any vegetarians out there?

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2

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  • Sleepunderapalmtree
    Sleepunderapalmtree Posts: 14
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    http://thegreenforks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Top-10-Sources-of-Veggie-Protein1.jpg

    A little chart to get you started :) It was crazy at first for me when I realized how much protein veggies actually have. Best of luck! I have been vegetarian for 7 years. If you need a friend feel free to add me!
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,181 Member
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    I used to be a Vegetarian for 14 years...
    As for Protien, Get to know Boco Burgers and Morning star. Great products with 10grams of protien.

    Now if you go with Vegan, there isn't whole lot out there.. as for resturants for you.. and don't forget about family or friends.. if you go over to their house you may have to bring your own food as they may not know how to cook with out milk, or eggs etc..
  • suzan06
    suzan06 Posts: 218 Member
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    I have been a veggie for 13 years. That is crazy when I type it out! I quit meat in college when I actually had to cook it and touch it myself, lol.

    I eat eggs and cheese which helps a lot. I do try to minimize cheese but I don't make myself crazy over it.

    The most important thing for me is making sure I eat beans, lentils, etc once a day. I was not raised eating those AT ALL to I have to be very conscious to eat them. We try to do soy once or twice a week only, and the fake meat products (morningstar, etc) minimally. But when I first went veggie I ate them a lot!

    I find that as long as I eat whole grains and a serving of beans/lentils every day, I am fine.
  • MorgueBabe
    MorgueBabe Posts: 1,188 Member
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    I am an ethical pescatarian who doesn't eat any dairy. I haven't eaten meat since 1995 and I haven't eaten milk or cheese or butter since 2006.
    Feel free to add me (Just please include a note)
  • stephierue
    stephierue Posts: 110 Member
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    I've been vegetarian since I was a kid. I've never liked meat. It will get easier as time goes on. Educate yourself on somethings with high protein & you'll find your favorites. Keep a balanced unprocessed diet & you'll be fine.
  • KarmaxKitty
    KarmaxKitty Posts: 901 Member
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    I second the Morningstar brand. When you first start out, it's helpful to use replacements, but remember not to rely on them.
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
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    I'm curious about your desire to limit gluten. Is there a personal health concern here or have you just become convinced that "gluten is bad" because it's so demonized at the moment? Also, if you have a real intolerance, I've heard that you truly need to eliminate, not just limit, it. As a college student on a budget, I find that my cheapest foods are often whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, and other whole grains, many of which also have a decent amount of protein.

    I'm not a vegetarian, but I eat a limited amount of humanely-raised meat and animal products and no dairy (for health reasons). Soy products are the obvious ones: tofu, edamame, soy milk, soy yogurt, etc. One of my favorite recipes is http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/fried-rice-with-scallions-edamame-and-tofu-recipe/index.html if you're new to tofu. Brown rice has protein as well. Also, rice and beans (I use brown rice with pinto and black beans, along with veggies and spices) is a cheap and delicious complete protein.
  • xDawnsgrace
    xDawnsgrace Posts: 436
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    i'm not 100% anything, but i tend to limit animal products and meat, and get a lot of morningstar products. they have plenty of yummy stuff with 9g+ protein. i do warn you that seeing as they are processed, frozen foods, that they're high in sodium.

    if all else fails, i'd suggest a protein powder. I just ordered body fortress whey protein in cookies 'n' cream after hearing good reviews on it, and it has 50g protein, 6g carbs, 5g fat, 2g protein for 260 calories per 2 scoops.
  • 20Grit
    20Grit Posts: 752 Member
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    No, I ate them all!
  • humblestumble
    humblestumble Posts: 18 Member
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    I am a vegetarian and I can say that weight can pack on fast if you dig into the cheese, gluten and sodas too often. It happened to me. Not to mention how fast they can make a person bloat or gain water weight. It's easy for vegetarians to step into that place when they aren't getting enough of what they need. I am also looking to cut out gluten, dairy and processed foods (and refined sugars). I have done it before with much success!! (For about 6 months before I had an emotional trauma which triggered unhealthy habits)

    I have found that there are loads of protein sources out there. I tend to eat sees, nuts and legumes. Seeds you can have more of without too much of the weight issue. I have also packed on weight before with nuts, but you should really just eat them as a moderate snack between meals. Usually, I just have any kind of bean or peas that I have laying around. I make sure to get the dried kind and have my pantry stocked. According to MFP, I have eaten most of my suggested protein for today :)

    My goal is to some day either be a raw vegan (who actually can moderately cook food) or be most of the way there... I am getting there bit by bit!

    Feel free to add me as a friend! :D
  • Shellz31
    Shellz31 Posts: 214 Member
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    You can have all the non-starchy vegetables you want each day, but you have to limit fruit to only 2 servings per day. You also need at least 1 hour of exercise a day for at least 5 days a week if you want to see real progress.

    Why do you say she "needs" to limit fruit to 2 servings a day and "needs" to exercise 1 hours a day, 5 days a week?? Is that in some sort of rule book for vegetarians lol?!?

