What Are Some Good Protein Supplements For Vegetarians?
Posted by Zolly | Under Nutrition Sunday Jun 14, 2009I never really ate a lot of meat, but I became a strict vegetarian a month ago and suddenly I’m hungry all the time and I don’t feel so well. I figure my body is probably missing some protein, so what other foods can I get enough protein from? I’d rather not take supplements unless it’s absolutely necessary because my parents are very skeptical about this whole thing and at the first sign of “weirdness” they’ll force-feed me “normal” food. Fellow vegetarians, what advice would you give me about nutrition in general?
If you’re eating properly, you do NOT need a protein supplement. A balanced vegetarian diet easily provides more protein than you could possibly need.
Google the vegetarian food pyramid and follow it. Get plenty of whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and fresh produce. Even without dairy products and eggs, you can easily meet yout protein needs. If you’re hungry all the time, eat more; your body is sending you a clear signal so listen to it.
The food pyramid wll guide you in the short term, but you really owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about vegetarian nutrition and do it right. A happy, healthy vegetarian is a good example for people who are thinking about going vegetarian themselves. I highly recommend “The New Becoming Vegetarian” by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Both are registered dietitians and their book is very thorough coverage of vegetarian nutrition. There will be lots of information you can share with your folks to reassure them that you can thrive without eating flesh.
It’s not unusual for your body to feel sluggish after starting a vegetarian/vegan diet. Your body is trying to detoxify right now- there’s a lot of changes being made! There’s really no need to take a supplement. In fact, it’s exceptionally easy to get all the protein you need in a vegetarian diet (contrary to popular belief). What you’re probably lacking in is B12. There are many B12 supplements and B-complex’s available for that.
If you really feel as though you aren’t getting enough protein, write down the protein from everything you eat for a week. If you’re not getting enough, then add in more beans, nuts, and legumes.
Vegetarianism is great! The proteins you can buy are generally cheaper than meat anyway. I’d steer clear of the fake processed “meats” they have, though. Much healthier to eat beans.
Good luck!
You probably aren’t missing too much protein. Protein is fairly easy to get from a varied diet, and most average people only need around 50 mg a day anyway (unless they are athletes, have medical issues, etc.). You don’t need protein supplements, just a good diet. Make sure that you’re getting a good combination of nuts and nut butters, beans, tofu, tempeh, mock meats, and whole grains. This will definitely help you with your protein intake.
However, if you still feel bad after awhile, you should see a doctor or a registered dietitian who is knowledgeable about vegetarianism. You might want to contact the American Dietetic Association(www.eatright.org) since they have a vegetarian practice group.
Not a vegetarian but I am a fitness lover and I am always looking for ways to get more clean protein in my diet as well…. Of course beans/legumes are good as well tofu (you can add it to stir fry and even plop it in a smoothie and you cant even taste it). I get most of my added non food protein of course from protein shakes…Go to your local GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and look around. they have many different flavors and some (my favs) are the ones that mix with water and are fruity (Nectar and IsoPure are good ones to try). Also, at Whole Foods they sell pastas with added protein too!
Good Luck!
Beans, black eyed beans mainly, and mushrooms would solve the meat thing. Meat is really needed for B12 complex, but if you consume dairy it’s the same thing actually. Only meat and animal products contain it.
ham, chicken, salami,
Protein in Raw Nuts and Seeds
(shelled)
Nut/Seed (1/4 cup) Protein
Grams
Almond 7
Brazil nut 5
Cashew 4
Chestnut 1
Coconut (shredded) 2
Filbert/Hazelnut 5
Flax seed 5
Macadamia 2
Peanut 8
Pecan 2
Pine nut 4
Pistachio 6
Pumpkin seed 7
Sesame seed 7
Soynut 10
Sunflower seed 8
Walnut 5
Protein in Beans
(cooked) Bean 1 cup Protein
Grams
Adzuki (Aduki) 17
Anasazi 15
Black Beans 15
Black-eyed Peas 14
Cannellini (White Beans) 17
Cranberry Bean 17
Fava Beans 13
Garbanzos (Chick Peas) 15
Great Northern Beans 15
Green Peas, whole 9
Kidney Beans 15
