NCEP: I need 30 days of vegetarian meals

[2curlydogs]

So I had this idea pop in my head. I said to H "what would you think if we went vegetarian for 30 days?"

"No."

Which pissed me off. The flat out refusal. Plus I was already feeling salty cause he had been deliberately bating me about Asshole Walker earlier. So then it turned into a Thing. But he foolishly said 2 things.

1. His rationale was for not doing it was that you don't get as much protein.
2. He said "If you can find me 30 recipes with as much protein as a normal meal I'd consider it."

Oh, it's like he doesn't even know me.

So! I need 30 meals that have as much protein as, say, a standard serving of chicken breast. My only other caveats are

1. No fruit. 
2. Not a super huge squash fan. Like, once a while is ok, but it's not something I go like "oh, I'm in the mood for that." very often. 

Otherwise, I cant really think of a restriction.

[Pibs]

Disclaimer: I haven't a clue how much protein is in any of these compared to actual meat, but they all tell you

Probably our absolute favorite vegetarian meal: www.skinnytaste.com/2013/06/quinoa-and-spinach-patties.html (we cook the quinoa in broth, add black beans (half a can for half the recipe), and add some steak seasoning)

We also really like these: www.skinnytaste.com/2014/05/skillet-harissa-turkey-meatloaf.html

And these are good too, though we usually go toward the quinoa burgers: www.skinnytaste.com/2012/06/spicy-black-bean-burgers-with-chipotle.html

Derp.  Turkey is not vegetarian.  Sorry!  :-P

[Pibs]

Oh, and also pancakes. I mean, it's not like healthy, but they're vegetarian and most people don't argue with them.

[tacosforlife]

TACOS!

Beans + veggies + cheese + avocados.

Greek yogurt with honey and pistachios for breakfast and snack.

[ESF]

I love this stuff... Just made it today --

smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/01/smashed-chickpea-salad/

I make Mexican style bowls. Trader Joes vegetarian refried beans are great for this. Those, topped with a fried egg, some salsa, and avocado -- delicious. Sometimes I add rice. Or cheese. Or pile this all on a sope or tortilla.

Look around for recipes for peanut noodles. The one I use is from a cookbook but it's pretty simple.

Frittatas and omelets are great.

I love these:

www.101cookbooks.com/archives/baked-sweet-potato-falafel-recipe.html

Also baked sweet potatoes (or regular baked potatoes) topped with fixings

Roast a whole bunch of thinly sliced eggplant, zucchini, etc. Get some roasted peppers from the store. You can stack these on sandwiches with cheese, olive tapenade, yogurt, hummus, etc.

[erbear]

A few favorites:

Sweet potato and black bean enchiladas: www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/sweet-potato-black-bean-enchiladas/

Curry with chickpeas

Bean., kale and egg stew: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bean-kale-and-egg-stew.html

Bean kale burgers with sweet potato wedges: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bean-kale-burgers-with-sweet-potato-wedges-recipe.html

[Pibs]

I forgot this one! We just had it last week and it was yummy: www.skinnytaste.com/2014/10/quinoa-fiesta-enchilada-bake.html

[msmerymac]

Bowls (quinoa and some bean, plus any veggies and sauce you want) are great, especially if you are aiming to be healthy.

One of my stand by meals is spinach and mushrooms, sautéed until soft, then rolled up in tortillas with jack cheese. Put in a pan, top with green enchilada sauce, and bingo: vegetarian enchiladas.

What is his concern with protein, though? Americans get more than enough, and even things like broccoli contain protein. Ask him if he has ever heard of anyone dying from a protein deficiency.

[darnkatz]

Mar 1, 2015 21:04:49 GMT -5 Pibs said:

Oh, and also pancakes. I mean, it's not like healthy, but they're vegetarian and most people don't argue with them.

Make the pancakes with cottage cheese, and you've got a nice punch of protein. Plus, they're fucking delicious. 

Polenta with mushrooms, kale, caramelized onion, and poached egg
Thai veggie burgers with peanut sauce - These have quinoa, chickpeas, egg, and peanut butter, so you get a large amount of protein.
Spicy black bean tacos - I like to add scrambled egg to these sometimes to switch it up and add even more protein.
Veggie chickpea pitas with yogurt dill sauce
Baked vegetable quinoa parmesan - I like adding white beans for extra protein, but the quinoa has a lot itself.
Chipotle bean burritos
Mushroom and lentil pot pies with gouda biscuit topping
Chipotle and tomatillo-sauced black bean enchiladas
Southwestern stuffed sweet potatoes
Southwestern farro salad 
Easy mushroom paprikash



The only reason I am so concerned about protein is because my husband bikes 30 miles a day, so he needs it and gets whiny if I make vegetarian fare that is devoid of it. I'd probably jack him in the face if he was being smart with me about the menu for no good reason.

