Vegetarians swaying blue!

[LolaInLove]

So, I am reading this thread again because I am trying to stop eating so much meat: http://genderdreaming.com/forum/showthread.php?788-TTC-Blue-diet-suggestions-Part-1. Both DH and I are on the verge of becoming vegetarians....we have noticed that we feel a lot better when we don't eat meat, plus we've seen a bunch of documentaries lately that are making us not want to eat meat anymore. It's very strange how this is happening, because we are not the kind to be vegetarians for political or "we heart animals" reasons....it's really more nutrition. Anyway, I am going to start experimenting with vegetarian cooking because even though I am ttc in the next couple of weeks again, I want to find some awesome stuff to make that is "high everything"....meaning lots of protein! And I will add that before we ttc, I am not making any huge switches, but am trying to only have meat once a day, yet still keep up my caloric intake so my body doesn't suddenly think it's girly time right before I ttc.

Anyone who is a vegetarian and has boys or is swaying blue please comment here on what you like to eat! And any cookbooks or books that you feel are particularly amazing!

[LolaInLove]

By the way, the movies we have watched include Food Inc, Supersize Me, and most importantly, a new documentary out called PlanEAT, which was mostly about how animal-based proteins are actually not good for you.

[zanacal]

Lola, I was looking for a vegeburger or vegesausage in the supermarket recently as we were having a BBQ and I couldn't believe how much protein was in some of them - I think it was the Linda McCartney sausage which had something like 18g in one sausage! I bet many vegetarians have very high protein diets - pasta, cheese, rice, beans, lentils etc. are all very high in protein :D

[swish]

Hi Lola, I was vegetarian when I conceived ds1 and barely eat red meat at all. I eat a lot of fish, I particularly like it coated in egg and breadcrumbs or home made fish cakes. I also love home made spinach and ricotta cannelloni, nut roast with a roast dinner, mushroom Wellington. My favourite vegetarian cook books are the cranks ones, I love 'the cranks bible' it's by nadine abensur. I've got a really good new one called 'plenty' but haven't been able to use it yet as it's not girl friendly!! I also cook alot of curries, Indian and thai. Oh, I'm so hungry!!!! Let me know if there are particular foods you like to eat and I'll see what I can think of

Just thought hallumi cheese would be good for a boy sway, it's salty and full of fat. It is lovely barbecued on a kebab with peppers, yum!!! I have to stop now my stomach is rumbling!!!

[Indira]

Hi Lola, I was a vegetarian when I had Ds 1. First of all, I´m also a real snacker so I would never have low blood sugar. I did eat fish, about twice a week. And eggs, twice a week. We would eat a mixed bean soup with tomatosauce in it twice a week, I ate a lot of nuts and cheese every day: Gouda like and Italian soft cheeses like robiola, stracchino and ricotta. I also ate a lot of raisins, never realised this swayed untill I saw it on the boy diet, I would put it on my salad everyday and eat about half a bag every evening!!! Plus I always had a large bowl of yoghurt with cereal for breakfast and a glass of milk in the evening (don´t know if I had that in the period we conceived him), so overall I think my protein intake was high, higher than 40-50 g we aim for on the girl diet. For the rest I had pasta at lunch with pesto or tomatosauce or canned tuna. At dinner always vegetables and either fish, eggs or soya. Three pieces of fruit during the day, loved oranges. Ah and I cooked everything in olive oil as we were living in Italy. Even not eating meat I think it was a very boyfriendly diet with lots of nutrients, proteins and good fats.
Hope this helps.

[swish]

I thought of another good boy one, pasta with spinach, roasted pine nuts, creme fraiche and parmesan

[gizmo77]

my neighbor doesnt eat red meat at all. she has 2 boys

[LolaInLove]

THANK YOU! Awesome advice, everyone. I am going to look on Amazon for those books, swish, thanks for the recs for that and all of you, the food recs! I got hungry reading all of that. xxoo

[Flava]

I don't know much about vegetarian food but would love to get the curry recipes from swish!:bigsmile:

[atomic sagebrush]

So, I am reading this thread again because I am trying to stop eating so much meat: http://genderdreaming.com/forum/showthread.php?788-TTC-Blue-diet-suggestions-Part-1. Both DH and I are on the verge of becoming vegetarians....we have noticed that we feel a lot better when we don't eat meat, plus we've seen a bunch of documentaries lately that are making us not want to eat meat anymore. It's very strange how this is happening, because we are not the kind to be vegetarians for political or "we heart animals" reasons....it's really more nutrition. Anyway, I am going to start experimenting with vegetarian cooking because even though I am ttc in the next couple of weeks again, I want to find some awesome stuff to make that is "high everything"....meaning lots of protein! And I will add that before we ttc, I am not making any huge switches, but am trying to only have meat once a day, yet still keep up my caloric intake so my body doesn't suddenly think it's girly time right before I ttc.

Anyone who is a vegetarian and has boys or is swaying blue please comment here on what you like to eat! And any cookbooks or books that you feel are particularly amazing!

Moosewood Cookbook all the way. :agree:

I am going to have TWO boy cookbooks, one for meat eaters and one for vegetarians. Now this may take me 20 years to do but that's my goal anyway.

[atomic sagebrush]

Lola, I was looking for a vegeburger or vegesausage in the supermarket recently as we were having a BBQ and I couldn't believe how much protein was in some of them - I think it was the Linda McCartney sausage which had something like 18g in one sausage! I bet many vegetarians have very high protein diets - pasta, cheese, rice, beans, lentils etc. are all very high in protein :D

Totally! Plus, vegetarian diets are often higher in overall nutrients than the reg. old American meat and potatoes diet. So you can see that a high vegetable protein diet plus healthy veg. would be much better for blue than an overcooked pork chop and a scoop of rice a roni.

[LolaInLove]

Moosewood Cookbook all the way. :agree:

I am going to have TWO boy cookbooks, one for meat eaters and one for vegetarians. Now this may take me 20 years to do but that's my goal anyway.

