hungry vegetarian seeks advice...

[Fergal]

Hey there

I've been vegetarian now for a number of years and recently opted to remove grains and dairy from my diet.

Typically, I eat most (95%+) of my food raw as it seems to give me the most vitality and sense of well-being. I'm trying to adopt the old adage of eating "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." When going without grains, however, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do about breakfast - I don't want to overload on too many simple sugars through fruit but still need something sustaining to get me through to lunch. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate them.

I don't really eat any dairy to speak of - maybe a glass of milk a week and don't really want to go back down that route.

I've recently ordered the Paleo diet am looking forward to taking my dietary habits in a new direction - from the little I know about it, I think all pulses/legumes are out but I can't really rely on eggs as my only protein source - I'll see how I get on.

Any suggestions/comments on any of the above would be much appreciated.

Take care

Fergal

[Coach Gostnell]

Well...nuts. As a food source, I mean, not a comment ;) :D

And sunflower, pumpkin seeds, etc. Good source of healthy fats too, as well as protein.

[Coach Bentz]

Hey there

I've been vegetarian now for a number of years and recently opted to remove grains and dairy from my diet.

Typically, I eat most (95%+) of my food raw as it seems to give me the most vitality and sense of well-being. I'm trying to adopt the old adage of eating "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." When going without grains, however, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do about breakfast - I don't want to overload on too many simple sugars through fruit but still need something sustaining to get me through to lunch. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate them.

I don't really eat any dairy to speak of - maybe a glass of milk a week and don't really want to go back down that route.

I've recently ordered the Paleo diet am looking forward to taking my dietary habits in a new direction - from the little I know about it, I think all pulses/legumes are out but I can't really rely on eggs as my only protein source - I'll see how I get on.

Any suggestions/comments on any of the above would be much appreciated.

Take care

Fergal

Fergal,

Not sure if by 'dietary habits in a new direction' means you're thinking about animal muscle/organs/etc as well, or just eggs. In my own case, I've found that working towards eating from animals that are raised the old way, i.e. on a pasture getting the grasses, insect proteins, etc. that *they* thrive on, not only is healthier for me, but addresses most of the reasons I went vegetarian in the first place way back when.

Good luck in your transition!

[Joseph David]

Fregal,

Nut smoothies are a great way to get your protien. I like to soak a blend of nuts ands seeds, add some whey protien, and some carob and frap it up.

[sames]

I like to soak a blend of nuts ands seeds, add some whey protien, and some carob and frap it up.

Frap is now my new favorite verb!

[Fergal]

Thank you all for your kind and 'nutty' suggestions - I've never tried making nut smoothies before - should make for an interesting experiment. Come to think of it I've never 'frapped' anything either...

I've no intention of returning to meat/dairy of any sort in the near future so its going to be eggs and legumes to satisfy my protein requirements. After that my usual selection of veggies should see to any other nutritional requirements.

Thanks again for your suggestions

Yours in health

Fergal

[Charles Long]

Have you read The China Study? That would give you some good ideas regarding protein. I think it's over-rated and we don't really need that much. Most on this list would probably disagree and I'm not trying to start an arguement with any of them but there are plenty of fruitarians and raw vegetarians out there who gain plenty of muscle taking their protein from only those sources. That being said, have you tried hemp seed protein powders? Many hardcore vegan athletes swear by it like Steve Arlin (body builder) and Brendan Brazier (triathelete). Mix a scoop in your smoothie. It mixes and tastes way better than soy powders do. There are a couple of commercial mixes like Thor's Raw Protein Powder and Vega which use that. I've never tried either so I can't comment on how they taste.

Why did you quit grains? If it's because of gluten, you could still eat buckwheat or millet, both of which make a hardy sustaining breakfast along with a couple of pieces of fruit.

What you said about eating breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper is something Seventh Day Adventists (of which I am one) have been saying and teaching for a long time.

From what I understand about the Paleo Diet, it's based on that we evolved eating meat along with gathering nuts and berries, etc. Since I believe we were created and the first humans (Adam and Eve) were vegetarian, I can't take it seriously but there are plenty of people who do. Good luck.

Charles Long

[Fergal]

Thanks for all that info Charles - it'll certainly give me some really healthy alternatives to my usual protein foods. I found both hemp-related protein powders easily online and I intend seeing if my local health store can order in some for me. I'll certainly follow up this thread at a later date with my experiences with it.

In terms of why I'm avoiding grains, I am at the moment trying to figure out what works best for me - through trial and error, I know that eating raw is the way to go. Grains served me well for years when I was in my twenties and following a largely Macrobiotic diet. Over the last few years though, my instincts and self-observations seem to be leading me to eat less grains and dairy - so far this has only lead to an increase in energy levels and my overall sense of personal well-being.

