Hello all:
I just wanted to say "hello" and introduce myself. I live in Washington, DC and I have been a strict ovo-lacto vegetarian (no fish, no gelatin) for almost nine years... I joined JC one month ago and so far I have actually GAINED three pounds!
I am trying very hard not to be discouraged and every day commit myself to sticking it out - each meal, each morsel. I like the frozen foods best and since I am a CARB ADDICT I do enjoy all of the various snacks as well.
Anyway I recently posted a message regarding the March foods on that "feedback" board regarding the new Breakfast Bowl (limited edition). I think it is so shameful and UNNECESSARY that JC added gelatin to that item, which is just so frustrating. I try VERY HARD NOT to eat foods made with gelatin or animal bi-products (although I do admit that I will eat honey), and when I found out AFTER the fact that the BB contains gelatin, I was so angry! Anyway I have mentioned that I won't buy the BB again unless JC actually tosses that ingredient! I mentioned this in my post, and I said that although it may seem like "small potatoes" (pardon my pun) to them, they are losing almost $400/year of MY business if I refuse to buy an alternative to the BB (as a form of protesting). If I DO stick to the plan (I used the personalized menu because the "shelf-stable" foods are practically inedible to me and I am big on FLAVOR), then I would be buying two BB a week at $3.99 each. That is 104 BB a year at a total cost of OVER $400! Imagine if us veggies stuck together on this one and all did the same in protest!!!
Anyway my intent with this post was not to lead the crusade against gelatin in JC food items, but simply to say hello. I guess I always have problems simplifying, find that MUCH-NEEDED balance in my life!
Well I am on an Easter challenge: to lose ten pounds by April 20th... anyone want to join me??????
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OKay, hi. The above post was initially posted in the "Veggie Cheering Section" the other day, but I wanted to start this NEW thread topic, so bear with me (I had to copy and paste my other message above!)
THIS POST IS TO LIST ALL OF OUR FAVE JC VEGETARIAN FOODS.
I like to talk about food, and I like talking with other fellow veggies, so why not? I have seen similar postings on other boards but I wanted to start one JUST FOR US VEGGIES!!!
I will start of by listing MYYYYYYYY faves:
Breakfast: Silver $ Pancakes, Banana Nut Muffin, French Toast
Lunch: Pasta Ole, Personal Pan Pizza, and the Broccoli Stuffed Potato - BUT ONLY with fat-free sour cream or added reduced-fat cheese... otherwise it is too plain!
Dinner: Rising Crust Pizza, Mac and cheese, Stuffed Shells (mmmm.. ), Veggie Burger
Snacks: Cheese curls, trail mix (yum!), sourdough bites, and ALL THREE CAKES!
Truth be told, those blanking cakes are probably what keep me going with this program!!!!!!
Thanks for reading and best wishes for a very successful month of APRIL! I look forward to reading all about you rfavorite veggie selections!!!
DCStarfish

I'm not trying to cause any kind of confusion here, and I admit my ignorance, but I'd like to know why someone wouldn't eat gelatin, but eat cheese? They are both animal products.
I don't eat any kind of meat, poultry, seafod etc, but eat honey, eggs whites, cheese and gelatin. I get disgusted with the blood part of animal products (and confess that eggs and milk gross me out too, but I like cake, what can I say?)
On JC defense, I have to say they don't claim to make vegetarian food and it is up to them to decide how to conduct their business and to us to be their clients, or not.
I surely woould like to enjoy more meatless food, but I'm not forced to stay in the program.
Thank you for reading, for answers. Keep strong!

Thanks for the response...
Like any vegetarian, I became one for very personal reasons. If it were an ideal world and I was a perfect person, I would be a vegan. In fact I have great respect and admire those who can successfully lead a vegan lifestyle. I have tried SEVERAL times to go vegan (and it would be SO much healthier, I know), but unfortunately I go CRAZY without dairy (mostly cheese) and feel deprived and unsatisfied. So I do the best that I can in my vegetarian efforts, and have been a vegetarian now for almost nine years. I even try to incorporate a month that is dedicated to eating solely vegan foods in to the year, but alas, that has only happened twice in the past nine years...
To answer your question directly (finally - lol), I don't eat gelatin because I don't consider it an animal "bi-product," I consider it very much part of an animal, not a "bi-product" of an animal. I do eat dairy and eggs, and even honey, but I refuse to eat any animals. I do not eat any poultry, beef, seafood, anchovies (horseradish sauce, worcestershire sauce, caesar salad dressings, etc.), nothing like that. Gelatin is derived from finely-crushed animal bones and hooves (don't know if you knew that or not), so I consider that a part of an animal, whereas dairy and eggs are "bi-products." I know it may seem hypocritical to some, and that is okay with me, as it is my own personal philosophy of what I choose to use to fuel my body with.
I hope this answers your question... and I do indeed understand that JC is not particularly committed to us "veggies," that is part of the reason I struggled with joining this program in the first place. However, compared to other weight loss programs available, I chose this one. That doesn't mean that I or any other vegetarian should have to settle for what we get. Veg food is healthy for everyone, and not just the "luxury" that it may appear to be to our fellow meat-eating "losers."
JC is the only program where I am happy to call myself a loser... now if only I could actually fit the bill...........................................................