That would be SO aaaaaawesome! And if you spend 20 years compiling it, I will help you publish it, I swear!!!! I will write a forward for you, LOL.

[LolaInLove]

Totally! Plus, vegetarian diets are often higher in overall nutrients than the reg. old American meat and potatoes diet. So you can see that a high vegetable protein diet plus healthy veg. would be much better for blue than an overcooked pork chop and a scoop of rice a roni.

Well, that is the funny thing about the old school food pyramid....most people in the US are brought up under the illusion that they must eat MEAT, like animal proteins, to be healthy and make a "rounded" diet....myself included! I am just now realizing that I can get enough protein- in fact, a lot- with a well-designed veggie diet.

I may not end up being a pure vegetarian, but am really wanting to learn how to make lots of good vegetarian dishes that I can sub in. Who knows, I may end up doing it fully, but I will likely be an ovo-lacto veggiesaurus, because I like eggs and dairy LOTS.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

[swish]

Hi flava, I love 'madhur jaffrey's Indian cookery' all the recipes are delicious and easy to follow. Loads of recipes come up if you google her name and vegetarian recipes. Let me know if that doesn't work out ad I'm happy to type up some from my cookbook for you

[babydes56]

This makes me feel a lot better about my sway, my DH's a vegetarian. Lola, if you feeling this way about being a vegetarian then go for it. It would be good for your health

[Out of the Blue]

You should read The China Study...It's my fav book in the world! Doesn't get that interesting until page 60-something but after that, you'll be hooked! As for cookbooks aside from what others have mentioned, I love Vegan Planet & Veganomicon (I know you love cheese but you can add it!).

With DS#1, I was a vegetarian and w/DS#2 I was a very strict vegan for almost a year leading up to his conception. I wasn't counting cals and was a size 6-8 (now size 2 again). I ate a lot of soy (even though it sways girl usually), legumes/beans and nuts. I also consumed quinoa quite frequently. It's a great complete protein! I always had Larabars, nuts or Raw Bars stashed in my car. I ate TONS of leafy greens (Kale, spinach, broccoli, wheatgrass, etc.). I used to have Vega (a vegan meal replacement w/lots of vities) for breakfast every morning w/juice or Soy milk. One of my favorite meals was steamed brown rice topped w/steamed kale/carrots/broc/cauliflower/cabbage strips. I would drizzle (okay, drench) everything w/ a sauce made of of Tahini, soy sauce (I used Bragg) and a bit of water. I know tahini is a traditional "girl food" but I really don't think it is unless you eat a teeny, tiny bit (and even still, I don't really buy that it sways "girl"). Can't wait until I can have that again, lol...

Also, if you want to treat yourself to veggie meat once in awhile, I highly recommend http://www.fieldroast.com/products.htm. No so in there, just whole grains, etc. Mexican Chipotle is my favie! You can look on the label and see if it would fit your boy sway or not (???) but I know it sure doesn't fit mine.

I hope this helps! Best of luck to you and throwing lots of boy dust your way!

Edited to add: Almost everything I cooked had garlic and onions in it, FWIW.

[Out of the Blue]

.

[LolaInLove]

Oh yea, I do remember you saying your DH was a vegetarian, Babydes! Thanks for the input! I know I will feel better, we have been pretty much meatless for a week or so now and I feel so much better. I do feel like I am eating a ton, but it is not heavy, filling stuff, so it doesn't bother me as much as the old school boy diet.

OOTB, awesome advice, thank you so much all of the meal suggestions! You know, we saw a film called PlanEAT which is a documentary about 3 doctors who are proponents of vegetarian diets, and it is all about the China Study. I didn't know it was an actual book, though, and will totally check it out!

This is a great thread....thanks for all of the input. Keep the meal, recipe, and food suggestions coming! Hopefully others will find some use out of this also. xxoo

[atomic sagebrush]

You should read The China Study...It's my fav book in the world! Doesn't get that interesting until page 60-something but after that, you'll be hooked! As for cookbooks aside from what others have mentioned, I love Vegan Planet & Veganomicon (I know you love cheese but you can add it!).

With DS#1, I was a vegetarian and w/DS#2 I was a very strict vegan for almost a year leading up to his conception. I wasn't counting cals and was a size 6-8 (now size 2 again). I ate a lot of soy (even though it sways girl usually), legumes/beans and nuts. I also consumed quinoa quite frequently. It's a great complete protein! I always had Larabars, nuts or Raw Bars stashed in my car. I ate TONS of leafy greens (Kale, spinach, broccoli, wheatgrass, etc.). I used to have Vega (a vegan meal replacement w/lots of vities) for breakfast every morning w/juice or Soy milk. One of my favorite meals was steamed brown rice topped w/steamed kale/carrots/broc/cauliflower/cabbage strips. I would drizzle (okay, drench) everything w/ a sauce made of of Tahini, soy sauce (I used Bragg) and a bit of water. I know tahini is a traditional "girl food" but I really don't think it is unless you eat a teeny, tiny bit (and even still, I don't really buy that it sways "girl"). Can't wait until I can have that again, lol...

Also, if you want to treat yourself to veggie meat once in awhile, I highly recommend http://www.fieldroast.com/products.htm. No so in there, just whole grains, etc. Mexican Chipotle is my favie! You can look on the label and see if it would fit your boy sway or not (???) but I know it sure doesn't fit mine.

I hope this helps! Best of luck to you and throwing lots of boy dust your way!

Edited to add: Almost everything I cooked had garlic and onions in it, FWIW.

Thank you SO much OOtB this is invaluable. This would be exactly the sort of diet I would advise a vegan who wanted a boy to follow.

[atomic sagebrush]

PS - I stickied this so we can all keep track of it.

[begonia]

I was veggie for 4 years during college! Loved it actually, but I did do dairy and eggs and rarely would eat fish. DH wooed me on a camping trip by bringing portabellas to grill instead of beef ... his friends made fun of him but he did get the girl :bigsmile:

I gradually added in more meat the years after college, mostly bc DH refused to eat veggie meals (after all, he had me at that point!) but when I got pg with my girls I still probably only ate red meat once every 2-3 weeks, and more days than not I was meatless. I ate a LOT of veggie burger lunches and got really good at making my own ... I might pull that out again since meat hasn't been working well (at all) with this pg.

