Reddit mentions of Bob's Red Mill TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), 10-ounce (Pack of 4)

TVP is a great meat substitute. Not WTF material in the slightest.

http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Textured-Vegetable/dp/B002YR97J2

Textured Vegetable Protein. It can be used in anything that you might put ground meat into, but it's way less expensive than meat, much healthier, and better for the environment.

Look into TVP - Texturized Vegetable Protein. It's pre-dried soy and available in the bulk sections of some health food stores. Bulks up very nice in water, cheap too. This is just one option, some will be unbranded.

It's generally pretty bland, so do try it out at home to learn how to season it. Works best in highly seasoned things like spaghetti sauce, chili, etc.

Textured Vegetable Protein, great for vegans and vegetarians and even if you're not it's a super cheap meat substitute that's great for chili and sloppy joes. One case lasts SO LONG.

Quite a few of the Bob's Red Mill products are cheaper on Amazon than in stores. I get the TVP a couple times a year.
I'm not a vegetarian or anything, as a working parent TVP makes dinner faster/easier! Add a little water and seasoning and you won't be able to tell it apart from ground hamburger. I can make spaghetti with "meat" sauce, chili, tacos, sloppy joes, or hamburger helper in 10 minutes. AMAZING, I love that stuff!

You can try this or this or this or this or this or this. Lots of options. This subreddit is also a great place to come for ideas.

>vegetarian (I could get 3x the protein for the same price through Quorn multibuys)

Oh, vegetarian food that’s rich in amino acids can be much cheaper than resorting to buying Quorn!

Buy dry pulses in bulk, they’re dirt cheap, very versatile, and they don’t spoil. Lentils, beans, peas, and chickpeas. Brown rice, wild rice, and whole wheat flour are also very cheap when bought in bulk.

They’re usually cheapest at Asian markets, but you can also get them at wholesalers (like US Foods, Sam’s Club, and Costco) or even online for delivery.

I would also recommend the following soy based products:

Nutrela soy chunks (the brand most people in India use) - 2.64 lb for $25. (That’s enough for 20 dinners) They’re soft, chewy, and juicy. You can use them in dishes that would usually call for chicken breast. Great in a curry, with sides of green peas and rice.

A recipe to get you started: http://www.bharatzkitchen.com/recipe/masala-nutri-soy-chunks-curry/

TVP (nutri keema) - 2.5 lb for $10. (again, that’s plenty for 20 dinners) Works great in any recipe that calls for minced beef, like chili, stews, and casseroles.

A recipe to get you started: https://hebbarskitchen.com/soya-keema-recipe-soybean-keema/

There are a few replacements that are good in a slow cooker already. In my chilli and beef tacos I use this TVP. I have taken my crock pot vegan chilli to a work potluck and people went crazy for it. They didn't even know there wad no meat.

Some quick thoughts:

• It gets easier, by week 5 or 6 you'll probably stop craving the taste of meat.
  
  
• Taking a supplement isn't a bad idea, it'll ensure you get all the proper vitamins and minerals.
  
  
• TVP is cheap, filling, nutritious and delicious.
  
  
• Don't expect to eat a lot of the fake meats, they're super expensive and not that good for you.
  
  
• Learn to make hummus: Blend together: chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, hot-sauce, salt, pepper, etc.
  
  
• Don't take crap from people that want to harass you for your vegetarianism. Stand up for yourself.
  
  
• Remember the difference between advocacy and preachy-ness. Be kind, firm, and non-judgmental.
  
  
  
  

Amazon has Bob's pretty cheap as well, though I think I want to try the site the OP linked too now.

Thanks for the cooking tips, OP!

In saucy or stew-y dishes, I like to use textured vegetable protein. To prepare, I put it in a microwave-safe bowl, pour in about a 1:1 ratio of stock (with a little more stock than TVP), cover with plastic wrap and microwave. I think the microwave time is on the package. Could easily be done with water or vegetable stock for lent.

I then use it like I would ground beef or pork. The texture is wonderful, but also distinguishable from real meat. I wouldn't put it in an enchilada by itself though; try mixing it with some sauteed veggies like zucchini, onions, mushroom etc. and then stuff the tortilla.

I use it a lot in chili and vegitarian spring rolls.

One of my favorite cooking items is TVP and TVP chunks. They don't taste like anything on their own, they take on the flavor of what they're cooked in. The granules are really good substitute for ground beef in taco filling, gravy, hamburger helper type recipes, anything. The chunks make a really good chicken substitute. Reconstitute some and add it to a crock pot of ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, and cream cheese and eat with Fritos. Holy shit it's good.

Also, of course, there's all kinds of beans, nuts, dairy if she eats that, eggs if she eats that, those sorts of things.

Iron is sometimes difficult for vegetarians too, one quick fix for that is to cook in cast iron, which increases iron content by a crazy amount.

Since I went vegetarian, my cholesterol dropped from 213 to 163 without any other changes in my diet or lifestyle. I don't get sick any more, I'm not deficient in any nutrient, I feel fantastic.

Also head over to /r/vegetarian, lots of good recipes there.

If you don't want to use soy protein powder (Winco sells it pretty cheap), then I suggest some textured vegetable protein. If you have ever had chicken cup of noodles or other types of instant ramen, it's the "meat" in those. Textured vegetable protein is a left over product from soy products manufacturing, so it is pure soy protein. By itself, it is tasteless but the beauty is that it takes on the flavor of ANY liquid you put it in (to rehydrate it). I've mixed it into burgers and meatloaf before and you would never know it is there. Again, Winco near me sells it pretty cheaply but you can get it online too. I keep a bag on hand and usually just throw a small scoop into what ever I am making. It will bulk up a bit as it absorbs any moisture, so I suggest starting out with a small amount until you get used to it.

Have you considered using tvp instead of tofu? Even full carnivores usually like tvp, as it has a similar texture to meat and it soaks up the flavor of whatever you cook it in.

Edit: this is tvp, textured vegetable protein.

Bob's Red Mill TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YR97J2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_9G8Uub185X17F

You can probably find it in a decent grocery store. You would basically take whatever taco seasonings you're using, add water, and then add the tvp and simmer until it's fully hydrated. The tvp will soak up the water and the flavor of the seasonings. Then use it exactly as you would beef in the recipe.

It's super good, I've used it in vegetarian chili and not told people it was full veg. They never noticed!

TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) = 80kCal with 12g of protein. Significantly more protein per calorie than chicken, it's cheaper, and it's shelf stable.

Once I hydrate it, (usually in veggie broth, because I don't eat meat, but you could use beef broth) I use it just like cooked ground beef. It makes fantastic tacos, BBQ sandwiches, salad topper, etc.

ETA: This is the kind I buy: https://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-TEXTURIZED-PROTEIN/dp/B002YR97J2/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474559484&sr=8-1&keywords=tvp+bob%27s+red+mill (I wouldn't bother looking for it in the store unless you live in a large city and have a lot of free time.)

http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-Textured-Vegetable/dp/B002YR97J2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311113151&sr=8-1

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