answer this question

Vegetarians Question

Am I getting enough protein?

I've been eating more of a vegetarian diet lately. I eat eggs, cucumbers, and nuts (I count protein bars and breakfast biscuts since they have nuts in them). These are the only sources I have for protein since my parents don't buy soy products (they don't buy greeny leafs). I don't drink milk either. Am I getting enough protein or am I lacking? I eat more nuts then cucumbers and eggs. If I'm lacking how can I get enough to not? I don't want to get a protein, iron, or calcium deficiency (malnutrition).
 KandiGhostcat posted over a year ago
next question »

Vegetarians Answers

ITF said:
I think that you are. Beans also have a lot of protein, I have been told. If you are not getting enough you will probably start feeling bad. I eat a lot of soy milk, our Dollar Tree has it for really cheap.
select as best answer
posted over a year ago 
*
I actually got symptoms of protein deficency. I felt weak, really tired, and other things. I didn't lose any hair or have my nails shattered. One day we had hot dogs for dinner and it was terrible. I ate 4 of them. I have never eaten that much meat in my life and I never want to again.
KandiGhostcat posted over a year ago
*
I mean I never want to do that again.
KandiGhostcat posted over a year ago
glelsey said:
Sorry I'm a bit late answering, but I'm hoping I can be of some use!

A while back I uploaded a few nutrition fact sheets on here to help people who were worried that they might be lacking in certain areas. Here are a couple of great iron fact sheets:

link

link

You might be surprised at some of the information here - I personally never imagined pumpkin seeds or tomato paste to contain that much iron! It was great news for me because I love those.

These sheets also indicate how much iron you should have in your diet. Beware that females require a bit more than males.

Protein is pretty easy as long as you like nuts. There are lots of different nuts and you can include them in a variety of meal options. For breakfast, some cereals have nuts in, and breakfast bars are great too. For lunch, you can have peanut butter, maybe some extra peanuts or cashews on the side, etc. and a lot of cooked meals sometimes include nuts in their recipes too. You also mentioned you eat eggs, and they are packed with protein.

Here are a few more sheets you may find useful:

link

link

link

(The last one you've apparently already seen and commented on!)

When it comes to calcium... be careful. Obviously, you need some calcium in your diet, but don't overdo it. It is possible to eat too much calcium, and that can be dangerous. It can cause stones and clots (my dad had to have surgery last year because he had a calcium clot in an artery).

If you've been suffering from deficiencies, it wouldn't hurt to see your doctor about it. They may be able to give you a blood test and pinpoint exactly what you are missing out on (if they haven't done so already) and help you find a solution.

Sometimes, when a person has a deficiency in their diet, it's suggested they take multivitamins. They tend to contain everything you need, without containing anything that's dangerous if you take too much of it. Note that they are not a replacement for a balanced diet, but they are great for people with iron or B12 deficiencies. Even meat eaters suffer from these a lot.

Anyway, sorry for the long response, but I hope you find it useful! :)
select as best answer
posted over a year ago 
next question »