[swish]

If you are willing to eat dairy, hallumi cheese would be great for a boy sway, high in fat, protein and seriously high in sodium!! It's lovely grilled on the barbie!

[LolaInLove]

Ah sweet, Swish, I will try that! Begonia, LOL at your Dh with the portos.....that was indeed a SMOOTH MOVE.

[CapricornAquarius]

Thanks L, this is great Im not a big meat eater at all, Im lucky to eat meat twice a week.

DD1 :ballerina: DD2 :giggle:

[LolaInLove]

Well, I've been eating meat, just not much of it. I did hope to transition to a meatless diet sooner, but I think I was worried about messing up my sway with a big body change like that, so I wanted to wait. But now, maybe it is a good time to work on that for both DH and I. Maybe the change will help him? Although I worry about him not getting enough protein, hence, T levels not being good, which isn't good for sperm production at all.

[atomic sagebrush]

Update - working on the "InBetweeners" diet cookbook for Blue Swayers who are vegetarians and Pink Swayers who don't want to do the LE Diet...recipes will be protein from beans, grain, eggs, nuts, and dairy.

[LolaInLove]

Update - working on the "InBetweeners" diet cookbook for Blue Swayers who are vegetarians and Pink Swayers who don't want to do the LE Diet...recipes will be protein from beans, grain, eggs, nuts, and dairy.

YOU ROCK!!!! Thank you!

[babydes56]

Since i found out i'm having a girl after being on diet for absolute ages i've been doing a little research about vegetarian men & i found that if DH is a vegetarian you are more likely to have girls but if DW is a vegetarian & DH isnt then there's a better chance of boys. Just something i noticed, it could be just the few i asked

[Plum3]

Since i found out i'm having a girl after being on diet for absolute ages i've been doing a little research about vegetarian men & i found that if DH is a vegetarian you are more likely to have girls but if DW is a vegetarian & DH isnt then there's a better chance of boys. Just something i noticed, it could be just the few i asked

That is interesting actually. A friend of mine who is a vegetarian just had a son. Her DH isn't a vegetarian. I was so convinced she was going to have a girl too.

[babydes56]

Bec, maybe there's something to it. My DH smokes too but i know hundreds of boys who've been conceived when DH smokes so i honestly think i'm having a girl because my DH is a vegetarian. His brother who's also a vegetarian only has girls

[atomic sagebrush]

Since i found out i'm having a girl after being on diet for absolute ages i've been doing a little research about vegetarian men & i found that if DH is a vegetarian you are more likely to have girls but if DW is a vegetarian & DH isnt then there's a better chance of boys. Just something i noticed, it could be just the few i asked

Well, it's been studied and actually found that vegetarians overall do have more daughters BUT there are still plenty of boys born to vegetarians. Some vegetarians have extremely healthful diets with a lot of healthy fats and proteins.

I live nearby a 7th Day Adventist boarding school (so the teachers and their families live at the school along with a lot of their students) and OMG do they have a lot of daughters. Like a crazy amount - 9 out of 10 families were all girls. The only family that didn't have all girls was the pastor's wife and she once told me that her husband was secretly a hunter and they ate meat all the time and no one was supposed to know. Then he lit the house on fire deep frying a corn dog so the secret kinda escaped haha.

[atomic sagebrush]

Bec, maybe there's something to it. My DH smokes too but i know hundreds of boys who've been conceived when DH smokes so i honestly think i'm having a girl because my DH is a vegetarian. His brother who's also a vegetarian only has girls

None of these things are 100% unfortunately. It's all about the fertility factor - if your body and DH's stay fully fertile despite doing "bad" things like smoking, you're still going to have more boys than girls and if yoru fertility is suppressed for some reason despite doing everything "right" you'll still have more girls.

[Lavenderlime]

Just to chip in. I'm a vegetarian and have two boys. My DP isn't. I'm swaying pink this time so diet is different atm but.

I ate loads of jacket potatoes with baked beans and cheese. Roast vegetable wraps, homemade root vegetble soups, Vegetable curries, Pasta bakes. Home made potato wedges, with 5 bean chili. I also eat lots of the quorn product too. I also love salt and season everything. Love crisps (chips).

[LolaInLove]

Well, it's been studied and actually found that vegetarians overall do have more daughters BUT there are still plenty of boys born to vegetarians. Some vegetarians have extremely healthful diets with a lot of healthy fats and proteins.

I live nearby a 7th Day Adventist boarding school (so the teachers and their families live at the school along with a lot of their students) and OMG do they have a lot of daughters. Like a crazy amount - 9 out of 10 families were all girls. The only family that didn't have all girls was the pastor's wife and she once told me that her husband was secretly a hunter and they ate meat all the time and no one was supposed to know. Then he lit the house on fire deep frying a corn dog so the secret kinda escaped haha.

OMG, lol!!!!

[gizmo77]

Well, it's been studied and actually found that vegetarians overall do have more daughters BUT there are still plenty of boys born to vegetarians. Some vegetarians have extremely healthful diets with a lot of healthy fats and proteins.

I live nearby a 7th Day Adventist boarding school (so the teachers and their families live at the school along with a lot of their students) and OMG do they have a lot of daughters. Like a crazy amount - 9 out of 10 families were all girls. The only family that didn't have all girls was the pastor's wife and she once told me that her husband was secretly a hunter and they ate meat all the time and no one was supposed to know. Then he lit the house on fire deep frying a corn dog so the secret kinda escaped haha.

hilarious!!
love that story!
wait are 7th day adventists supposed to be vegetarians?

[atomic sagebrush]

hilarious!!
love that story!
wait are 7th day adventists supposed to be vegetarians?

Yes, they are. They believe animals have souls and go to heaven and it is a sin to eat them (in addition to going to church on Saturday rather than Sunday). In our city, they run a company that sells soy-based meat products and also teach vegetarian cooking classes.

