Vegetarian with a BF who cannot be filled

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wordena
wordena Posts: 177 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am a vegetarian and do not prepare meat in my house, though I have no problem with people or loved ones consuming meat around me. My BF is around a lot, and I generally end up cooking for him most days. He is a very large man, not fat, but easily 230 and not dieting. I am at a total loss what to feed him. I prepare food for him and myself. I make my normal portion size, usually a 500 calorie meal and then I just triple his portion for him of the same foods. Yet the man is still hungry! He even gets 2nd meals!
I just about threw my hands up and gave up today, when I saw his huge order of take out. 3 cheese burgers, french fries, milk shake and chicken nuggets. This was a large meal that day, but there is just no way I am ever going to be able to compete or feed someone that amount of calories on a vegetarian diet
-frustrated and at a loss here
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Replies

  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    Another example, I'm going through nearly two cartons of eggs a week just trying to feed him breakfast, while adding beans, and veggies to his 4 eggs, to bulk up his food.
  • mlima14
    mlima14 Posts: 112 Member
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    You might try getting more protein in his meals that tend to fill more since the veggies don't seem to do much for filling him up. But for the eggs I make an omelet with 4 egg whites and one whole egg with spinach, onions, and olives and that fills me up but for my hubby its 7 egg whites and one whole egg with the veggies and that holds him pretty good. As the amount of food he eats let him buy the groceries, ;). As for the eggs we buy two cartons a week and some times it's not enough. So maybe vegetarian meals might seem more like snacks to him and maybe you might want him to prepare his meals once in a while so as not to totally drive you insane with the amount of food you're feeding him.
  • Hybrice
    Hybrice Posts: 117 Member
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    I'm not sure from this where your concern lies, is it the cost of feeding him? If so, get him to chip in. Is it the time you take to prepare it? If so, get him to prepare the food. I can't tell you how upset I'd be if I decided to indulge in a take away and my fiance stormed in and threw her arms up in the air.

    His life choices are his, and although you can try to inflect change, you can't expect it.

    As for his hunger, I'm a big guy, veggies don't cut it for me either, no matter the volume - I need substance - Protein, I have a lot of protein in my diet and have still lost 5Kgs in 2 weeks. But if somebody served me a 500Kcal meal I'd be thinking...."and then?....."

    If you think he's getting out of control, just talk to him, explain your concerns. If he can't or doesn't want to make a change, then perhaps consider if your two lifestyle choices are conflicted.
  • MelBrooks242
    MelBrooks242 Posts: 4 Member
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    I'm a vegetarian and my hubby gets filled up on lasagna, enchiladas, and winter squash soup. He normally eats larger portions then I do. You might want to try those options :)
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
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    Have you considered meat? Let him cook it himself if it bugs you that much.
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    I have no problem with him eating that huge take away. I just mentally added up the calories and realized I just don't feel capable of cooking THAT high calorie of meals. There is no lifestyle choice problem here, I merely cannot eat meat due to a meat intolerance in my digestive tract. A 500 calorie meal is for myself. I hand him a triple portion, that equals 1500 calories...... I realize that he is a lot bigger than me, and thus give him much larger portions. I also try to make an effort by including things like beans, cheese, and whole eggs in his foods for protein.
  • zapampnmp
    zapampnmp Posts: 21
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    Since he is not dieting and not in need of losing weight I would suggest upping the fat content of his meals so that they are more satisfying. Eggs, Cheese, Whole Milk or Cream etc. My ex did not feel satisfied with a vegetarian meal~ psychologically it wasn't a meal without meat {my mom is the same way fwiw} so the best I could do for the both of them was make really rich meals. Avocados and nuts also help.

    I tend to flex my meals a lot... for example if I make beans and rice for dinner with some salsa to pour on top I might make some guacamole and also a seasoned oil to put on theirs along with cheese to sprinkle. I am still satisfied and plate my beans up on a salad with maybe a italian type of dressing and they get melty gooey cheese and guacamole and rice. I also might fry up a sausage on the side but since you are adverse to that look for other really rich protein-y foods to give them that fattiness that meat provides.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
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    I would give him a protein shake with whole milk and a casein/whey combo before dinner.

    I guess I don't really understand the issue. Are you thinking like long term? You guys move in together and he won't get enough food without meat?