DC Starfish,
Thank you for your reply. Like you, I'd love to be straight but it is wayyy too hard to give up chocolate, cake, pizza etc. Believe me when I say that I absolutely share your opinions and feelings about being vegetarian ( or vegan) and wish JC would dedicate more effort on building a menu for us
I wish you the best! We can do it
PS: I'm sure you understood my question, so thank you again!

My favs: Banana Muffin, pasta ole, mac & cheese.

Hey gals.
I am completely with you on the gelatin and even cheese (rennet) but I have gotten to the point where I am so fed up with being overweight and unhappy that I am willing to eat the "vegetarian" items that contain cheese, gelatin etc.
My husband has a great time teasing me about being a hypocrite, but I think my priorities have changed as I have gotten older and right now getting healthy is priority #1.
When I am in the maintenance phase I plan to switch back to complete ovo-lacto veg, perhaps even vegan (I was a vegan many years ago). But I wish you all the very best with losing and the very best health!

What an interesting thread. Happy to climb aboard.
I must say that I have always wanted to be a vegetarian as far as not eating meat. Especially ground beef. I have always hated all kinds of meat, with the exception of ground beef. Since a child I have always tried to give it up and have failed. Love Tuna fish too, but would rather not eat it, knowing that it was once a live creature.
When on lunch beaks at work I always found myself going to fast food places for Cheeseburgers or Tuna Subs. But then feel bad afterwards.
"ANYWAY!" Since I have been on JC for a little over a year now, I have been able to give up Tuna Subs and Cheeseburgers from fast food places. Love the JC Veggie Burgers with 90 calorie cheese. I spilt the slice of cheese in half and make it a Double Cheese Veggie Burger with half a slice on top and half on the bottom. First I cook it in the Microwave to defrost it and then I brown it in a frying pan, sprayed with PAM and add the cheese and buns and pop into the Microwave to melt the cheese. Love it.!
As long as I know that they did not have to actually kill an animal so that I could enjoy my meal, I am okay with that. JC in a sence helped me to be a meatless person.
I love the Sunshine Sandwich without the meat and I add the cheese like I do to the Veggie Burger. Love the Banana Nut Muffin.
Love the Broccoli and Cheese Baked Potato, the Pasta Ole' and the Spinach and Cheese Tortellini.
Love the Stuffed Shells, the Mac and Cheese too.
Love the Cheese Cake, Cho Cake, Carrot Cake.
Can't eat the new Apple Crumb Cake without wanting more.
Love the Vitamin Bars. Would love it with a Marshmellow middle.
Wish JC pizza's tasted like Papa Joe's or Donatoes so that I could stick to only JC pizza's without craving Papa Joe's or Donatoe's "OR" Pizza Hut stuffed crust.
Yes, I do wish that JC would keep us in mind when coming up with new meals to eat and if there is such a thing as imitation cheese like they have in the Health food stores and rice milk and soy milk then I do not see why animal by products are need. Why they even have imitation scrambled eggs and they are lower in calories than the real eggs etc.
But hey! This is the first time in 23 years that a program has helped me to lose weight, so I am counting my Blessings and JC is one of them.

Has anyone heard of Yves Veggie Cuisine? In my grocery, they have it in the produce aisle. They have vegan deli slices, cheeses - all kinds of stuff. My fave - the penne bolognase. Tastes like Jenny so I didn't have to give it up while waiting for it to come back around.
Here is the website.
Yves Veggie Cuisine
Oops, just checked the nutritionals and the sodium on that entree is really high.

HI Jennifer:
Yes, I LOVE Yves! I posted the following text on another thread about the pizzas that JC sells:
"Are you kidding me?!? The rising crust pizza is my FAVORITE entree! If JC stopped making it I would surely keel over and take my last breaths!