[atomic sagebrush]

Just to chip in. I'm a vegetarian and have two boys. My DP isn't. I'm swaying pink this time so diet is different atm but.

I ate loads of jacket potatoes with baked beans and cheese. Roast vegetable wraps, homemade root vegetble soups, Vegetable curries, Pasta bakes. Home made potato wedges, with 5 bean chili. I also eat lots of the quorn product too. I also love salt and season everything. Love crisps (chips).

Thanks that is very helpful!!!

[LolaInLove]

So, we made the big switch....the whole family, in fact. We are on day 3 of no meat, although we will likely be lacto-ovo folks. So, I have a question- is soy bad for my DH? Especially with his sperm issue? He is pretty excited about the whole vegetarian thing, and we are really kfx that this helps turn around his sperm problem (which may just fluctuate....we have no idea yet, only had one SA but we've had fertilization twice this year, so....).

Lavendarlime, thank you for posting! My goal right now is to make sure I get enough protein, but I don't want to eat too much soy....any of us.....so really trying to find good protein combos and read through my new books.

[LolaInLove]

I have to say, we do not experience the post-meal food coma AT ALL anymore! It's amazing! And I haven't gotten my mid-afternoon must lay head on desk feeling either.

[atomic sagebrush]

So, we made the big switch....the whole family, in fact. We are on day 3 of no meat, although we will likely be lacto-ovo folks. So, I have a question- is soy bad for my DH? Especially with his sperm issue? He is pretty excited about the whole vegetarian thing, and we are really kfx that this helps turn around his sperm problem (which may just fluctuate....we have no idea yet, only had one SA but we've had fertilization twice this year, so....).

Lavendarlime, thank you for posting! My goal right now is to make sure I get enough protein, but I don't want to eat too much soy....any of us.....so really trying to find good protein combos and read through my new books.

Yes, it is not so hot for sperm count unfortunately.

Try this as a burger replacement - 1/2 c quick oats, 1 c brown rice, 1 c lentils 2 c water or broth, simmered covered until rice is done adding more water if need be. Then you can fry it in some butter just like hamburger patties and it's really good. Even my husband will eat this and he hates vegetarian food.

[LolaInLove]

Yes, it is not so hot for sperm count unfortunately.

Try this as a burger replacement - 1/2 c quick oats, 1 c brown rice, 1 c lentils 2 c water or broth, simmered covered until rice is done adding more water if need be. Then you can fry it in some butter just like hamburger patties and it's really good. Even my husband will eat this and he hates vegetarian food.

That sounds awesome! I will try it tonight, thanks! We are continuing to read and learn about non-soy sources of vegetarian protein. I know soy is not the best for any of us. I am really hoping that the switch to a plant-based diet does something good for him. We all certainly feel better. My kids even told me today that they don't get tired at school anymore.

[atomic sagebrush]

That is really good to know! I wish mine would be willing to give it a try too!

[soni]

This is an interesting thread. I am primarily a vegetarian. When I conceived DD I was on a vegetarian diet but not a healthy one. I had dairy - low/non fat milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit, lots of carbs - pasta, bread, rice, potato, baked goods, few veggies, no nuts or seeds, no supplementary vitamins. Oh and i craved carbs and sweet things.

I changed my diet a year and half ago as I had crazy migraines and read a book which recommended plant based foods as a solution. I started eating a lot of greens - kale, spinach, collards, lettuce - both raw and cooked, lots of fruit, ate carbs but fibrous ones - brown rice, whole grain bread and had beans, lentils, pulses everyday. I also got a handful of nuts in everyday, reduced my sodium intake and dairy (had some yogurt, cheese but no milk). I eat some eggs, fish, chicken occasionally. This was on the weekdays. Weekends we did indulge as usual. What happened was my migraines totally went away, I was eating a lot but I lost about 15 pounds of excess weight which I carrying since I had DD, and I had tons of energy. Woke up easily in the morning (which I have never been able to do), had no post lunch slumps at work and had no gastric/acidity tummy issues at all. I also stopped craving carbs. TMI.. became very regular in the bathroom. Oh and when AF came the cramping and pain was a lot less and AF reduced by about a day/half a day.

I am still following the diet above and hoping that its good for TTC a boy!

[atomic sagebrush]

Soni, that's a great boy diet! keep up the great work!!

[LolaInLove]

Right on, Soni, thanks for sharing! I have admittedly been bad about meat- I've been having a bit in the evening. Even though I am not really swaying much anymore, I have this little nagging part of me that says, hey, really work at becoming a good veggiesaurus AFTER you have a baby. I kinda worried that changing my diet might affect my fertility somehow, but my DH is doing a better job at it than I am. He is a hummus monster now, LOL.

I totally believe it can improve many ailments if you are eating right!!!

[soni]

Soni, that's a great boy diet! keep up the great work!!

:) Thats great to know it a good diet for TTC a boy as I get very little meat

[soni]

Right on, Soni, thanks for sharing! I have admittedly been bad about meat- I've been having a bit in the evening. Even though I am not really swaying much anymore, I have this little nagging part of me that says, hey, really work at becoming a good veggiesaurus AFTER you have a baby. I kinda worried that changing my diet might affect my fertility somehow, but my DH is doing a better job at it than I am. He is a hummus monster now, LOL.

I totally believe it can improve many ailments if you are eating right!!!

Lola,I believe it too! I dont think eating meat is bad but its great if you can supplement it with a lot of healthy goodness like veggies - esp green leafy ones, fruit, nuts. Oh and I think because it improves a lot of things it may improve fertility too. My dad tried a similar diet and his bad cholesterol went down, the good one went up and the blood pressure came down.

Oh.. I forgot to add...I feel happy, optimistic almost always after changing my diet. I did not realize how much your diet affects you!

Btw.. I am hummus monster too :rofl:.. love the stuff!

[LolaInLove]

Lola,I believe it too! I dont think eating meat is bad but its great if you can supplement it with a lot of healthy goodness like veggies - esp green leafy ones, fruit, nuts. Oh and I think because it improves a lot of things it may improve fertility too. My dad tried a similar diet and his bad cholesterol went down, the good one went up and the blood pressure came down.

