DU vegetarians i need help

[movie_girl99]

mods please move if this is the wrong place for this


my 18 year old daughter has decided to become a vegetarian. I am supportive of her choice but am worried about her protein intake or lack there of. She will not eat beans and will tolerate peanut butter in small quantities. What else can i have her eat to make sure she's getting enough protein?

[MissB]

1. Check out

vegsource.com

[nostamj]

2. tofu?

but a 'no beans' vegan? dunno about that.

[mdhunter]

3. Also check

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

[livinginphotographs]

4. Well, if she's not eating beans, that becomes sort of tough.

Is there any reason she won't eat beans?

As far as protein goes, most green vegetables have a decent quantity of protein. Tofu also is a good protein source. One thing to remember though is that protein is not the only nutrient to be concerned about.

Check this website out: http://www.vegsource.com/veg_faq/contents.htm

And this one: http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php

The first one is more specific to a vegetarian/vegan diet, but both have tons of good nutritional information.

[movie_girl99]

11. hi there

she doesn't like them. I make lentils, split peas and others but she will not eat them. She eats eggs and i was going to buy her some tofu this weekend. She's slowly been picking the meat out of her food for awhile now because she doesn't like the texture and shes been hanging out on the PETA website. I bought her a multi vitamin and we have a pretty well balanced diet otherwise. I will check out the sites you posted though.
Thanks :hi:

[livinginphotographs]

37. You should check out the recipe thread in the vegetarian/vegan group.

There's tons of delicious bean recipes in there (insert shameless self-promotion here). I make a mean kidney bean dish, by the way...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=231x497

By the way....congrats to your daughter. Even reducing your meat consumption does wonders for the environment and for the animals themselves. Let me know if you have any questions that could help (there's tons of knowledge buried within this site about living a healthy vegan lifestyle).

[Agnomen]

5. Lots of vegetarian/vegan ifo here:

http://www.naturodoc.com/lib

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Cheese? Eggs?

You did say 'vegetarian', so I'm assuming milk products and eggs are still OK.

I'm not vegetarian, but my understanding is that most vegetables give a reasonable amount of protein - and an 18 year old has stopped growing, so the relative amount needed isn't so much. It's one or two vitamins and minerals, such as iron, that you have to go for the right vegetables, isn't it?

[Stop_the_War]

7. First ask her why she's doing it

There are good and bad reasons for becoming a vegetarian.

Good reasons are:
- One cares about animals and doesn't want to eat them
- One wants to be healthier person

Bad reasons are:
- I have to lose all the weight I can
- My friends are doing it so I will

She has to do alot of research. go to the local library, check out books on vegetarianism, check out vegetarian cookbooks. Then go to some websites:
http://www.goveg.com
http://www.vrg.org/
http://www.vegsoc.org/
http://vegweb.com/
http://www.ivu.org/

Or just google "vegetarian".

There are many ways to replace protein, there are of course legumes, nuts, and meat substitutes. I don't think protein would be something to worry about, Americans eat TOO MUCH protein as a matter of fact.

[movie_girl99]

12. she's slowly over time

been picking the meat out of her food or just not eating meat if i make it. She has never been keen of the texture and now shes been hanging out at the PETA website and has made the decision not to eat it anymore. she's very level headed so i totally respect her choice.

[bleedingheart]

8. A friend of mine became a vegetarian but did it wrong and became ill

so you have a right to be concerned.

There are plenty of healthy vegetarians but they eat right and make sure to get all their protein and vitamins.

Although I am not a vegetarian, I own vegetarian cookbooks and the recipes are designed to insure that you get not only good tasting food but that it is also healthy for you.

My friend didn't eat very well at all, a can of beans for lunch and a baked potato for lunch, sometimes no breakfast at all...

She got a lecture from a physician after she started to have some serious problems....he sent her to a nutritionist where she learned how to eat...

[RebelOne]

9. I eat a lot of soy products.

Good source of protein. Get vanilla or chocolate soy milk. She will think she is drinking a milk shake. Morningstar and Gardennburger have quite a variety of soy dishes.

[movie_girl99]

13. i have been buying soy milk

for about 6 months now. both chocolate and vanilla. we use it in place of milk in cereal, oatmeal or whatever. Its great and the kids love it.

[TrustingDog]

18. soy milk is fabulous!

Its way better tasting and probably tons healthier than pus and antibiotic cow milk. UGH!

[vireo]

17. Fermented soy products are the most healthful

I recommend tempeh and miso. Using a vegetable juicer such as an Omega or Samson is also a great source of nutrition.

