What food MUST you have at every meal?

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Tacos :D
Buy some Vegan wraps.
Make beans with no meat or animal based seasonings (stock, boullion, etc.)
Make rice with vegetable broth and go either mexican/spanish rice style or cilantro lime style.
Grill mushrooms, peppers, etc.
Salsa goes as a taco conidement or buy tortilla chips and you have chips and salsa.

There are a number of Tex-Mex and Mexican food dishes that can be very easily done as vegan (though that just usually makes them less appealing). The key is the tortillas that are not made with lard or animal anything.

As much of Mexico was/has been Catholic there are plenty of dishes that can be made without meat or animal parts for the season of Lent. So doing Vegetarian is actually not that hard with Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine BUT vegan is a bit harder. Cmon, no cheese and/or sour cream!?!?

Anyhow I'm not advocating for veganism or vegetarianism I'm just throwing out some ideas that might help you out with this issue :)
 
What an interesting thread.

My wife and I once did vegetarian for three years. I gained more fat weight in those three years than I did at any other time of my life. I also suffered from daily muscle cramps. There were times my full body would lock up, especially after a long day at work, even driving home. When we said screw that lifestyle, the cramps went away and I've never looked back.

I must have protein at every meal. Poultry, beef, pork, doesn't matter, though poultry seems to be easiest on my system. If I eat less than 20% of my calories from protein, cramps are not far off, even with anti-cramping supplements. When I workout, I've got to be in the 30-40% range. My kids, both athletes, have the same condition. They've found that the Whole30 program best for keeping the cramps at bay. They aren't strict about it, but do their best to follow the program.

Wow, time for lunch; leftover beef stew I made yesterday with cubed steak, almond flour, olive oil, onions, russets, white sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, and S&P.
 
I have some medical problems that limit the kinds of veggies i can eat. I cannot eat a lot of kinds of raw or under cooked veggies or seedy things. so this limits a lot of what i can eat. Combine this with bouts of anemia, i need to eat meat -- a lot. (which doesn't really bother me). I cannot eat nuts so a vegan diet could in fact kill me and would be definitely very bad for me.

as far as the soapbox of vegans and all that horse crap, i say if you don't like don't eat it. but the mouth watering feeling you get when you see and smell a sizzling steak on the grill doesn't happen when someone mows the grass! so i won't try to convert you to caveman-style carnivore-ism and you don't try to convert me to eating like a rabbit. and if you come to my house and won't eat meat you are not likely to be invited back anyways so that solves that issue.

At every meal especially my dinner needs to have meat!

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)
 
What Chris said. Stuffed BIG Portabella Mushrooms, with cheese or "fake cheese". I do Eggplant Parm that even the meat eaters want. Also zucchini cut like this.
 

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most of these people actually don't really know either and are not true vegans
I have only known this one but, from what I'm hearing, I'm lucky...lol.
think you should always have some healthy dishes on the table and salad and veggie are a must.
I try to do that as well...but there's not always room after eating all the good stuff...:rolleyes: I don't even eat dessert. I'm all in for the savory foods.

And no, a loaded potato is not a veggie.
What? :eek:

grilled asparagus. WOW. Toss in olive oil, salt, lemon and minced garlic and sear.
I'm up for trying that.

Some type of stuffed mushroom or portabella mushroom burger.

Chris
I've heard portabella mushrooms used as a burger taste "meaty." I haven't actually tried it, probably because I'd rather have the meat, but mushrooms are great... with meat.

I'm not sure on all their restrictions, like are eggs out?
Yes, eggs are out. The one I know doesn't even eat honey (because it's a bee product) nor white sugar that isn't organic (non-organic white sugar is turned white by processing with animal bones).

For the vegans in my extended family I have a bowl of plain baked potatoes with a little sign that says "vegan options".

As you can see my must have foods include meats.
Cousin?!?! Lol...I will be your new family! ;) I would certainly appreciate your putting a great meal together. As it stands, I'm the only one out of my friends and family that does smoked meat or even cookouts for that matter.

I ended up with some vegetarian (now vegan) in-laws thirty years ago and initially we tried to accommodate them when they'd visit by making special dishes. However, after a few get togethers they started bringing their own food. I reacted with a combination of relief, because I didn't have to go through the anguish you're now experiencing, but also a tinge of anger over having my cooking skills and hospitality insulted.

