Vegetarians?

[ladypilot]

Are there any vegetarians here? I feel like I am stuck in a rut right now and really need some new ideas. I've looked through cook books and websites, but I really hate to cook and half the time, I don't know what some of the ingredients are or where to look for them in the grocery store. I am eating pretty much the same thing every day and am getting BORED.

B: Cheerios w/ soymilk and protein shake
S: Usually some veggies or an apple, maybe a whole grain english muffin
L: Salad, yogurt, natural apple sauce, sometimes put nuts on my salad
S: Granola
D: Fish with some whole grain rice or pasta

I am not competing, just trying to eat cleaner. I know I am not getting enough protein, and have started to eat fish. I must say that has helped a lot with my energy level.

Any vegetarians here that can share a sample meal plan?

[CraveMuscle]

do you eat cottage cheese or any milk products?

what about eggs?

or are you a strict vegetarian. can't remember what that's called. lactoovegetarian?

[clsupnorth]

Originally posted by ladypilot@May 5 2006, 06:30 PM
Are there any vegetarians here? I feel like I am stuck in a rut right now and really need some new ideas. I've looked through cook books and websites, but I really hate to cook and half the time, I don't know what some of the ingredients are or where to look for them in the grocery store. I am eating pretty much the same thing every day and am getting BORED.

B: Cheerios w/ soymilk and protein shake
S: Usually some veggies or an apple, maybe a whole grain english muffin
L: Salad, yogurt, natural apple sauce, sometimes put nuts on my salad
S: Granola
D: Fish with some whole grain rice or pasta

I am not competing, just trying to eat cleaner. I know I am not getting enough protein, and have started to eat fish. I must say that has helped a lot with my energy level.

Any vegetarians here that can share a sample meal plan?
Yeah, I'm a vegetarian. Born and raised. And why do you think you would need to add fish to get enough protein?

It sounds like you are lacto-ovo, since I see yogurt listed. But perhaps that's soygurt. But you can't possibly be a vegan since you are eating fish.

Anyhoo, I'm just eating clean, not preparing for a comp until July, so right now my protein sources are egg whites or whole eggs, tofu, veggie foods, cottage cheese, nuts, nut butters, whey protein shakes.
Some of those aren't considered 100% clean by this board's standards, but there are vegetarians who eat like this and do just fine. Check out The Vegetarian Bodybuilder Forum (http://vegetarianbodybuilder.ipbhost.com/)(I hang out there, too) for foods and recipe ideas tailored better for vegetarians.

When I do start cutting for comp, I will have to reduce/eliminate my reliance on tofu, veggie foods, protein shakes and cottage cheese, but in the meantime, they are just fine.

[absolut_blonde]

Do you eat eggs or dairy? Eggs are an easy & versatile protein source, and cottage cheese is good too.

Oh & oatmeal is easy to prepare as well (you can mix it with egg whites, CC, or protein powder for protein).

[ladypilot]

I started eating fish because I was having major cravings for chicken for about 6 months. I would practically drool everytime I saw someone eating it, and I even had regular dreams that I ate a piece of chicken. I've been taught to listen to my body that way, so I figured I was really lacking somewhere in my diet. Before I started eating fish, I added extra protein shakes (vegetarian protein), eating more eggs, and beans. Nothing worked. Ever since I added fish to my diet, this has stopped. I eat only white fish, anything else is gross to me.

I do eat dairy, but am lactose intolerant so I can't drink milk or have certain cheeses. Yogurt is fine. Cottage cheese is OK most days. I think I'll add more cottage cheese and egg whites and see if I can curb my protein cravings so I don't have to eat fish anymore.

I'll check out that board! Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

[fitness926]

Originally posted by ladypilot@May 5 2006, 06:30 PM


B: Cheerios w/ soymilk and protein shake
S: Usually some veggies or an apple, maybe a whole grain english muffin
L: Salad, yogurt, natural apple sauce, sometimes put nuts on my salad
S: Granola
D: Fish with some whole grain rice or pasta


I use to be a Vegetarian but also found it sooo hard to keep my protein up. I got scared about not giving my body-mainly my muscles enough and considering the heart is a muscle...

anyways, I add chicken back in my diet...not saying you should, but it was a personally decision

anyways, if you are trying to clean up your diet I would suggest switching the Cherrio's and granola to Ezekial cereal. it is great and has more protein (8g per 1/2 c.)

Same goes with the ww english muffin...there are tasty, but Ezekial bread is way better! if you dip it in egg whites you can make french toast- the egg whites will add a little more protein

Try adding tuna to your salad

Again...granola isn't really a meal...try something with some more protein, the cc or another protein shake w/ lots of fruit in it and maybe some yogurt to make it more of a smoothie

dinner looks great. however brown rice is always better than the ww pasta. ...try and add some more veggies here to keep you fuller longer


oh and if you can handle the cottage cheese, lots of people eat it many different ways...be creative- it is so good with nuts, peanut butter mixed in w/ splenda, any fruit is great, same with black beans or kidney beans


good luck

[clsupnorth]

Originally posted by fitness926@May 6 2006, 12:18 PM
I use to be a Vegetarian but also found it sooo hard to keep my protein up. I got scared about not giving my body-mainly my muscles enough and considering the heart is a muscle...

I hear that so often from people who 'tried' it and then stopped, and I honestly don't get it. I find myself in a protein surplus most days. I can't recall the last time I wasn't getting enough protein each day. And I was even vegan for a few years, and I still got more than enough protein everyday.
I really think that it's just like eating clean - if you really want to do it, and do it right, you need to read, read, read and be mindful of your choices. But it's totally possible.

ladypilot - do you eat any veggie meat substitutes? I wonder if those would help satiate the chicken craving.

[FabulouslyFit]

I am a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian. I get my protein from :

~ egg whites, egg whites, and more egg whites
~ tofu
~ protein shakes
~ cottage cheese
~ beans, pinto beans have the most protein
~ nuts
~ natural peanut butter
~ hard cheese

I would like to start eating chicken & fish, but I just can't work up the courage to just do it.