[deek]

10. Add the DU Veggie Group to "My Forums"

and repost?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231

[movie_girl99]

14. cool..thanks n/t

[Betsy Ross]

15. Diet for a Small Planet

This book, originally published in the 60s (?), provides a clear explanation of the amino acids that comprise protein. It discusses how to combine grains, seeds, rice, nuts, and BEANS to get complete protein. The book is still available. I recommend that you read it, and try to get your daughter to read it. I gave my copy to my niece who became a vegetarian last year.

[Warpy]

16. Most Americans are overstuffed with protein

and it's not particularly healthy.

Protein exists in all vegetarian foodstuffs in various amounts. Look for a copy of "Diet for a Small Planet" by Lappe to learn how to combine plant foods for high quality proteins. Research since Lappe put this book out has determined that the combining need not be done within the same meal, as long as all the 8 amino acids are consumed during the day.

There are recipes galore in the book, and the information in the protein combining theory will set your mind at ease.

A bigger concern for long term vegetarians is adequate vitamin B-12. If your daughter is still eating eggs and/or dairy, this is not a problem at all. B-12 also exists in foods like tempeh (a fermented soybean cake that's packed with protein and can be one of the tastiest foods out there) and some seaweeds.

Vegetarianism, even that variety which avoids all animal products as eggs and dairy, can be the best diet in the world. You and your daughter just need to know what you're doing. Candy bars and French fries may be vegetarian, but they won't sustain life.

[AlienGirl]

23. B-12 is also in cereal, soymilks, and tons of other things...

Most cereals are fortified with B-12, as are bread, many soymilks, and a bunch of other things. B-12 isn't that big an issues; if she's taking a multivitamin, it isn't an issue at all.

Tucker

[amazona]

19. protein? I'm worried about calories

Most if not all legitimate vegetarians eat beans.

When you get into the "vegetarians" who won't eat beans or other vegetables that they think bulks up their stomach, then you are not dealing with a true vegetarian, you are dealing with a person with an eating disorder who is finding more and more foods to cut out of her life.

You are limited in what you can do with an 18 year old, since she is an adult, but keep an eye on the situation. Someone who is cutting large categories of food out of their diet like legumes and meat is at high risk. Has she also cut out dairy and eggs? Lots of protein in yogurt and eggs. There is some in high-carb whole food like brown rice and whole wheat bread.

Maybe having struggled with this issue myself, I'm a bit hypersensitive, but a teen-age female is very high risk for anorexia and bulimia. If she is so picky about what she eats that it is causing difficulties in creating any meal she can eat, I would guess that she has a problem that goes far beyond lack of protein.

On Edit--I'm even more concerned having read the thread through and learning that the daughter has been brainwashed by PETA hysteria. Being afraid of food is not a healthy reason not to eat. Unfortunately, this is a hard journey that you can't make for your daughter; I had to learn for myself not to poison my brain with people, groups, and news media that wanted to program me to fear food and to starve myself. I don't know if I would enable her behavior. Being respectful of vegetarian practice and serving vegetarian meals is one thing, but not serving beans or meat (and who knows what next?) may start to border on the enabling. With all due respect to those with a slower metabolism, a soy milkshake is not a meal.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Stop_the_War]

20. oh puh-leeze...

I'm VEGAN and I eat alot of food. I'm not anorexic.

[amazona]

21. You're a Vegan who won't eat BEANS????

Because this is what the concerned mother described.

I've been there, and won't be kidded about this. Too many vegans do have eating disorders, I've seen it. I've seen it in conventional vegetarians as well. And I've seen it in myself.

A vegan who won't eat beans is just plain over-the-top, and I think we both know it.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Stop_the_War]

22. I don't know why someone would not want to eat beans either...

is it because of that old saying "beans beans good for your heart, beans beans make you fart?" :P

[livinginphotographs]

26. PETA hysteria?

Give me a fucking break. Why does someone who is concerned about the ethical issues of eating meat have to be lumped in with the dreaded P-word?

Not eating beans can be a nutrition issue. Why you had to bring PETA into this, I don't know. Or wait, maybe I do. :eyes:

[movie_girl99]

32. thanks

i was kind of feeling sorry that i ever posted my question. I knew there would be folks here who would have good suggestions and most have.

[livinginphotographs]

35. Welcome to my world.

The DU anti-veg brigade seems to smell these threads from miles away, and just need to pop in to spew their ignorant propaganda.

