Healthy Vegetarian Cooking

I'm a vegetarian striving to eat delicious food and have a healthy lifestyle! Here is what I eat on a daily basis. :) All pictures I post are of meals I've made myself, so feel free to ask me for more details about any of the recipes, or any nutrition questions you might have!

[allnaturalchick]

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Quesadillas

Ingredients: -olive oil -2 garlic cloves, diced or pressed -6 oz marinated artichoke hearts, diced -3 cups baby spinach -4 oz vegan cream cheese (I used Trader Joes brand) -2 tbsp vegan mayo -salt, pepper, red pepper flakes -2 large tortillas

Directions: -Sauté the olive oil and garlic for about a minute while stirring. Add the artichoke hearts and 2 cups of baby spinach. Cook until the spinach begins to wilt. -Add the cream cheese, mayo, and seasonings and stir. Once heated through, turn the heat off. -Heat a pan on medium high and put one tortilla in the pan. Put half of the mixture and a small handful of baby spinach on one half of the tortilla, then fold the tortilla in half. Repeat with a second tortilla. -Flip the tortilla after the first side begins to brown. 

Thank you http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/spinach-artichoke-quesadillas-2/ for the recipe!

[allnaturalchick]

I’ve very recently turned vegetarian but I’ve learnt that the best source of protein is in food that I don’t really like, such as beans and wholegrain foods, is there anything else you’d recommend?

Theres also nuts and nut butter (peanut butter), and soy products like fake meat (gardein chicken) that seriously tastes a lot like chicken nuggets if you liked those. You can always supplement your diet with protein bars (Cliff Builder bars are my favorite taste wise, kind of high in sugar but whatever) or protein shakes (Plant Fusion chocolate protein powder with banana, water, ice and PB is my fave).  Additionally I bet you could sneak beans and whole grain foods into your diet in a way that you like! For example, tacos/burritos, hummus, whole wheat spaghetti (maybe with veggie meat balls).Hopefully you like some of the options I’ve listed :)

[allnaturalchick]

Vegan version of Friendly’s “Honey BBQ Chicken Supermelt”

Ingredients: -2 slices of toasted bread -vegan cheese (I used Trader Joes shreds) -vegan chicken fingers (I used Trader Joes brand here too) -BBQ sauce -1/2 of a package of extra firm tofu -1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast -1/2 tbsp water -1 tbsp maple syrup -1 tbsp soy sauce -1/2 tsp onion powder -1/4 tsp garlic powder -dash of liquid smoke  -vegan ranch dressing Directions -Make the bacon marinade by mixing the nutritional yeast, water, syrup, soy sauce, onion/garlic powder, and liquid smoke.  -Thinly slice the tofu into strips and marinate (honestly I marinated them for 5 minutes because I was impatient haha). -Heat cooking oil in a pan on high and cook the tofu on both sides until it is a little crispy. -Either microwave chicken fingers or cook on them on the stove following the directions on the bag. -Layer on one side of pre-toasted bread: chicken fingers, BBQ sauce, vegan cheese. Melt the cheese in a toaster oven or regular oven.  -After the cheese is melted, stack on the tofu bacon. Add ranch dressing to the other piece of toast and enjoy!

[allnaturalchick]

I’m so sorry I haven’t posted in FOREVER!! I’ve been making some fun vegan meals though so I’m going to try to get back in the habit. This recipe was ridiculoussssss so enjoy :D Shout to my friend who inspired me with this recipe!

Vegan Armadillo Bread Ingredients: 3 cups Daiya mozz shreds 1/4 cup vegan mayo 1/4 cup vegan cream cheese 1/2 cup melted Earth Balance butter 4 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1 loaf sourdough bread Directions: -Preheat the oven to 400F. -Cut the bread in a crosshatch pattern. Make sure not to cut through the bottom. -Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl. Use your hands to fill the bread cuts in with the mixture. -Put the stuffed loaf in tin foil in the oven for 20 minutes. Then, uncover it and bake for 5 more minutes.

[allnaturalchick]

So I've been a vegetarian for about 6 months then I quit due to a stressful situation that forced me to eat meat... 😭 Anyways I want to get back into it, and COMMIT. but my mom has gotten tired of my "out of the blue" diet requests. Like, I felt very happy during my vegetarian lifestyle. I'm wondering how I can sneak being a vegetarian, without my mom thinking its just a random diet. SHE ISN'T CRAZY ABOUT WHAT I EAT, so I believe I can do so. I'm just wondering what my first step should be?

Maybe have a talk with your mom about how your end goal is to be vegetarian. It is hard and you haven’t been perfect, which is why maybe it seems like random diet flip flops, but being vegetarian is what makes you happy. Also maybe to offer help with looking up veggie recipes or help cooking! Then she knows your willing to put some effort in and the burden doesn’t completely fall on her. Good luck!!

[allnaturalchick]

Hey, I've recently decided to go vegetarian and would like some advice on what vegetables have more protein.

Hey! Vegetables probably won’t be your main source of protein as a vegetarian. Whole grains, nuts, beans, and soy will have way more protein than your veggies!  Although feel free to google around to pick some of the higher protein veggies anyway. :) Let me know if you have more questions!!

