Eating vegan

Kathyseiberling
Kathyseiberling Posts: 7 Member
edited December 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Been eating vegan for one month. Finding it hard to get enough protein and I don't feel satisfied--any suggestions?
«1

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Do you want to eat vegan?

    Beans and grains.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Vegans get typically get their protein from beans, grains, tofu, seitan, tempeh, nuts/seeds, and vegetables (not great for a main source, but when you eat lots of vegetables the protein helps boost your overall numbers). Some of us also use protein powders -- vegan varieties include soy, hemp, rice, and pea protein. I can't see your diary so I don't know how many of these foods you're eating, but eating these regularly will help you meet your protein needs.

    When vegans don't feel satisfied, it's often because they're missing the mark on protein or fat needs or possibly not getting enough calories overall.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited October 2016
    This content has been removed.
  • jordan_bowden
    jordan_bowden Posts: 90 Member
    Kathyseiberling wrote: »
    Been eating vegan for one month. Finding it hard to get enough protein and I don't feel satisfied--any suggestions?

    Something that is vital for transitioning into veganism is research. Learn what foods contain what nutrients and how much is in say a cup full of whatever the food is. Protein rich foods are beans and legumes (black beans, kidney beans, white beans, navy beans, chickpeas), lentils, chia seeds, oats, rice, tofu, hemp seeds, walnuts, cashews, almonds, broccoli, peas, peanut butter, quinoa, tempeh, nutritional yeast, and so much more! Hope this helps
  • BeGrandLike
    BeGrandLike Posts: 184 Member
    What the others said! I eat 99% vegan. I eat loads of beans, tofu, seeds, seitan, and things like that. I still find it tough to get my protein in, so I also use hemp protein powder (mainly chosen above other kinds 'cause I'm all about variety in proteins and it's not something I otherwise, er, consume!)- I'll make a shake with almond milk, a banana and a couple scoops of it in the morning.

    I find: I used to eat a lot of nuts but they're really high in calories for what you get, so I don't find them half as satisfying as filling up on beans or lentils or tofu or seitan. It can definitely take a while to get the hang of getting your proteins in when you eat vegan, but it's very doable! Best of luck!
  • Naija82
    Naija82 Posts: 345 Member
    I'm vegetarian, being vegan would be too much of an effort for me and don't really desire to be one. Is it something you want to do or feel you have to do?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited October 2016
    Kathyseiberling wrote: »
    Been eating vegan for one month. Finding it hard to get enough protein and I don't feel satisfied--any suggestions?

    What kinds of things are you eating now? Why aren't you feeling satisfied?
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    AoifeFitzy wrote: »
    I think that maybe it's not very helpful to ask the OP if they really want to be vegan? Veganism isn't some kind of extreme diet.. it's a perfectly ordinary way to be. The OP was asking for help with protein sources, not for people to question their veganism in the first place!

    Yea, but so many people like to add to the discussion by telling somebody that they are wrong.
  • Naija82
    Naija82 Posts: 345 Member
    No one is saying it's an extreme diet but if she is struggling to eat enough protein for a lifestyle she wants to choose I wondering why she is doing it in the first place or whether she has thought it through. That is my question if she doesn't want to answer it that's fair enough. I have many friends who are vegan and they did a lot of research to make sure they did not miss out on important nutrients.
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    edited October 2016
    .
  • CorneliusPhoton
    CorneliusPhoton Posts: 965 Member
    I just had 2 double posts at the same time. Sorry! Glitch in the matrix.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited October 2016
    CorneliusPhoton wrote: »
    AoifeFitzy wrote: »
    I think that maybe it's not very helpful to ask the OP if they really want to be vegan? Veganism isn't some kind of extreme diet.. it's a perfectly ordinary way to be. The OP was asking for help with protein sources, not for people to question their veganism in the first place!

    Yea, but so many people like to add to the discussion by telling somebody that they are wrong.

    I don't think the poster was suggesting that it was extreme or that the OP was wrong...I guess my own question for the OP would be how much thought and thus research went into this decision? Not that it's wrong, it's just that most people I know don't become vegans on a whim without a lot of research into the matter...most I know have tended to transition from omnivore to vegetarian to vegan, gaining a lot of knowledge along the way.
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    Maybe OP, the best thing to do would be a slow transition. If it's a moral issue, you might simply start by finishing off non-vegan foods in your fridge already, then replace them with nutritionally identical ones as you finish them off. You won't save an animal by throwing away the animal-product containing foods you've already purchased (again, if this is a moral or ethical decision, that does matter) and it's important to remember the most important animal to protect is YOU. Your health and safety matters, and it's so important to make sure you're getting adequate nutrition. So slowly switching may be a good choice.