Oh.. I forgot to add...I feel happy, optimistic almost always after changing my diet. I did not realize how much your diet affects you!

Btw.. I am hummus monster too :rofl:.. love the stuff!

Well, a previous poster in this thread (can't remember without looking back) recommended this book The China Study, which I read and loved. Basically points out how meat eaters tend to get more disease based on this huge nutrition study done over a long period of time. We tried to go cold turkey lacto-ovo veg (kids too) and they all were fine, but I got SUPER fatigued after a week of it. I read about vegetarians sometimes suffering from a lack of aminos or b vitamins, so I started drinking an EmergenC each day, which cleared that up. But, I think I fear that changing to a strict veg diet may not be best while still ttc, so we just eat a little meat here and there.

Soni, I totally think a healthy diet (not to mention staying hydrated and well-rested) does wonders for the chemicals in our brains and makes mood much, much better.

Our whole family is now addicted to hummus and nuts....we pretty much eat it daily. My girls said they get made fun of for having hummus in their lunchboxes, but they just say, "Yea, I'm probably a lot healthier than you are with all of that junk food in your lunch." LOL

[envisioned]

Soni - your diet is very similar to what I've changed mine to. I am not a vegeterian or a vegan but I changed my diet to be say 6 days out of 7 towards that to help me lose my baby weight. And it helped a lot. But I wasn't a huge meat eater to begin with. Dairy is my weakness. Esp pizza.

What I'm finding with this diet however is that I am eating a lot better than I ever have. Even on the IG boy sway stuff, I would never feel good. I was bloated. Headaches. Lethargic. With this I am getting more nutrients than I ever have with kale and nuts and beans etc and I am very concious of cooking whole good hearty food. Which is why I started the diet b/c if you go quasi vegan, you really have to pay attention and make yourself cook. Now we're not TTC-ing right but unlike last time, I am ensuring that if we ever have an accident, I want to make sure my body and diet is ready "just in case".

[love-my-kids]

Im a vegetarian and have been since I was 9 and I have 4 boys and only 1 girl. I do eat a lot of soy, cereal, whole grain, and beans though.

[HopingForPigtails]

You should read The China Study...It's my fav book in the world! Doesn't get that interesting until page 60-something but after that, you'll be hooked! As for cookbooks aside from what others have mentioned, I love Vegan Planet & Veganomicon (I know you love cheese but you can add it!).

With DS#1, I was a vegetarian and w/DS#2 I was a very strict vegan for almost a year leading up to his conception. I wasn't counting cals and was a size 6-8 (now size 2 again). I ate a lot of soy (even though it sways girl usually), legumes/beans and nuts. I also consumed quinoa quite frequently. It's a great complete protein! I always had Larabars, nuts or Raw Bars stashed in my car. I ate TONS of leafy greens (Kale, spinach, broccoli, wheatgrass, etc.). I used to have Vega (a vegan meal replacement w/lots of vities) for breakfast every morning w/juice or Soy milk. One of my favorite meals was steamed brown rice topped w/steamed kale/carrots/broc/cauliflower/cabbage strips. I would drizzle (okay, drench) everything w/ a sauce made of of Tahini, soy sauce (I used Bragg) and a bit of water. I know tahini is a traditional "girl food" but I really don't think it is unless you eat a teeny, tiny bit (and even still, I don't really buy that it sways "girl"). Can't wait until I can have that again, lol...

Also, if you want to treat yourself to veggie meat once in awhile, I highly recommend http://www.fieldroast.com/products.htm. No so in there, just whole grains, etc. Mexican Chipotle is my favie! You can look on the label and see if it would fit your boy sway or not (???) but I know it sure doesn't fit mine.

I hope this helps! Best of luck to you and throwing lots of boy dust your way!

Edited to add: Almost everything I cooked had garlic and onions in it, FWIW.

Pretty much exactly how both DH and I eat and we have 2 kids, both boys! I was raised vegetarian and have always been a size 0 or size 2. I eat all of the time but it is always foods high in nutrients. Another thing DH and I love to do is make a "smoothie" in the morning with kale, mango, pineapple, alfalfa sprouts (great protein!) and coconut water. Blend until completely smooth (you need a heavy duty blender- we have a Vitamix). Even our boys love it!!

I would advise the bit swayers that it's not necessarily about gaining weight (I've always been thin)- but thinking about maximum nutrition for EVERYTHiNG you put in your mouth. If you eat lots of white processed stuff PLUS try to compensate with lots of veg and healthy fats- you'll prob gain weight. But if you stick to healthy fats (I eat half an avocado a day as well as lots of hemp oil, olive oil, and almonds), lean proteins, and TONS of antioxidant rich foods (blueberries, kale, beets, broccoli, etc), you'll do great!!

[atomic sagebrush]

Great advice as always HFP!! Blue swayers need to eat smarter, not harder!! Max nutrients for min. calories because we don't want anyone to gain too much.

I ate SO MUCH avocado before I conceived DS 3. I think he's like 47% avocado.

[atomic sagebrush]

Im a vegetarian and have been since I was 9 and I have 4 boys and only 1 girl. I do eat a lot of soy, cereal, whole grain, and beans though.


Vegetarians can and do have many boys, it's just that the overall trend is that across the entire population, vegetarains/vegans have more daughters than meat eaters. Protein and healthy fats = boys! :)

[LolaInLove]

Great advice as always HFP!! Blue swayers need to eat smarter, not harder!! Max nutrients for min. calories because we don't want anyone to gain too much.

I ate SO MUCH avocado before I conceived DS 3. I think he's like 47% avocado.

YES, I agree, great advice, HFP! That was my problem- just too much of everything. I really want a Vitamax blender myself and want to start juicing for my kids also.