    I'm a 20-year vegetarian and my SO is a meat-eating hunter. When we cook together, I make all the side dishes and he makes his meat, and I make whatever vegetarian protein I'm having. If I am cooking by myself, I'll make something we both like, like quiche, which is pretty filling, or I'll make something like a pasta dish or stir-fry that he can easily add cooked chicken to. I've cooked the meat for him a few times but I'm not particularly great at it.
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
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    What are you making? There are tons of very filling vegetarian options. As mentioned above, lasagna, enchiladas, casseroles, loaves (meatless loaves), even rice and beans can work. If he's downing 3 cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets, I'd guess he needs a whole lot more protein. Like a lot. Try making some seitan. And try making him food with some "heft" (eg lasagna/casseroles/giant baked potatoes). Some of it is caloric need, but I think he just needs stuff that actually fills him. And probably more protein (and not just more eggs).
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    Yes I like this. My foods I prepare are almost devoid of fats that are not naturally occurring. I will start adding extra fats to his meals. Bringing on the butter!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
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    Yes I like this. My foods I prepare are almost devoid of fats that are not naturally occurring. I will start adding extra fats to his meals. Bringing on the butter!

    Ah-ha! This is the problem. Low fat meals don't trigger the same satiety response as higher fat ones. Adding fat might make all the difference.
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    I tend to make a lot of broth soups, cooked veggies, and whole grain options. Things like mushroom tortellini soups with beans, and fried rice with veggies and eggs. Meals typically consist of one whole grain, veggies, and some form of beans. It's my default lazy cooking style, because that's what i normally eat alone. To bulk up his food I tend to hand him extra bread and more of the protein. He hasn't complained about taste, I just feel horrible because I don't want him to feel like he has to eat before he comes to my house and or pack extra food.
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
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    Here is your solution...

    mO1A7bR.jpg

    You are an adult so I can safely assume he is as well, so stop being his mother and let him prepare his own meals if he is unhappy with the effort you make.
  • zapampnmp
    zapampnmp Posts: 21
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    I am not sure links are allowed {am new here} but an example is this ginger scallion sauce at lottie + doof http://www.lottieanddoof.com/2012/02/ginger-scallion-sauce/

    it is salty and has an oniony ginger flavor that goes well on beans, eggs, obviously any oriental type of stir fry... can be used as a dipping sauce with bread etc etc and is all fat all the time. My husband loves it. There are tons of variations like that. Garlicky Oil. Red pepper flakes in oil... use seasoned oils to add that something to his food. Also any dish of beans blanketed in cheese and thrown under broiler for a few minutes is full of win { I say this as a person who used to work at a vegetarian restaurant for years } I made a lovely dish from ummm one of Julie Jordans cookbooks that had sautéed almonds in the rice along with other veggies {and then cheese that was baked into melty fatty rich goodness. Yea you might not be able to eat it but I really do often make the rice dish with veggies and almonds then set my portion aside and throw in the several cups of cheese, top with more cheese and bake for kids {who are all either very thin or normal weight}

    not only will you be upping his calories but you will be providing that mouth feel... umami... that is what meat provides. Comprised basically of fat and protein blocks. Here is an article on umami from abc: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?id=7766285

    PS I love the ginger scallion sauce on dal with rice. A little raita and good to go. Well I am not eating rice at the moment but now I am thinking of dal, raita and ginger scallion sauce.... le sigh. I have not been eating well at all the past 2 days
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    I am not sure links are allowed {am new here} but an example is this ginger scallion sauce at lottie + doof http://www.lottieanddoof.com/2012/02/ginger-scallion-sauce/

    it is salty and has an oniony ginger flavor that goes well on beans, eggs, obviously any oriental type of stir fry... can be used as a dipping sauce with bread etc etc and is all fat all the time. My husband loves it. There are tons of variations like that. Garlicky Oil. Red pepper flakes in oil... use seasoned oils to add that something to his food. Also any dish of beans blanketed in cheese and thrown under broiler for a few minutes is full of win { I say this as a person who used to work at a vegetarian restaurant for years } I made a lovely dish from ummm one of Julie Jordans cookbooks that had sautéed almonds in the rice along with other veggies {and then cheese that was baked into melty fatty rich goodness. Yea you might not be able to eat it but I really do often make the rice dish with veggies and almonds then set my portion aside and throw in the several cups of cheese, top with more cheese and bake for kids {who are all either very thin or normal weight}

    not only will you be upping his calories but you will be providing that mouth feel... umami... that is what meat provides. Comprised basically of fat and protein blocks. Here is an article on umami from abc: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?id=7766285

    this is awesome, thank you. I realize now I'm probably not giving enough fat or salt. And more cheese will always be welcome from him.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
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    He needs meat
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
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    He needs meat

    Dats what I said! And thus I agree with you.
  • wordena
    wordena Posts: 177 Member
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    Why would I buy meat, if I can't eat it? He's welcome to buy it himself and cook it in his own house.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
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    Why would I buy meat, if I can't eat it? He's welcome to buy it himself and cook it in his own house.

    This relationship is going to go swimmingly
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
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    Why would I buy meat, if I can't eat it? He's welcome to buy it himself and cook it in his own house.

    He can't buy it himself and cook it himself at your place? I'm not saying you have to allow this, but being all hell no about meat in your home doesn't bode well for future cohabitation

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