Vegetarian Healthy Eating-Are Carbs That Bad?

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Replies

  • DReamBig24
    DReamBig24 Posts: 11 Member
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    Carbs are fine, and delicious! It doesn't much matter how you set your macros up, as long as you stay within your calorie goal you should lose weight.
    I eat a higher carb diet as a vegan and I'm losing just fine. I do have to supplement my protein with a protein powder because once I started tracking I realized I was woefully short on it. Now I get plenty. If you are a vegetarian and eat dairy, eggs, etc. it shouldn't be too tough.

    Hmmmmmmmm ok. Today (although I haven't eaten dinner) I was about 50% carbs, maybe 15% protein and the rest fat... I dunno if that's too much carbs.
    I was thinking of starting to make breakfast smoothies with protein to help.
  • DReamBig24
    DReamBig24 Posts: 11 Member
    KrunchyMama wrote: »
    I have the same problem. I'm mostly vegetarian, and while I have cut out a lot of flour from my diet, I'm still way over on carbs and way under for protein. I'm also 5'8", currently about 185lbs trying to get to 155 lbs. feel free to add me if you want! I'm interested in hearing other people's responses about this too.
    Oh wow! Great to find someone of similar proportions with similar weight goals.
    Someone else replied saying they'd heard combining carbs with protein helps it to be absorbed. So perhaps such a big cut back in carbs isn't needed so much as an increase in protein?

  • DReamBig24
    DReamBig24 Posts: 11 Member
    SuggaD wrote: »
    Carbs aren't bad, and as an endurance athlete, I couldn't live on a low carb diet. But with that said, starchy food is very easy to overeat, because they tend to not be satiating and are high calorie. I find it best to pair them with protein and fats. So for pizza, lots of veggies and cheese, especially high protein veggies like spinach. Pasta....look into pasta with higher protein levels and again pairing it with some protein. Maybe some tofu, eg.

    Yeah I'm planning to start working out more/harder. Trying to get my high school body back... I mean it was only 2 years ago, can't be too hard... I should probably eat more eggs, for breakfast and such I know.
  • DReamBig24
    DReamBig24 Posts: 11 Member
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Vegetarian here who needs a nice moderate amount of carbs or she gets hungry! I get mine from plenty of veggies, beans, lentils, and gluten-free oats and I also make sure I get plenty of protein. I supplement my protein with bars and shakes, but I also love Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, and lentils.

    My diary is public if you want to look at what I eat. As Lauren said, eat within your calorie goal, and you will lose weight. Just find a balance of carbs, fat, and protein that leaves you feeling sated and you'll be good.

    Thanks for the offer!
    I have been eating protein bars for breakfast occasionally. Been meaning to start making shakes, that's why I splurged on a nice metal Starbucks cold drink cup....
  • KrunchyMama
    KrunchyMama Posts: 420 Member
    I like eating eggs over a bed of greens (arugula, or chard, or kale). So good, and very filling!
  • DReamBig24
    DReamBig24 Posts: 11 Member
    cbhockman wrote: »
    I'm a vegan and I just met with a nutritionist yesterday because I was concerned about eating so many carbs in my diet. She suggested offsetting the carbs (mainly complex) with a spoonful of peanut butter as a protein. This will help the sugars produced by the carbs to be better absorbed into muscle tissue where it can be used to fuel the body.

    I might have heard something about that before. Sounds like I need to up my protein intake.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    KrunchyMama wrote: »

    I am feeling guilty about it. She did have some good things to say (mainly I realized that my anxiety was due to a B12 deficiency), but I was never able to meet the goals she set. I guess it was mostly a waste of money. I should have realized when she said I should only be eating the following meat: turkey, duck, tuna, and ostrich. :S

    If consensus on here says carbs are alright, then I'm going to stick with what's working!

    So, um, this is more proof why it's important to beware of anyone who calls themselves a "nutritionist".

    If it quacks like a (second meat on your list)...
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    cbhockman wrote: »
    I'm a vegan and I just met with a nutritionist yesterday because I was concerned about eating so many carbs in my diet. She suggested offsetting the carbs (mainly complex) with a spoonful of peanut butter as a protein. This will help the sugars produced by the carbs to be better absorbed into muscle tissue where it can be used to fuel the body.

    ?? Peanut butter is mostly fat (an all-peanut peanut butter gets close to 75% of its calories from fat), and the remainder is split pretty evenly between carbs and protein (and that's for an all-peanut peanut butter --you'd get a higher ratio of carbs if you're eating one with added sugar).

    I see so much factually incorrect advice on these boards that people say they got from nutritionists and other paid professionals that I am glad I've never wasted money on one.
  • lauracamp27991
    lauracamp27991 Posts: 2 Member
    Just started MFP about two weeks ago, and as a vegetarian the biggest question I have is about protein intake, too. I never thought I was really deficient, and wonder if we really need as much protein as the guidelines are saying. What do you think?

    Have started adding quinoa and lentils to my diet, and I already do a morning smoothie so could add protein powder, I guess. Usually try to just use "whole" foods, but whatever.

    My doctor is against milk products, and I have cut back quite a bit - almond milk instead of milk, much less cheese - but that doesn't help the protein count!

    I am age 57, 5'8", pretty active, weigh 154 and looking to get down to 140.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    The facts on protein:
    • The minimum for women for protein intake is around 46g per day. If you're usually above that minimum, then you're probably not deficient. But really, that's a minimum and you should aim for more.
    • The RDA (recommended daily allowance) for protein is 0.8g per kilogram of body weight. So if you convert 154lbs to kg, you should be aiming for 70g of protein per day.
    • However, if you're weight training with any kind of intensity, you may want to increase that somewhat. 0.8g-1g of protein per pound of lean body mass is an oft-recommended guideline. So if you're 154lbs and 30% body fat, for instance, then you have roughly 108lbs of LBM and can aim for between 86 and 108g of protein per day.
    • There's some evidence that the body can only use 25-30g of protein at once to support muscle repair. So if you're eating a lot of protein, try to space it out throughout the day, rather than concentrating it all in one meal.

    I'd also question why your doctor is against dairy products? Do you have a specific medical condition that would lead you to be unable to eat them? For most healthy adults, dairy is a great (and tasty!) source of vital nutrients including protein, calcium and vitamins A and D.
  • veganstarchivore
    veganstarchivore Posts: 12
    Eh, I eat up to 400 to 500 grams of carbs a day and am losing weight. Carbs aren't evil. Carbs coming whole plant foods are freaking amazing. I could not live without my carbs. :smiley:
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2015
    I'm 5'8 and have lost consistently to my goals eating more than 50-60% of my diet in carbs...find what works for you
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    lauracamp27991 wrote: »
    Just started MFP about two weeks ago, and as a vegetarian the biggest question I have is about protein intake, too. I never thought I was really deficient, and wonder if we really need as much protein as the guidelines are saying. What do you think?

    Have started adding quinoa and lentils to my diet, and I already do a morning smoothie so could add protein powder, I guess. Usually try to just use "whole" foods, but whatever.

    My doctor is against milk products, and I have cut back quite a bit - almond milk instead of milk, much less cheese - but that doesn't help the protein count!

    I am age 57, 5'8", pretty active, weigh 154 and looking to get down to 140.

    Is there any reason, like lactose intolerance, for your doctor to be against milk products? Or is it ethical?

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