I'm a moderately active lacto-ovo vegetarian. For the past few months, my diet has not been giving me the energy that I need.Does anyone suffer with this problem?
I don't know if I'm not getting sufficient vitamin intake, adequate calories or variety...so I'm in desperate need of suggestions. This lifestyle is very important to me and I want to reap all benefits possible!
For the purpose of proper advice, my diet is usually---
breakfast: cereal, milk, fruit when I can get it
lunch: 2-3 servings of vegetables, jasmine rice(or other starch), eggplant/seitan meatballs
dinner: grilled veggie sandwich or tofu with veggies
Thanks in advance for the advice!!

hmm.. you need more calories, firstly, as well as protein and fat. i would suggest you try adding some snacks into your day.... lemme see.. here's what i recommend you do:

breakfast: cereal, milk, fruit when I can get it try adding some ww toast w/pb to breakfast, or having pb w/the fruit
s: small handful of nuts like almonds/cashews or handful of granola and milk/yogurt/soygurt
lunch: 2-3 servings of vegetables, jasmine rice(or other starch), eggplant/seitan meatballs sautee the veggies in olive oil, add beans to the rice
S: carrot sticks w/dip of your choice, or pretzels, soynuts, etc
dinner: grilled veggie sandwich or tofu with veggies add more to this meal! add a tossed salad on the side, some rice and beans, grill the veggies w/olive oil. if you are lacto-veg, add cheese to the sandwich.. add a baked potato to the tofu w/veggies...

just my thoughts.

also, you might want to try using www.fitday.com or nutritiondata online to track your daily caloric intake and needs. if you are meeting or exceeding your energy and nutrient needs, i would suggest you see a doctor, because low energy levels can be a sign of a more serious problem..

peace
deva

I suggest eating 5-6 times per day with more calories, I would definately add fruit to breakfast! Perhaps a protien drink or smoothie as one of you snacks.

Hi,

I'd concentrate on eating whole foods in sufficant quanities. Personally, the less processed food the better.

You might try "subing" out the cereal. Cereal is a processed food. Try eating oatmeal. Also............When you eat a starch, make it a whole grain. Stay away from WHITE grains like white rice and white pasta. Eat the whole versions.

And try eating raw nuts and figs and veggies for snacks. They are a power house of nutrients. Figs are amazing. It just takes 3 -4 dried figs a day. You'll notice the difference. You just need a hand full of nuts. And don't forget beans....beans are our friend..:)

I love coffee, but if your having an energy problem, I'd cut that out.

I've noticed that many vegans and veggie people eat alot of processed food. I think we live under the delusion that taking animals out of our diets automatically makes us healthy. It helps, but it takes more. Your body needs whole fruits and vegatables. Try eating a % of those veggies raw.

Eating burritos and pancakes and boxed cereal and subway sandwhiches on a regular bases won't do the trick. Sure, we all eat those things but not as the main stay of your diet. Not if you want optimal health.

That's all good advice, and I'd also add that many people who feel tired, weak, and non-energetic-- in other words, anemic-- are short on iron. So in addition to the other advice, you might check to make sure you're eating plenty of iron-rich foods.