I was so thankful when I started the program to learn they have a pizza with VEGGIE toppings and veggie "meat" as well! As far as the lunchtime "personal pizza," I personally (pun intended) find the sauce kind of spicy, the tomatoes gratuitous, and overall a bit disappointing. So... as an alternative topping to my personal pizzas, I buy Yves brand "VEGGIE PZZA PEPPERONI" and let me give you the nutrition content on these babies:
Serving size: 16 pepperonies
(WHO eats 16 on one of those small pizzas? I usually use four or five at most!)
Calories: 70
Fat: 0 (as in ZERO!)
Cholesterol: 0 (as in ZERO!)
Sodium: 390mg
Potassium: 140mg
Carbs: 4 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Sugars: 0 (as in ZERO!)
Protein: 14 grams (yippee!)
As an ovo-lacto vegetarian who appreciates a variety of food options, these yummy little pepperonies make me SO happy!
Oh yes, and they taste delicious, too!"
DCStarfish

Hey YKWCG, you are one of the few names I recognize from the last time I was regularly on the message board last summer--in fact I remember when we first got the "Vegetarians" heading, that was so exciting!
Anyway, like YWKWCG, I have been on the program (with some hiatuses) for over a year, more like 70 something weeks. And I had and have a substantial amount of weight to lose (posted more about this on the 100+ roll call).
As yummy as some of the JC veggie options are, I still think it is more difficult for us to stick with the program long term because it gets boring eating the same entrees, lunches etc. after awhile--I don't mean after a month or two, but I mean after 10 months or so, it is tough.
I have come close to my halfway point several times (then I do something to sabotage) but NOT THIS TIME!!! I am only a few pounds away and I am determined to get there so that I can pyramid and "officially" eat non-JC foods! Although I am a little nervous, because common sense goes out the window when I try to do a JC size portion on my own, but we'll see....
So--back to the topic question--it is a little hard because since I have been eating the same things for so long, in general my favorite veggie foods are whatever is new--like I loved the enchiladas and the pene pasta when they were on limited release, but I may get tired of them too once they go on the permanent menu soon.
In general, I can eat the mac and cheese and the veggie burgers pretty consistantly for dinner. They changed the recipe a little for the stuffed shells (last fall I think, did anyone else notice that) and they are okay, but I have to increase the cook time.
But one of my issues with the JC veggie entrees is the emphasis on carbs and cheese (both of which I love, but shouldn't eat too much of because they are triggers). So, sometimes I get the chicken fajitas because while it is still frozen it is very easy to pop out the frozen chicken bits (and throw them to my doggies) and when I start the stir fry I add it some tofu or some black beans instead and this is really super.
I have tried to pop the meat (while frozen) out of some of the other meat entrees but I have found it more difficult. It is shocking to me that I would even pick the meat out of anything--I have been a lacto-ovo (and occassionally vegan) vegetarian since I was 16 years old--so for over 17 years, and until desperation hit with the JC food boredom, I had refused to pick the meat out of anything! I still can't do it, if it is really in there and at all mixed in, but that is why I recommend trying it with the fajitas, because that is easy--plus it is nice to get the opportunity to eat tofu!!! yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Let's see current favorites:
Breakfast: Seven Grain Hot Cereal
Lunch: Penne Pasta w/Veggie Bolognase
Dinner: Mac and Cheese or Fajitas with Tofu
Snack: cheesecake and hot apple crisp
Glad to be back on the Veggie Board!!!
Dogfish

Just wanted to say WELCOME BACK to "dogfish," so...
Welcome Back, dogfish!
DCStarfish

thanks Starfish! Are you from DC?
I live in Hawaii now, but I spent a lot of time in the DC area and lived with my grandparents there periodically awhile back!
Dogfish

Yes Dogfish! I got so excited when I finally saw you posting on the board again. I am still here and very grateful for my Husband making me take the Platium Plan when I first started JC.
I am like 17 pounds away from my half way point and seem to be at a stand still but when I do that, I usually start losing lots of inches. Have to get myself into sunning and swimming again now that summer is here. I really miss it, but it is little bit harder to do now that I am working again. I usually come home from work and just want o eat and go straight to bed and rest up for the next day.
Nice having you back again Dogfish. I really missed seeing you posting on the board.
I am so ready to start shopping at the grocery store for foods similar to the JC meals, just to have something different. Kind of scarey isn't it.

PS: DCStarfish and dogfish.....I used to live next to the border line of Washington DC in Suitland Maryland. Lived there for like two years. Got my divorce there from my ex.

Hey ykwcj,
Congrats on being so close to your half way...I hope our weightloss slows will give way to some losing soon though!
Anyway, my sad face is because I am having a bad day at work... I *****ed up in court today and it was my fault and I got sanctioned and yaddah yaddah yaddah... Don't ever become an attorney it isn't worth the stress...
So, I am hoping I don't ***** up my JC today too and do a depression binge...I am at the office so I am safe now...must be very careful when I get home...
I'll check in tomorrow and let you know if I drowned my sorrows at the gym (my current plan) or in the fridge (always a fear).
dogfish

Hey, just checking in. I did manage to go to the gym yesterday...but I also had ho-ho...guess the two will cancel each other out--better than a ho-ho and no gym!
dogfish