[guramannen]

Hi! I'm a relatively new vegetarian, and on the day I decided to become one, I got both my girlfriend and my best friend, and eventually my mother to join in. Feels really good.

I'm having some problems though. I've always had an ability to sense what my body needs, and based on that I pick the food I eat so my body is in balance. Only lately, I've been having a serious craving for meat. I'm not going to eat it though because it goes against my policies. But I sense that my body is seriously missing something in the diet, and my "sense" says I need meat.

Any idea what I might be missing out on? I do eat eggs and milk, and loads of protein in different forms. Must be some kind of vitamin. (Gonna try and find a variety of the B vitamins to stuff myself with)

By the way I'm sorry if there's already a post on this, I just can't go through 40.000 posts...If you guys know of one, please link it!

Cheers

 

[LedBoots]

Hi and welcome . My guess is the most common and simplest: too few calories. Vegetarian food is less calorie dense, and is bulkier, than meat, so you get full quicker.

 

[guramannen]

Thank you! Feels good.
Cooking pasta right now with diverse add-ons, lets see if it helps cheers =)

 

[silva]

Hi! I'm a relatively new vegetarian, and on the day I decided to become one, I got both my girlfriend and my best friend, and eventually my mother to join in. Feels really good.

I'm having some problems though. I've always had an ability to sense what my body needs, and based on that I pick the food I eat so my body is in balance. Only lately, I've been having a serious craving for meat. I'm not going to eat it though because it goes against my policies. But I sense that my body is seriously missing something in the diet, and my "sense" says I need meat.

Any idea what I might be missing out on? I do eat eggs and milk, and loads of protein in different forms. Must be some kind of vitamin. (Gonna try and find a variety of the B vitamins to stuff myself with)

By the way I'm sorry if there's already a post on this, I just can't go through 40.000 posts...If you guys know of one, please link it!

Cheers

I understand you firmly believe your bodies cravings are from nutritional 'needs', but there's no scientific findings that 'needs' are associated with cravings. There are many non-food cravings that relate to nutritional deficiencies. Craving salty fatty foods after alcohol doesn't indicate need.
Another thing to consider, even if cravings were from 'need', why meat? Why not veg foods of similar composition? I'll tell you why, because you've been filling those cravings with meat from before you could hold your own spoon, or choose what 'food' means to you.

It's a transition. People have been raised vegetarian from birth and I don't any of them ever looked at a bird, or small mammal, and felt an urge to grab it and chow down. Not anytime recently at least! Humans have been able to comfortably live as vegans for quite some time. What hasn't been easy, is fighting to get away from the flawed thinking that enslaving animals and feeding them massive amounts of grains and water, then having to contain all the wastes, etc, etc, is the way to get our nutritional requirements. There is NOTHING 'natural' about eating meat for humans anymore, unless you live out in the woods and do everything yourself, which you obviously don't, 'cause-computer and internet...
It's about relearning what food is, what food preparation is.
It takes time and is very well worth the effort.

I've always laughed at the big chefs who say they'd be so limited at veg cooking, when nothing could be further than the truth. There's a world of unexplored options out there for veg'ns.

Here's another funny--people who say 'veg'ns have to use all kinds of seasoning to make their food taste good.' You know what? those seasonings are natural spices and herbs, AND, they're FOOD! Food which many omnis take in gel capsules nows and pay a lot for! Why wouldn't anyone use them liberally in cooking, for health and taste?

 

[silva]

nutritionfacts.org

http://share.kaiserpermanente.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/The-Plant-Based-Diet-booklet.pdf

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-952/PlantBased-Diet-for-Beginners-How-to-Get-Started.html

 

[strawberrycrepe]

You may want to up your protein and iron. Beans, lentils, and tofu are good sources of iron and protein. Try to pair it with sources of vitamin c for extra absorption.

 

[David3]

Like LedBoots said, not eating enough calories is a common mistake made by new vegetarians. Not eating enough calories will cause tiredness, mental fatigue, and cravings for high-calorie foods (such as meat). This mistake is easy to make, because vegetarian staple foods (beans, grains, vegetables, fruit) are so low in calories, compared to meat and high-fat dairy products.

