Vegetarians?

[Jane]

Any other vegetarians? I've been vegetarian for almost a year now. I seem to be a rarity in this field, in my area. Lead to quite the teasing with some of my preceptors.

I had a difficult time finding things other than salad to take with me on the truck. Nor can I rely taking anything that needs to be warmed up, since my only access to a microwave is in the EMS lounge at the hospitals. As for eating out - after a certain hour, there are absolutely no options in my city for vegetarians besides gas stations. Does anyone have an ideas for things I can take that will be easy to eat, don't require warming, and will keep for 12 hours shifts?

 

[MS Medic]

I'm a vegetarian. I tend to have to bring my own meals. Eating the standard fast food fare doesn't work.

 

[Jane]

Nope, it doesn't. Nor do I trust fast food restaurants not to cross contaminate my food if there is a vegetarian option.

 

[MS Medic]

Really don't worry about any "cross contamination." I'm not that particular about it. It's not that much of big deal to me.

 

[Jane]

I'm only particular about it because I don't want meat to accidentally get into my system and I have an adverse reaction to it. I had a vegetarian friend who unknowingly ate something with chicken bullion in it. She became sick as a dog, vomiting. Now I'm slightly paranoid.

 

[COmedic17]

I am not a vegetarian, but the salad bar/pre packaged salads at whole foods and trader joes are pretty good.

 

[COmedic17]

I'm only particular about it because I don't want meat to accidentally get into my system and I have an adverse reaction to it. I had a vegetarian friend who unknowingly ate something with chicken bullion in it. She became sick as a dog, vomiting. Now I'm slightly paranoid.

If you have only been vegetarian for a year, your not going to have a severe reaction if a tiny piece of meat gets in your food. If it's such a small amount to the point you can't visually detect it, I really doubt anything is going to happen at all. I don't eat fast food, but every one in a blue moon I'll cave, and I just get a stomach ache. The worst thing it's going to do is if you eat a lot of something you don't normally consume, is your stomach isn't going to be thrilled about trying to digest/comsume something it's not used to. I can guarantee you eat a lot of things unintentionally that you don't realize on a pretty regular basis ( little bugs, tiny traces of meat, etc).

 

[MS Medic]

I've been one for 19 years and I'm not particular. I've only had a reaction a couple of times and that was at points where I was really broke and had to eat what someone offered or go hungry. At those times, I actually ate a full meal of it. If you just get a little grease or small amount of meat, you will be fine. Your friend's case probably had more to it than consuming more than a little chicken broth.

 

[MS Medic]

Keep in mind that with some people there is the psychosomatic aspect as well. I've met people who make such a big deal out of the vegetarian thing that they accidentally consume a little meat and then turn it into such a big deal, they actually make themselves sick.

I'm not saying your friend did that because I don't know them but it is a possibility.

 

[Jane]

I'm not finicky about some things. I've knowingly consumed gelatin and non-vegetarian rennet. I try my best to avoid it, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

 

[Qulevrius]

Is it just the meat you can't stomach ? How about seafood ? There's a plethora of easy to make things that aren't meat-based, can survive a full shift w/o a reefer and don't have to be heated.

 

[MS Medic]

For those of us that are vegetarians, sea food is considered meat. Vegans take it a step further by not eating dairy, eggs, and even honey if you want to go to extremes.

 

[MS Medic]

For me, I just cook meals at home and bring to work.

 

[Qulevrius]

For those of us that are vegetarians, sea food is considered meat. Vegans take it a step further by not eating dairy, eggs, and even honey if you want to go to extremes.

Gotcha. So eggs are a go unless you're a vegan, nice. In that case, a veggie casserole is probably the best, other than that I'd go for grilled vegetables with a side of grains (rice, barley, buckwheat etc). Can share a few recipes if people are interested.

 

[MS Medic]

Since my wife and kids aren't vegetarians, I tend to cook meals normally but just have had to learn to use spices for vegetables that are side dishes rather than meat or fat as a flavoring. I just had to ruin a lot of meals experimenting.

 

[MS Medic]

A good place to start is online or vegetarian cookbooks that don't require lots of specialty ingredients from the health food store. Unless of course, that is your thing.

 

[redundantbassist]

Nor do I trust fast food restaurants not to cross contaminate my food if there is a vegetarian option.

Huh...??

 

[MS Medic]

She is referring to things like cooking on a flat top next to someone else's meat and grease or small pieces of meet getting into her food.

 

[Jane]

Is it just the meat you can't stomach ? How about seafood ? There's a plethora of easy to make things that aren't meat-based, can survive a full shift w/o a reefer and don't have to be heated.

Nope, I don't do any meat or seafood.

 

[redundantbassist]

She is referring to things like cooking on a flat top next to someone else's meat and grease or small pieces of meet getting into her food.

I understand what she means, I just find it incredibly ridiculous. If she follows a vegetarian diet for health reasons, or even due to medical issues, a very small amount of grease on her food will have no impact on her health whatsoever. It just makes no sense.