How can I be vegetarian in a small town?

I live in a very small town in Kentucky and none of the grocery stores have a vegetarian section. Most vegetarian recipes I find call for hummous, soy cheese, and many other ingredients that aren't available here. Basically, since I am not that creative in the kitchen I live on pasta, beans, assorted vegetables & rice which make me fat. I'm only trying to be vegetarian for my health. Any advice on some low carb vegetarian dishes I can make using basic ingredients? Thanks!

I live in a small town - VERY SMALL TOWN - a small TEXAS TOWN even!

If you are really having problems and don't have another town that you can drive to - there is always the internet.

I like to go to Amazon because of the simple reason being that I already have an account there - have done business with them for many products already - can get several different things at the same time that have nothing to do with food at the same time and they all get here at pretty much the same time - unless there is a back order on something. But there really are any number of sites that you can go to - the choice is all yours.

Being creative with veggies is really one of the secrets. The other is spices and herbs - they can really change things up and keep your food interesting. Depending upon your tastes - there are all sorts of websites out there with all sorts of recipes that will fit the style of life you have and your cooking ability - since your really the only one that knows exactly what that style is or where your ability is.

Just use a good search engine would be my suggestion. What one finds a really great something to eat - just might turn your stomach! What someone thinks is easy - you may find too hard or not even have the kitchen equipment to make it to begin with!

Need help - ask. I may not be timely with the reply as I have a full time job and a busy life. As I type this - waiting on someone to come over and pick me up so that we can go out..... but willing to help if you need it.

You don't even get hummus? How is that possible?

The only thing you can really do is try to cut meat out of your diet, but you will have to take iron tablets to keep up your iron levels. Contact your doctor so he can tell you what supplements you will have to take.

You obviously have the internet so why not try order some vegetarian recipe books or amazon.com or your local library. I am not a vegetarian so I can't help you really with any specific recipes but the above should help.

Here are some low carb vegetarian recipes I have found online:

Easy Vegan Chili with TVP

1 cup dry TVP (a substitute to meat)
2 cups salsa
1 cup diced tomatoes (canned is ok)
2 cups cooked pinto beans
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 small jalapeno, minced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 cup grated zucchini (adds texture and bulk)
1 TBS chile powder
1 tsp cumin powder
season to taste

Soak the TVP in water for 30 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain. Place all the ingredients in a pot. Heat to boiling, then turn down the heat and simmer 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Pineapple Tofu Ice Cream

Serves: 8 (1/2 cup servings)

A summer topical refresher, Pineapple Tofu Ice Cream quenches the craving for a summer treat!
Homemade ice cream should be served as soon as possible. There are no additives or preservatives so it doesn't keep as long as traditional ice cream when frozen.
Ingredients:

2 lbs. Tofu
2/3 cup sugar
2 scoops Fat Metabolizer Drink Mix, Vanilla Flavor (Personal Edge庐)
1 1/2 cups plain soy milk
8 oz. pineapple chunks, drained

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, combine the tofu, sugar and Personal Edge庐 powder; puree.
2. While processing, add the soy milk and continue to process until the mixture is smooth. Add the pineapple chunks; stir.
3. Pour mixture into a freezer proof plastic container uncovered. Stir every 15 minutes until the mixture reaches a semi-frozen consistency.
Alternatively, pour the mixture into an electric ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Soy ice cream can be made up to 2 days in advance.

Nutrition Facts:( per serving)
Calories: 160
Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 50mg
Carbohydrate:23g
Protein:9g
Soy Protein: 7g

And judging by the name this website should have some ideas: http://www.lowcarbvegetarianrecipes.com

Books from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Low-carb-Vegetaria...
http://www.amazon.com/Low-Carb-Vegetaria...

Hope this helps! As you are not readily available to all ingredients that most vegetarians require, I wouldn't recommend becoming a vegan because then you will have to cut out all meat products, dairy products, leather products etc, which would be super hard for you!

