I need meat

fairefaerie
fairefaerie Posts: 22 Member
in Food and Nutrition
To start: I'm not a vegetarian, never have been, and never plan to be. In fact, I love eating things that have faces. However, I do know many people don't NEED meat in multiple meals throughout the day. I've had nutritionists tell me that yogourt, cheese, etc. should be able to be substituted for meat, but I can't do it. For example, today, I had a dish of Cheese Ravioli from Lean Cuisine. Within an hour, I was so hungry that I was dizzy. This doesn't happen with any of their meals that have even the slightest amount of meat in them.
This happens if I have more than 2 meals without meat as the main protein.
I was hoping that the community would offer their suggestions as to why this is. I've tried to tell doctors and nutritionists about this and I've gotten responses from, "that's ridiculous," to, "just eat meat then." I will continue eating meat, but I'd love a reason why I absolutely cannot go without meat.
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Replies

  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    My guess is that meat has high levels of iron and protein, which is harder to get with a plant based diet. Not impossible, not at all impossible, but harder.

    It's part of why I wouldn't want to give up meat. Meat is easy. I like easy.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    All I got is "just eat meat"...
    But I'm posting so some of the more well-versed pals on my list will see this and chime in.


    Sidenote: I can't eat any of those lean cuisine type meals, I'm never satisfied. I don't know how you make it an hour being full, I'm hungry like 20 minutes later lol
  • silenceinspace
    silenceinspace Posts: 142 Member
    I'd love a reason why I absolutely cannot go without meat.

    You probably aren't going to find it here. ;)

    Is it meat? Or is it just protein? Lean Cuisine cheese ravioli has very little protein--6 grams or so, if the database is correct.

    Dairy can be a good source of protein, hence why it's recommended, but Lean Cuisine meals are highly processed--very little fiber and very little volume of food, plus no protein. It's probably why you were so hungry.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    230 calories for that dish - so one of the cookies I got that were on offer for tomorrow :).

    I wouldn't use that as decent evidence.

    Saying that, I might have the same thing as you - very rare I don't have meat every meal. Many are purely meat :).
  • fairefaerie
    fairefaerie Posts: 22 Member
    I have a Lean Cuisine meal every day for lunch. They help me keep portions and save my "real" food preparation for dinner. I have absolutely no problem with their products that have meat in them; however, I have this problem with anything that has cheese as its main protein. I don't know where you got the quote, "I'd love a reason to give up meat," because I don't see it anywhere here.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    How many calories are in one of those? Probably not many...that would leave me pretty hungry too. Also, protein is pretty satiating...wouldn't imagine there is a whole lot of protein in the dish...mostly carbs I would think. Is the cheese also low fat or whatever? That would also make it even less satiating.
  • fairefaerie
    fairefaerie Posts: 22 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I have a Lean Cuisine meal every day for lunch. They help me keep portions and save my "real" food preparation for dinner. I have absolutely no problem with their products that have meat in them; however, I have this problem with anything that has cheese as its main protein. I don't know where you got the quote, "I'd love a reason to give up meat," because I don't see it anywhere here.

    meat has a lot more protein than cheese. I don't really think you can substitute...cheese is a decent complimentary source, but it's generally a far better source of fat than protein.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??
  • sjaplo
    sjaplo Posts: 974 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    Sooooo what your saying is - you're a meatatarian! Well hey me too!
  • fairefaerie
    fairefaerie Posts: 22 Member
    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??

    I'm more checking to see if this is a possible bigger issue than I understand. I've had a lot of doctors who didn't want to listen to me in the past, and while I'm waiting for my next one, I thought I'd brainstorm with the community to see if anyone had any ideas as to why this happens.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??

    I'm more checking to see if this is a possible bigger issue than I understand. I've had a lot of doctors who didn't want to listen to me in the past, and while I'm waiting for my next one, I thought I'd brainstorm with the community to see if anyone had any ideas as to why this happens.

    I really wish I could help.

    If you have a university nearby, maybe go to their library and access medical journals to see if you can find anything?
  • lisawinning4losing
    lisawinning4losing Posts: 726 Member
    I'm getting ready to throw all my Lean Cuisine in the trash and just buy a few pounds of chicken.
  • AwesomeGuy37
    AwesomeGuy37 Posts: 436 Member
    Think it could be psychological?

    I know some days if I wanted pizza, I couldn't be satisfied until I had pizza.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??

    Sometimes I buy the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken in the grocery store deli & portion those out for a week. I iz all the lazy!!
  • LTKeegan
    LTKeegan Posts: 354 Member
    you should try a blind study, where someone cooks for you using food that looks like it has meat in it and food that has meat in it, and you don't know, and just see.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    you should try a blind study, where someone cooks for you using food that looks like it has meat in it and food that has meat in it, and you don't know, and just see.
    I was thinking this - especially as you mentioned only needing an ounce. I reckon an ounce of chicken would be easy to hide the taste of with some other strong flavours.
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??