[Pearl327]

This is great information. I have been a vegetarian for about 22 years now. But when I was a child and first turned veggie I developed really bad habits as I had gone off meat but didn't really like vegetables (probably because they were overcooked mush - sorry mum) and the varity of foods in Ireland at the time was very poor to the normal shopper eg. Beans were just baked beans. So I went for about the first 12 years of me being a veggie eating potatoes, chips, pizza, beans on toast, sugary breakfast cereal and lots and lots of fatty cheese. Since then I have grown to love my veg and you can now get every varity of bean and lentil in the shops but even up to last year I had been a calorie rich nutrient poor veggie with high cholesterol and about 6 months after my DD was born I realised that by eating such terrible bad fatty foods that I may not make it to see my little girl off to college or walk down the aisle or even to become a grandmother myself.

I have completely changed my diet now thoughand I have lost over 20lb now a size 8/10 UK (4/6 US) with BMI of 22 and a 5% drop in my Body fat levels to be in the healthy 25%.
I
am gathering together all my recipes that are high in protein, high in good fats and low in saturated fats in preparation for my blue sway. I can share them if you like and of course if Atomic approves of them, but I think I will need another good week or two to work on them

[atomic sagebrush]

We :heart: recipes and that would be wonderful!!!!

[LolaInLove]

Yes! Thank you! I have started eating meat again, but we do eat veg meals about 3 or 4 nights of the week. Right now, I am on a big weight loss thing for a few weeks so I only eat a small portion of lean meat and steamed veggies 3x a day, but I once I start adding carbs back in, I am going to try some more veg recipes. I subscribed to Vegetarian Times, which is pretty cool, but there are not as many non-soy recipes as I'd like. I am not a big fan of eating much soy, so that is kind of a challenge.

[atomic sagebrush]

I totally agree on Vegetarian Times Lola! It's all soy, all the time.

[LolaInLove]

I totally agree on Vegetarian Times Lola! It's all soy, all the time. And way more food ads that I anticipated, too! I don't think I cut a single item out of the last issue. I really use my How to Cook Everything Vegetarian (Mark Bittman) cookbook the most.

[Pearl327]

Hi Lola, I totally agree with you about the soy. I am not a big fan of it either except in the form of tofu or its natural bean state. I have posted some of my recipes in the dream member TTC Boy section (European measurements though as they are the ones I am most comfortable with). Hope you enjoy.

[soni]

And way more food ads that I anticipated, too! I don't think I cut a single item out of the last issue. I really use my How to Cook Everything Vegetarian (Mark Bittman) cookbook the most.

Lola, I love the Mark Bittman's book. I borrowed it from a friend and seeing that I liked it so much she surprised me with one for me as a gift! It is awesome!!

We also do the smoothie thing every morning. We used a crappy blender earlier as the Vitamix was so over my budget. Then finally decided to splurge on it (a factory recondtitioned model which is slightly cheaper but with the same great 7 year warranty). It made life so much easier and our smoothies were now completely smooth.. lol. I love it to bits and put all kinds of things in the smoothie - kale/spinach, avocado, wheatgrass, mango/banana, tomato, a handful of nuts. It makes getting nutrients so much easier!

[soni]

Hi Lola, I totally agree with you about the soy. I am not a big fan of it either except in the form of tofu or its natural bean state. I have posted some of my recipes in the dream member TTC Boy section (European measurements though as they are the ones I am most comfortable with). Hope you enjoy.

I don't like soy either. It too processed and I am not sure if it does more harm than good. We do eat a bit of it use it in soy sauce or wasabi soy beans and edamame.. yum!

[LolaInLove]

Hi Lola, I totally agree with you about the soy. I am not a big fan of it either except in the form of tofu or its natural bean state. I have posted some of my recipes in the dream member TTC Boy section (European measurements though as they are the ones I am most comfortable with). Hope you enjoy.

Thanks, Pearl! I will check that out! I just worry about the phytoestrogenic effect for all of us. Can't be good for guys with low sperm count, or little growing girls either.

[LolaInLove]

I don't like soy either. It too processed and I am not sure if it does more harm than good. We do eat a bit of it use it in soy sauce or wasabi soy beans and edamame.. yum!

That is pretty much the extent to which we eat it also. Have you ever tried the Bragg's soy sauce? It's actually called liquid aminos, and it tastes better than the usual stuff.

I gotta get a good blender!!! I know Atomic likes the Omega juicers, trying to decide which one. I've got a little fund jar going for it, so hopefully we can get one in the next few months. Neither of them are cheap, but considering the health benefits, it's money well spent. I would really like to get the kids into it also....they would like going shopping and making up recipes for smoothies. Such a great way to get all those nutrients into them.

[Pearl327]

Thanks, Pearl! I will check that out! I just worry about the phytoestrogenic effect for all of us. Can't be good for guys with low sperm count, or little growing girls either.

I know I am concerned too, but with all the advice about different foods out their I follow the everything in moderation philosophy. I wouldn't have soy more than twice a week. and I try and use that across all my foods. (I usually fail at breakfast time and have the same thing 5+ times a week) So if I have a tofu meal 1 day, I might have a bean meal the next, an egg based one after that , then a lentil based one and a different bean based one. I do the same with my nuts and fruits and veg (at least one from the rainbow every day) so that I am eating as broad spectrum of foods a possible.

My DH and DD are not vegetarian but both happily eat my meals. DH gets fed his meat based 1pm dinner at work and DD gets hers in creche 4 days a week. I have not given DD soy products yet it is just the bean, egg and lentil meals she shares with us and DH will not be getting any soy from the start of July which will be out 3 month lead in to TTC.

[LolaInLove]

That sounds like a solid plan, Pearl. I love that my kids like veg meals as well, and my DH. I think that is the hardest thing about a veg diet is trying to plan out your week's intake so you have a good variety. I would be much better at that if I didn't work 12 hours a day!!!

[soni]

That is pretty much the extent to which we eat it also. Have you ever tried the Bragg's soy sauce? It's actually called liquid aminos, and it tastes better than the usual stuff.

I gotta get a good blender!!! I know Atomic likes the Omega juicers, trying to decide which one. I've got a little fund jar going for it, so hopefully we can get one in the next few months. Neither of them are cheap, but considering the health benefits, it's money well spent. I would really like to get the kids into it also....they would like going shopping and making up recipes for smoothies. Such a great way to get all those nutrients into them.

