Why does my vegetarian diet make me so hungry?!
Why does my vegetarian diet make me so hungry?
it seems like everything I eat now are carbs , carbs and more carbs. All the crackers, cereal, oatmeal and pasta cant be good .. or is it?? Also, what can I eat to keep from being so hungry?? Today I had to break down and eat some fish, I had been starving for so long whats the secret? I've made Lentil soup, I was hungry just a few hours later. etc etc etc why does it seem like im always so hungry?
Answers:
I think I would be hungry too if I all ate was carbs. Don't listen to all the people saying protein, you will notice in the vegetarian section as soon as someone has a problem with there diet all most people can say is protein. But the thing is all plant based food has protein/amino acids in them. Think of those powerfull animals that we humans use for labor (horses, elephants, camels, oxen) all these animals are vegetarian! Try eating some fruit and vegetables in EVERY meal, have fruit for breakfast, have a nice big vegetable salad for part of your lunch etc Fruit and vegetables are packed with nutrients that your body is probably lacking.
My diet is based on fruit and vegetables, next is carbs, nuts, seeds etc. I have a very physical job, I do resistance exercise at home every day, I do cardio every day, stretching. I NEVER lack energy, and I don't feel hungry aether.
because nothing fills u up right like a nice juicy sirloin steak
your not getting enough protein that you get in meat
meat has some protien that you can not find in anything else and you body is telling you that you need that protien
CARBS DON'T LAST LONG AT ALL!!! You need meat so that it will stay in your stomach longer and make more bile, so that way you won't run out quickly and become hungry faster. Want to be skinny or something? Hate meat-eaters? come on! It's good and hefty!! lol
Maybe it's because you aren't eating enough calories... Do you often feel tired? Because the more food you eat, the more energy you'll have. I suggest eating more fruits and veggies. A little bit of dark chocolate is good
Carbs are good provided that they are the complex kind. Try eating some things like fat free mozerella on toast with pizza sauce, or fat free cream cheese. One of the difficult things about being vegetarian is the lack of low fat high protein substitutes.
Here is a webiste that has great info on nutrition!!! I go here often.
You're not MEATing your daily requirements.
add a little protein to your diet, when your body has hunger pangs (hungry but full), it's b/c your body is requesting a very specific food source. Could be protein, could be something else..
I've found that having a coffee spoon of Peanut Butter really helps..it's low in sugar, but has a lot of (not-so-bad) fat, and also is a source of protein, and it should not conflict w/ your veggie lifestyle...
Peanut butter is like the perfect food! Low in sugar, full in flavor..
but that's MY .02
I often get the same problem too. Vegetable soup satisfies my hunger fast. Also, eat fruits and vegetables every now and then throughot the day. I don't know what kind of vegetarian you are, but if you can eat dairy or eggs. Eating nuts is also a good source of protein.
You need PROTEIN. Try eating some nuts, soybeans are good too, but not enough protein is what makes you hungry.
You have to eat more beans, less carbs. Tofu, mushrooms, fake meat etc. I love pea soup, try that, it'll fill you up, or at least pasta. Or bean chili. OR eggplant dishes, that always fills me up.
to be honest im not the best person to tell you this cause I dont eat too much, at times I eat ALOT, but in general im filled up. But hoped I helped you anyways.
I am sort of doing the same as you do...and i, too, can't help being hungry all the time...but now i realised that one bite of whatever is just as satisfying and filling as a bigger amount-do u get what imean...so i feel better now, coz i am not eating as much...my feeling of hunger is getting better too ...this is my 40th day,,,u?
and eating the fish made you feel full ? ... seems fishy to me ... veggie burgers, veggie dogs, rice with sauteed vegetables., falafel with humus , unturkey salad avocado /tomato sandwich on toasted whole grain with nayonaise , seitan dishes, ...etc etc come on ..you can't feel full?
First off, people have been misinformed about carbs with all the Atkins crap these days, but actually 90% of your daily energy comes from carbs, and according to the daily food pyramid, most of your food intake should be complex carbs. Also, if you say you're feeling unsatisfied, the key to staying full is eating several small meals throughout the day, along with a high fiber diet. Fiber keeps you fuller longer. And since you're a vegetarian, make sure you are eating foods containing B12 vitamins, this will also help your body stay in equilibrium, since you may be deficient in the proteins that are in meat.
