I just became a vegetarian and need more protein?!
Answers: I only recently became a vegetarian and I don't think I'm getting enough protein. I had a dream that I accidentally ate a ham sandwich, and my mom said it's my body telling me I need the protein from meat. What can I eat that will give me a sufficient amount? Thanks! :)
The average person only needs about 50 grams of protein per day. Protein is in everything, just look at the side of boxes. In todays world it is very hard to be protein deficient if you are eating a wide variety.
High protein foods include:
soy milk, tofu, nuts(Almonds, Cashews, Filberts, Hemp Seeds, Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts (black)), seeds, legumes(Garbanzo beans, Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Navy beans, Soybeans, Split peas), grains(Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Millet, Oatmeal, Rye, Wheat germ, Wheat, hard red, Wild rice), vegetables(Artichokes, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green peas, Green pepper, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard green, Onions, Potatoes, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnip greens, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini), fruits(Apple, Banana, Cantaloupe, Grape, Grapefruit, Honeydew melon, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Strawberry)
Trust me protein deficiencies are rare in developed countries and are mostly found in third world countries that suffer from famine.
Your dream does not mean anything. If everyone looked at their dreams as a crystal ball into the future, a lot more people would be going to school in their underwear.
try some tofu....it is not as bad as people think
If you are a vegetarian and not a vegan, I would suggest eggs, milk, yogurt, and any other dairy product. Also, a whole legume (peas, lentils, beans, etc) eaten at the same time as a whole grain (it MUST be whole grain) provides you with a complete protein. If you are a vegan, you'll have to stick with the legume plus grain, or eat a lot of soy.
This would depend on whether you eat eggs and milk products. If you do, then if you eat an egg every day, you will be adding a lot of extra protein and iron.
Also, make sure the greens you are eating are very dark (spinach, kale, romaine and leaf lettuce, etc.). Those have more iron and will also help. Make sure you are getting enough protein through your other sources like soy and soy products.
Red meat is not a requirement in life, just a choice.
Eat your grains and vegetables and fruits, all types of fruits with all types of vitamins including vitamin c. Vitamin C helps your system absorb grain protein more easily. If you have a balanced grain, vegetable and fruit diet, YOU WILL NOT BE LACKING ANY PROTEIN. I have never had any protein problems and I don't need any "special vegan" food to supplement my protein intake. Twenty years without animals in my body and my body is strong and in shape. If your body should be low on protein at any moment, it will start to produce it's own protein so long as you are feeding yourself grains, nuts, fruits and veges.
you prob. are getting enough... you just arent getting as much as you usually had while eating meat. your body will just need time to adjust. but if you want to know of some high protein veggie foods here are a few:
1. veggie burgers and other fake meats (they DO taste good. just try them)
2. hummus (not too much or its gross)
3. soy
- soy beans
- soy milk
- etc.
4. beans (personally i hate them, but maybe you like them)
5. cheese (dont overdue it though or else youll be fat)
Nuts, legumes, peanut butter, if you are not a complete vegetarian, eggs, milk, cheese.
you can have protein powder with milk and you also can have more milk its a full of protein
Chickpeas and nuts or peanut butter are all good sources. Please ignore your mum's comment because your body definitely doesn't 'need' a ham sandwich!!! My 20 month old daughter is a vegetarian and I make sure she gets every nutriant she needs...she probably has a healthier diet than some meat eaters as I'm so conscious of her diet.
well it seems everyone gave you good answers already but i'm just commenting to say what a good choice you made turning vegetarian =D
It would actually be very difficult for you to go without enough protein. For example, even a slice of brown bread has 4 grams! There are two main myths about protein, which are typically perpetuated by meat-eaters:
Myth 1. most people seem to think we need far more protein than we actually do. A healthy adult female needs about 46g of protein a day, with men needing slightly more. I bet if you calculated all your protein eaten each day, it would be more than 46g!
Myth 2. protein is only available from meat. Virtually all foods have some protein and many plant based foods are very rich sources. Nuts, seeds, pulses, tofu and soya are just a few of many possible examples. The website below has good information.
the dream means nothing, it just means that your transitioning and your mind is getting used to not eating meat, to seeing meat as tabboo. i know lots of people will tell you that tofu is gross, but its really good, and cheaper than meat. also try eating more peanut butter, i like to make a plain peanut butter sandwich and heat it like a grilled cheese, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar over top. its really good.
season tofu well because its really bland. try marinating it in soya sauce in the fridge for a few hours, then fry it up in a little olive oil.
Beans are wonderful sources of protein. So is quinoa. I don't think your dream was about your body needing protein. I think it is more a reflection of the struggle to go vegetarian. It isn't always an easy thing to do, especially if you aren't getting enough support from family and friends.
So, if you have a dream that you fall off the edge of a cliff, is that your body telling you that you need more suicide attempts in your life? I think not.
Every plant food on this earth contains amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Just eat a wide variety of plant foods, include some protein-rich soy and other delicious beans and pulses every day, and you'll be fine.
Best of luck!