Protein

[HazElnUt5]

Well I have been a vegetarian for one year now. But lately my parents have been saying that I am gonna have to eat meat again because they dont think I eat enough protein. So does anyone have any small foods that have a lot of protein in them that I could eat?

[krittercrazy]

Amaranth, buckwheat, nutritional yeast, quinoa, spirulina, hemp, soy are all complete proteins. You can also get protein from leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, seaweeds, brussel sprouts etc.

Being vegetarian you are likely getting more/easier to digest protein than meat eaters.

Protein in the Vegan Diet -- The Vegetarian Resource Group
www.theveggietable.com/articles/protein.html
www.happycow.net/vegetarian_protein.html

[PhoenixFeather]

Try signing up for a free account at FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal. Then enter everything you eat for a day and see for yourself how much protein you are already consuming. If it's plenty, you will be able to show your parents. If it's not, you will be able to track your improvement.

Of course, how much is "enough" is open to debate. Even the first two sources linked by krittercrazy recommend pretty different amounts.

Good luck!

[HazElnUt5]

Thanks for the responses.
I also found this really good drink that contains a ton of protein, but I will check out these sites.
Thanks again

[AB71651]

I substitute black beans for meats when it comes to protein deficiency. Black beans taste good in most dishes and they are pretty cheap if you buy them dry in bulk. Just make sure you keep pineapple or Beano on hand to prevent gas, just one major default.

[guineapigluver1]

One thing. Most everybody gets far more protein then they need, meat eater, vegetarian, or vegan. For me, if I don't have carbs paired with protein I feel sick, because I can't handle carbs without eating them with protein. But anyways let me find that place that explains that most everybody gets far more protein then they need.

[guineapigluver1]

This is one place that says most people get to much protein, but it isn't the website I was talking about, I'm still trying to find it. Most likely I will ask my mom to find the papers she printed out about it and either type it up, or if it has the webiste at the bottom type that in, copy and paste it so you can read it, later today or tomorrow.
Another place:
Protein

[MCR_Rox]

Veggie burgers, which taste like meat but aren't, have quite a bit of protein. They have A LOT of sodium in them, however.

GoVeg.com // Health Issues // Optimal Vegan Nutrition has quite a bit of protein-rich foods listed.

[rxqueen]

It's a pretty common myth that being vegetarian or vegan will cause you to not get enough protein.

In fact, most people get too much protein.

The only real difference with being vegetarian or vegan is you are getting your protein from much healthier sources. There's an article about a study done by the USDA that getting too much protein can cause loss of bone density or something. If I can find the article again I will post it here.