Maria asks…
Food for a newly vegetarian teenage athlete… who can’t cook?
WARNING: The info below may contain elements that sound like complaining, but i promise it’s not. It’s moreso a feeble attempt at humor and it’s all true.
I’ve tried to go vegetarian before, but i quit b/c i didn’t know what to eat. This time i’ve done my research, and though i’ve only been a vegetarian for a little over a week i’ve discovered and tried some recipes for vegetarian meals that i actually like using morningstar farms products. (thanks to some of my more experienced vegetarian friends).
I love animals, but that’s not the reason i decided to go vegetarian. It’s moreso because im getting tired of every food being declared dangerous. Elevated levels of mercury in salmon, eat beef (which i wasn’t particularly fond of anyway) and get mad cow etc. Being vegetarian seems healthier and i’ve always wanted to grow my own food!
My problems are:
1) Lunch- my school has no vegetarian and definitely no vegan friendly FOOD. No lie and no exaggeration, if you go into the sub line and ask for a vegetarian sub, you get this huge sub roll with lettuce, and cheese. Or you can have a salad made of lettuce, pickles and more lettuce. They have cheese pizza but run out of every day leaving me to get my pickle salad. -_-. This wouldn’t be as bad if they at least let us use a microwave, but they won’t. So instead of simply heating up some of my leftover stir fry from last night, i sit down every day to home made gormet pb&j or pickle salad… I’ve been considering offering to donate a microwave to the school, but i doubt they’ll allow it. What are some easy non-needing-to-be-heated things i could bring for lunch?
2) I run track. I would just not eat lunch and wait until i get home, but we have practice everyday so i need to eat. Last time, i made a salad from home (which didn’t include pickles thank God), but my metabolism is really fast and I made the bad mistake of bringing nothing else. I figured salad with “chik’n strips” would be enough. Well, by the time we were like 10 minutes into our 30 minute WARM UP- meaning we hadn’t even gotten to the workout, i was burned out. Are there any nutrients should i be focusing on getting so that i’m not ready to pass out by the time i get to practice?
3) As i’ve stated, i am a teenager so i’ve never really had to spend money on food before, but now that i am im realizing why i’m always hearing complaints about food prices. It’s expensive! Like i said i’d like to start a garden but it’s freezing out right now. What foods would you suggest buying that are nutritious and not super expensive? Should i buy more raw foods and produce and just mix them wit rice and pasta to “stretch” them or stick with frozen stuff?
Wow Chris C, ur post was rly helpful. And my mom just told me she’d rather me not be a vegetarian until i go to my doctor just to make sure i’m getting the right nutrients. I’ve been thinking about being a pescatarian b/c sometimes i feel like i kind of entered this whole vegetarian thing way too quickly. You’ve helped my decision a lot. I think i’ll be a pescatarian at least until i visit the doctor and see where it goes from there!
GardenersCardiff answers:
I’m a fellow teenager who is starting the switch to pescetarianism (almost like vegetarianism, except I’ll still eat fish and seafood). Plenty of my friends are vegetarians or pescetarians, and a lot of us like to run. I’ve found that a hummus sandwich with some veggies on it (pea pods, carrots, and tomatoes are tasty) gives me a fair amount of energy but since, like you, I’m not a lifelong vegetarian it still feels like there is something missing. Snack-able carbs like pretzels and crackers fill up that leftover hole. I am a big fan of Wheat Thins since the slightly nutty wheat taste makes them seem more filling.
Some of my friends also have leftover vegetarian dinners for lunch. Grill or stir fry tofu and vegetables and put them in a wrap or something similar the next morning. Depending on what flavoring you use while cooking, this should taste good even cold.
I don’t know if this exists, but I assume there is some sort of tofu based “deli meat” that could replace the turkey, bologna, or roast beef sandwich of past lunches.
Also, I’m not a big PB & J girl myself, but if you want to spice that up, some of my friends bring granola bars to lunch (Nature’s Valley Oats ‘n’ Honey if the kind we have) and break them up into the sandwich so it has more substance.
As for salads, try adding nuts or seeds to the top, or something like croutons. I’m not a big fan of raw tofu, but if you like it then that would also be a good thing to add to the salad to make it more filling. Cheese or salad dressing can do wonders, too; sometimes if I think I should be full after a meal, I feel more full even if I didn’t eat that much more. I also like to add fruit (e.g. Mandarin oranges, Craisins, and apples chunks) to green salads to mix it up a bit. For a track participant, adding bananas would be smart, but you probably already know that.
If you like cold pizza, you could always bring some of that from home too.
