Vegetarian dieting not enough calories too much sugar

ChloeCat2
ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
edited February 16 in Health and Weight Loss
I have just started tracking my meals and working to eat healthier. I am having trouble getting enough calories but I keep going over (not by too much just by 5-10) in the sugar and fat category. I have read a lot of contradicting stuff on the internet. A lot of people are saying if the sugar/fat comes healthy sources (like fruits/veggies/nuts etc) and I don't have conditions that require monitoring sugar and it is just a little over than I can kind of ignore it.

Maybe I just need to increase my portions? I am only averaging around 800-1000 calories a day and I would like to get to 1400 so my net calories are around 1200. I only drink water and one cup of skim milk a day, occasionally I will treat myself to a small cup (12 oz) of diet coke (that is sugar free though), so the problem doesn't lie there. All of the sugar and fat is coming from things like fruits yogurt, and my nut mix, which I don't want to cut out because well... What will I eat?? Does anyone have any suggestions of vegetarian snacks/meals that are high calories but low sugar/fat?

Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    So, if you're going to eat vegetarian, it is TOUGH to eat low carb/low fat. Things like lentils and beans are your best bet. Tons and tons and tons of lentils and beans. Lentils until you cry. Beans until you cry again.

    If I were you, I wouldn't worry about eating low fat. I'd focus on getting enough protein. Tofu, eggs (if you'll have those), TVP, lentils, beans, protein powders. And then add things like avocados and nuts and nut butters to increase your calories even more.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

    Get over your fear of fat and carbs.
    There is nothing wrong with them.
    Also, eat more.
  • hilly510
    hilly510 Posts: 46 Member
    You can ignore the sugar being "over" if you're getting it from fresh foods. Instead of eating nuts as a snack, you can eat fat free Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. These are just as filling as nuts because they're high in protein instead of high in fat. I don't really worry about how high my fat goes, if its coming from whole foods its healthy.

    I've been vegetarian for a couple years. I eat *about* 50% carbs, 25% protein, and 25% fat daily. You can check out my diary for ideas. I skipped logging this weekend because it was crazy hectic, but I have 2 months of solid logging before that.
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    I don't have a fear of carbs and fat? Nor do I have an eating disorder, but thanks for posting that link because maybe someone who actually needs it will see it.

    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    I don't have a fear of carbs and fat? Nor do I have an eating disorder, but thanks for posting that link because maybe someone who actually needs it will see it.

    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    So, if you're going to eat vegetarian, it is TOUGH to eat low carb/low fat. Things like lentils and beans are your best bet. Tons and tons and tons of lentils and beans. Lentils until you cry. Beans until you cry again.

    If I were you, I wouldn't worry about eating low fat. I'd focus on getting enough protein. Tofu, eggs (if you'll have those), TVP, lentils, beans, protein powders. And then add things like avocados and nuts and nut butters to increase your calories even more.

    I don't have an issue getting enough protein so far. My number for protein is spot on. I have a protein shake as part of my breakfast every day and eat 2-4 hard boiled eggs for lunch or snack. I only like a couple lentils/beans so I don't eat them as often, but I do eat nuts and usually 1/4-1/2 of a block of tofu a day.

    I guess maybe I could increase my carbs a little. I am usually a little low on the carbs, I just don't really like bread or pasta. So I end up eating a lot of fruits/veggies instead.
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    You can ignore the sugar being "over" if you're getting it from fresh foods. Instead of eating nuts as a snack, you can eat fat free Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. These are just as filling as nuts because they're high in protein instead of high in fat. I don't really worry about how high my fat goes, if its coming from whole foods its healthy.

    I've been vegetarian for a couple years. I eat *about* 50% carbs, 25% protein, and 25% fat daily. You can check out my diary for ideas. I skipped logging this weekend because it was crazy hectic, but I have 2 months of solid logging before that.

    Thank you. Your diary did give me a lot of ideas!
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.

    I understand completely what you are saying. Last year I ate a approx. 300-400 calorie a day diet due to being a lazy and poor uni student. I know my calorie intake is not as high as it could be which is why I am posting here. I was a little unclear in that statement.I do get hungry which I didn't compared to last year. What I meant was that I eat until I am full and only get between 800-1000 calories. So I am looking for higher calorie foods that I can introduce into my diet to bring that number up.