Nope Lola, I have seen Bragg's at Whole foods - will pick one up on my next shopping trip. I love food network. I like how they use the same Vitamix blenders on many of the shows like Chopped All Stars! I debated long and hard before getting one. DH freaked when I told him how much the blender was going to cost - he kept saying but its a belnder! Money on a good blender is truly well spent specially if you use it everyday!

[Pearl327]

I hear you Lola, you have to be very organised in order to eat well all week. Between the commute and working hours I am out of the house for a minimum of 11 hrs a day (I am lucky that I can work a 4 day week so that I have 3 days to spend with DD). When I went back to work after DD I started weekly menu planning on a Friday so that I know what I have my list for my saturday shop and I usually batch cook on a sat evening so that I have meals in the freezer. Then I just need to remind myself to take them out before I go to work.

Soni I would love a good blender, the one I have at the min is only OK and I wouldn't be tempted to use it very often. But my next kitchen equipment purchase is a juicer that can handle all veg. I am still researching it. My last one had given up after many years of good service. It could handle root veg no problem but was very poor at juicing soft and leafy fruits and veg so I used to just throw these into the blender with the juice but that leads to double the washing up.

[LolaInLove]

Pearl, that is exactly what I need to do, some good planning each week. I have done it some weekend when I had time to sit down for an hour or two on Saturday morning before the big shop, but many days we just wing it at the store.

Soni, I hear you, they are SO expensive, but supposed to last forever. Our crappy Oster one only lasted about 6 months and couldn't blend anything, but that's what you get for $30.

I am going to either go with Vitamax or one of these Omega ones: Amazon.com: omega juicers (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=omega+juicers&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4307804537&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13125873571367123230&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_9kjoaqypyi_b)

Let me know what you gals think! We can comparison shop together.

[LolaInLove]

Pearl, that is exactly what I need to do, some good planning each week. I have done it some weekend when I had time to sit down for an hour or two on Saturday morning before the big shop, but many days we just wing it at the store.

Soni, I hear you, they are SO expensive, but supposed to last forever. Our crappy Oster one only lasted about 6 months and couldn't blend anything, but that's what you get for $30.

I am going to either go with Vitamax or one of these Omega ones: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=omega+juicers&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4307804537&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13125873571367123230&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_9kjoaqypyi_b

Let me know what you gals think! We can comparison shop together.

[LolaInLove]

Sorry for double post, site is weird today!

[atomic sagebrush]

I hear you Lola, you have to be very organised in order to eat well all week. Between the commute and working hours I am out of the house for a minimum of 11 hrs a day (I am lucky that I can work a 4 day week so that I have 3 days to spend with DD). When I went back to work after DD I started weekly menu planning on a Friday so that I know what I have my list for my saturday shop and I usually batch cook on a sat evening so that I have meals in the freezer. Then I just need to remind myself to take them out before I go to work.

Soni I would love a good blender, the one I have at the min is only OK and I wouldn't be tempted to use it very often. But my next kitchen equipment purchase is a juicer that can handle all veg. I am still researching it. My last one had given up after many years of good service. It could handle root veg no problem but was very poor at juicing soft and leafy fruits and veg so I used to just throw these into the blender with the juice but that leads to double the washing up.

The Omegas have a model that is specially designed to handle root veg, greens, and soft fruits and ours works very well for all fo them - it's been going strong for 10 years now (sometimes used daily) and the only thing we ever had to replace was the juicing screen got dull and it stopped juicing soft fruit as well. We only had to replace the screen once in that time.

[LolaInLove]

Atomic, what model do you have?

[atomic sagebrush]

8001 but I think there are new and improved ones now - just be sure to get the ones that are all-purpose!!!

[suregena]

Lola, I was looking for a vegeburger or vegesausage in the supermarket recently as we were having a BBQ and I couldn't believe how much protein was in some of them - I think it was the Linda McCartney sausage which had something like 18g in one sausage! I bet many vegetarians have very high protein diets - pasta, cheese, rice, beans, lentils etc. are all very high in protein :D


Me in a nutshell! :P

[LolaInLove]

I am starting to like the Field Grains sausages a lot! They are right up there also.

Man, I REALLY want a juicer now!!! Those suckers are such an investment, not something I can buy off the cuff with our lovely budget, but I think money well spent. Maybe will start an "Omega Fund" in same random jar in the house, LOL

[strawberrymom]

I just wanted to give hope to the vegetarians out there as I have been one forever and conceived 2 boys. I did eat a lot of protein- beans galore, spinach, dairy foods, etc. My favorite is always to take a bunch of veggies and make a pasta(always ate added protein pasta) stir fry.

[Atsaukina1]

I was raised vegetarian and am still today. I have 3 boys. I do not buy immitation meat foods(highly processed,soy). Doing this girl sway I see how hard it is to keep protein low,it's in everything. I love mexican food,italian,everything just w/o meat lol. Also if yu still eat dairy,eggs(not vegan) than you have so many options still open to you. Might also want to keep in wild fish if your problem is w/ meat farming practices:)

[BabyGirl4Me]

So glad I found this thread! Kudos to those of you trying a vegetarian lifestyle. I can't bring myself to eat meat for many reasons and I conceived a boy on a very vegan diet. I was eating a lot of mexican food (especially loaded with guacamole) so if you like it, pile it high on your veggie burritos and tacos, and if you're eating tacos have an extra one while you're at it. I would also suggest lots of green tea for moms trying for blue. I drank a cup of green tea every morning at my old job to start my day, and always ate super healthy breakfast cereals - yet another great blue food that is veggie friendly. I know a lot of "boy diets" are very pro-meat, but you can conceive blue on a veggie diet. I'm living proof.