Good for your daughter: any help that you need, just ask. I'd be glad to provide what I can. Not all of us are terrified of PETA and their "radical" agenda of treating animals with respect.

[flvegan]

29. Brainwashed by USDA hysteria for you then.

I'm a vegan. No health problems whatsoever. I'm also a gym rat, and I get pleeennnnnnnty of protein without ever touching meat, dairy or eggs.

Protein amounts and the FEAR behind not getting enough, are a myth. Most Americans get far too much, and low quality to boot.

Suggesting she has an eating disorder as opposed to having a compassionate mind is rediculous.

[movie_girl99]

34. thank you flvegan

my daughter is a very level headed, mature, rational thinker. I support her decision whole heartedly because i feel shes doing what she feels is right for her. When i went out and knocked on doors, registered folks to vote, marched in a gay pride parade, she supported me even though others thought i had lost my mind.

[movie_girl99]

30. i have struggled with an ED for years

so if I thought this was anything like that i would be all over it. she eats just about everything one can buy in the produce department except potatoes, again its a texture thing. Shes been picky about meats for awhile. She wont eat any kind of ground meat, sausage or turkey but loves pork tenderloin and chicken breast. She has never eaten beans, ever. Thats why i was asking how to make sure she gets enough protein with out eating them. She loves eggs, milk, yogurt and pretty much everything except beans and some meats. I don't think she has been brainwashed by PETA at all. I am 40 yrs old and going to that site makes me sick and have times considered becoming a vegan or a vegetarian myself. She told me that she would eat free range chickens but she knew that they were expensive and she didn't expect me to buy them so until she was making her own living she would forgo meat.

[jmm]

33. Ever consider she just doesn't like them.

My feelings towards beans (and most legumes) ranges from repulsed to nauseous. If course I'm not a vegetarian but I don't see it as strange that someone might have moral objections to killing animals for food and not like a particular type of food.

[cedahlia]

24. Has she tried veggie burgers?

There's lots of yummy meat alternatives available in grocery stores now, which can be a good source of protein, as most are soybean-based. I like Morningstar Farm and Gardenburger brands myself, but there's also Boca, GoLean and several others out there. And there's more than just meatless burgers, there's also meatless "chicken", "sausage", etc. which are made from soy and vegetable proteins. Morningstar Farm even make meatless "recipe crumbles" which can be substituted into recipes that call for ground beef, such as tacos or tomato sauce.

Maybe you should visit the grocery store with your daughter so you both can check out what meat alternatives they carry (most of this will be in the frozen food section.) There really is a lot of good stuff out there! :-)

Oh, and I know you said she doesn't like beans, but has she ever tried garbanzo beans? I used to be averse to beans myself, but after being a vegetarian for a while, I became more open-minded. And when I discovered how good and versatile garbanzo beans were in veggie recipes, I was hooked! I can PM you some recipes that use them if you think your daughter might be willing to try them...just let me know!

[movie_girl99]

31. yeah she likes those a lot

thats a great idea..ill get her to go shopping with me over the weekend and try and find some good alternatives.Thanks!

[AlienGirl]

25. Have you thought about seeing a nutritionist?

Is her aversion to all beans, or only to certain bean dishes? For example, I'm extremely averse to anything resembling baked beans, but I love lentils.

What is her problem with beans? If it's a concern that they're fattening, there may be a problem. If she's worried about gas, there are varieties that are less gassy (red lentils spring to mind) and Beano can help. If it's about taste, try garbanzos and lentils in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. If it's about texture, check out edamame soybeans--they're great in stir-fries or salads.

If you're still worried, or if she seems to be eliminating too many foods from her diet, make an appointment with a nutritionist for her. It costs about the same as a doctor's visit, and the nutritionist will be able to help design an eating plan that will accomodate her vegetarianism/veganism, her taste in food, and her nutritional requirements.

Tucker

[LoZoccolo]

27. Even Moby (total vegan) advises you transition properly.

Apparently there's good books on this.

[4_Legs_Good]

28. Dairy, dairy dairy

and eggs!

You don't need that much protein to survive, and at 18 she's fully grown, so I don't think there's much to worry about. Eating vegetables is far more important.

Anyway, if she's not going vegan, dairy and eggs will do the trick no problem. You can even take a look at the RDA on the labels and ask her to eat at least X eggs or X milk/cheese/ day.

If she is going directly vegan, then look for soy alternatives to meat. They've got lots of protein (and salt) and taste great too!

david

[LeftyMom]

36. You may want to read Diet For a New America

of one of Dr McDougall's books. They both talk about what amount of protien people really need and how to get it.