Attempting to go Vegetarian in Thailand. Any suggestions?

[WineOh]

after months of serious thought and contemplation I have decided to try and not eat meat anymore.

I know how hard this will be living in Thailand with the abundance of chicken and pork but I am willing to give it a shot.

The negative health effects of eating too much meat seem clear as day to me now.

As bad as smoking scientists say...

 

Any fellow vegetarians in here?

What suggestions do you have?

Good restaurants around BKK?

Best plant base to make burgers from???

 

Me and the wife are knocking up an Indian veggie curry over the weekend..

can't wait for that ???? 

 

wish me luck! 

Edited April 29, 2021 by WineOh

[Surelynot]

I live off salad and fries one day (feta cheese and beans thrown in)......then vegetable stir fry and rice the next......only have one meal a day.....seems fine, no issues.

[WineOh]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

I live off salad and fries one day (feta cheese and beans thrown in)......then vegetable stir fry and rice the next......only have one meal a day.....seems fine, no issues.

I love greek salad.

It's one of my favorite dishes.

Could eat that every day for lunch no problem ???? 

Edited April 29, 2021 by WineOh

[EricTh]

There is no lack of vegan shops in Thailand.

 

https://www.happycow.net/asia/thailand/bangkok/

 

You don't eat meat not because it is destroying your health but also think of the suffering of the animals being killed.

 

Do visit a pig killing station in Thailand if you don't believe me. The screaming is horrible.

Edited April 29, 2021 by EricTh

[Surelynot]

Forgot to mention....nice restaurant on Soi Sukhumvit 11...........about 100m on your right as you walk up from Sukhumvit.

[WineOh]

14 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Do visit a pig killing station in Thailand if you don't believe me. The screaming is horrible.

You actually did visit one?

What was the reason for your visit? 

[MrMuddle]

Been vegetarian for over 50 years, 20 of those in Thailand. Absolutely no problem here, plenty of fresh and frozen fruit & veg available. Makro is particulary good for frozen f &g. Your digestive system will thank you for it, especially at toliet time!

[tonray]

I go 'Veg' for months at a time but still add fish back into diet when not on the veg kick. Easy as pie...fresh veg and fruit available everywhere at great prices. I found also that getting a good blender and adding Smoothies to the mix helps a lot...most breakfasts and at least 2 lunch/dinner meals per week  I make a nice fruit veg protien smoothie...satisfying and easy to maintain healthy weight that way too.

Edited April 29, 2021 by tonray

[EricTh]

3 hours ago, WineOh said:

You actually did visit one?

What was the reason for your visit? 

 

To understand what we have been eating.

 

Almost every morning, there are bus loads of caged pigs sent to the slaughter house in plain view for passing cars in Thailand.

 

It's not difficult to follow the huge truck of pigs.

 

Edited April 29, 2021 by EricTh

[brommers]

Whatever you do steer ckear of all the so called veggie burgers. They are riddled with unhealthy ingredients and have high sodium content. Most of these processed healthy foods are a total con and damn expensive.

[kingstonkid]

4 hours ago, tonray said:

I go 'Veg' for months at a time but still add fish back into diet when not on the veg kick. Easy as pie...fresh veg and fruit available everywhere at great prices. I found also that getting a good blender and adding Smoothies to the mix helps a lot...most breakfasts and at least 2 lunch/dinner meals per week  I make a nice fruit veg protien smoothie...satisfying and easy to maintain healthy weight that way too.

 

Care to share your recipe.

 

I have meat (Chicken or fish) at Sizzler once a week as my treat for being a good boy.  Rest of the week it is toast with PB oatmeal then salad and rice for supper.  Snack is cashews one bag lasts a week,.

 

[Iforbach]

I live in sizzlers g8t salads 

[tonray]

4 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

Care to share your recipe.

 

I have meat (Chicken or fish) at Sizzler once a week as my treat for being a good boy.  Rest of the week it is toast with PB oatmeal then salad and rice for supper.  Snack is cashews one bag lasts a week,.

 

Sure, I use half of a large carrot, half an apple, 1/3 banana, then either some Chinese celery or Chinese Broccoli (Gai LAN) and then you have your choice of proteins. Can add 3 tablespoons pumpkn seeds (shelled) or 150 grams plain yogurt, each provide about 12 grams protein. Then just some milk (I use plain unsweetened Soy milk) to make the blender's job a little easier. To simplify things, I precut and freeze in zio lock bags portions of the above. That way you don't need ice for a cold smoothie. Each bag will make two large glasses. Yih can of course modify to your tastes, the key is enough veg for nutrients, enough fruit for Sweetness and protein for a complete meal.

[jdean]

Tofu, tofu, tofu

[tonray]

1 hour ago, EricTh said:

 

To understand what we have been eating.

 

Almost every morning, there are bus loads of caged pigs sent to the slaughter house in plain view for passing cars in Thailand.

 

It's not difficult to follow the huge truck of pigs.