    I will check out your diary though, thanks!
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.

    I understand completely what you are saying. Last year I ate a approx. 300-400 calorie a day diet due to being a lazy and poor uni student. I know my calorie intake is not as high as it could be which is why I am posting here. I was a little unclear in that statement.I do get hungry which I didn't compared to last year. What I meant was that I eat until I am full and only get between 800-1000 calories. So I am looking for higher calorie foods that I can introduce into my diet to bring that number up.

    I will check out your diary though, thanks!

    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
  • ChloeCat2
    ChloeCat2 Posts: 10 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.

    I understand completely what you are saying. Last year I ate a approx. 300-400 calorie a day diet due to being a lazy and poor uni student. I know my calorie intake is not as high as it could be which is why I am posting here. I was a little unclear in that statement.I do get hungry which I didn't compared to last year. What I meant was that I eat until I am full and only get between 800-1000 calories. So I am looking for higher calorie foods that I can introduce into my diet to bring that number up.

    I will check out your diary though, thanks!

    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

    If you have nothing else helpful to add could you please stop replying to my post with that link? I do not have an eating disorder. I am looking for vegetarian high calorie foods that are low in fat and sugar. If you can't offer those suggestions then there is no reason to post here.

    Thank you to everyone else who has offered helpful suggestions!
  • sugarstrawberries
    sugarstrawberries Posts: 140 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.

    I understand completely what you are saying. Last year I ate a approx. 300-400 calorie a day diet due to being a lazy and poor uni student. I know my calorie intake is not as high as it could be which is why I am posting here. I was a little unclear in that statement.I do get hungry which I didn't compared to last year. What I meant was that I eat until I am full and only get between 800-1000 calories. So I am looking for higher calorie foods that I can introduce into my diet to bring that number up.

    I will check out your diary though, thanks!

    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

    Giving her the website she is clearly not going to look at again is not helping. She says she's trying to bring her calorie count up, not down. She knows she's eating too few calories. You can stop suggesting she has an ED and leave it alone. You clearly have not read what she's posted.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    At 800-1000 a day I am not hungry. I feel more awake than I did a couple weeks ago when I ate unhealthy foods. I do very little exercise right now, except for walking. I want to do more exercise and that is why I need to increase my calories.
    Lack of appetite is a side effect of low calorie diets. It's not a good thing. Your body is reacting to not being given enough fuel.

    Edited to say what I originally clicked on your post to say: I'm a vegetarian and average 120g of veggie protein per day. My diary is open, so please feel free to click through for ideas.

    I understand completely what you are saying. Last year I ate a approx. 300-400 calorie a day diet due to being a lazy and poor uni student. I know my calorie intake is not as high as it could be which is why I am posting here. I was a little unclear in that statement.I do get hungry which I didn't compared to last year. What I meant was that I eat until I am full and only get between 800-1000 calories. So I am looking for higher calorie foods that I can introduce into my diet to bring that number up.

    I will check out your diary though, thanks!

    http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

    If you have nothing else helpful to add could you please stop replying to my post with that link? I do not have an eating disorder. I am looking for vegetarian high calorie foods that are low in fat and sugar. If you can't offer those suggestions then there is no reason to post here.

    Thank you to everyone else who has offered helpful suggestions!

    http://www.goodtherapy.org/
  • Citrislazer
    Citrislazer Posts: 312 Member
    So, if you're going to eat vegetarian, it is TOUGH to eat low carb/low fat. Things like lentils and beans are your best bet. Tons and tons and tons of lentils and beans. Lentils until you cry. Beans until you cry again.

    If I were you, I wouldn't worry about eating low fat. I'd focus on getting enough protein. Tofu, eggs (if you'll have those), TVP, lentils, beans, protein powders. And then add things like avocados and nuts and nut butters to increase your calories even more.

    ^These seem like good options. I like to use TVP to cut my taco meat so it lasts longer and reduces the cost per pound. I bet the mfp group Happy Herbivores will have some good ideas for you too if you haven't joined yet.
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