I just discovered this forum and it looks helpful. I'm interested in becoming a vegetarian and actually tried it for two or three weeks during a summer program a couple years ago. (I couldn't experiment at home because my mom is extremely opposed to vegetarianism.) The problem I found when I stopped eating meat was that I began to lose a lot of weight, which was actually scary because I'm already quite thin. I also felt hungry constantly, no matter how much fruit, vegetables, whole grains, etc. I ate.

I still find that whenever I go without meat for a few days, I start to get hungry, sometimes to the point where I feel weak or can't concentrate until I eat some meat.

Does anyone here have suggestions as to why this happens and what combinations of foods I could eat as a vegetarian to avoid this constant hunger? Thanks in advance!

I find that the combination of protein, fat and fiber keeps me full. Vegetarians end up focusing on carbs a lot of the time, and starches/sugars don't do much to fill us up.

Make sure you are eating plenty of legumes--especially beans/lentils or tempeh--plenty of vegetables, some whole grain, and a healthy fat, like extra-virgin olive oil, nuts/seeds, coconut, or avocado at each meal.

Replace your meat w/mock meats, like veggie burgers and stuff. They were lifesavers when I started. If your just not eatting meat and not replacing those calories you'll be hungry.Molly's right too, make sure you have a variety of sources and healthy fats in moderation will help you feel full

Mock meats would probably be the most practical solution. They're available in just about any grocery store.

You may have to try eating more smaller meals throughout the day (which they say you should do anyway).

Other than that I don't really have any advice but I hope it works out for you! :)

It sounds like you ate too many salads and not enough protein/fat. You won't feel full unless you are getting those things. The other posters are right, mock meats will make you feel a lot more like you're still eating meat.

If you find those too inaccessible, try eating foods you already enjoy and fill up on.... bean burritos, spaghetti with roasted veggies tomato sauce and cheese, pizza with all the veggie toppings! really there are a lot of foods you already eat which are vegetarian. The ones that aren't, you can modify to make vegetarian yourself. Use a "chick pattie" and make a "chik parm" sandwich with a little mozerella and pizza sauce from a jar. Cut up a "chik pattie" and make a Chik caesar style roll-up (just use a vegetarian caesar sauce, as most contain anchovies). Make a pizza bagel, or if you want to eat a salad, load it up with lots of different types of salad beans (I like garbanzos and red kidney beans in my salads).

I agree that if you are already too thin, losing weight will make it harder to convince your mother that vegetarianism is ok. You shoudl read a book about vegetarian nutrition, I enjoyed "Becoming Vegetarian". I think it will also contain a lot of information that will help convince your mother its actually quite healthy to be vegetarian (I sent it to my father in law when he freaked out that his son was becoming vegetarian with me!)

Good luck!

Meat and dairy have high caloric density due to high fat content (think of it as "calories per bite"). Replacing these sources with foods of low caloric density can definitely result in under-consumption of calories (feel fortunate - this is the kind of problem you want to have, since calorie restricted diets are suspected of being one of the best ways of increasing longevity and good health).

This problem is easily solved with vegan high fat foods, of which nuts are a prime example. A cup of unsalted peanuts will provide you with around 800 calories; other nuts are equally calorie-dense. Try eating 800 calories of broccoli, and you'll immediately notice the difference.

Welcome to the club, and best wishes! :up:

Sounds like you weren't eating healthy enough...Maybe, unless you've already, like, sworn to go veg, you might want to try to reduce the amount of meat you eat slowly like they say to do for going vegan, but add carbs, proteins, etc or just meat substitutes as you go. Though its supposedly normal for minor weight loss in the first few months of veg*nism. Hey, I sound like my frikken mother, never knew that'd happen...

You don't technically HAVE to combine protiens (like whole grains with beans or other lentils), but I have to eat every few hours and I find I last a lot longer and feel more satisfied if I do the "complimentary protien" thing.

Mock Meats definitely. It is the most comforting thing for those who are generally against a vegetarian diet.

...And eat an avocado at every meal! Make some tastey guacamole, and you may even find some Omni's digging in.

Good Luck!

You don't technically HAVE to combine protiens (like whole grains with beans or other lentils), but I have to eat every few hours and I find I last a lot longer and feel more satisfied if I do the "complimentary protien" thing.

I have a theory on this :)

It's not that you've combined proteins and magically your body is happy. I think it's because the foods you are getting a better chance at hitting a balanced carb, protein, fat ration with some good fibre in there. The more variety, the easier it is to get everything you need (unless it's variety in the amount of junk food you eat. Something I know a lot about ;) )

I agree Freshtart. Also, some complementary proteins just happen to taste super-good together, like beans and rice. :hungry:

A craving for meat is something I have never felt but I guess I can understand. But let me give you a couple if advices. First don't let yourself be hungry. Eat! Eat healthy thing. You feel hungry? A bowl of high fiber ( >10g/30g) whole grain cereals with soy milk will relieve your hunger for a while, eat something as soon as you start feeling your unger. Carry an apple with you. Maybe a banana. Put cut carrots and celerys in a ziploc and eat it on your way home from work, or school. A few slices of tofu for you morning break will get you to lunch Eating lighter and more often is the key to vegetarism in my opinion. Don't forget to drink water which will clean your body of the animal toxic stuff.