ETA: These are on our menu for the week. I am making H some chicken on the side for the curry because he likes to have it (and he won't have an egg), and I'm making bacon with the breakfast slab pie because I want it, but it's not necessary. I also always fry eggs in bacon grease that I keep in the fridge because bacon.

Spaghetti pangrattato with crispy eggs (spinach salad on the side)
Breakfast slab pie
Creamed chard and spring onion pasta with white beans
Red kidney bean curry (with fresh naan and poached eggs)

[bimbi284]

I've got a ton of recipes on my Pinterest.

pinterest.com/bimbi284/stuff-i-want-to-eat/

[darkling_glory]

Tell him to snack on hummus, nuts and NUT (but butters optional) butters. Cheese and hardboiled eggs are great snacks too.

People really don't need as much protein as they think.

Try Oh She Glows Naughty and Nice Vegan Enchilada Pasta. It's amazing. Make it easier on yourself and use jarred enchilada sauce. Use dairy cheese instead of vegan.

[keyslover]

No help here. I want to see recipies people offer.

[tacosforlife]

Mar 1, 2015 22:26:04 GMT -5 darkling_glory said:

Tell him to snack on hummus, nuts and but butters.

So gross. 

[jinkies]

I'm really only replying so that I can find this thread later.

But I will contribute that 2 of our standard meatless dinners are homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese, and quiche. French toast would also be good.

[speckledfrog]

Southwest stuffed peppers (I make it with barley instead of rice -also, only cook the peppers for a minute or so to keep them crisp)
ourbestbites.com/2011/01/southwest-stuffed-bell-peppers/

ETA:
Eggs in purgatory (we serve it over hashbrowns)
www.jasonandshawnda.com/foodiebride/archives/2306/

Roasted Red Pepper, Portabella, and Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese
cheesepleasebyjess.blogspot.com/2012/04/roasted-red-pepper-portabella-and.html

[Deleted]

Various Indian foods--especially those with dairy and chickpeas.

[speckledfrog]

Mar 1, 2015 22:50:41 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I'm really only replying so that I can find this thread later.

But I will contribute that 2 of our standard meatless dinners are homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese, and quiche. French toast would also be good.

If you bookmark it you can find it in your bookmarks tab!

[mouse]

Veggie quiche. I make my base with eggs and Greek yogurt (and salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg). I like mushrooms and spinach for my veg, but there's so many options.

Homemade pizza. I was feeling decadent this weekend and made mine with figs and cambozola.

(Bean) chili and sweet potatoes.

[AAM2012]

Mar 1, 2015 23:08:13 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Mar 1, 2015 22:50:41 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I'm really only replying so that I can find this thread later.

But I will contribute that 2 of our standard meatless dinners are homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese, and quiche. French toast would also be good.

If you bookmark it you can find it in your bookmarks tab!

How did I not know this...?!

[meshaliuknits]

I want to second the sweet potato & black bean enchiladas. Alternately, butternut squash & black bean enchiladas. I'm also a fan of a veggie green Thai curry soup. Tofu stir fry is also popular in this house.

Sent from my EVO

[mbcdefg]

Vegetable/tofu stir fry, with rice or noodles

Quiche, omelets, huevos rancheros

Stuffed portobello mushrooms, stuffed peppers, stuffed zucchini

Ginger and carrot soup, tomato soup, beer cheese soup, vegetable and dumpling soup

Loaded baked potatoes, broccoli and cheese potatoes, potato soup

Vegetable tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos

Chili (lentils or beans)

Creamy black beans with cornbread and sour cream/cheese on top

Gnocchi, baked ziti, Mac and cheese, orzo with roast vegetables

Braised spinach and chickpeas with coconut milk:
www.thekitchn.com/recipe-braised-coconut-spinach-chickpeas-with-lemon-recipes-from-the-kitchn-164551

Spiral vegetable tart

Sweet potato gnocchi with sage brown butter:
www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sweet-potato-gnocchi-with-brown-butter-and-sage-233379

[pescalita]

Can I just call BS on 30 recipes? When have you ever gone a 30-day period w/o repeating a meal?