The good news is that after the 2016 elections they decided I was a truly evil person and don't come by much anymore. I won't say who I voted for, but I will tell you that my diet and preferences sound very much like the OP, Kris: meat, dairy, more meat, and more dairy.

Vegetables are there to make the meat look better on the plate.

I'm actually bothered by the idea that modifying some recipes will make non-vegans think less of my cooking skills, because... let's face it...sides are not going to taste as good if butter, bacon, cheese, etc are omitted.

Would you believe, I've got a relative whose daughter won't talk to them anymore over their election choice? :confused: I managed to make it through this issue with a friend... whose judgement I might question a little more from now on...:rolleyes:... Mayhaps, your family members are lacking some nutrients from their diets...ha, ha... the people I know have no excuse!

No question about it!

What’s a carrot dog

I was reading along calmly until I hit this comment and busted out laughing! I was gong to take a pic of a carrot in a hot dog bun..:p...Mmmmmm...o_O

Tacos :D
Buy some Vegan wraps.
Make beans with no meat or animal based seasonings (stock, boullion, etc.)
Make rice with vegetable broth and go either mexican/spanish rice style or cilantro lime style.
Grill mushrooms, peppers, etc.
Salsa goes as a taco conidement or buy tortilla chips and you have chips and salsa.

There are a number of Tex-Mex and Mexican food dishes that can be very easily done as vegan (though that just usually makes them less appealing). The key is the tortillas that are not made with lard or animal anything.

As much of Mexico was/has been Catholic there are plenty of dishes that can be made without meat or animal parts for the season of Lent. So doing Vegetarian is actually not that hard with Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine BUT vegan is a bit harder. Cmon, no cheese and/or sour cream!?!?

Anyhow I'm not advocating for veganism or vegetarianism I'm just throwing out some ideas that might help you out with this issue :)

This is good advice. I considered fajitas, with meat and with tofu in the seasoning and veggies on the side. There are lots of other meats I want to make that day, but this would be something everybody can feel like they're eating together if they want.

What an interesting thread.

My wife and I once did vegetarian for three years. I gained more fat weight in those three years than I did at any other time of my life. I also suffered from daily muscle cramps. There were times my full body would lock up, especially after a long day at work, even driving home. When we said screw that lifestyle, the cramps went away and I've never looked back.

I must have protein at every meal. Poultry, beef, pork, doesn't matter, though poultry seems to be easiest on my system. If I eat less than 20% of my calories from protein, cramps are not far off, even with anti-cramping supplements. When I workout, I've got to be in the 30-40% range. My kids, both athletes, have the same condition. They've found that the Whole30 program best for keeping the cramps at bay. They aren't strict about it, but do their best to follow the program.

Wow, time for lunch; leftover beef stew I made yesterday with cubed steak, almond flour, olive oil, onions, russets, white sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, and S&P.

I actually know a guy who stopped being a vegetarian because he just couldn't get the protein necessary for building muscle. Makes me wonder what else is lost from refusing meat.

I have some medical problems that limit the kinds of veggies i can eat. I cannot eat a lot of kinds of raw or under cooked veggies or seedy things. so this limits a lot of what i can eat. Combine this with bouts of anemia, i need to eat meat -- a lot. (which doesn't really bother me). I cannot eat nuts so a vegan diet could in fact kill me and would be definitely very bad for me.

as far as the soapbox of vegans and all that horse crap, i say if you don't like don't eat it. but the mouth watering feeling you get when you see and smell a sizzling steak on the grill doesn't happen when someone mows the grass! so i won't try to convert you to caveman-style carnivore-ism and you don't try to convert me to eating like a rabbit. and if you come to my house and won't eat meat you are not likely to be invited back anyways so that solves that issue.

At every meal especially my dinner needs to have meat!

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)

Wonder how they'll be feeling when the delicious smell of that smoke and meat is wafting through the air?

What Chris said. Stuffed BIG Portabella Mushrooms, with cheese or "fake cheese". I do Eggplant Parm that even the meat eaters want. Also zucchini cut like this.

