How much do vegetarians actually eat?

Question

So I thought id try out being a vegetarian for a month. Straight up vegetables only, no wannabe tofu stuff but like bread and vegetables and beans. I'm just wondering - am I supposed to be this hungry all the time in the beginning stages? I eat like, a pound of vegetables - at least - for dinner now and I kinda thought only buying veg would help me save on money that I would've put towards meats but I'm spending way more on veg to compensate. And also, I wake up in the middle of the night with hunger pains. I've nearly fainted 3 times this week from, I'm guessing, lack of energy. For now I'm assuming its similar to the dieting dilemma, your body is getting used to a change in source for nutrients and you get less hungry over time?
 Vegetarians - what do you normally eat and how much?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I am not vegetarian but I eat meat around 2 meals a week. Just eating more vegetables will not sustain you effectively. You need a broad and varied diet.

I eat whole grains, rice, barley, beans, bread, oats, a good range of veggies, eggs, cake 😉
You need some fat in your life too! I have full fat non homogenized milk (skimmed fat free over treated etc just strips the goodness out), cheese, Olive oil, olives, nuts and seeds, butter.

Contrary to belief you really don't need a lot of meat and calories can be made else where very easily.

HOWEVER , meat has a range of vitamins including b vitamins, so make sure you eat these elsewhere.
You will feel tired and lack energy without those.
They are high in many other foods like milk, eggs, broccoli, whole grains bla bla bla

You also need Iron. You can get Iron from vegetables as well as other foods BUT the type of iron that the body processes more of and more effectively is only found in meat! There is more than one type of iron.

That said, Vitamin C helps you process and take in Iron more effectively, so, when eating foods high in iron then eat something high in vitamin C alongside it.
Most people know you can also get fatigued and actually quite ill with a lack of iron found only in meat.

So consider perhaps having meat once or twice a week or taking iron tablets. (You will need to check they contain the right type)

I understand why people don't want to eat animals and from a sustainability and environmental point of view it is brilliant even just to cut down.

As I say, I eat meat around 2 meals. a week. I feel healthy, am not underweight, I don't get unusually tired.

So make a few changes to. add in a more varied diet and see how you get on.

Bbcgoodfood. com have some great vegetarian meal ideas. Good luck!

vishna · Accepted Answer

I eat a lot, I actually gained weight in the first few months after starting my meat-less diet. (then my weight went down) You shouldn't be that hungry.

If you need a pound of vegetables to be satisfied, you need to see a dietitian/doctor.

I eat a lot a brown rice, vegetables, soups, tofu (cut fried/sauteed from the block). Your body may need more fat. Try more dairy until you learn how to cook more nutritious meals. ex) cheese and milk in healthy amounts. Tastes good and might help.

Of course, I'm not a doctor, you should probably consult a dietitian (college campus food person, books) about the faint feeling.

NearlyNapping · Accepted Answer

Meat is highly nutritious. It's also dense nutrition so you don't need much of it. When you eat meat, you get a whole lot of different nutrients, many of them in large amounts.

If you quit eating meat, you need to make up for that. That means doing research and learning to eat without meat. If you simply quit meat, it's highly likely that you will be lacking.

Meat is filling. So on a veggie diet you will not get filled as easy. You will also not feel full for as long. Meat takes much longer to digest and move through your system. Veggies zip right on through.

There is some getting used to it. That's true any time you make a large change to your diet. But that is probably only part of it. I'm guessing that you just aren't getting enough of the right types of nutrition. Track what you eat for a couple of weeks. Then analyze the nutrition in it. Try to be realistic and not eat better just because you are paying more attention.

Make sure you get enough complete proteins, B vitamins, carbs and iron.

Bottom line is that you need to work more at it than you have in the past. You need to research and pay attention to your body. Also, watch out for pseudo science and fad stuff. Once you cross into vegetarianism you will run into a lot of that. Stick to the basics.

ATPPC · Accepted Answer

About 40% of your energy comes from fat everyday. That's something you haven't been eating I suppose. You will need to eat a ton of carbs to compensate, as fat has twice the energy of carbs.

You feel hungry all the time because 1) you are short on energy and 2) fat takes much longer to process than other stuff, even fibre, which helps you feel full. Your body isn't adjusting to the diet. You are not getting the calories you need.

I'm not vegetarian but cuz I'm really lazy I don't always bother preparing meat. I would eat an entire bowl of beans (lots of protein and carbs) to compensate for that. I drink about a gallon of 2% milk everyday, which is my main fat source.

ninetynine · Answer

I eat as much fruits and veggies throughout the day as I like, and then eat a big high carb meal for dinner.

Some meals I like include:
- Pasta (basically what I eat every day, and I'll have 2-3 cups)
- Stir fry
- Rice, a sweet potato, and roasted cauliflower
- A taco filled with humus, salad, and dressing

As long as you're eating decent portions, I don't see why you'd feel so hungry. Then again, sometimes the body just has to get used to eating a certain way. I know you said you don't eat tofu, but it might be a good alternative to meat for you.

DasVoz · Answer

I'm eating a heavily starch-based vegetarian diet for economic/convenience reasons and couldn't be more satisfied.

Vegetarian doesn't mean you only eat fruits and leafy greens. Eat lots of rice, potatoes, yams, squash, corn, and beans/legumes. The last time I went vegetarian, I consumed maybe 5 salads in 6 months. This time, I haven't had any salads. That's not what this diet should be about.

Eat your starches, that will keep you full.

I make grilled rice & black bean burritos with various Indian curries and marinades to create a unique flavor each time. I also have a large Kale & Banana smoothie every day. Potatoes fit in every meal.

FallOutBoy2001 · Answer

I'm a vegitarian and I can assure you now, you aren't eatin correctly. You need to eat a lot of beans, and tofu is good, but you don't seem to be eating enough. Less vegetables, more beans, add some bread in with dinner every night, and throw some tofu in every once and a while.

Jxpxtxr · Answer

Lol you do realise that you were actually eating a vegan diet, not a vegetarian one?
Vegetarians consume any kinds of animal products, just no meat.
And tofu isn't "wannabe" it's actually a really healthy meat substitute hahaha

9mfeo · Answer

You need some kind of protein. Tofu is very good for protein and tastes great if you know how to cook with it.

Eating appears to be a full time job for vegetarians and vegans so I'm not terribly surprised.

Anonymous · Answer

You can't simply omit the meat from a traditional non-vegtarian diet. Those diets are meat based.

You will -need- to eat 'wannabe tofu stuff' or lots of legumes and seeds and nuts and so on. You -need- fats in your diet, you have to get them from somewhere. And you -need- protein in some quantities.

Drooogie4 · Answer

As a vegan or veggie, you need more than straight veggies. You need fruit and grains as well.  Thats still eating clean, and ditching the soy and processing. But please. You need those three. Really.

beautifulangel76 · Answer

You probably need more protein. Vegetarians do have to eat a lot more since it's harder to get the proper amount of protein the body needs

ZackSmashed · Answer

I'm not an vegetarian but make some smoothie like with bananas, strawberries and almond milk thats healthy and really good

Prince_teddy4u · Answer

In context of country like India. Venetian people eat like hell.

jamesdegod · Answer

you dont just switch over to eating vegetables without doing research otherwise your gonna have a nutrient deficiency idiot!

truthhammer · Answer

1200 leaves 500 stems /DAY

apple24 · Answer

I think you need protein! Like beans!

John_Doesnt · Answer

They don't eat, they graze.

OrdinaryGentleman · Answer

Not enough meat that is for sure.

Walls_and_Doors · Answer

13 oz.

How much do vegetarians actually eat?

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