Stocking up when you go into a big city would be a good idea. There are a lot of things you can buy in bulk that won't spoil. You can buy silken tofu in tetra-pack type boxes that will last for years unrefrigerated. Regular tofu also freezes really well, you could buy a bunch and just put it in the freezer. You could stock up on dry beans as well. Or have you tried TVP? Most bulk stores should carry it, it's dry and will last a long time, until you reconstitute it with boiling water.

If you just stick to what you can buy in your area and only use basic ingredients for meals, you might get bored really fast.

Good luck!

The pasta, beans, and rice make you fat because you are consuming too big of portions. Watch the portion sizes .

well i did about 3 months ago, its the best thing I've ever done, as well as the hardest.
i tried quorn, it was OK. but like soya beans more.
also so my mum gave me a lot of lentils.
but the food i love most is Linda McCartney pies. yum yum.
i found i can still eat normally, i just take the meat away from the meal.

maybe you can look for little mom and pop stores which aren't the typical chain supermarkets.. check the link below for health food stores.

Also, if you're looking for humus, its composed of chickpeas, you can probably make your own humus.

And if you're trying to be vegetarian for your health, don't become a STRICT vegetarian. Cut out meat and foods that are bad for you. Obviously stay away from fast food chains, stay away from fried food, from red meat such as pork, beef, steaks, etc.. .and stick to lean white meat such as the chicken, turkey. Veggie burgers are REALLY good with a bit of mustard on top. If you're living on rice make sure it isn't white, because any food which is bleached (white bread, white rice) is bad for you. Stick to whole wheat bread and brown rices.

Also if you are a fish eater, eat that since fish is very very good for you. Salmon, tuna fish which is high in protein will keep you fuller from less and keep you fuller longer, tilapia is a nice mild white fish.

You don't have to cut meat out entirely to become healthy, just the meat which isn't good for you. ( I personally call myself a chicketarian because I don't eat veal, lamb or things like that, I just eat chicken all the time)

don't eat meat.

I grew up in a small town and when I go home to visit, I find that eating at home is the best way to get good meals . . . unless I feel like only grilled cheese sandwiches and plain salads whenever we go out. Even if your grocery store doesn't have a "vegetarian section" at least it will have a produce section which is the best vegetarian section I know of :) Load up on vegetables and fruits . . . try things you may not have had before or that you are unfamiliar with . . . instead of pasta, try brown rice. You can make hummus out of beans and tahini which, admittedly, you might have to order online. Maybe pick up a cookbook that is easy to navigate and not too complex and it might inspire you to try some new things yourself . . . and remember, just because you're a vegetarian doesn't mean you have to eat tons of overprocessed meat and cheese substitutes . . . to be really healthy, balancing the carbs, proteins and veggies will be your best bet.

just salads, and anything that doesn't contain meat or meat product.
simple.
good luck !

http://www.fatfreevegan.com

If you're doing it to be healthy, beans, rice, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables should suffice.

you can make hummus yourself, it's easy. grind up a can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in the food processor with the juice of a lemon, a small clove of garlic and some sesame sauce. if you can't get sesame tahini in your small town, look in the oriental food section for a bottle of sesame oil - a little tiny drizzle of this will give it the proper sesame taste at least. if the hummus is too dry, add some water to it as it grinds up. very yummy and high in protein.

you don't need soy cheese, just use regular cheese. get SHARP cheddar and intense-flavored cheeses like feta and parmesan, because a little bit of these gives a lot of cheesy flavor without a lot of fat.

having a lot of pasta, beans, veggies and rice in your diet isn't bad at all, honestly. just, when you're fixing a plate, be generous with the veggies and use a lighter hand with the starches, that's all.

I don't know about the entire "vegetarian" thing in your situation - I'd suggest cutting the pasta and adding more vegetables to your diet --- plus exercise and you'd be fine.

Buy healthy meats - skinless chicken/turkey if you want.

I made a lot of home-made soups and stuff when I was cutting the weight.


If you really want the items you were talking about before - talk to the store manager, they CAN order items just for you.