[allnaturalchick]

How do you deal with parents that won't respect your choice of being veg? Like mine will always only tell me meat options and keep telling me I can be vegetarian and do sport cus I need "MEAT" protein and blah blah im just so frustrated. any tips?

That sucks :/ My mom is a vegetarian so I never had to deal with that problem growing up, but I obviously still have plenty of people who tell me those types of things.  If you want you could try to convince them that vegan protein can be enough by showing them examples of vegan body builders and looking up studies on how plant and animal proteins are both just amino acids and how you can get a complete set of amino acids if you eat the right combo of plant proteins.  If they are not receptive to that, I would just recommend waiting it out.  Even if you try to reduce your meat consumption now that is still awesome.  When you move out eventually you can become a full veggie then. :)

[allnaturalchick]

For the anon who asked about anemia and vegetarianism - I was genetically anemic even before I went vegetarian. I added daily iron supplements to my diet and then just made sure to include iron rich foods like spinach and stuff. It's definitely doable!

awesome!!

[allnaturalchick]

hi im a vegetarian i have been looking for veggie patties all over the place but cant find any do you know of any good veggie pattie recipes?

To be honest I always just buy frozen veggie patties >.< haha sorry!

[allnaturalchick]

I'm anemic as an omnivore already, how could I try to be a full vegetarian without worsening my condition?

You should definitely talk to a doctor about this!!

[allnaturalchick]

So I started being veggie 2 months ago and Ive come to the problem that a lot of products are REALLY expensive at least here in spain, such as seitan, tofu etc. Whats the secret to not get bored of eating the same if you can't really afford to buy those special products to make your dish a bit different?? Sometimes i miss meat, i can't really replace its taste at times even tho i cook some nice rice, veggie and legume dishes. Xx

Spices aren’t that expensive and can be fun to play with :) they can really change the type of meal you’re having! same with simple vegan sauce recipesHere’s one example where I used an asian spicy sauce: http://allnaturalchick.tumblr.com/day/2014/06/20/ . Another really yummy and vegan snack that I eat is hummus.. comes in all different flavors! I’ll also use it as a cheese replacement sometimes. As for replacing the actual taste of meat, that might be kind of hard without buying the kind of expensive vegan meat products (gardein is a brand i like - not sure about in spain though).  Maybe you could buy those once a month as a special treat and that’ll satisfy your cravings! 

[allnaturalchick]

Hello! I'm not exactly vegetarian, but I was raised with the belief that if I can't prepare meat myself I have no business eating it, and growing a lot of veggies, I love eating them both raw and cooked! My lunches I bring to school are mostly soybeans, snap peas, green beans and whenever I'm seen snacking I'm labeled vegetarian and mocked, when I say no I just appreciate veggies, I'm ridiculed as a heartless carnivore? Should I just say I'm a vegetarian whom has a cheat day once a week?

Don’t care what other people think!! Do what feels right to you. Explain that you just like eating veggies, so what?! Ignore the haters and be yourself ;)

[allnaturalchick]

Hey! I've been vegetarian since May but I think it's the reason I'm always sick and tired so I started taking vitamins and such to help but they make sick a lot so I'm not sure what to do. I feel like I should stop being vegi but I don't know if I'd be okay with the guilt :/

I would definitely recommend going and talking to a doctor if eating vegetarian makes you sick!! They might recommend a nutritionist for you too. Feel better!

[allnaturalchick]

I want to be a vegetarian, but my sister was one for about 3 years before she quit and said that it was just a phase. Now I'm worried that my parents won't take it seriously at all and she'll just say that I'm "copying" her. Thoughts?

I’m sorry youre in this position! I would recommend being open and honest with your parents, express your concerns with them and tell them why it is important to you.  Good luck :)

[allnaturalchick]

I'm looking for meatless breakfast recipes that are easy to do and won't take too long to cook. Do you have some ideas?

I’m obsessed recently with overnight oats!! you just put some oatmeal and some vegan milk in a jar with whatever you want (peanut butter, cinnamon, chia seeds, blueberries....), leave them in the fridge overnight, and when you wake up you have a yummy quick breakfast ready to go :D

[allnaturalchick]

Hello! I'm just starting my lifestyle of becoming vegetarian and was wondering how many calories should I consume to be full. Thank you!💕

Hello! I’ve been down the road of counting calories and its obsessive and not fun. I would just eat until you are full and try to listen to your body. :) If you are eating healthy foods and listening to when you are full you should be okay!!

[allnaturalchick]

Hi :) I just wanted to ask you if there is any possibility that I have become more prone to injuries since I am vegetarian? I haven't been eating meat for a month now, and I have injured my knee, a muscle and got some kind of a rash on my beard area.

Probably a great question for your doctor! Maybe you are missing a certain nutrient after you’ve made the switch (Iron is a common one), or maybe you aren’t making sure you’re getting enough of each macronutrient (carb, protein, healthy fat).  OR maybe its a coincidence, because it has only been month so it totally could be. Good luck :)