Low soy/carb high protein vegetarian and vegan foods?

gettingto65 wrote: »

Hi

Does anyone have any favourite low soy/low carb, high protein vegetarian or vegan foods/meals?

I feel like one of those low fat, soy, single shot latte with caramel creamer Starbucks people. I swear I’m not.

Clearly, since a soy latte with caramel creamer would be neither low carb by most definitions nor low soy.

How about eggs (you say vegetarian or vegan, so it would help if you clarified whether you eat eggs and/or dairy)? One or more poached eggs are a nice protein boost over a wide variety of foods, including cooked veggies and a warm greens and grain salad. Plus the runny yolk makes the dish "self-saucing".

Also, it would help if you clarify what your definition of low carb is. Under 100 grams of carbs power day? Under 50? Under 20?

The problem you're going to run into is that vegetarian (and especially vegan) diets are intrinsically higher carb, unless you are eating a lot of processed or nutrient isolated foods. And as you focus on the lower carb foods, you will find it challenging to get adequate nutrition (because you'll have to eliminate or severely restrict so many food categories).
Even getting adequate energy (calories) can be a challenge unless you want to consume much of your calories in oils and isolated fats (whole high fat vegan foods such as nuts come with carbs -- avocados and olives aren't too high, I guess -- again, depends on your definition of low carb).

Your body, your life, your decisions. But if you have chosen either vegetarian/vegan or low carb (or even low soy) because you heard it would help you lose weight or was inherently more healthful (absent specific medical conditions), you might want to do further research on those assertions.

And, again if these choices are not medically or ethically driven, you might want to consider whether any health benefits you can find good research to support are worth the added stress and social complications of combining all three, as well as the health risks of combining three restrictions that create difficulties for meeting your nutritional and energy needs.

stefanieplittlewood7092 wrote: »

I love using jackfruit as a substitute for soy. Have you tried that?

Isn't jackfruit low protein?

I always found that the issue was not with finding enough protein or getting a high protein meal, but rather in managing the amount of total carbs after fiber. It's super easy to get a varied protein source on a plant based diet, but if you frame it as managing extraneous carbs (added sugars, sweets, comfort foods rather than a well planned meal, etc.).

Seitan is always my go to, though. Has been for a very long time.

If I might ask, though... do you have a reason for avoiding soy? If there's not a medical reason, it's a great addition to any plant based diet and to be frank, I'd give up living if I couldn't have soy sauce.

I do the same! Let’s connect. It can be more challenging, but SO good for my gut health, metabolism, and inflammation in general -it addresses WHY I have such a hard time losing weight. I also take supplements for thyroid support and balancing my hormones. When my diet and sups are on point, I lose that constant drive to eat, the depression/ fatigue & feel like a normal person. It makes me want to work out & get things done. It would be a luxury to be able to eat easier diets, and I have temper tantrums about that sometimes. It isn’t fair that I have to be SO mindful of what I eat in order to feel normal & not blow up 20 lbs. But it’s worth it.

Check out high carb Hannah on YouTube she's doing high protein atm. Also look out for pea protein products and seitan