    If you literally can't bear it, donate that food, and consider seeing a dietitian (NOT a nutritionist, a dietitian is a real certified expert, and while some nutritionists are super great and equally skilled, you also risk running into a woo peddler because they are not state certified and aren't required to know what they're talking about before they take you on as a "patient"). A dietitian will have the most up to date information on creating a healthy, nutritionally dense vegan diet for you, the individual. He/She can even tailor the diet specific to your individual concerns about your health or about your other morally based diet decisions (my mother's dietitian is especially well versed in fair trade and environmentally friendly brands for example, if you have the money care).
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    Kathyseiberling wrote: »
    Been eating vegan for one month. Finding it hard to get enough protein and I don't feel satisfied--any suggestions?

    There is only one reason to be a vegan - you philosophically do not believe in using animals for food. That's the one and only reason.
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    AoifeFitzy wrote: »
    I think that maybe it's not very helpful to ask the OP if they really want to be vegan? Veganism isn't some kind of extreme diet.. it's a perfectly ordinary way to be. The OP was asking for help with protein sources, not for people to question their veganism in the first place!

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.
  • staylo1313
    staylo1313 Posts: 47 Member
    There is only one reason to be a vegan - you philosophically do not believe in using animals for food. That's the one and only reason.[/quote]

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.[/quote]

    Who are you to say that there is one and only one reason to become vegan or to say it is not "perfectly ordinary" (whatever that means)?? Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. People on both sides of the vegan fence need to do their research before making comments because a lot of them are just opinions. You can find medical and scientific research that backs up both. There are both vegan and non-vegan people who are extremely healthy and those that are unhealthy. It depends on what you eat and your lifestyle on either way of eating.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,184 Member
    gonetothedogs19 wrote: »
    AoifeFitzy wrote: »
    I think that maybe it's not very helpful to ask the OP if they really want to be vegan? Veganism isn't some kind of extreme diet.. it's a perfectly ordinary way to be. The OP was asking for help with protein sources, not for people to question their veganism in the first place!

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.

    I agree. A vegan diet would be an extreme diet for me. There here is nothing wrong with it but it isn't ordinary. I do agree that the OP was looking for protein sources that fit a vegan diet. But I don't think that asking why they want to be vegan is wrong or rude. Lots of people come on here thinking this they have to go vegan, or low carb, or drink gallons of water per day or any other number of things in order to lose weight. If the OP is not feeling satisfied on a vegan diet and only doing it because they think they need to to lose weight then perhaps they might want to look for a less extreme option. If they are doing it for moral reasons then they need to do a lot of research and asking for vegan protein sources is a good place to start. Lentils, tofu and black beans are all sources of protein.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'd still like to know what the OP is eating...I'm not a vegan by any stretch, but I do eat vegetarian a lot and many of the things I make are vegan friendly...I eat a lot of legumes and lentils and potatoes and such and find them to be very satisfying...I also eat a ton of mushrooms when I really want that meatiness without the meat.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    The discussion of whether or not veganism is "ordinary" seems to be a bit besides the point, at least to me.

    There are plenty of people here who eat in ways that are out of the ordinary but are perfectly happy and healthy. In fact, one could argue that an "ordinary diet" is what brought most of us here in the first place. Even by the simple act of logging and trying to hit a specific goal for calories and/or macronutrients, we're eating in a way that is "out of the ordinary" for many.

  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    I think the only reason it's important to know the reason behind the vegan diet is so we can actively be more sensitive with our advice. It's not wrong to ask, how you deal with the answer is what counts here. If she was going vegan for imaginary health benefits, that'd be the time to say "hey nothing wrong with milk". If she chose veganism out of a sincere desire to not harm animals, then knowing that would be important so we could help her do that. It's just clarification for the sake of giving better advice.
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    staylo1313 wrote: »
    There is only one reason to be a vegan - you philosophically do not believe in using animals for food. That's the one and only reason.

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.[/quote]

    Who are you to say that there is one and only one reason to become vegan or to say it is not "perfectly ordinary" (whatever that means)?? Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. People on both sides of the vegan fence need to do their research before making comments because a lot of them are just opinions. You can find medical and scientific research that backs up both. There are both vegan and non-vegan people who are extremely healthy and those that are unhealthy. It depends on what you eat and your lifestyle on either way of eating.
    [/quote]

    You did not read what I wrote. I did not criticize the OP. I responded to another poster who said that being a vegan was "perfectly ordinary." It is not perfectly ordinary at all, since 98% of Americans are not vegans.

    And there is ZERO scientific research that eating an egg once a week from your neighbor's healthy and happy free-range chickens is detrimental to your health. And for that matter, neither is eating a 16-ounce steak a couple of times a year.

