A question primarily for my niece CinnaZimt, though I'll appreciate answers from anyone. I'm asking her because she is a vegetarian. So, dear niece…
Because of hypoglycemia (as you know), I follow a low carbohydrate, high protein diet. For the last 15 years or so, my breakfast has been an open-face ham sandwich and usually a similar turkey sandwich for lunch. Over the last year, as part of my job as Stewardship Guide for my local church, I've heard how much meat production damages the environment. Recently, I've also heard that while the price of meat has risen only slightly this year it might double next year. So I'm looking for no sugar, low carb, high protein alternatives to that ham sandwich -- besides peanut butter. I already eat a lot of peanut butter, so it isn't an issue of it fitting into my needs. It's just that I'm looking for other alternatives. Any ideas?
As a vegan I am super happy to hear that you are concerned about the environment as well as your health! There are tons of mock-meats that are healthy, eco and animal friendly, not sure where you live but any health food stores, whole foods, wild oats, or maybe even your regular supermarket should have imitation meats ham, turkey, salami etc made of soy, seitan, wheat gluten, yam etc.
ReplyDeletefree veg starter kit i strongly recommend
also for more info on the planets downfall because of meat production check this out...
environmental destruction as a result of meat industry
I am amused. Did you pick up the ham sandwich habit while you were in Germany?
ReplyDeleteHere are some thoughts:
*"better than cream cheese" brand vegan cream cheese on a bagel or piece of toast. On special occasions (like Fridays) I may add a slice of tomato and a shake of oregano. Yum.
*Tofurky instead of ham (some people like Yves deli slices, I think they're disgusting. so you may need to play around a bit.)
*Hummus!
*I know you don't like marinaded tofu...but I can't help but recommending it. Make sure you buy it firm. Freezing and then unthawing it changes the texture, too to make it more "meaty". I know you're not sold on this, but I wanted to put it out there.
*Soy yogurt with fruit and/or granola...I assume there are fruits and granolas low enough on the glycemic index for this to make sense but have never had to watch my sugars, so I don't know.
I know there are vegetarian "breakfast patties" and tempeh bacons...I haven't tried any.
That's all I can think of right now. I applaud your thoughts of going veg for the planet, despite needing to navigate extra dietary restrictions. Good luck!
Stephanie asked if I picked up the ham sandwich for breakfast habit in Germany (where I lived for 2 years 1989-1991 in Cologne).
ReplyDeleteAt that time I was very much into peanut butter, though I didn't think much of the local brands. It was an effort to find "Barney's Best" American peanut butter that came in little jars that lasted two meals. On occasion I could get a small jar of Jif from the American community in Bonn or I would delight in 4-pound tubs when family came to visit.
That affair with PB ended after I moved back to Detroit and had a house to renovate. I removed carpet, had the hardwood floors sanded, then I added a finish to the fresh wood. Then I made the mistake of sleeping in the house without good ventilation (it was winter). I lost my sense of smell for 6 months and PB tasted bad for about 5 years. That's when I switched to ham sandwiches for breakfast.
I am back to eating PB, but now I buy the natural stuff (what I spurned in Cologne), drain off the oil and add sweetener of choice. Yeah, it is more like peanut paste than peanut butter but adds a lot less fat to my diet.
I've started sampling some of the meat substitutes. I'll post a review when I can comment on several rather than one at a time.