Hope this helps, I was a vegan for 5 months and a Vegetarian for 2 and a half years. ( I'm now carnivorous again).
Try eating nuts, beans, hummus, wholegrain breads are you vegan or vegetarian if your vegetarian try dairy have a glass of cold Milo on skim milk between meals.
Its sounds like this way of life is new to you just hang in there I have been vego (no eggs or fish either) for 13 yrs & I love it people feel sorry for me for being vego including my meat eater husband.
I dont eat a lot of carbs and I am not hungry all the time.
I find i am hungrier when I eat carbs if I have toast for breakfast I am starving 2hrs later.
For some snacks to get you through while you adjust & learn some more recipes try.
Baked beans on toast you could top this with some grated cheese.
A handfull of nuts.
Yougurt.
Milk or soya milk fruit smoothie.
Try making a lasagne with 3bean mix & a tin of lentils in place of the meat as I have a child I need to hide vegetables so I always put zuccini, carrots, capsicum, a sweet potato & onion through the food proccessor and then boil this into the lasagne sauce.
It trully is deliciouse.
Even my carnivourouse husband loves this.
Good luck hope you stick with this
PS I have never taken Iron tablets and have had perfect iron levels for the last 13yrs even through my pregnancy so if you eat a varied & well balanced diet you should start to feel like a very healthy person indeed.
Perhaps your body is telling you that it needs something that your current diet isn't supplying. Listen to your body, you're going to need it for a while more. ^-^
Don't listen to people telling you to eat meat. It's wasteful, it's fatty, it's plain old unhealthy. But I'm sure you already know that, right ;)
Anyways, I think that your problem might be a lack of iron or vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is the main one though. A lot of vegetarians don't know that it is essential and nearly impossible to get without meat products. I think you should start taking multivitamins, making sure that they contain B12 and also Iron.
You need to eat more protein. You can get that from tofu, soy, beans, some grains (like quinoa).
Maybe your body is still not used to it!
you are hungry because lettuce just isn't as filling nor is it as satisfying as a nice bar-b-q steak.
your probaly hungury because your not getting enough protein in your diet nuts is a good source of protein!
I'm willing to bet that the fact that your vegetarian diet has left you ravenous is that you are mainly consuming carbohydrates and are skimping on the protein and fat that you need in order to fell full longer....a good way to get these into your diet without consuming meat is to eat nuts...peanut butter, peanuts, almonds, and any other type of nut are good meatless sources of protein and a healthy source of dietary fat....still hungry? try bulking up your fruit and vegetable intake for more volume for less calories!
drink alot of water if you're hungry
eat more fruit and veggs
Don't starve!
Have meat replacements.
I mean, tofu, beans and nuts is great, but there are also veggie burgers, fake chicken strips, fake ground meat... and so on and so on.
also a protein shake helps keep me full.
Your body is not calling for meat, but it is calling for a food group, in your case most likely protein. but make sure to get alot of fresh greens!
First off....switch to whole grain versions of those carbs. Whole grains are good carbs and higher in fiber which make you feel fuller then the stuff made with enriched flour. Soup wouldnt fill me up either. Make hearty foods you like and just use replacements for the meat (mushrooms, soya products, quorn etc)
you are just not eating right. it's very healthy to eat 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day, but not to be always hungry. you need a good protein source as well. despite what dr. atkins thinks, carbs are not bad for you. complex carbs are actually really good for you diet. try discovering some great tofu recipes for protein or try morningstar patties for protein. the black bean patties, garden patties and tomato basil patties are great. they are made of tpv for their protien and in no way are supposed to look or taste like meat.
you are obviously not eating right. Where are the veggies in your diet? A twice baked potato is very filling. So is eggplant, turnips, rutabega, parsnips, apples, pears, etc. Whole grains, beans (bean and cheese tacos and burittos are yummy) mashed potato and bean cakes, etc. Just eat something filling, and with good protein. Snack on raw veggies and hummus
You need some fats and proteins.
Nuts, beans, legumes. Soy products are good. Tofu, tempee, soy milk, soy yogurt, even veggie burgers.