Good luck to all of you ladies and I'm sending lots of my blue dust your way. ;)

[Pearl327]

Thanks for this babygirlforme. I have been vegetarian since I was 8 so about 22 years for me, so there was no way I could bring myself to eat meat. But this time around I ate loads of Mexican foods. So here is hoping I get the same results as you. With my DD I rarely ate beans and my diet was very low in protein. I was pretty much a classic LE sway without knowing it

[coffee]

Thanks

[3girlsnwaiting]

I have been a Vegan for the past 3 years. My first two girls were conceived while I was still eating meat and dairy. My last DD was conceived while eating my Vegan diet. My hubby due to some health issues has given up red meat. He still eats, chicken, turkey, and seafood mostly fish and shrimp. I am hoping to conceive a boy this time. I will be trying the boy diet. I am a breastfeeding Momma and my LP seems to be 8 days right now. It did take me several months to conceive DD3. I am thinking my LP was short then too (i was a breastfeeding Momma then too) but I did not know because I did not chart back then. Any specific advice?

[atomic sagebrush]

I would increase fat intake and do coconut oil at every meal!!!

[3GMomPraying4Boy]

Hi I'm new here and was just looking through the sight.
I'm Canadian, with an Indian ethnic background.
I'm too am vegetarian but DH is not. I do not consume meats, fish or egg.
Many Indians/Hindus/Sikhs are strict vegetarians despite being vegetarians many of them have boys. I've tried to observe any differences between what I eat and what they eat and have found none. And a lot of my friends have boys no girls I don't get it.

So Indian food and curries have a lot of protien from beans, tofu, Paneer (homemade cheese), nuts. And are prepared with spices and salt.

Black Chick Peas Boiled in water with salt are good.
You boil them until they are soft. Then You drink the boiled salt water and then use the Black Chick Peas in salads or just saute them with veggies and spices. I have a lot of recipes but I don't know if they would fit the boy diet.

[atomic sagebrush]

None of these things are magic bullets, they are just things that are statistically shown in studies to alter the gender ratio. Usually it is no more than 3-5% points and that means that there are STILL tons of both genders conceived in either demographic.

[atomic sagebrush]

We would love to hear the recipes though! :)

[Auzair]

Hi I'm new here and was just looking through the sight.
I'm Canadian, with an Indian ethnic background.
I'm too am vegetarian but DH is not. I do not consume meats, fish or egg.
Many Indians/Hindus/Sikhs are strict vegetarians despite being vegetarians many of them have boys. I've tried to observe any differences between what I eat and what they eat and have found none. And a lot of my friends have boys no girls I don't get it.

So Indian food and curries have a lot of protien from beans, tofu, Paneer (homemade cheese), nuts. And are prepared with spices and salt.

Black Chick Peas Boiled in water with salt are good.
You boil them until they are soft. Then You drink the boiled salt water and then use the Black Chick Peas in salads or just saute them with veggies and spices. I have a lot of recipes but I don't know if they would fit the boy diet.

Hey r u sweet3gmommy??? Rite??


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[kitkat18]

I conceived 2 boys being a vege X

[Ashforblue]

So, since this is the kind of vegan diet I eat, I should be fine for boy sway?

[Ashforblue]

I mean with eating lots of plant protein, lots of nuts, And high fats food that I'm eating already... I also eat lots of greens..... I guess the only thing I need to do better is eat a breakfast instead of my usual brunch....

[atomic sagebrush]

Tons of vegans get boys - just up protein and Omega 3 fats as outlined in this thread and you should be fine! http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gender-swaying-general-discussion/39013-skinny-fats-pink-blue.html

[Atsaukina1]

Just saw this group. I'm a pink swayer but Def. Possible for you ladies as I was raised vegetarian. As an adult I occasionally eat salmon( only fish I eat) so I do not call myself a vegetarian anymore. I have 4 boys and find it very difficult to stay under protein and fat on girl diet. Also have a vegan friend who just had a son. He is now 2 and man what a big healthy boy.

[Throwaway_panther]

So what's the verdict on hummus and tahini? Ok for a boy sway so long as overall fat intake is still more animal (if not a vegetarian) and/or protein is high?

I've seen both hummus and halloumi cheese recommended in both the TTC BOY and TTC GIRL threads, haha. So I'm guessing it's still just a ratio game?

[atomic sagebrush]

Exactly.

There are no boy or girl foods. So lots of foods can fit in as a part of either diet (this is the deal with coconut water too).

[BoyDream]

Do we have any statistics for successful vegetarian sways? Please share if it’s recorded somewhere.


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[atomic sagebrush]

No, it's something we definitely need to track though. We have absolutely had several successful vegetarian and vegan sways on here but we haven't had the ability to track this in a way that you guys can see. Working on that!

[krkr]

Following

[BoyDream]

No, it's something we definitely need to track though. We have absolutely had several successful vegetarian and vegan sways on here but we haven't had the ability to track this in a way that you guys can see. Working on that!

Thanks Atomic!


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[Tali.kah]

Following ! I'm vegetarian and don't eat eggs so I'm relying heavily on nuts, beans, lentils, dairy and sometimes protein bars/shakes to make my diet more balanced!

I find that if I don't watch what I eat I can easily just eat pretty much all carbs for lunch or dinner.

Prior to my sway I had given up cows milk and was heavily into plant milks, I'm hoping my reintroduction of whole cows milk helps!

[BoyDream]

Looks like there are a few vegetarians swaying blue now. Those of you with successful sways, please provide your suggestions on the meal plan, if possible.


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[SwayBoy]

For the boy swayers with a vegetarian DH - did you have luck in your sway? I see that if the DH is also vegetarian then it might sway pink - makes sense since we have a DD already.

Let me know!

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[atomic sagebrush]

We have definitely had a lot of vegetarian men get boys - hoping people chime in with their experiences!

[SwayBoy]

Bump please!

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[Jinky]

i am a vegetarian for 25 years and i have 4 boys.
i had always breakfast till last year.
Eating a lot of times in 24 hours, because i don't like to be hungry.
I love diary, always eat a lot of it.
Eating healthy(every day vegetables and fruit) but also a lot of sweet food, like cookies and chocolate.
i had prenatal supplements with my first 2 boys
Sorry for my bad english.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you Jinky!!!