Here's a quick calculator that will estimate how many calories you need each day. Be sure to select the appropriate options of "gain weight", "maintain weight", or "lose weight": http://www.calorieking.com/interactive-tools/how-many-calories-should-you-eat/?ref=nav

Then, just remember this simple calorie rule-of-thumb:

One cup of boiled beans or lentils is about 230 calories.
One cup of boiled grains or pasta is about 200 calories.
One cup of fresh (not dried) fruit is 40-100 calories.
One cup of non-starchy vegetables (spinach, kale, radishes, etc.) is 5-40 calories.
One cup of nuts or seeds is 650-1000 calories.
One tablespoon of oil is 120 calories.

Mercy For Animals has published a free, well-written Vegetarian Guide. The nutrition part of the guide starts on page 7: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/files/VSG.pdf

 

[MadamSarcastra]

Maybe you can trick your taste buds! You could give this broth a whirl to make couscous, which you then add to whisked eggs while they begin to cook.... sprinkle in cooked couscous, all over the cooking eggs, cover, let cook through, soon you'll have a large "patty" for a couple sandwiches! I used to make it quite a bit (although I haven't had an egg in 3-4 months), just with low sodium veggie broth. The no-chicken broth was VERY authentic tasting.... I was convinced I was eating a chicken sandwich & couldn't continue. LOL

Anyhoo, here's the broth and an old, blurry photo of one of my egg/couscous sammiches (with what looks to be baby spinach & red bell pepper).... ---- I sincerely hope there's no backlash from any anti-eggers. I made a suggestion, it's tasty & filling, it's better than meat, let it go! LMAO ----

Good luck! Munch on! :rockon:

 

[David3]

Anyhoo, here's the broth and an old, blurry photo of one of my egg/couscous sammiches (with what looks to be baby spinach & red bell pepper).... ---- I sincerely hope there's no backlash from any anti-eggers. I made a suggestion, it's tasty & filling, it's better than meat, let it go! LMAO ----

No-one should have a problem with this; this section of the forum is the Vegetarian Support Forum, not the Vegan Support Forum.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

I honestly didn't notice which support forum this was, but WHEW!! (still looking over shoulder... LMAO)

 

[Thalassa4]

My guess is either just calories themselves (as in, just eat more!) Or iron. I think iron deficiency is the biggest cause of fatigue, coldness, nervousness, and meat cravings. ..after simply just not eating enough nutritious food.

Eggs have plenty of B12, so I doubt it's B vitamins if you aren't vegan or almost vegan.

 

[Thalassa4]

Thank you! Feels good.
Cooking pasta right now with diverse add-ons, lets see if it helps cheers =)

You might want to switch to quinoa or whole grain pasta if you eat a lot of pasta, to get more nutrients.

Aside from upping iron sources (beans, tofu, peanut butter, greens)...you simply may be having PSYCHOLOGICAL cravings for familiar foods...that's a good reason for buying faux meats like chkn, veggie burgers, vegetarian sausage, or smart dogs...and if you don't have a lot of experience cooking, you could get pre-made veggie frozen meals, like from Amys.

 

[Thalassa4]

I understand you firmly believe your bodies cravings are from nutritional 'needs', but there's no scientific findings that 'needs' are associated with cravings. There are many non-food cravings that relate to nutritional deficiencies. Craving salty fatty foods after alcohol doesn't indicate need.
Another thing to consider, even if cravings were from 'need', why meat? Why not veg foods of similar composition? I'll tell you why, because you've been filling those cravings with meat from before you could hold your own spoon, or choose what 'food' means to you.

It's a transition. People have been raised vegetarian from birth and I don't any of them ever looked at a bird, or small mammal, and felt an urge to grab it and chow down. Not anytime recently at least! Humans have been able to comfortably live as vegans for quite some time. What hasn't been easy, is fighting to get away from the flawed thinking that enslaving animals and feeding them massive amounts of grains and water, then having to contain all the wastes, etc, etc, is the way to get our nutritional requirements. There is NOTHING 'natural' about eating meat for humans anymore, unless you live out in the woods and do everything yourself, which you obviously don't, 'cause-computer and internet...
It's about relearning what food is, what food preparation is.
It takes time and is very well worth the effort.

I've always laughed at the big chefs who say they'd be so limited at veg cooking, when nothing could be further than the truth. There's a world of unexplored options out there for veg'ns.

Here's another funny--people who say 'veg'ns have to use all kinds of seasoning to make their food taste good.' You know what? those seasonings are natural spices and herbs, AND, they're FOOD! Food which many omnis take in gel capsules nows and pay a lot for! Why wouldn't anyone use them liberally in cooking, for health and taste?