I'm willing to try the zucchini noodles as a veggie side or maybe with meat sauce, and the eggplant doesn't sound bad, but I can honestly say I've never made or ordered it anywhere.... because I figure, it's that or meat and the meat always wins.[/QUOTE]
 
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Years ago I had a temporary job as an admin assistant at a natural foods company. I saw a letter from a regional representative, scolding the home office because they failed to offer a vegan diet to the New York State prison system, so they lost the contract.
 
Years ago I had a temporary job as an admin assistant at a natural foods company. I saw a letter from a regional representative, scolding the home office because they failed to offer a vegan diet to the New York State prison system, so they lost the contract.

Bad enough to be in prison, but to have to be on a vegan diet is cruel and unusual punishment!

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)
 
We had a pre-release camp near us and the prisoners were put out on work details you could hire them to work for you. A contractor that I was working for at the time use to hire them. They would ask us to fry some bacon and bring it in to them because they couldn't have bacon or pork a the camp because of the Muslin prisoners.

Warren
 
Luckily I have not had to host any vegans so far. Have not known too many over the years. However I would not go out of my way to meet all of their expectations. Most time I have a group over I do a potluck and won't tell others what they should or should not bring. I also wouldn't plan a whole menu around them but make sure they have something they can eat but would let them know to bring something else to supplement. Not because I have anything against them or their lifestyle but I have noticed when they host things they will not provide any dishes with meat for those who want them but still expect everyone to cater to their wants\needs even when the majority of people they invite are not vegan.
 
Saying this on a meat smoking forum ... I can get by on veggies like beans and rice, or general salads and such. I like the Asian model where almost all of the meal is some kind of vegetable or rice, and there's just a handful of protein like pork or chicken or shrimp.

And then sometimes I fire up the smoker.
 
For me the only must-have at every meal is fat: be it vegetable fat (olive oil, avocado, cocoa butter, nuts) or animal fat.

I can go long without meat...3 weeks was the longest....ate fish everyday (could have gone longer - fish was so tasty).
 
Im trying to eat more veggies and limit meat to once a day. Plis exercise more. Mid 40s forcing me to change a few things up in my diet.

+1; I need protein with every meal but limiting carbs has helped alot but that has alot to do with the beer...

I know quite a few women that really watch what they eat so they look good. Not vegan/vegetarian, they just are particular. If you are close to anyone like this they will tell you it takes a lot of work and commitment to look like that. I imagine there are some guys like that too. Actors, models, etc. No way these people can do ribs, pizza, chicken wings, beer unless in extreme moderation. I respect that. Was fortunate to get away with murder a long time but my 30’s it was over. Metabolism just crashed. I blame the office job… Now mid-40’s I am forcing myself to be more active so I can enjoy myself but be healthy and still look half decent with my shirt off.

I immediately thought of this when I read this thread so...

and since he is so hilarious, another:
 
If I were making a meal for a vegan, I'd serve up some gravel and some ground gypsum board (paper removed)

I hold ALL life sacred, not just living things with eyes etc....

I am not so arrogant as to hold one type of life over another.

humans need to kill to eat, so we kill with respect and humility (well, most of us do) and we live a healthy wholesome life.

(in case you haven't noticed, I think vegans are hypocrites! So I call myself a MEAGAN, just to annoy them)
 
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If I were making a meal for a vegan, I'd serve up some gravel and some ground gypsum board (paper removed)

I hold ALL life sacred, not just living things with eyes etc....

I am not so arrogant as to hold one type of life over another.

humans need to kill to eat, so we kill with respect and humility (well, most of us do) and we live a healthy wholesome life.

(in case you haven't noticed, I think vegans are hypocrites! So I call myself a MEAGAN, just to annoy them)
Meagan, I like this....and I just dislike militant believers of the life style. You should also ask them about cloned meat. Cell samples for living and unharmed species, vat grown with out life. So if it harms nothing why can't they eat it too? ;)
 
onions and mushrooms or roasted garlic

One of the 3 always goes in almost every meal.

If I were to have vegans at my house and I was to cook special for them I would buy stuff from
https://www.theherbivorousbutcher.com/pages/butcher-shop

Its a vegan butcher shop ( I know weird right ) they are located like 35 mins from my house I actually tried some of there stuff once out of curiosity and it is damn good I had the ribs,jerky, and brat. They do have online ordering but there is a min order so that's would not be good for you.
 
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