    Being a vegan means major deprivation. Again, if you don't want to use animals for food, that is perfectly fine. But there is no benefit depriving yourself 100% of animal products for health reasons. None.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    gonetothedogs19 wrote: »
    staylo1313 wrote: »
    There is only one reason to be a vegan - you philosophically do not believe in using animals for food. That's the one and only reason.

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.

    Who are you to say that there is one and only one reason to become vegan or to say it is not "perfectly ordinary" (whatever that means)?? Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. People on both sides of the vegan fence need to do their research before making comments because a lot of them are just opinions. You can find medical and scientific research that backs up both. There are both vegan and non-vegan people who are extremely healthy and those that are unhealthy. It depends on what you eat and your lifestyle on either way of eating.
    [/quote]

    You did not read what I wrote. I did not criticize the OP. I responded to another poster who said that being a vegan was "perfectly ordinary." It is not perfectly ordinary at all, since 98% of Americans are not vegans.

    And there is ZERO scientific research that eating an egg once a week from your neighbor's healthy and happy free-range chickens is detrimental to your health. And for that matter, neither is eating a 16-ounce steak a couple of times a year.

    Being a vegan means major deprivation. Again, if you don't want to use animals for food, that is perfectly fine. But there is no benefit depriving yourself 100% of animal products for health reasons. None.[/quote]

    "Deprivation" is defined as not having that which one needs or a damaging lack of basic necessities. Vegans do avoid certain things, but I wouldn't define this as deprivation, especially not a major one.

    Is it something that most people would choose? At this point, no. But to call is "deprivation" seems like an exaggeration. It's certainly not how I, and many other vegans, would describe our lives.
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    gonetothedogs19 wrote: »
    staylo1313 wrote: »
    There is only one reason to be a vegan - you philosophically do not believe in using animals for food. That's the one and only reason.

    I respectfully disagree. Giving up all (100%) meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey (yes, honey) is not perfectly ordinary at all. It's fine if that's how you want to live your life. More power to you. But it is not perfectly ordinary.

    Who are you to say that there is one and only one reason to become vegan or to say it is not "perfectly ordinary" (whatever that means)?? Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean it's wrong. People on both sides of the vegan fence need to do their research before making comments because a lot of them are just opinions. You can find medical and scientific research that backs up both. There are both vegan and non-vegan people who are extremely healthy and those that are unhealthy. It depends on what you eat and your lifestyle on either way of eating.

    You did not read what I wrote. I did not criticize the OP. I responded to another poster who said that being a vegan was "perfectly ordinary." It is not perfectly ordinary at all, since 98% of Americans are not vegans.

    And there is ZERO scientific research that eating an egg once a week from your neighbor's healthy and happy free-range chickens is detrimental to your health. And for that matter, neither is eating a 16-ounce steak a couple of times a year.

    Being a vegan means major deprivation. Again, if you don't want to use animals for food, that is perfectly fine. But there is no benefit depriving yourself 100% of animal products for health reasons. None.[/quote]

    "Deprivation" is defined as not having that which one needs or a damaging lack of basic necessities. Vegans do avoid certain things, but I wouldn't define this as deprivation, especially not a major one.

    Is it something that most people would choose? At this point, no. But to call is "deprivation" seems like an exaggeration. It's certainly not how I, and many other vegans, would describe our lives.[/quote]

    Yes, and you are the happy 2%.

    But tell an overweight person that he/she should give up meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and honey (yes honey) for weight loss, and 98% will run the other way. Why? Because it is a major deprivation.

    And healthy vegan recipes require lots of ingredients and are time consuming to prepare. Can't just throw a piece of chicken or fish on the grill.

    Of course there are extraordinarily healthy vegans. But I am talking about depriving yourself of food that you really enjoy eating, and then limiting you diet to whole grains, lentils, beans, rice, fruit and vegetables. It just doesn't work for the 98%.
  • lissmayer
    lissmayer Posts: 86 Member
    Here are some good resources for awesome vegan food-
    1. Post Punk Kitchen (Veganomicon)
    2. Oh She Glows

    I'm vegetarian- and these two got me through two rounds of forced veganism to accommodate my dairy/soy sensitive nurslings. I still make some things from both even though we are back on the dairy wagon. For me, having really GOOD food was key- and it takes a minute to learn to cook good vegan, if it wasn't always your norm.
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    twinkles2121 wrote: »
    PEOPLE!! Take it to the debate forum. Stop clogging up the OP question with your opinions. There are many reasons for people choosing veganism.

    OP. As others have said. More beans and lentils.
    Check out this link. It may help :)http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/vegan-sources-of-protein/

    If the OP was still with us, I would love to know her reason for being a vegan.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories