Non meat protein sources

[LissyO]

I am not too into meat and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for non meat protein sources on induction. I know I may just have to bite the bullet until I get to the rung where beans and nuts are ok, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. Any help is appreciated.

[Aeryn]

Eggs, flaxseed, almond butter... and tofu, obviously. You might want to go take a peek at the vegetarian subforum on here; they obviously have to answer this question every day they're on plan. :)

[AKSonya]

My mom is in the same boat and honestly is struggling with the low carb way cause meat just isn't satisfying to her....Complete opposite of me! lol But I didn't really have much to go on for her...so would like some ideas for her too! :)

[LissyO]

Hey thanks!

I guess the better question would be is there a low carb way of eating that includes beans and nuts from the beginning? I really don't like meat and have some issues with eating it other than not enjoying eating it. I've failed to stay on a low carb diet in the past b/c I just can never eat that much meat. I go back and forth from doing lc to being a vegetarian....

I didn't know there was a vegetarian subforum on here.

[Rachel1]

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (CAD) works for vegetarians. I believe both Protein Power and South Beach allow more carbs right from the get-go. The best plan is one you can do for life, and if yours isn't Atkins, there are good alternatives.

Rachel

[tmatrocks]

Not being an expert...

I would suggest Tofu, and some protein shakes (check the labels - some have higher carb counts than others....)

[perfectfit]

Boca burgers!! They are made out of soy. They don't sell them up here in Canada anymore :cry: but I absolutely loved them when I could get them.

[Semperfi]

I am not that crazy about meat either but I am learning! Good luck to you!

[~Renee~]

Lissy, you should check out the South Beach Diet. It allows a variety of beans and nuts from the very begining.

[LissyO]

Thank you all for your help and support. I was looking at the South Beach Diet before and didn't notice that beans and nuts were allowed on phase 1. Looking at it again I see that it does. Thanks a lot!

As for eggs and tofu, I hate eggs...any style, they make me sick... and thats all I can say about eggs. As for soy, my chiropractor told me to stay away from tofu and soy products due to it raising estrogen levels... I'm going to check this out on my own, maybe even with a nutritionist, only since regular doctors know so little about nutrition, so it leads me to ask what a chiropractor (even a good one) would know about it either.

Thanks for all your help!

[ElleH]

Hey thanks!

I guess the better question would be is there a low carb way of eating that includes beans and nuts from the beginning?

That would also be the protein power plan or the protein power life plan. Both allow any and all foods from day one, in controlled amounts. PPLP also offers "levels" of the plan, the "hedonist" and "dillitante" levels allowing both beans and nuts from day one. And more fat than SB.

You will have trouble meeting your protein requirement without exceeding your carb allowance using beans, but it's worth a try. Maybe you could make up for it with cheese and eggs?

Check it out. It may be just what you're looking for.

[cnmLisa]

As for soy, my chiropractor told me to stay away from tofu and soy products due to it raising estrogen levels... I'm going to check this out on my own, maybe even with a nutritionist, only since regular doctors know so little about nutrition, so it leads me to ask what a chiropractor (even a good one) would know about it either.


Actually, he's correct. Soy is highly estrogenic and goiterogenic (sp)--it slows the thyroid down.

On soy, you may want to read this:

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/soydangers.html#p1

and this:

http://www.thewholesoystory.com/

I try and stay away from soy with a 10 foot pole (except for an occ serving of soy/flax chips).

Lisa

[Rachel1]

If you're avoiding eggs, soy, and meat, I really don't know how you'll get your protein while LCing. I think you my have to compromise somewhere ... fish? Eggs cooked into things so you can't see or taste them? Dry curd cottage cheese (farmer's cheese) is almost all protein, but tastes pretty bland. Protein powders, as Tmatrocks suggests, but they're highly processed and not really "food," as far as I'm concerned, though useful on occasion.

It's going to be a fine balancing act - good luck!

Rachel

[LissyO]

Dry curd cottage cheese (farmer's cheese) is almost all protein, but tastes pretty bland.


Blech! Sorry, this might taste good to you, but, well I'm all around a very picky eater. I am a real texture freak. I don't like stuff like cottage cheese or any goopy gloppy slimy type stuff..... also with the fish I'm on the same boat as with the rest of the meat, I just don't really like it and then I also think about what exactly it is, I can feel it decomposing and rotting in my stomach and the thought of eating it really just makes me sick... I guess "I'm not too into meat" is an understatement... heck, maybe I am just not cut out for LCing.

[cnmLisa]

Blech! Sorry, this might taste good to you, but, well I'm all around a very picky eater. I am a real texture freak. I don't like stuff like cottage cheese or any goopy gloppy slimy type stuff..... also with the fish I'm on the same boat as with the rest of the meat, I just don't really like it and then I also think about what exactly it is, I can feel it decomposing and rotting in my stomach and the thought of eating it really just makes me sick... I guess "I'm not too into meat" is an understatement... heck, maybe I am just not cut out for LCing.

May I ask what you do eat now?

[NorthPeace]

Bok Choy has 74% of calories from protein, 17% from fat, 9% from carbs. If you manage to eat it all, 10 cups has 3 grams of net carbs and 27 grams of protein. That is about the same amount of protein as there is in 3 oz of sirloin with the fat trimmed off, and which has only 63% of calories from protein. (www.fitday.com)

[LissyO]

May I ask what you do eat now?

On a typical day:

Protein shake for breakfast. (vanilla protein powder w/ 2g carbs mixed with 8oz water)

2 cups coffee w/ 3 splenda and two creamers or 2 cups tea no cream, no splenda

Salad with chicken for lunch.

Pepperoni and mozzerella stick for snack.

This is the only kind of meat I've been able to eat for a while and even this is getting to be too much. Pepperoni... duh, lots of crap in it, I shouldn't eat it anyway but its a quick snack and goes well with the mozzerella stick. Pretty much whenever I eat meat my stomach feels heavy, like it doesn't want to digest it. Plus like I said before I start to think about where it came from, how it came to my plate and without sharing the gross details I get grossed out.

I'm thinking if I can just throw some beans and nuts in there instead of the meat and even the cheese it'd go more like this:

Protein shake for breakfast. (vanilla protein powder w/ 2g carbs mixed with 8oz water)

2 cups tea or 2 cups coffee w/ 3 stevia packs (instead of splenda) and 2 oz already made protein shake (instead of the creamer)...or maybe I could just add a small amount of the protein powder instead.... something to try.

Salad with beans for lunch.

1 serving nuts for snack.

Maybe throw in some steamed veggies for dinner.

[Rachel1]

Sounds like not a whole lot of food, but if you think it'll work for you, go ahead, try it, see what happens. You might consider adding some olive oil, peanut butter, or something else you can handle that's calorie dense to make sure you're eating enough.

Rachel

[j_the_p]

Lissy,

Meat doesn't decompose and rot in your system. It digests. There's no time for decomposition because your digestive system does it's job pretty quickly.

Also, I'm just curious about why you think fresh meat is gross, but pepperoni is edible. :confused: Also, you said you eat chicken, so there's a good one for protein.

Good luck, I hope you find the protein source you're looking for. You and I are very different and I wouldn't be able to give you good advice regarding a good non-meat protein source. Personally I don't think there are any (good ones).