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Gag reflux
Started
by lwinter
on February 8, 2011
Ok, so three weeks of being vegan and I have gone from eating kraft mac-n-cheese in the box, to total flirt for years to finally jumping all the way with both feet. I have been very proud of myself, a couple of years ago i wouldnt touch a bean. Now I am making lentil soup. While I am still detoxing, I feel great. My problem is, I cant get over my gag response to the textures of squash, potato, and seitan. I have cooked seitan three times now and I cant choke it down. I am committed to this because dairy and meat were literally making my stomach turn. Not due to activism (which was always there), but physically. My body has forced me to make this choice and now I feel like I am never going to eat a good meal again. I feel better physically, but I dont enjoy my meals. The only one i crave is the Fried Udon Noodles, which is amazing even though I cant find sweet paprika. HELP! Can anyone give me seitan cooking suggestions? Or meals that I may like? The "meat replacements" leave me feeling less than satisfied and I do not want to eat unfermented soy or a lot of processed foods. I am so grateful for this community!!!
While I have this forum, anyone have suggestions on what to do when you eat at someone's house? I think people in my extended family and friends are going to think I am nuts.
There are certain squashes that I cannot eat prepared certain ways...don't ask me why! But have you tried preparing these things in a way that doesn't resemble what they really are? For example - Spaghetti Squash...it's squash, but once you bake it, and fork it out of it's skin, it's like pasta noodles! You can toss it in some olive oil or a pasta sauce you enjoy and it doesn't have the texture of say, cubed squash. Or, try cubing your seitan after you prepare it and throw it in a chili, almost like "meatballs"...that way, you are eating it in corporation with other foods when it is in your mouth...the texture will blend with the tomatoes, beans, and whatever else is in your chili. Or...you just may not like these things...which, there's no harm in that either. Some of us just don't like certain things...I loathe collard greens and onions, and I've tried preparing them in hundreds of different ways! I just had to face the fact that there are some things that I just plain don't like.
You just gotta find the balance that works for you...and best of luck!
Just wondering why you feel the need to choke down something you don't like? There is no reason you need to use a meat substitute. There are many other ways to get your nutrients, and protien. Keep testing different foods to find what you like and what works for you.
Thank you both for your thoughts. Tracy, I guess I thought that the transition, for now, would be easier if I could make meat-like dishes without meat. I know it sounds a little ironic, but as we break the mental constructs around our emotional attachment to food, it is easier if we still eat what's familiar. I eat a lot of beans and such, so its not about nutrients for me, but more about familiar foods and those emotional attachments. I was also thinking that if I liked seitan, I could grill it when other people have meat (when out at picnics, etc). Seemed like a versatile thing to cook / eat. I heard someone say to order it out at a restaurant before you decide you dont like it. These products are a little different to cook with and I may just not be preparing it correctly.
Hope this gets easier!
lwinter - I have never been normal, so not saying this is normal. My thought is that nothing will taste like meat, so by trying to substitute it you are setting yourself up for that emotional attachment roller coaster. I'm sure it will get easier.
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