If the thermos idea is a possibility, try bring ravioli/tortellini or something like that from home. That would be nice and filling. The tofu and veggie stir fry is also tasty. Also, vegetarian sweet potato and bean chili is very filling, as is this harvest bean pasta salad that is great hot or cold. Let me know if you want the recipes and I’ll dig them up.
Hope this helped! Let me know if you think of anything, since I’m trying to make the switch as well.
***ALSO I just saw “Ciara E” give this answer to another vegetarian-related question: ‘Quorn is really good and taste quite a lot like meat. You can also get really strong tasting mushrooms that are almost the same sort of flavour as meat.’ I googled Quorn b/c I had never heard of it…. Http://www.quorn.us//cmpage.aspx?section=WhatIsQuorn .”
Michael asks…
Could I get some opinions on this part from my novel?
It’s probably not the best and needs editing.. so I’d like opinions and suggestions. which will also be helpful because I might think it sounds right but to others it may not make any sense. thank you 🙂
It’s the start of the first chapter
Elle Moonscar slipped round the corner of the large manor when she saw a shadow approaching. She was at the right side of the building where green plants were climbing up it’s walls. Howling wind rudely blew her brown hair about but did not bother her much because she had to concentrate. With her back against the stone wall she carefully looked around the corner. A guard wearing the white rose of Westerfort on a black shirt walked past slowly, tapping his spear on the ground as if it were a walking stick. Elle watched him pass and disappear from sight. She flipped the black hood of her cloak on and made way down the side of the wall, clutching her bow. Stopping again she studied her surroundings and got to the back garden. Bushes with pink and red flowers and soft green grass filed the garden. Elle moved as silent as a shadow to an open window. A smile struck her face when she saw the easy entrance but it vanished shortly. Steadily she put her hands on the window sill and pushed up. Lifting herself into the window without a sound. Climbing through the hole she slide down into a dark hallway. A long rug covered the floor She paced lightly to a door and opened it cautiously. A wonderful sight the contents of that room was to Elle’s eyes. The full moon shone down on gold goblets and plates fitted with fine jewels that sat on a shelf. Under it was a wooden chest. Elle soon clicked out of her dazzled gaze. She grabbed a goblet and turned it in her hands, inspecting its worth. It was incrusted with rubies. She shoved it in her leather bag that was around her shoulders. At a hurried pace she took more treasures from the shelf and put them in her bag. As soon as she was done with the shelf she knelt down to the chest. She drew out a small case and took out a few small metal sticks. While picking the lock carefully she paused to whip the sweat from her forehead then continued. The lock opened and a quiet clink filled the silent room. The chest was filled with shinny silver and gold jewels and coins. So shinny it could draw even the most honest man in. Elle picked up a silver necklace from the chest slowly and with the other hand she cradled the pendant. It was a large blue diamond that sparkled in Elle’s hazel eyes. She put it around her neck and under her brown top. She filled the bag up until it could fit no more. But from down the hall way footsteps and voices drew closer.
“Lord Merad” A guard said to a tall man with black hair “I heard sounds in that room” pointing to the room which Elle was in.
Merad and the guard rushed into the room and saw the end of Elle’s black cloak vanish out the window. They saw the missing valuables and the opened chest.
Merad’s face grew red “Guards stop that thief!”.
A guards ran from there posts down to Lord Merad “Which way did they go my Lord?”.
Merad pointed madly “Towards the trees, over there, over there!”.
The guards ran after the dark silo-wet of Elle that ran into the nearby forest.
They yelled at her “Stop right there” through the trees they ran and branches hit them. But she was too fast for them and her escape was easy though she had extra weight to carry. She looked back and knew she had lost them. It was then she got out of the forest and onto the streets. Running as fast as she could a grin filled her face. She ran up the stone path to her small wooden house. It was on a slight hill and a short wooden fence surrounded it. Elle rushed to her bedroom once she was through the door. She collapsed on her bed and took a deep satisfying breath.
GardenersCardiff answers:
The changes I’ve made are either capitalized or have this note sign: *()*.
