a whole lot of meat. Frankly I just don't think it's healthy, and I don't like depending on it. The problem is that everyone around me... my family, my boyfriend, etc. is of the opinion that unless you're poor or sick, you must consume meat at every meal or it's just not a meal. When I offer to cook black bean casserole or vegi pizzas, they're just like, "that's great... and what else?"
How do I get them out of this mindset that vegetables aren't "real food"?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Cooking?
Although I am not vegetarian, I know where you are coming from. Meat isn't that healthy. I try to avoid too much red meat, as it is the worst. I musy say, however, that cooking meat is fun. Black bean casserole rocks! *cough* Anyway, Talk to them. Tell them that you are serious about being vegetarian. If nothing else, let them eat meat. At least you aren't forcing your beliefs on them. Good for you. If they don't think a meal without meat is complete, let them think that. You can still be a vegetarian. If, however, they are ruse about what you've prepared when you serve them food, you deserve an apology. I reccomend you demand it.
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And why do they have to know the meat isn't there? I always find it cool when I can get more veggies on the plate and feel satisfied. You probably won't change their minds, but hey if you are going to cook a meal for me, I would be thrilled.
Dana
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Eggplant or stringbean stir-fry with bok-choy, shredded carrots, a little Japanese mirin cooking wine, tomatoes and dried chilies!
Sometimes doing something just over-the-top exotic is better than trying to redo the ordinary stuff without meat. Like the tofu-smuggling person was suggesting before, except if they can't recognize half the stuff in there, they may not realize none of it is meat :)
Tomatoes, carrots and chilies in a slower-cooked stir-fry with some other veggies make a nice, hearty sauce as the tomatoes disintegrate and pick up spice from the chilies and sweet-starchy from the carrots.
If you're just cutting back on meat rather than eliminating it, then you don't need to worry so much about supplements and stuff... we're designed to eke out from much less meat than a modern person gets, even when taking it easy.
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Well, just FYI, eating meat is healthy, and the most convenient way to obtain certain essential nutrients in our body. Unless you're careful to vary your diet, and put in lots of nuts and eggs and dairy products and the like, you could run into trouble.
As for convincing others, sorry to say it, but you probably wont. I'm yet to be convinced by anybody that vegetarianism is the way to go, and, though I know plenty of vegetarians, I don't really know too many who've been "converted" through an outside force - they either had to decide for themselves, or they were just brought up that way. But hey, if it's the way you are/want to be, then that's the way it's going to be for you. If you do decide to keep trying however, tread carefully. Forcing anything - vegetarianism included - on someone is always going to piss them off, and the definition of what is and isn't forcing varies from person to person. So watcxh your step :).
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just keep believing it yourself, and if they don't believe it themselves, that's their problem. my family aren't vegetarians, but my parents used to go camping, and one night, they forgot to let the meat thaw out for their casserole. they ended up inventing this new "vegetarian hotpot" ((i'll try find the recipe for you))... it's sooooo yum... and it's so hearty that it fills you up like meals with meat do. lots of vegetarian dishes are ike that, and if you add gravy or something, it almost tastes meaty too. just keep feeding it to them, and if they don't like it, tough bananas. don't change for them!! good luck!!
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You need to provide a transition from meat to not eating meat at all. Cook some tofu in their favorite dishes and see if they notice. Then tell them that they actually aren't eating meat, and that will make them realize that they can have a great tasting meal without consuming meat products.
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i suggest you get a vegetarian or vegan cookbook and fix something up to feed them
people who cook without meat learn to make the most of the vegetables
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