Help with protein

[suzilovespiggie]

I have been a partial vegetarian. I have cut way back on red meat. I eat mostly fish, chicken and turkey. I have wanted to go full vegetarian for some time as I really do hate how the animals are treated.

When I was in 4H, I have always not liked how the bigger animals are so well treated by the kids for the year and then sold for slaughter. Today I saw on PETA what happens with 4H animals their fear, lack of understanding what is happening to them after being so well treated. It was brutal and nothing has touched me so deeply to my core. I sobbed and could sob again thinking and seeing in my minds eye forever what I saw. I cannot play around with not eating meat any more. The cruelty is just to overwealming.

My question is this: I am on a low carb almost no carb diet. This diet is not by choice but for some health reasons. Those of you who are so good at this. How do I get protein in my diet without meat, and having to be so careful with carbs? I have been eating alot of veggies but am still getting hungry. Any help there? My neighbor has chickens. Can I eat the eggs being the chickens are well taken care of and not slaughterd? Thank you for any help. Suzi

[louie_joey]

That is tough! I have a friend who is vegan, and gluten free, and she manages by having grains like quinoa, and substituting rice pasta for regular pasta. Seeing as that is not an option, I am not quite sure what to suggest in terms of the no/low carb diet, except for adding in a lot of beans/legumes for some protein.

I do however have a few ideas regarding the meat. First off, if you are being offered eggs from the neighbour, definitely accept! Eggs are good for you, and if you know that the chickens are living a good life and are not slaughter bound, eating them will be better for you then not eating eggs at all. Eggs are a good source of protein (approx 6 grams per egg) and have omega 3 in them.

Perhaps since your diet is already limited by the no carb factor, I would suggest not going vegetarian. Although I too disagree with how the animals are slaughtered, I would not compromise my health over it. My suggestion would be to find some local farms where you can get your meat from. I know people who get their meat (lets use cows for this example) from farmers who they know. When buying from people you know, you know how the animals were raised, fed, and most importantly slaughtered. I would try to find a farm that raises their cattle free range, and also find out how they are slaughtered. If they have a good life and a quick death, then supporting that is better than blindly picking the meat off the grocery shelf, knowing that the cows had a poor life and a horrible death. As a vegetarian I do not normally support eating meat, but if you know the cows had a good life and their life was ended in the least cruel way possible, I would most certainly choose to eat that meat before cutting meat out totally and possibly compromising my health for it.

Good luck, and let us know how things go.

[suzilovespiggie]

Thank you. For the most part, right now, I have been eating soy products. I have been doing alot of research and have ordered some cookbooks. I got Linda Mccartneys books for 1cents. Can you believe it?
I really want to do this as I do not want an animal to die because of me.

[elftown]

Garbanzo beans, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, etc

Although I wouldn't do it, eating the eggs from your neighbor's chickens is A LOT better than eating store-bought eggs.

[GuineaPigLova]

Are you going to be vegan or vegetarian?
Because if you are going vegan, no milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt....
Yogurt and milk are actually very high in protein. The carbs in there are very little if you get 0%/ skim/ fat free
Eggs are also VERY good for you, especially local ones.
I'd limit it to 1-2 eggs a day, though... that is enough cholesterol :3

[suzilovespiggie]

I have gone without meat, egss, milk for about a week. Trying to do this right. I have been having killer headaches. Is this due to lack of protein? Am I doing something wrong or going about this wrong? Thank you.

[GuineaPigLova]

Number 1 thing: Have you been hydrating?
even the slightest change in diet can make your body need more water
Number 2 thing: Have you been eating enough sugar?
if you eat a piece of whole grain bread with 100% peanut butter, you should feel better
Hope you feel better!

[suzilovespiggie]

I don't eat sugar at all. I do drink alot of water. I work nights so sometimes my eating habits are not good. When I am off, like last night, I sleep for long hours. I can go 19 hours sometimes longer without food or water. I know that is not good but I fight fatigue alot so when I am off I sleep. Plus I am on a low carb diet so that makes it hard too. Just trying to balance this all out. I checked with my local heath food store today on the meat. All the meat is free range, no antibiotics or chemicals but no clue on how they are butchered. Then I just read no soy if you have an underactive thyroid, which I do.
Ugh... this is harder than I thought.

[GuineaPigLova]

Okay... my sister is a health freak- she won't to refined sugar. She has low blood sugar and being an athlete she NEEDS it....
She gets her sugar from fruit... it is higher in carbs, but you can still find low carb options. I mean, you NEED sugar to survive.
Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Bread, Multi-Grain, toasted (includes whole-grain)
Those are the nutrition facts to whole GRAIN bread. 11g of carbs.
What is your daily limit?

[GuineaPigLova]

Also, I just realised that Grains and Protein are the most caloric dense foods. Are you eating enough still?
You are going to have to be careful. You might have to take supplements.... when I was training for track- I refused to eat meat, so my parents made me take whey powder. I am not sure if you are interested. It's low carb/sugar and low cal. It is HIGH protein per serving. It is made out of milk protein. I am not sure whether or not you'd do that.
Also, did you gradually take out all the protein from your diet or just one night decide to go full on vegan?

[suzilovespiggie]

Went full blown. Saw a video about 4H animals that broke my heart. I just couldn't eat meat anymore. I am allowed 45 grams of carbs per meal. 15 meat, 15 startch, 15 dairy. Veggies unlimited. Snacks x2 15 garbs. A total of 165 a day. When when I eat grains ors starches it is 1/2 cup at a meal.

[GuineaPigLova]

After narrowing it down, you probably are experiencing headaches from lack of protein. I looked at protein sources for vegan and they are all seeds, legumes, nuts and grains. I don't really know what to tell you, other than eat more of the protein rich foods. Whole grains are high in protein and have the same amount / less carbs if you don't already eat whole grains. And the only protein supplements are derived from dairy.

[suzilovespiggie]

Thank you. Am going to keep going forward. Keep research ing. Until I can put it together for me and my body. And what is best for animals too. I maybe living on my neighbor's. Eggs for the rest of my life (LOL)! Thanks for the help, really.

[GuineaPigLova]

haha, no problem.
If you are going to eat eggs, I'd eat a maximum of 2 whole eggs and unlimited egg whites

[suzilovespiggie]

Just saw my Dr. She okd a vegetaria diet for my health issues. So am going to put it altogether for myself. Thank you guys for all your help.