How can I get proper nutrition without eating meat?

[Cory]

First off, Please don't let this turn into a vegetarians suck thread. I honestly don't give a fuck if you think it is pointless, dumb, pussy-like. Seriously, take that opinion to the "Vegetarians Suck" Thread...

Anyways, I was a vegetarian for about 3-4 months this past fall/winter. It wasn't difficult, and I really enjoyed it, but the only problem is, I was REALLY low on energy all the time...

I want to go back to being a vegetarian soon. How can I change my diet so I will not be ridiculously low on energy all the time?

[jiayo-chris]

Why do you want to be a vegetarian?

[Ryu Sujin]

The thing about not eating meat is that you have to get all your essential amino acids from another source. If you were only getting trace amounts, then that could definitely explain your low energy. I imagine your main concerns would be the essential amino acids, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and some of the B vitamins. Sadly all of these things link to energy (iron for proper oxygen transport, calcium for muscle control, vitamin D for regulating the calcium, and B-vitamins as co-enzymes for a shit-load of stuff)

You should consider researching some foods that will give your body what it needs. I don't know off the top of my head what kinds of foods will give you what you need, but yeah...good luck : D

[pete_man_man]

in response to the thread title:

by killing yourself.

-pete

[anfeyd]

The real question is what was your vegetarian diet like before.

Chances are it sucked if it was not giving you enough energy.

[*<User Name]

I'm vegetarian :) check out these shoes (http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/pc-127-16-xx-bdiscontinuedb-xxbrveg-supreme-whitenavy.aspx) i think they're pretty sweet

[Steve]

Eat eggs, walnuts, and milk

Make sure you are filling your vitamin/mineral profile

Eat more food

Sleep like a real human

[Lobo]

Eggs, quark, legumes, nuts.

[compleks]

Can you give us a little more information on why you want to be a vegetarian?
Will you eat seafood?
What was your diet like last time you stopped eating meat? Can you give us a rough outline.

There are plenty of vegetarian sources of protein, but I'm not sure if that's the real issue. When you cut meat from your diet, did you lose any weight?

[Cory]

Okay. I can't remember TOO well...

I ate a lot of peanut butter sandwiches and a lot of fruit. I didn't really pay much attention to what I ate.

And I didn't lose weight in that period (not noticeably at least)


As far as reasoning, i really just don't know. I enjoyed not eating meat. It's kinda one of those "i love animals" things i guess. haha. whatever.

oh, and i don't plan on eating fish either.

[VerdinxJon]

Why its so stupid animals are made for me to rip out their insides and feast upon their blood.

[Papa Lazarou]

:agony:

[NightHunter]

Guys, don't hate understand.

Being a vegetarian is a legitimate diet choice, don't berate him.

[Tossman]

i cant imagine that peanut butter sandwiches and fruit's a very balanced diet.
straight off i can see there's a lack of protein, iron, and fatty acids (i'm sure there's a lot more)

i can recommend corn and beans for a start. how about some whey? that has a very good amino acid profile for human requirements.

there r quite a few plant foods that are sources of iron (spinach is classic example), but they're not as good as animal sources for bioavailability reasons.

if ur serious about this whole thing, do ur research well. otherwise, if u stuck to peanut butter and fruit, u'll definitely develop some deficiencies.

[Cory]

oh yes. i did have whey shakes. but whey is pretty expensive :agony:

[NightHunter]

I've never understood people's aversion to spending money on food. I think food should be the first thing you spend money on. You don't need to buy the most expensive stuff you can find, but seriously, what are you going to buy that is more important to your life?

[Swartz]

oh yes. i did have whey shakes. but whey is pretty expensive :agony:
Not really. You just have to know where to look etc.

[WushuTricks]

oh yes. i did have whey shakes. but whey is pretty expensive :agony:

You can use knox gelatin as a protein substitute if the meal you are adding it to has Tryptophan or Cystine.

[flexibility]

There are plenty of good and cheap stuff to eat. Even if you are hard core vegan. Your problem was that you had low energy levels, right? I think amino acids or proteins have litlle or no effect to that. Proteins are needed to build mucles not to move them.

Make sure you get enough energy. Good sources are pasta and rice. If you train hard choose protein rich brands.

If you are trying to bulk up eat beans and textured soy protein. Textured soy protein has shitloads of everything. There are studies saying soy protein rules in every possible way:tongue: and others saying it has side effects:dead:. You decide.

However I think that textured soy protein is better than those soy supplements because it is real food and it has more vitamins, fibers and minerals.

Make sure you get enough vitamins, minerals and stuff. Eat different things and take multivitamin pills.

