Eating like a vegetarian for med reasons questions???

briannadunn

I am following a vegetarian diet because I have digestion problems and sodium intolerance:grumble: . I also cant have things with a lot of fat, no beef, and cant eat or drink milk products, goes right through me , and I cant eat bread products because I get infections:blushing: . ANYHOW, I was wondering what people would suggest would be good to up my calories healthfully and if anyone else has had success dropping weight after cutting curtain foods out? I eek out 1200-1400 calories all the time but I read a lot about eating more to lose weight successfully, Any thoughts would be appreciated.

gingerveg

Nuts/ nut butters and avocados are all high calorie/ fat and delicious. I live for tahini and blueberry jam on toast (sorry about the bread since you can't have carbs).

ETA: as long as you don't eat a ton of sugar I think you'll lose weight without even trying on a veg. diet. I've never been overweight (well not according to BMI anyway) and I've been veg. for decades. I know that is not true for all veg., but I think it is the carbs and sugar that get some. Good luck!

briannadunn

Yum, no joke, my doctor's wish people had my issues, I just glared at him and my new doctor said it is hereditary, my Grandmothers (yep, both sides have issues) were just like me and so is my Dad.

gingerveg

Aww I'm sorry darling but I do hope you learn to enjoy all that being vegetarian has to offer. Is it the gluten that you can't have (in regards to bread)? If so can you have other types of grains like spelt and buckwheat? Also introduce yourself to quinoa if you can't have rice. Try to rotate foods as much as possible and don't rely heavily on soy --there are so many other options. Join the veggie threads to find some spectacular recipes.

CynthiasChoice

Do you eat lentils and beans? If grains are a problem for you, you're probably missing eating carbs. I make bean soups all the time, loaded with veggies and it's very filling. Legumes help reduce food cravings, too, and give you a feeling of well being. Lots of fiber, too, which helps off-set the carb load.

CynthiasChoice

Oh, I forgot to mention, but if these problems are new to you, you might want to look into taking probiotics. Doctors don't often recommend them unless the patient specifically asks about them. If your doctor can't help you with this, hopefully you have knowledgeable people working at your local health food store that can recommend the right one for your particular situation.

briannadunn

I can eat beans and I am not sure about if it is gluten or not. I think it is because it seems to be wheat in the bread and white flour just bloats the heck out of me. I have IBS so it is very sensitive to bread products. I have beans, legumes, rice, and starchy veges and seem just fine. I have heard good things about Quinoa, I am going to have to give it a try. I used to take probiotics all the time, I should get back on those, my husband is like me so he takes them, I stopped taking them when I got pregnant and nursing. Is being a vegetarian good for you???I hear a lot of controversy about people not eating meat. I can't have beef or pork or lamb, red meat and pork and chicken thighs go right through me, nothing wrong with my gal bladder apparently just the way I am designed. I have always been allergic to milk and milk products, I drink home made almond milk and eat goat cheese on occasion and lots of dark green veges. I have been eating to Eat To Live with my own twist for 9 days and feel great but I wonder if my health will diminish over time if I don't eat meat.

Julicat6

While I personally am not vegetarian, I know plenty of people who are either some variation on vegetarians or are complete vegans. Health in that case depends on your focus on getting good quality vegetarian foods. I grew up in a church that endorses eating vegetarian, and while my family always ate some meat, we also ate lots of substitutes and the school I attended did not serve any meat. Just like with any other eating plan, it depends on what you choose to fill your diet. I still prefer a mostly vegetarian diet and have many days that I eat no meat.