Actually fatty food absorbs alcohol better and salt cravings can be because alcohol makes you pee a lot (so you lose salt, and electrolytes, just like with sweating) I m sorry to correct you, but there are very good reasons why a person craves fat and salt after drinking too much.

There has been research done on what makes people crave "junk" foods, and there are conversion charts of what craving salt, sugar or fat means (or a variety of things it could mean)...people who have nutrient deficiency will start eating dirt, dog food and other things because they are craving something they can't pinpoint, like minerals, or in some cases just calories.

 

[highlyoriginal]

Sometimes I feel the same way in some aspects - like something is missing but you get over it.

I never 'crave' meat but I do sometimes feel, for example when making egg's or egg's and cheese, that I should be placing something with it (as I used to do).

I don't know if that will ever stop I'm sure it will, for now some of the veggy burgers seem to work.

I've tried veggy bacon and it was terrible, just my opinion I'm sure there is a decent brand out there but what I have access to is pretty disgusting and it on top of that it has to be used very quickly (so storing it isn't really an option).

You need to find what suits you, and I recommend maybe trying a meal and than exercising, you may find these feelings go away (that is just my take on the situation though).

 

[Vegan Dave]

I have never craved meat, but if I did, I would think about it from the animal's perspective:

 

[Thalassa4]

Sometimes I feel the same way in some aspects - like something is missing but you get over it.

I never 'crave' meat but I do sometimes feel, for example when making egg's or egg's and cheese, that I should be placing something with it (as I used to do).

I don't know if that will ever stop I'm sure it will, for now some of the veggy burgers seem to work.

I've tried veggy bacon and it was terrible, just my opinion I'm sure there is a decent brand out there but what I have access to is pretty disgusting and it on top of that it has to be used very quickly (so storing it isn't really an option).

You need to find what suits you, and I recommend maybe trying a meal and than exercising, you may find these feelings go away (that is just my take on the situation though).

This sounds more like habit than craving...you can add mushrooms, herbs or other veggies to an egg and cheese omelet, and serve with a side of potatoes and toast or muffin. Add a piece of veggie sausage and tomato slices and you have a full country breakfast.

 

[highlyoriginal]

This sounds more like habit than craving...you can add mushrooms, herbs or other veggies to an egg and cheese omelet, and serve with a side of potatoes and toast or muffin. Add a piece of veggie sausage and tomato slices and you have a full country breakfast.

Thanks, I will try this tomorrow morning for my breakfast - I'll do potatoes, toast, and an egg white omelet with a couple veggies.

 

[Thalassa4]

Thanks, I will try this tomorrow morning for my breakfast - I'll do potatoes, toast, and an egg white omelet with a couple veggies.

Cool! If you do cheddar, onion and green pepper with tomatoes or salsa, it's more Spanish, but you can go French with herbs de Provence, goat cheese or swiss, mushrooms and spinach. You can go pretty diverse with veggie omelets.

 

[guramannen]

Yey

Sometimes I feel the same way in some aspects - like something is missing but you get over it.

I never 'crave' meat but I do sometimes feel, for example when making egg's or egg's and cheese, that I should be placing something with it (as I used to do).

I don't know if that will ever stop I'm sure it will, for now some of the veggy burgers seem to work.

I've tried veggy bacon and it was terrible, just my opinion I'm sure there is a decent brand out there but what I have access to is pretty disgusting and it on top of that it has to be used very quickly (so storing it isn't really an option).

You need to find what suits you, and I recommend maybe trying a meal and than exercising, you may find these feelings go away (that is just my take on the situation though).

Cool! I've found a brand here that's just awesome. It's called "Hälsans Kök" (translates to "Health's Kitchen"). All the stuff they make tastes authentic. I never tasted horrible veggie bacon because it smelled like plastic and I wouldn't stuff myself with it Mixing this brands veggie bacon into a sause makes it taste like the real deal. Amg! We got some good stuff in Sweden.

 

[guramannen]

Wow

I'm not sure how to make this go back to everyone but I want to thank you for your replies, wow, many of them have been very helpful and given me directions on where I can go. I'm going to try the calories solution first, eating more nuts and seeds.

I would like to specify too that, these "cravings" I'm talking about are not the same feeling as when you lust for candy. It's more of a sensation I've always had and a way for my body to communicate what it needs. It doesn't only send meat, but it sends broccoli and a variety of things, some of which I've rarely had
I think my body is just telling me I need the stuff that the body is used to getting from the meat. Thats where you guys come in and you've been very helpful! Thank you, I'll continue to check up on this discussion =)