[mrsukyankee]

Some of us who weight lift try to get about .8 grams of protein per lean muscle mass lb so I can see, if he lifts, wanting to make sure he gets enough protein to support what he's doing. It is difficult to get enough protein as a body builder being veggie, but there are a LOT of online resources for this sort of thing - groups on MFP (including the threads on nutrition on the basic forum),

www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vegetarian-bodybuilding.htm
www.bodybuilding.com/fun/12-complete-vegetarian-proteins.html
www.bodybuilding.com/fun/power-plants-ultimate-vegetarian-menu.html

[twohearted]

Spinach pie
Chana masala
Falafel in pita with hummus, tabouli, and fattoush
Blackbean burgers
Veggie pizza
Veggie stir fry (we add tofu) sub quinoa instead of rice for protein.
Vegetarian chili

www.skinnytaste.com/2014/10/quinoa-fiesta-enchilada-bake.html?m=1

www.skinnytaste.com/2013/06/quinoa-and-spinach-patties.html?m=1

www.food.com/recipe/chickpea-curry-garbanzos-25360

www.othersideoffifty.com/2011/03/spinach-mushroom-and-pesto-lasagna.html?m=


www.emilybites.com/2012/08/white-vegetable-lasagna-cupcakes.html


www.bhg.com/recipe/sandwiches/portobello-wrap-with-white-bean-chile-spread/

[msmerymac]

Mar 1, 2015 21:57:55 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

I've got a ton of recipes on my Pinterest.

pinterest.com/bimbi284/stuff-i-want-to-eat/

i seriously signed up for Pinterest just so I could save a lot of these recipes, lol.

[bimbi284]

Mar 2, 2015 8:22:58 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Mar 1, 2015 21:57:55 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

I've got a ton of recipes on my Pinterest.

pinterest.com/bimbi284/stuff-i-want-to-eat/

i seriously signed up for Pinterest just so I could save a lot of these recipes, lol.

Yay!!!

[pbandj]

Easy but I don't follow a recipe - Black beans and rice, lentil soup, minestrone soup, eggplant parmesan, stuffed shells, potato pancakes. I make tacos with black beans and tofu instead of meat.

Some more specific recipes I like:
Quinoa/rice enchilada bake
www.skinnytaste.com/2014/10/quinoa-fiesta-enchilada-bake.html
chickpea salad sandwich
www.thekitchn.com/vegetarian-lunch-chickpea-of-t-114022
Corn and jalapeno pancakes
www.globalgourmet.com/food/foodday/fd0397/fd032697.html#axzz3TEj1Rmyy
Indian Dal
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/winner-aarti-sequeira1/mums-everyday-red-lentils-recipe.html

[Vespasia]

Mushroom Bourguignon
twospoons.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/smitten-with-sks-mushroom-bourguignon/

It's super delicious. Based on the recipe calculator on MFP it has 6g of protein.

[charminglife]

I make this once or twice a month and my carnivore H loves it. I double/triple the curry powder and add frozen cauliflower: www.marthastewart.com/337682/easiest-indian-stew

[2curlydogs]

Thank you everyone! SO helpful! Seriously, he should have known better to throw down what amount to a gauntlet.

Some responses...

Mar 1, 2015 21:30:51 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

What is his concern with protein, though? Americans get more than enough, and even things like broccoli contain protein. Ask him if he has ever heard of anyone dying from a protein deficiency.

He's a man who grew up in your stereotypical Meat & Potatoes household who likes to think he's "evolved" but still believes that protein is only available in meat, apparently. He also trots out the line of "the kids need protein to grow!"

Mar 2, 2015 1:54:33 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Can I just call BS on 30 recipes? When have you ever gone a 30-day period w/o repeating a meal?

We absolutely normally repeat and also factor in leftovers but mockingbird nailed it. If I can show him a menu of 30 meals he has ZERO ground to fall back on.

Mar 1, 2015 23:39:42 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Vegetable/tofu stir fry, with rice or noodles

This is actually one of our favorites and is in heavy rotation. It's so yummy and fast.

Mar 2, 2015 2:45:19 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Some of us who weight lift try to get about .8 grams of protein per lean muscle mass lb so I can see, if he lifts, wanting to make sure he gets enough protein to support what he's doing. It is difficult to get enough protein as a body builder being veggie, but there are a LOT of online resources for this sort of thing - groups on MFP (including the threads on nutrition on the basic forum)

He doesn't lift like some people lift. He plays soccer once a week, runs at the gym, and does some general strength training. But these are helpful!