It is also possible that food has nothing to do with your low energy levels. You could have been sick, depressed, stressed, or tired. Food is not the only factor in your well-being.

[Andario]

You can use knox gelatin as a protein substitute if the meal you are adding it to has Tryptophan or Cystine.

Doesn't gelatin come from the boiling of animal bones, connective tissues, and hooves? I don't think that would be very vegetarian friendly. Like 'flexibility' said above, beans are great sources, just make sure you have something to complement it like rice, since neither are complete proteins alone, but together they are. Make sure to buy some Beano if you plan on eating a lot of fiber too.

[anfeyd]

Cory, your first mistake was not paying attention to what you ate. If youre going to be a vegetarian you have to make sure you know what youre intaking regularly and what youre not going to be taking so you can supplement your diet.


i cant imagine that peanut butter sandwiches and fruit's a very balanced diet.
straight off i can see there's a lack of protein, iron, and fatty acids (i'm sure there's a lot more)


Considering there is protein in peanut butter and also fat, I don't know what youre talking about.

[Tossman]

anfeyd:
yes there is protein and fat in peanut butter. but the amino and fatty acid profile of peanut butter would not be balanced at all.
for one, peanut butter is rich in monounsaturates, oleic i think it was from memory. it has some n-6s. but i doubt it has any n-3s.

[Steve]

Lobo and I already mentioned all the foods necessary for this discussion of proteins and fats so it's time to stop now.

[Steve]

Eat eggs and milk for complete proteins, eat walnuts because a diet low in fish will be low in omega-3 and walnuts happen to have infinite omega-3, eat beans and legumes because they're high in iron and some other minerals as well as fiber and (sometimes) protein.

[Steve]

So basically by eating these foods you'll be replacing all the nutrients lost from the fact that you're not eating meat - also the iron in meat has one more electron than in plant form and is more easily absorbed, which is why I recommended you eat more.

[Cory]

Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate the info :smile:

I will do more research before I decide if I want to do the vegetarian thing again though...

[jiayo-chris]

Cory how can we engage in the eating of 5 small horses when we meet, if you turn vegetarian?

[Cory]

that is true chris. that is true. i may have to rethink my strategy here...694

[jiayo-chris]

Hahaha <3!

[Ashtar]

Guys, don't hate understand.

Being a vegetarian is a legitimate diet choice, don't berate him.

Define 'legitimate'.

Vegetarianism is about as legitimate as Jamesters' diet choices.

[Papa Lazarou]

If vegetarianism is considered an aesthetic decision, you'd have a hard time refuting it's legitimacy.

[NightHunter]

Define 'legitimate'.

Vegetarianism is about as legitimate as Jamesters' diet choices.

I mean that there are no significant barriers to having a completely balanced vegetarian diet, if you do your homework.

There are many reasons one might choose to eat a vegetarian diet, and I don't judge people for personal decisions of this sort.

Veganism, on the other hand, is just stupid.

[Kitosho]

i recommend supplementing your vegetarian diet with meat

[Steve]

I mean that there are no significant barriers to having a completely balanced vegetarian diet, if you do your homework.

There are many reasons one might choose to eat a vegetarian diet, and I don't judge people for personal decisions of this sort.

Veganism, on the other hand, is just stupid.

YOU are stupid

[NightHunter]

i recommend supplementing your vegetarian diet with meat

I do too. I just don't see a vegetarian diet as warranting anyone's trying to convince someone who is usually quite set on their decision.

[Oat]

You can eat me.

[Ashtar]

I mean that there are no significant barriers to having a completely balanced vegetarian diet, if you do your homework.

There are many reasons one might choose to eat a vegetarian diet, and I don't judge people for personal decisions of this sort.

Veganism, on the other hand, is just stupid.
So, why don't you judge people for personal decisions? Yes there are 'many reasons', but a lot of reasons are relatively stupid. The only 'legitimate diet' is one which is chosen for good reasons.

I mean, I might be such an activist that I'm not only a vegetarian, but I am actually a breatharian who doesn't even eat vegetables too, because they're living things too and I don't want to survive on death!

It is so totally moral, and like, maybe I can just suck on rocks and water to get my minerals. But is it sensible?

[compleks]

What the hell is your point, Tyciol?

[compleks]

Wait, that was a silly question...

[Papa Lazarou]

I say they can do what they like. Just like the religious haha. If they start trying to prove me wrong or if their views harm me or others, then sure I can defend myself but (until then) why not let them eat only vegetables/believe in god if they want to?

[Steve]

Wait, that was a silly question...

ohoho