Elle Moonscar slipped AROUND the corner of the large manor when she saw AN APPROACHING SHADOW. She was at the right side of the building where THE IVY WAS SNAKING *(descriptive, and “snake” will add to the mysterious feeling so far)* up THE walls. THE howling wind rudely blew her brown hair about but DID LITTLE TO WAVER HER CONCENTRATION. With her back against the stone wall, *(note the comma)* she carefully looked around the corner. A guard wearing the white rose of Westerfort on a black shirt walked past slowly, tapping his spear on the ground as if it were a walking stick. Elle watched him pass and disappear from sight. She PULLED the black hood of her cloak DOWN LOWER ACROSS HER FACE *(more focus on her caution)* and made HER way down the side of the wall, clutching her bow TIGHTLY *(make the situation more serious)*. Stopping again, *(comma)* she studied her surroundings and ARRIVED AT *(got shouldn’t be used when there’s an alternative)* the back garden. Bushes with pink and red flowers and soft green grass filed *(I’m not sure whether you mean filled instead of filed?)* the garden. Elle moved as silent as a shadow to an open window. A smile struck her face when she saw the easy entrance but *(no ‘it’)* vanished shortly. She put her hands on the window sill STEADILY *(as opposed to being at the start)* and pushed up. Lifting herself into the window without a sound, SHE CLIMBED through the hole AND SLID *(I think you meant slid instead of slide)* down into a dark hallway, WHERE A long rug covered the floor. She paced lightly to a door and opened it WITH CAUTION. THE CONTENTS OF THE ROOM WAS A WONDERFUL SIGHT TO ELLE’S EYES *(makes more sense)*. The full moon shone down on gold goblets and plates fitted with fine jewels that sat on a shelf. Under it was a wooden chest. Elle soon SNAPPED out of her BEDAZZLED gaze. She grabbed HOLD OF a goblet and turned it OVER in her hands, inspecting its worth. It was ENCRUSTED *(check the spelling you had before)* with rubies. She PLACED it in THE leather bag that was WOUND around her shoulders. At a hurried pace, *(comma)* she took more treasures from the shelf and SHOVED them INTO her bag. As soon as she was done with the shelf she knelt down to the chest. She drew out a DARK *(anything but ‘small’ again)* case and took out a few small metal sticks. While picking the lock carefully, *(comma)* she paused to WIPE *(you had ‘whip’ before)* the sweat from her forehead BEFORE CONTINUING. The lock opened and a quiet CLICK *(it was ‘clink’ before)* BROKE THE SILENCE IN THE *(you’re using ‘filled’ in the next sentence)* room. The chest was filled with SHINY *(instead of ‘shinny’)* silver and gold jewels and coins. So SHINY *(‘shinny’ again, check the spelling)* it could draw even the most honest man in. Elle picked up a silver necklace from the chest slowly and with the other hand she cradled the pendant. It was a large blue diamond that sparkled in Elle’s hazel eyes. She put it around her neck, *(comma instead of ‘and’)* under her brown top. She filled the bag up until it could fit no more BUT from down the HALLWAY *(‘hallway’ is one word)* footsteps and voices drew closer.
“Lord Merad, *(comma)* ” a guard said to a tall man with black hair, *(comma)* “I heard sounds COMING FROM THAT ROOM, *(comma)* ” AS HE POINTED TO THE ROOM ELLE WAS STILL IN.
LORD Merad and the guard rushed into the room, CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF ELLE’S CLOAK AS SHE VANISHED OUT THE WINDOW. They saw the missing valuables and the opened chest.
Merad’s face grew red, *(comma)* “Guards! *(exclamation mark or comma)* Stop that thief!” *(no full stop need)*
THE *(instead of ‘a’)* guards ran from THEIR *(instead of there)* posts down to Lord Merad, *(comma)* “Which way did they go, *(comma)* my Lord?” *(no full stop needed)*
Merad pointed madly TOWARDS THE TREES, “Over there, over there!” *(no full stop needed)*
The guards ran after the dark SILHOUETTE *(instead of ‘silo-wet’)* of Elle that WAS ALREADY SPRINTING into the nearby forest.
“Stop right there!” *(exclamation mark adds intensity)* THEIR YELLS ECHOED THROUGH THE NIGHT AS THEY RAN DEEPER INTO THE FOREST AND FEELING THE WRATH OF SHARP TREE BRANCHES. But ELLE was too fast for them and her escape was easy EVEN WITH THE EXTRA WEIGHT TO CARRY. She looked back and knew she had lost them. It was then THAT she ARRIVED AT THE EDGE of the forest and onto the streets. Running as fast as she could, *(comma)* a grin FOUND ITSELF PLASTERED ACROSS her face. She ran up the stone path to her small wooden house. It was on a slight hill and SURROUNDED BY A SHORT WOODEN FENCE. Elle rushed to her bedroom once she was through the door. She collapsed on her bed and took a deep satisfying breath.
Overall, I found this story extremely entertaining and I’d love to read more! (: I hope my editing was useful because this story was a pleasure to read. Good luck with chapter two! 😀
Helen asks…
Wow I never knew cucumbers were so great!?
I just saw this thing on cucumbers,not sure I believe it though.
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
the cucmber caused my appearance
I seen it in a email too,thats why I said I seen it somewhere. I wasn’t taking credit for it.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Wow. Number 11 is helpful. I may just have to test that out sometime…
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