    Sometimes I buy the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken in the grocery store deli & portion those out for a week. I iz all the lazy!!

    No shame there!

    Some of them are too salty for me.
    AAnd I like the ones from Market Basket best which doesn't exist here lol
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    So why not grill up some chicken breasts each week and add some to your LCs that don't come with meat??

    Sometimes I buy the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken in the grocery store deli & portion those out for a week. I iz all the lazy!!

    No shame there!

    Some of them are too salty for me.
    AAnd I like the ones from Market Basket best which doesn't exist here lol

    Yeah, they can be. There's one flavor variety around here that's a little better than the rest.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Quite honestly if an ounce of meat is enough:

    1) I'd doubt that it's anything physically wrong, but I would suspect there's a conditioned reflex of some sort.
    2) Buy food with meat in it instead of trying to substitute.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    I also feel it necessary to point out that this is just an example of an ongoing issue for at least a decade. If I have a salad with eggs and cheese, I'm empty. I add an ounce of Ham or turkey to it, I'm full. Don't even talk to me about soy. This isn't just a Lean Cuisine issue - this is an everything without meat issue.

    makes complete sense to me. you need some protein and fiber in most of your meals. if not all. there is nothing wrong with some chicken, turkey etc. Try adding black beans. they tend to keep me full and satisfied longer. Most of those meals need to be paired with a good sized salad or a greek yogurt (packed with protein) or I get hungry soon afterwards as well. It really only comes down to calories that you take in. IF you take in good stuff like protein and fiber and limit your empty carbs while adding in the good carbs like roamine lettuce, spinach, broccoli, asparagus,, etc. Then you will feel full longer because your stomach takes longer to digest these. That is my experience anyways.
  • techgal128
    techgal128 Posts: 719 Member
    I've been a vegetarian for 12 years and even I get hungry after those tiny meals. The ravioli is the worst because you only get a few of them. If I were you, go for the hearty vegetarian dinners. Anything by Amy's Kitchen is great and I'm never hungry after them.
  • futurejedi
    futurejedi Posts: 111
    eat chicken mixed in with a salad instead of a lean cuisine
  • silenceinspace
    silenceinspace Posts: 142 Member
    I have a Lean Cuisine meal every day for lunch. They help me keep portions and save my "real" food preparation for dinner. I have absolutely no problem with their products that have meat in them; however, I have this problem with anything that has cheese as its main protein. I don't know where you got the quote, "I'd love a reason to give up meat," because I don't see it anywhere here.

    That's totally fine; eat whatever you like. Cheese can help with protein, but isn't always enough protein on its own.

    I'm replying because you asked "I don't know where you got that quote!" From your OP:

    "I will continue eating meat, but I'd love a reason why I absolutely cannot go without meat."

    I quoted, "I'd love a reason why I absolutely cannot go without meat" to reply, "You probably won't find it here. ;)" Wink face and all.

    I think I'm hungrier on days when I eat carb heavy foods. Everyone's different and I'm not saying they aren't. I just didn't want to be accused of putting words in your mouth.
  • just4nessa
    just4nessa Posts: 459 Member
    Quite honestly if an ounce of meat is enough:

    1) I'd doubt that it's anything physically wrong, but I would suspect there's a conditioned reflex of some sort.
    2) Buy food with meat in it instead of trying to substitute.

    ^This! I also doubt you'll find a doctor or nutritionist that will deem it medically necessary for you to eat meat, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't eat whatever you want to eat. They can make recommendations (based on whatever sensationalist news article they are recently read), but that doesn't mean you have to do something that doesn't make you feel good. I eat meat at least three times a day because it's tasty and satisfies my hunger.
  • fairefaerie
    fairefaerie Posts: 22 Member
    To quote my trainer when I asked him: "meat is dense in a physical sense, it's much harder to digest, so it sticks in the stomach longer and it has more protein than cheese." Made sense and was an actual answer. I appreciate all you guys' responses though.
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    You're a meataholic. It's a disease. No one blames you
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    I don't know where you got the quote, "I'd love a reason to give up meat," because I don't see it anywhere here.

    It's from your first post. The last thing you said.
  • shano25
    shano25 Posts: 233 Member
    Your body (or possibly your mind) is probably accustomed to it and there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone's body responds differently to food. You may never find a doctor who has an appropriate medical answer for you because it could just be the way your body is.

    Adding an oz of meat to each meal isn't going to do anything harm to your diet, so just go for it and don't worry about it. And that advice comes from a vegetarian ;)
  • kimmymayhall
    kimmymayhall Posts: 419 Member
    Are you making sure that you are getting the same amount of protein and fat in your vegetarian meals as in omni meals?

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