    I've been veggie for 13 years now (wow I feel old) and recently have started to really cut back on eggs and dairy. Add me if you'd like :)
  • RachtheOzkiwi
    RachtheOzkiwi Posts: 28 Member
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    Here! here! I am the same, want to be vegan, but not quite there, still have butter and cheese. in little amounts. add me as a friend if you want.
    And protein, for me, go hemp.
  • rachael1805
    rachael1805 Posts: 72 Member
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    Hope it's ok for me to give you my story, I'm on day 2 of reintroducing chicken (eek- finding it very hard!). I had been veetarian for several years, but found my overconsumption of dairy and carbs to be detrimental to my weight loss endeavours. I just ate way too much of it. I fell into the trap of thinking that because I was vegetarian (and vegan for several months) I could eat as many calories as I liked!
    As a vegetarian I would eat heaps of pasta, cheese, yoghurt etc. and when trialling vegan for 8 months I overindulged in nuts, avocado, coconut oil, dark choc! Simply way too many calories to create a defecit and lose weight.

    I have since rentroduced lean protein into my diet but would really encourage you to try to remain plant-based- keep salad and vegetables as the main part of your meal, then use lugumes, tofu, quinoa, tempeh as your proteins.

    Hommus is awesome!! I make mine without oil and use greek yoghurt instead. If you are eating dairy, of course eggs, greek yoghurt and cottage cheese are excellent sources. Best of luck.
  • rmhmartin
    rmhmartin Posts: 46 Member
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    Hi there, I am a vegetarian as of April last year--I'm still trying to figure it all out as well! :)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,964 Member
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    I am an omnivore, but I eat a lot of vegetarian and vegan meals. Eggs, dried beans (as opposed to canned), and whole grains (e.g., oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat cereal and pasta) are probably the least expensive ways of getting substantial amounts of vegetarian protein. You won't save much money substituting fake meat products (Morningstar, Boca, etc.) for meat., as yummy as some of those products are. (You did say you were broke.) Some veggies also have a fair amount of protein for the calories in them, but you're probably not going to want to eat enough of them for them to be a major contributor to your protein needs. Other choices that probably fall between eggs/beans/grain and convenience foods in terms of protein for your buck are nuts, seeds, and dairy.

    I had about 55 grams of protein Thursday from vegetarian sources (plus roughly another 12 from the beef and beef broth in a large bowl of homemade beef-barley-vegetable soup): 11 g at breakfast from a slice of part whole grain bread and some pistachio butter; 21 at lunch from black beans, rice, sour cream, and veggies in a burrito bowl; 2 from the milk in my afternoon coffee; about 5 from the barley, corn, peas, and other veg in the soup at dinner; and 16 from an evening snack of pistachio butter, banana, and jelly sandwich on part whole grain bread and a some almond/coconut milk.
  • heroeslegend
    heroeslegend Posts: 44 Member
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    Buckwheat and chickpea for the win.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    Not sure why you do not eat gluten. Do you have an intolerance. If not, I would reconsider as its a great source of protein.

    You can find protein sources here, split between meat-eater, vegetarian, and vegan friendly.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/926789-protein-sources
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
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    Not sure why you do not eat gluten. Do you have an intolerance. If not, I would reconsider as its a great source of protein.

    You can find protein sources here, split between meat-eater, vegetarian, and vegan friendly.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/926789-protein-sources

    Just thought I would add these...

    http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/articles/plant-food-protein-chart.pdf

    http://www.22daysnutrition.com/blog/2013/05/01/15-vegan-sources-of-protein-soy-free-and-gluten-free-too/

    Great plant based dietary group...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/45-happy-herbivores
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    Not sure why you do not eat gluten. Do you have an intolerance. If not, I would reconsider as its a great source of protein.

    You can find protein sources here, split between meat-eater, vegetarian, and vegan friendly.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/926789-protein-sources

    Just thought I would add these...

    http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/articles/plant-food-protein-chart.pdf

    http://www.22daysnutrition.com/blog/2013/05/01/15-vegan-sources-of-protein-soy-free-and-gluten-free-too/

    Great plant based dietary group...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/45-happy-herbivores

    I like that link to the chart - very informative.
  • ktcpm1985
    ktcpm1985 Posts: 1 Member
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    Hi, as a life long vegetarian (281/2 years - does that beat you all ;) ?) I can certainly offer experience. Vegetarianism can make you eat too many carbs if you aren't mindful - if you eat out its always a pasta dish or risotto unless you are in a specialist restaurant and this carb heavy diet can make you really hungry all the time, experience blood sugar dips and gain weight. I did the Rose Elliot low carb vegetarian diet on and off for over a year and it taught me so much. It was an extreme atkins style ketosis diet and I wouldn't really recommend it but it did teach me a lot about how carbs effect your appetite and how much focussing on protein can help with weight loss. I really recommend looking at her recipes for this diet because she has some interesting ideas for high protein low carb meals which I personally find really helpful. Rose Elliot is a famous (amongst veggies!) author of cook books. Her Bean Book is from the 1970s I think and was in my house growing up. It has information about how to soak and cook dry beans and loads of recipes.

    I'm happy to share my recipe ideas with anyone who is interested. I live in North West China at the moment so my diet is mostly from scratch and home made - I have become very creative!

    Good luck with being a vegetarian everyone who is just starting!

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