Welcome to Vegetarian Tips

Digesting Beans

To make beans easier to digest and cut down on gassiness, you can add three large stalks of cut up celery added to about 2 cups of beans (navy, brown, pinto, etc.). Also, eating pineapple along side bean dishes, will help control the gas build up.

Dried Fruits

Try dried fruits and vegetables for a change of taste. Great in cereals, baked goods, chutneys, grain dishes and salads, or all by themselves. Stock up on raisins, currants, dried apricots, dates, figs, prunes, dried corn, dried cranberries, sundried tomatoes, and dried mushrooms. They can be eaten as is or re-hydrated in water or broth.

Apples

One of the original health foods is an apple. Due to their versatility, they can easily be incorporated into your diet.The preferred way of eating apples is out of hand, biting into their crisp, juicy flesh. Yet, they're surprisingly versatile in the kitchen. Some simple ways to enjoy them: diced and tossed into salads, sliced and dipped into peanut butter, and baked whole. Lightly cooked apples, diced, are delicious in grain pilafs and add a delightful nuance to savory soups and stews. Sliced, sautéed, and sprinkled with cinnamon, apples make a for an uncommon side dish with dinner. And of course, apples are always welcome in baked goods, lending their wholesome goodness to muffins, pies, cakes, crisps, crumbles, and more.

Vegetarian Meals

One of the best vegetarian tips around is to keep “emergency” vegetarian meals in your kitchen so you can always have a meatless meal on hand. Some great pantry items to keep at bay include:

• Canned beans


• Fast-cooking grains (rice, couscous and bulgur)


• Potatoes (regular and sweet)


• Pastas

Also keep prepared sauces (marinara, barbecue, Thai peanut, honey mustard, and salsa) at hand. Keep bagels, pitas, and veggie burgers in the freezer along with frozen corn and wheat tortillas.

*A quick and easy vegetarian ethnic food dish can easily be made using tortillas, beans, corn, and salsa

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Non-Dairy Buttermilk

Fantastic Vegan Pasta

Looking for an easy vegan recipe? If you have a food processor, this pasta delight is a breeze to make and heaven to eat:

• ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 cup packed parsley
• ¼ cup vegetable broth (made from a vegan soup mix)
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 tablespoon plain bread crumbs
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 16 ounces of angel hair pasta

1. Process the walnuts, oil, parsley, broth, garlic, bread crumbs, and sea salt in the food processor until smooth.
2. Leave pasta in boiling water until al dente (reserve ¼ cup of the liquid when straining the pasta).
3. Put all of the pasta in a large serving bowl and add the mixture from the food processor as well as the reserved liquid.
4. Toss everything together and serve immediately.

Cutting Out the Dairy for Health

Give Soymilk a Second Chance

If you try soymilk for the first time and don´t care for it, give it a second chance and try another brand. Soymilk varies considerably in flavor from one brand to the next. Many leave a beany aftertaste, if you don´t like this, try flavored soymilk. Soymilk grows on you. If you try it for a while, you´ll probably grow to love it.

Also, when choosing soy beverages, be sure to choose fortified versions, especially for children. Look for the calcium and vitamin D levels on the labels to ensure good health.

Non-Dairy Whipped Cream

A great-low fat, non-dairy alternative to whipped cream. 1 pkg firm silken tofu 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla extract In a blender or food processor, puree all ingredients until perfectly smooth. Chill for 1 to 2 hours. Spread over your favorite vegetarian dessert or fruit salad.

Try Eliminating Dairy

Vegans are individuals who do not eat meat or any animal products at all. If you are a vegetarian contemplating becoming a vegan, don't dive in too fast. Make the transitions slowly so your body can adjust accordingly. Want to know a great hint to help you make the adjustment? Start by omitting dairy from your diet completely…ALL DAIRY.

If you are attached to the taste, find tasty dairy substitutes (rice milk, soy milk, etc.) at any grocery store. After spending about a week without dairy you'll probably find that you don't even miss it. After practicing veganism your taste buds will start to change. At this point, you will likely find that using non-dairy substitutes instead of real dairy products will be more than satisfying.

Look Beyond Dairy

Test Before Cooking

Soup Thickener

An alternative to thicken soup is to puree some cooked potato with vegetable broth.  You can also use pureed soft tofu the same way. Blend the soft tofu with a little vegetable broth, then mix it in the soup.

Soups can also be thickened with a velvety mixture of cooked, pureed cauliflower and white beans. Substitute 1 part water and 3/4 part vegetable puree for milk or cream.

Soy and Rice Milk

Check for Freshness

Cooking With Milk Substitutes