Eat good stuff. How to chose? The more processed, the less good. The more processed, the less sustaining. If you live in the states it can be hard to find good bread. But I learned to make bread during my 2 years visit in the states. A good artisanal whole grain bred makes a big difference compared to bagged whole grain breads.

Now where we buy most of our bread is at www dot premieremoisson dot com which has stores all aroung montreal. Look in the bakery-> organic bread section. THese breads, especially the montignac bio integral made with 99% extraction rate whole weat, filtered water and seasalt, is simply wonderful and extreamly sustaining. In the states I had to make bread like this. It was never as good, but much better than anything I could find at the supermarket. And don't let you fool by bread machines. Making bread is really easy!

Also learn to eat chick peas, all kind of beans.. Beans will provide what you need and are sustaining as well. One half chick peas, half red kidney beans, minced grean onions, with your favorite first cold pressure oil, chopped red and green peppers makes a damn good meal.

You wonder how to equilibrate your food? How to get all the vitamins you need? Play with colors. Vegetables are of different colors because they provide different vitamins and minerals. Eating the full spectrum of vegetable colors, you benefit from a large variety of vitamins and minerals. You will be even less hungry and more healthy.

Bottom line. You are hungry? Eat a good natural thing and you will be healthy for the rest of your life. Never let yourself be hungry, unless in a controled way like fasting.

Mock Meats definitely. It is the most comforting thing for those who are generally against a vegetarian diet.

...And eat an avocado at every meal! Make some tastey guacamole, and you may even find some Omni's digging in.

Good Luck!
Why an avocado?

avocados are high in fat (the GOOD kind), and help you feel satisfied... i think that was the intent behind that post... :/

...Yes. And Avocados have a low Glucose Index. Meaning they release energy slowly over time. Much vegetarian food doesn't, and will make you get hungry an hour later.

If she's losing weight, the saturated fats in an avocado should help reverse the process. It may be that her body prefers to consume energy in the form of fat, which is why she's loosing weight even though she's probably getting enough calories to feed half of Ethiopia.

Oh, makes sense...

hi Botticelli , I have also posted about this problem. I think meat seems more 'dense' or something like that. Maybe the answer is to get foods with that solid kind of feeling , like eggs for instance , and also the other stuff people have suggested here to do with fats and protein. Eggs are also a binding agent , so might help to get away from that watery feeling you can get if your body is not used to skipping meat . My own health problems mean that I can't rush this but I hope you find it easier . All the best with it lol xxxxxx

'difficulty becoming vegetarian ( see history ) ; sustainability begins in the kitchen ; love nut butters , smoked tofu and seaweed ; there are not many poems about roast lamb ; the future's Japanese ! ' :juggle:

You have to eat a great deal more fruits/vegetables/whole grains to add up to the calorie content in an equal amount (quantity wise) of meat. Also, where is your protein in this equasion? You didn't mention eating nuts, legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan or any other high protein source. I've been veg for over 10 yrs, so I can't really say what it feels like to eat meat anymore, but I know I don't feel satisfied just eating vegetables and grains unless I have some protein/fat in there. So like, a green salad is blech, but a green salad with avocado and nuts or seeds and olives and some olive oil is satisfying.

Lots of bean burritos and mock meats!! And make sure to get educated yourself so you can talk to your mom. I would HATE to first go vegetarian at a summer camp! Usually food at places like there is very very lacking. Experiment at home and see what you can come up with! If you have to reduce meat slowly, that's OK. You can try veg Fridays for a while! Then veg weekends! Then veg all the time! Or you can cut out one different animal food every two weeks. That way your body has time to slowly adjust. Just remember, whatever you do, make the change! Always be working toward making the world and yourself better, even if you have to do it one small step at a time!

Feeling weak can be a sign of low iron~ I know it is for me... I get dizzy and feel like I need to sit down or I'll pass out (and DID, when 32w pregnant, with my 2 yr old in the grocery cart... scary scary) ~

Best thing I do, right now (ovo-lacto) is to eat an egg. I actually am keeping hard boiled eggs in the fridge at all times and if I feel like I'm missing something, or am starting to feel weak, I grab one and I'm feeling much much better in a matter of minutes.

If you're not eating eggs or dairy, it's possible you may need to up your healthy fats... avacados are wonderful for that (if you like them... I can't abide the taste for some reason)~ Hmmmm... the others have good suggestions, though. Hope you can find a way to make it work for you!

If I were you, I'd ask a doctor. People are all unique so who knows. Also, try this recipe: go to my site http://www.simple-vegetarian-recipes.com and on the Protein page find Lemon Garbanzo Bulgur Pilaf. See if that fills you up. It fills up my meat eating 300 lb fat 20 yr old brother.

help – I get hungry if I don't eat meat.

So be hungry then. It feels great to be hungry.

I feel so vital and alert when i'm hungry...like a caveman with heightened awareness seeking his next meal.