While I completely respect your belief system, my journey inspires me to try and figure out how to best undo some of the negative/unhealthy practices that culture/civilisation has imposed on natural principles and which have been widely accepted and inherited as healthy - a slate-cleaning of sorts.

Thanks again for your valuable suggestions - they really are appreciated.

Take care

Fergal

[Charles Long]

Fergal, it sounds like things are going well and you are making improvements in your life. That's a good thing. There is another high protein item I forgot to mention in my above post that you may want to check on--that's chia seeds. Natives in the southwest USA and into Mexico have been using them for centuries and some legendary feets of endurance have been attributed to them using nothing but chia seeds and water. Besides the protein content, they provide a slow release of energy so a little in the morning can keep you going a long time. They can be baked into things but I use them raw, usually when I don't have time to eat a meal or am not hungry but know I need something to keep me going. I think it's a good item to have in your pantry. I try to always have some around. Something else to think about.

Good luck. It sounds like you are experimenting and following what works best for you. Keep it up and you'll eventually find what your body likes and responds to best.

Charles

[Fergal]

Thanks again for all your kind suggestions Charles - I haven't seen chia seeds in my local health food store but I'm sure they could order them in from abroad for me.

I'll certainly update this thread with any observations on how I get on with the hemp-based products and those chia seeds too.

Yours in health

Fergal

[yael]

Charles, there's an interesting debate between the author of the China Study and the author of the Paleo Diet. Check it out:
http://www.performancemenu.com/resources/proteinDebate.php

[Fergal]

Just a quick addition to this thread.

I was talking to a really helpful member of staff in a local health food store the other day and he spoke very highly of pea protein powder. I looked into it a bit online and it has almost 85g of protein per 100g and apparently has a pretty neutral flavour. It has quite a favourable amino acid profile too so it may be one to add to your shopping list.

Just thought it may be of interest to ye.

Yours in health

Fergal

[priyam]

Fergal, there have been many good suggestions here for you- including the frappes/smoothies. i am a very big fan of smoothies so i encourage you to experiment with them. i would also suggest a high powered blender if you do end up liking them on a regular basis.

my main suggestion regarding protein (without getting into too many details or sparking a protein debate here) is to ingest more greens! protein is comprised of amino acids and greens contain some of the highest quality amino acids available to us in unprocessed form. since it is not possible for most of us to load up on salads and green leafy veggies, blending them is the way to go. daily i make smoothies with parsley, spinach, chard, kale, collards, mustard greens, dandelion, edible weeds, etc and i notice a HUGE difference in my health.
i am a vegetarian eating primarily raw foods. but i would recommend these greens smoothies to anyone on any diet as real health booster! if you PM me and provide your email address, i'd be willing to send you some smoothie recipes with various greens.

i wish you the best in your journey and experimentation!

[janet lee]

daily i make smoothies with parsley, spinach, chard, kale, collards, mustard greens, dandelion, edible weeds, etc and i notice a HUGE difference in my health.


Edible weeds are awesome! Some of my faves are chickweed (reminds me abit of sprouts), nettles (if they're young enough), dandelion (bitter), lambsquarters, and purslane (lemony flavored). I've always just eaten them in salad or grazed in the yard. Adding to a smoothie would be something I'll have to try.

Good suggestion:thumbup:

[priyam]

Edible weeds are awesome! Some of my faves are chickweed (reminds me abit of sprouts), nettles (if they're young enough), dandelion (bitter), lambsquarters, and purslane (lemony flavored). I've always just eaten them in salad or grazed in the yard. Adding to a smoothie would be something I'll have to try.

Good suggestion:thumbup:

Thanks Janet! i'm often hesitant to recommend edible weeds instead of the more familiar & traditional greens. but the fact is that they are nutritionally superior foods. that's why animals eat them instinctively. purslane, which you mentioned for example, is an excellent source of omega 3's and Vitamin C.

[msimione]

Definitely do not want to cut grains out. There are so many recipes that the Japanese use for incorporating grains; in particular, brown rice or wild rice into their dialy regimen.
Use can use it for every meal, and use the leftovers for breakfast porrage.

Think about addding beans for to your meals. There's your major source of protein and fiber and the nut smoothies with fruit or vegetables are excellent to start your day.

Macro involves a lot of food from the sea especially vegetables.
I eat miso soup for breakfast everyday, and with my appetite this approach to nutrition is fantastic due to the fiber intake.
The Paleo diet is the reverse of the way your eating. You would want to put your body in 'survival mode' during the day for fighting purposes and wind it down naturally by eating as much as you need in the evening. That is how our bodies are designed.

It has worked for me very well. My body is full of energy and dropping weight rapidly towards where it naturally wants to be.

A suggestion, I take natural superfoods everyday - spirulina and chlorella for all my nutrient needs to detoxify the body and power up the immune system. Have not gotten sick in 5 years even when I was overweight and not as healthy as I should be.

Check out the website to see the foods that would work for you.

www.macrobiotics.org

'to your health'