Lentils 18
Lima Beans 15
Mung Beans 14
Navy Beans 16
Pink Beans 15
Pinto Beans 14
Soybeans 29
Split Peas 16
Protein in Grains
(cooked) Grain 1 cup Protein
Grams
Amaranth 7
Barley, pearled 4 to 5
Barley, flakes 4
Buckwheat groats 5 to 6
Cornmeal (fine grind) 3
Cornmeal (polenta, coarse) 3
Millet, hulled 8.4
Oat Groats 6
Oat, bran 7
Quinoa 5
Rice, brown 3 to 5
Rice, white 4
Rice, wild 7
Rye, berries 7
Rye, flakes 6
Spelt, berries 5
Teff 6
Triticale 25
Wheat, whole berries 6 to 9
Couscous, whole wheat 6
Wheat, bulgur 5 to 6
Protein in Meat, Chicken, Fish
Substitutes* Product Serving
Size Protein
Grams
Boca Burger Original Vegan 2.5 oz 13
GardenVegan Veggie Patties 2.5 oz 9
Health is Wealth Chicken-Free Patties 3 oz. 14
Health is Wealth Yummie Burger 2.5 oz. 12
Lightlife Gimme Lean 2oz. 8
Lightlife Smart Cutlets
Seasoned Chicken 3 oz. 26
Lightlife Smart Deli Combos 2.7 oz. 17
Lightlife Smart Dogs 1.5 oz. 9
Mon Cuisine Breaded Chicken Patties 3 oz. 7
Morningstar Farms Original Grillers 2.3 oz 15
Nate’s Meatless Meatballs (3) 1.5 oz 10
Natural Touch Vegan Burger 2.7 oz 11
Natural Touch Veggie Medley 2.3 oz 11
SoyBoy Vegan Okara Burger 3 oz. 13
SoyBoy Vegetarian Franks 1.5 oz. 11
Starlite Cuisine Soy Taquitos 2 oz. 7
White Wave Seitan 3 oz. 31
Whole Foods 365
Meat Free Vegan Burger 2.5 oz. 13
Yves Canadian Veggie Bacon (3 slices) 2 oz. 17
Yves Veggie Burger 3 oz. 16
Yves Veggie Chick’n Burgers 3 oz. 17
Yves Veggie Dogs 1.6 oz. 11
*All items vegan
Protein in Hot Cereals
(cooked) Cereal Cup Protein
Grams
Arrowhead Mills Corn Grits 1/4 3
Arrowhead Mills 7 Grain 1/4 4
Bob’s 8 Grain 1/4 4
Bob’s 10 Grain 1/4 6
Bob’s Kamut 1/4 5
Bob’s Triticale 1/4 4
Bob’s Whole Grain Cracked Wheat 1/4 5
Cream of Rye 1/3 5
Kashi 1/2 6
Mother’s Multigrain 1/2 5
Quaker Old Fashioned Oats 1/2 5
Quinoa Flakes 1/3 3
Roman Meal Hot Cereal 1/3 5
Wheatena 1/3 5
Protein in Fresh Vegetables
(cooked) Vegetable Serving Protein
Grams
Artichoke medium 4
Asparagus 5 spears 2
Beans, string 1 cup 2
Beets 1/2 cup 1
Broccoli 1/2 cup 2
Brussels Sprouts 1/2 cup 2
Cabbage 1/2 cup 1
Carrot 1/2 cup 1
Cauliflower 1/2 cup 1
Celeriac 1 cup 1
Celery 1 cup 1
Chard, Swiss 1 cup 3
Chayote 1 cup 1
Chives 1 tablespoon 0.10
Collards 1 cup 4
Corn, Sweet 1 large cob 5
Cucumber 1 cup 1
Eggplant 1 cup 1
Fennel 1 medium bulb 3
Jerusalem Artichoke 1 cup 3
Kale 1 cup 2.5
Kohlrabi 1 cup 3
Leeks 1 cup 1
Lettuce 1 cup 1
Okra 1/2 cup 1
Onion 1/2 cup 1
Parsnip 1/2 cup 1
Peas 1/2 cup 4
Peppers, bell 1/2 cup 1
Potato, baked with skin 2 1/3 x 4 3/4″ 5
Potato, boiled with skin 1/2 cup 1
Radish 1 cup 1
Rhubarb 1 cup 1
Rutabaga 1 cup 2
Spinach 1 cup 1
Squash, Summer 1 cup 2
Squash, Winter 1 cup 2
Sweet Potato 1 cup 3
Tomato 1 medium 1
Turnip 1 cup 1
Protein in Fruits
(raw) Fruit Serving Protein
Grams
Apple 2 per lb. 0
Apricot med. 0
Avocado med. 4
Banana 1 1 to 2
Blackberry cup 2
Blueberry cup 1
Boysenberry cup 1
Cantaloupe cup 1
Casaba Melon cup 2
Cherimoya 1 7
Cherry cup 1
Cranberry cup 0
Currant cup 2
Date(pitted) 1/4 cup 1
Durian 1 cup 4
Feijoa med. 1
Fig 1 0
Gooseberry cup 1
Grape cup 1
Grapefruit 1/2 1
Guava med. 1
Honeydew cup 1
Jackfruit cup 2
Jujube, dried 1 oz. 1
Kiwi large 1
Kumquat med. 0
Lemon 1 1
Lime 1 0
Loganberry cup 1.4
Loquat 1 0
Mango 1 1
Mulberry cup 2
Nectarine 1 1
Orange 1 1
Papaya cup 1
Passionfruit 1 0
Peach 1 1
Pear 1 1
Persimmon 1 0
Pineapple cup 1
Plum 1 1
Pomegranate 1 1.5
Pomelo 1/2 2.3
Prickly Pear med. 1
Quince med. .4
Raspberry cup 1
Rhubarb cup 1
Sapote med. 5
Star Fruit cup 1
Strawberry cup 1
Tangerine med. 1
Watermelon cup 1
Protein in Nut Butters Nut/Seed
(2 Tablespoons) Protein
Grams
Almond 5 to 8
Cashew 4 to 5
Peanut 7 to 9
Sesame Tahini 6
Soy Nut 6 to 7
Protein in Milk Substitutes Beverage
1 cup Protein
Grams
Soy Regular 6 to 9
Soy Low/Nonfat 4
Rice 1
Rice and Soy 7
Almond 1 to 2
Oat 4
Multigrain 5
Protein in Soy Products Product Serving
Size Protein
Grams
Tofu
Hey, i’m not a vegetarian, but i am a chef. Tofu is a great addition (if cooked right it can be great), just keep in mind that tofu takes on the taste of whatever you cook it with, so do it up in a nice marinade for an hour before. Whey protein is also a great supplement, 2 servings a day. Go to a vitamin shop or GNC and you can get a 5 pound bucket of dry mix (strawberry is my favorite) for about $25, which will last a long time. This is a good, natural supplement that will give you more than your entire days worth of protein. Also try Kashi cereal, and also oatmeal is a great sub. Get quaker oats weight loss oatmeal (just has added fiber to it), great stuff. Also beans and nuts have alot of protein also. Hope i helped!