 

I hope that's not a metaphor for office workers on the BTS..ha ha ha

[clivebaxter]

Been vegetarian for 49 years. Here Mays veggie kitchen Suk soi 16 just down from Asoke BTS is good (vegan) and there is another good one at Chula hospital called Tonklar Facai, they have websites. Villa market has a few items as does Foodland mostly meat substitutes. I order from Youta foods on Rama 2 they have a range of food, tinned and frozen. There massam curry is nice as is the chicken on lemon grass sticks

[Antonymous]

I agree with you that eating too much meat can be unhealthy, particularly processed meats and meat from animals that have been pumped with antibiotics, etc. Farmed fish is awful too, not to mention ocean fish full of mercury.

 

But bear in mind that eating too many carbs (particularly sugar) and veggies that are filled with pesticides can be equally bad for your health.

 

Careful selection of all your food to get a good balance is the key. I've been vegan or vegetarian most of my adult life, yet do add a little fish and animal protein occasionally, when I trust the sources.

 

 

 

[clivebaxter]

31 minutes ago, jdean said:

Tofu, tofu, tofu

10 baht upwards, amazing value. I get sakura from Big C 24 baht

[clivebaxter]

5 hours ago, WineOh said:

You actually did visit one?

What was the reason for your visit? 

I have seen them killing pigs in a village. In a cage being stabbed, probably all would have described themselves as 'animal lovers'

[clivebaxter]

Not forgetting 7/11 they frozen kho pat at 30 baht and a very tasty Chinese soup in a round box, 35 baht, they have yellow vegetarian labels on, quite edible.

Edited April 29, 2021 by clivebaxter

[Skeptic7]

Good for you. Now a revelation for you. ..Thailand is one of the absolute easiest countries to be veg/vegan. Traveled internationally for a living with my career of 35 years (vegan for 31 in June). Learn a few Thai phrases on ordering veg or "Jay" dishes. Thai curries and salads are scrumptious without the meat and fish sauce. Learn a few phrases to make sure you want "jay" and then double down by telling them without egg/shrimp/fish sauce, etc...just to make sure. Knowing a bit of essential Thai can turn almost any place "Veg friendly". Might not be suitable for vegans, but sometimes can only do whatcha can. 

 

Every town has Jay food stalls where a filling meal can be had for 40-50 baht. Chantaburi had at least 3 fifteen years ago. Udon Thani has at least 4 open today. Bangkok has many and Pattaya a few. Terminal 21 BKK and Patts has really good, cheap Veg stalls in the food court. There are also many excellent veg/vegan restaurants, but tend to be a bit pricey. Nourish Cafe in BKK is my fave among many. 

 

As a previous poster already mentioned...get the Happy Cow app. Used it all over planet Earth and it's invaluable. Will even help find the small hidden Veg stalls. Found 3 in Chachoengsao a couple years back. 

 

Choke Dee and Bon Appétit. 

[Skeptic7]

32 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

Not forgetting 7/11 they frozen kho pat at 30 baht and a very tasty Chinese soup in a round box, 35 baht, they have yellow vegetarian labels on, quite edible.

Yes the frozen "pak grapao jay" has sated me many a late night over the years. The Chinese Veg Stew along with a side of brown rice does the trick too. 

[Bruno123]

6 hours ago, WineOh said:

I love greek salad.

It's one of my favorite dishes.

Could eat that every day for lunch no problem ???? 

 

Just made one.

 

[bluesnake]

I find this to be a good summary for why people should consider veganism:
https://www.facebook.com/Animals.Are.Friends.Not.Food.AAFNF/photos/a.103138135062961/134655955244512

[pe747]

Best plant base to make burgers from???

 

Black beans and portobello mushroom.

Go to Pinterest.com and search vor vegan burgers. There are thousands of recipes.

Healthier if you do them yourself than buy vegan burgers in store.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

My girlfriend is a vegetarian and took me to good cheap restaurants in the back streets of Chinatown and more expensive but excellent indian restaurants in Silom. 

She makes things like spicy mushroom salads with noodles that with a  few thai ingredients and herbs are really tasty. 

If you get into it the once a year Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October is fun..

[tonray]

5 minutes ago, pe747 said:

Best plant base to make burgers from???

 

Black beans and portobello mushroom.

Go to Pinterest.com and search vor vegan burgers. There are thousands of recipes.

Healthier if you do them yourself than buy vegan burgers in store.

Yup...not difficult to make your own if you have a blender or food processor. I use black beans, some crimini mushrooms, all cooked beforehand, add some spices, some cilantro, some onion, and bind it together with a little potato or corn starch or cooked barley and make some patties that you can fry or bake afterwards.

[Oxx]

Given the previous reference to feta, I thought I'd just point out that feta is not vegetarian:  it's made with animal rennet, typically extracted from the stomachs of butchered young nursing calves.

[Dionigi]

Been a lifelong vegetarian and lived here for more than 30 years. Making most of your food yourself is the easy way. Most vegetarian restaurants seem to cater for meat eaters who still want their food to look and taste like meat. Veg is cheap and plentyful with a very good variety to choose from.

[KarenBravo]

5 minutes ago, Oxx said:

Given the previous reference to feta, I thought I'd just point out that feta is not vegetarian:  it's made with animal rennet, typically extracted from the stomachs of butchered young nursing calves.

 

Cheese and milk is vegetarian. I think you mean it's not Vegan.

The thread title is Vegetarian. Is this wrong? Are you trying to go Vegan?