HMMMMM....this looks like the kinds of foods that I like----I have the same taste buds...

I would try stir frys.  Take any veggies you like, heat up some canola oil in a pan and begin.  You can add any type of meat like products you want.  Use a little soy sauce or teryiaki sauce to add some flavor.  Just make sure it's low sodium.  Boil up some brown rice and your off.

 

I've been vegan for 3 years and have really expanded the variety of foods I eat.  Try something new every week... a new grain, bean, fruit, veggie, nut, seed, smoothie.  Keep it simple… steam kale, toss in olive oil with pine nuts.  Add minced garlic to any veggie.  Dip carrot sticks in humus.  Experiment with cooking and ordering out.  For instance at first I thought I wouldn’t like things like pizza without cheese or a veggie sub, but was pleasantly surprised.  I heard that if you keep trying something you don't care for you can develop a taste for it.  As a test, I kept trying beets, now I like them.  Learning about the health benefits of certain foods is good motivation, too.  Here's a sampling of websites that have podcasts, recipes and forums that may help.  Good luck!
http://vegweb.com/
http://www.eatair.blogspot.com/
http://www.compassionatecooks.com/
http://veganfreak.net/

You really have so many options.  You are only cutting out meat, which leaves you with dairy and egg products.  Whip up some omlettes or make a quiche.  My best friends is a vegetarian and she makes her kids burritos and fills them with all kinds of beans and veggies.  Very yummy.  As Michelle said, don'e be afraid to try new things.  Obviously, you are adverturesome, you've decided to try and venture the land of vegetarianism.

I meant to also suggest that you look right here at LIME in their food section.  They always have interesting recipes and ideas.  Just type in veggie recipes under search and there you go.

Give it a try!! 

I definitely agree with Michelle G on how you should begin trying something new each week. It will be fun and you will learn to love lots of new food that you've never been into before. A good lunch/dinner that's really easy to start making are wraps or paninis. They are so simple because there are no rules. Try cooking up a veggie burger and slice it up into pieces in a wrap with hummus, lettuce, tomato and sprouts. Or you could do a salad wrap with your favorite salad ingredients and some hummus or favorite salad dressing. Maybe throw in some roasted red peppers or mozzarella cheese. Paninis are a great meal and you can be just as creative with what you like/want in them. Try portabella mushrooms with roasted red peppers, mozzarella and balsamic. So good! I hope this helps-have fun with it! =)

Wraps are a great!  ... and easy... you can use tortillas, pocket pita bread, or even a large lettuce or collard green leaf.  Stuff with anything... brown rice (boil in bag is quick), kidney beans, black beans, humus, spinach, guacamole, sliced vegs, sprouts, sliced almonds.  Raw, grill or roast vegs in oven for a different flavor.  Ex: roast asparagus, cauliflour, carrots, portabellos, red pepper on cookie sheet with a little oil and seasoning.  Also, corn torillas fried lightly and stuffed with sliced avacado, onion, tomato, cilantro and salsa -- yum!

Easy smoothie: keep bags of frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and throw older bananas in ziploc in freezer.  Blend them with soy or rice milk, pineapple and/or juice if you have it.  You can freeze the smoothie for later, just thaw for approx hour and stir.  Thaw less for a sorbet treat.

I have so much fun testing out recipes, and I'm partially vegetarian. 

 As a working student I hardly have time to cook that often but I've been getting really into cooking lentils, i find it great that they are easy to make and very affordable, I didnt like the idea at the beginning but they're very nutritious and tastey. Really. :)

So heres the quick recipe; peel potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch dice. in a 5-5 quart heavy kettle cook potatoes, carrots, celery, garlic and onion over moderate heat. the recipe calls for butter, but i add a little water and a tiny spray of non-stick cooking spray and cook the veggies like that to reduce fat and calories. stir frequently until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. add lentils, brother or water (there is no huge difference in what is used), and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender and soup is thickened. makes about 12 cups. i make a double recipe and then pour four cup servings into ziploc bags and freeze them. then we just defrost a bag when we need it....it works well with this soup. I've calculated it, and 1 cup of soup has about 175 calories and less than one gram of fat, and more than 10 grams of protein....which is great for veggie diets.

Plus Lime does have some good recipes, and some with videos, even, and that reallly makes it easier.  You can find them in the food section or in the video section, I've actually tried a few. Good luck!

Going without meat is actually easier than it might seem.  Everyone has had some really great ideas.  I'm not a vegetarian, but I definintely am going to take in all these suggestions.

Paninis are wonderful.  Had them in Italy and they are yummy!!! Pesto, cheese, roasted peppers, what's not to like.  They even have panini makers that make it real easy.  No effort at all. 

Especially since you like pasta. Use your favorite marinara or pasta sauce and add in some mixed vegetables. Heat up in the microwave. Seems like you're still eating spaghetti without having the meat or pasta. I have this all the time now and I'm surprised at how good veggies and tomato sauce are. You can add parmesean cheese or your own spices as well. This has been the only way I can eat carrots. I really don't like carrots, but they taste a lot better in this get-up.

 

I keep a Tupperware container of sauce and a Tupperware container of mixed vegetables in the fridge and that way I can throw the two together in the microwave any time I want.

yogamomma has the right idea with regards to having your veggies on hand.  Preparing in advance and keeping them handy in the frig is the answer.  I do that with my salad, so all I have to do is dig into a baggie and help myself.  I also try and reuse my baggies to help cut down on using plastics.

Once you get into the swing of it, veggies are wonderful. 

so its been two and a half weeks and it has indeed been fairly easy... ok so i'm a bit of a cheater and have gone out a few times and the foods i ate weren't "vegetarian" i wasn't eating meat so i figured that's good enough :)    mainly i'm just doing this bc i have no desire to eat meat for a while... the thought of it kinda makes me wanna vomit... so i could care less if i am being a true "vegetarian" :)  but thanks for the suggestions guys...

Listen to your body.  Maybe it's craving different types of food right now.  The most important thing is to try and eat healthy and forget the labels.  Who cares if you are a vegetarian, flexatarian or carnivore.  Labels separate us, ditch them.

How's it going with the veggies?  Now is a great time to experiment with all the local produce out.

 

I love good pasta! I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law and she steamed broccoli and cauliflower and add it to the marinara sauce. Try mixing veggies together and using spices. I grill and roast a lot of mine. If you eat eggs try poaching cauliflower and adding it to your scrambled eggs.  

 

You can actually put the veggies in the pasta water and boil them together.  Just wait  until the last 4 or 5 minutes to do so.  Great time saver.  A little olive oil, crushed red pepper and some veggies with pasta, yum-o as rachel ray says!

i'm eating meat again... but i'm definitely glad i dabbled in this... it helped me alot with getting more variety of veggies in my diet... i really avoided them quite a bit before

What made you decide to eat meat again?  As Clementine said, at least now you know a bit more about veggies and how to use them.  I personally don't feel there is anything wrong with eating meat and I know that you can be healthy and happy doing both.

Did you also think about drinking some of your veggies. Most smoothie bars around our area will add a fresh veggie juice to your normal fruit drink and you (most times) cannot tell they are there.

R.A. Morrow

www.getyourwhy.com

vemma@getyourwhy.com

"health is a choice we need to make daily"