Hey, i'v recently become vegetarian, only since christmas as my body has decided itno longer likes meat (i have been trying for while thou). Now that i have finally made it, i would like to know abotu nutrition. My family say that i wont be getting enough protein or iron. What will i be lacking now im not eating meat, and what foods can i eat more of to balance this?

Thank you for your help

vegetarian protien sources include: eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts, seeds, and grains.

vegetarian iron sources include: green leafy veggies of many sorts, cooking in an iron skillet, apricots and many other dried fruits, etc.

You can get tons of info here:

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm (american dietetic association)

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Approximately 2.5% of adults in the United States and 4% of adults in Canada follow vegetarian diets. A vegetarian diet is defined as one that does not include meat, fish, or fowl. -- American Dietetic Association

My family say that i wont be getting enough protein or iron.




Protein stats: (From "The Higher Taste" 1997 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust)

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A 100 gram portion of meat contains 20 grams of protein

A 100 gram portion of cheese contains 25 grams of protein
A 100 gram portion of lentils contains 25 grams of protein
A 100 gram portion of soybeans contains 34 grams of protein
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Wow thanks for your help goatee, i will be able to answer my family back.

Some people think vegetarians are just going to waste away because they don't get enough nutrition.

You do have to be educated, though. For instance, here's a website of someone who didn't know what he was doing. He became vegetarian at the age of 39 so all the pictures except the bottom two are from when he was at least 15 years vegetarian. You can clearly see how weak and anemic he became:

http://www.shelterpub.com/_fitness/_weight_training/Pearl_photos.html

So eat right and keep fit and you'll be fine. And if you have any more questions there are lots of people here who can help you. :)

Comparing veggie dogs to regular hotdogs:

.........................yves veggie dogs ..........beef hot dog
Serving size...............46 grams..................46 grams
Calories.....................50................... ........242
Calories from fat.........1.............................135
Protein......................11 grams..................10 grams
Fat...........................0.1 grams..................15 grams
Saturated fat.............0.0 grams...................5 grams
Cholesterol................0...................... .........44 mg
Carbohydrates............1.4 grams...................18 grams

-- From the inside of a veggie product wrapper

see http://www.yvesveggie.com/home.php

You might want to get a book on veggie nutrition, such as The New Becoming Vegetarian: The Essential Guide To A Healthy Vegetarian Diet by Vesanto Melina or Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet by Brenda Davis, Vesanto Melina. I found "Becoming Vegan" to be very helpful.

Comparing veggie dogs to regular hotdogs:

.........................yves veggie dogs ..........beef hot dog
Serving size...............46 grams..................46 grams
Calories.....................50................... ........242
Calories from fat.........1.............................135
Protein......................11 grams..................10 grams
Fat...........................0.1 grams..................15 grams
Saturated fat.............0.0 grams...................5 grams
Cholesterol................0...................... .........44 mg
Carbohydrates............1.4 grams...................18 grams

-- From the inside of a veggie product wrapper

see http://www.yvesveggie.com/home.php
One of my best omni friends (who is obese) loves hot dogs and eats way too many of them. I've tried swaying her to veggie dogs because the calorie difference is just amazing.

i had no idea you could get vegitarian hot dogs lol. Are they available in England (i dunno where the rest of you are from). DO you all feel healthier or any different at all now that you dont eat meat???

Charlotte.

You can get veggie almost everything! (Even in the UK ;) ) Check out a health food shop.

The UK is huge for vegetarianism and veggie products must be available -- Linda McCartney invented some I think.

i had no idea you could get vegitarian hot dogs lol. Are they available in England (i dunno where the rest of you are from). DO you all feel healthier or any different at all now that you dont eat meat???

Charlotte.

There's "veggie" versions of almost anything. I've actually heard of more products being available over in the UK than I can find around here (Wisconsin, US).

I definitely feel better and healthier not eating meat. I had become tired, pale, and lazy. Now that I've eliminated meat and most dairy, I've gotten into a regular exercise program, I'm more alert, my thoughts seem more focused, and I've lost 15 pounds of unneeded weight. I feel great!

i'll have to go find the veggie section in the supermarket, i dnt know anything about it coz im the only veggie i know (apart from you lot). Iv started feeling less tired as well and i have more energy, i hoping to lose a bit of weight but this isnt my main goal, i love the environment and dnt want to be a part of its destruction!

And see if you can find a health food store -- they usually have all kinds of veggie products. Although they are becoming more common in the regular supermarkets.

YOu can also get advice at a health food store but any advice that you do get you may want to post here because there are some wacky diets out there.