Vegetarians, what do you eat for protein?

Question

I'm especially curious if you rely on the vegetarian/vegan soy products like Boca Burgers, soy cheese, etc. Are those products healthy? I eat a lot of soy cheese and soy burgers, but I'm not convinced that they are the best thing. I don't cook and hate to cook, so convenience is important to me. I'm not a true vegetarian... I do eat lowfat dairy, eggs and sometimes even fish. I'm just one that does not eat bird and mammal flesh - but there really isn't a word for that! :)

Answer 1

Relying on highly processed convenience foods isn't healthy- whether they are vegetarian or not. I generally eat a veggie burger once or twice a month, in a restaurant without better options.

I'm vegan, and I give no thought to my "protein requirements" whatsoever. Outside of famine conditions, protein deficiency is almost unheard of. What the body needs isn't protein- it's amino acids- the building blocks of protein. All amino acids are either produced by the body, or easily obtained from plant sources.

Answer 2

People that eat fish but not birds or mammals often call themselves pescetarians which means "believer of fish".

Vegetarians get protein from food.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/prot...

You do not need any special products to be vegetarian.

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can easily offer everything that you need except B12.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement regularly since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status that is lower than recommended.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

It may help you if you see proof that vegetarian people have the same potential as anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

If you need meat or dairy during any stage of your life or to live any certain lifestyle, why does the American Dietetic Association say otherwise?

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 3

Nuts, seeds, tofu, milk, eggs, oats, & rice.  

Check out this website, it has a lot of useful information for you.

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

Answer 4

Whole grains, nut products are my main source but pretty much all food had protein in it.  If you eat fish, you are no type of vegetarian.

Answer 5

Well i'm a veg@n and get plenty of protein. I eat fortified cereals and rice milk, tofu, rice, veggies, veg@n burgers, nuts, beans, peanut butter, have you got the point yet? It's not that hard to get protein!

Answer 6

soy is probably a popular choice for protein, but really, if you have a protein problem you aren`t eating a very balanced diet. I mean heck, there`s pita bread at publix that are smaller than a taco shell that have 10g of protein each. Nuts and peanut butter are other sources of protein, but like I said, protein shouldn`t be a huge concern.

Answer 7

Actually, there is a word for it: pescetarian refers to someone who doesn't eat animal flesh except for fish/seafood.  As with vegetarianism, eggs and dairy are a personal choice.

Anyway, vegetarians get their protein from food.  It's really no more complicated than that.  Protein is the building block of life, meaning that plants are built of protein, too.  Look at the largest, strongest animals on the planet - elephants, for example - think about where they get all the protein it must take to grow that large.  (Hint: elephants don't eat meat)

Processed soy-based foods are a good source of protein, but they are a processed food and shouldn't form the basis of a healthy diet.  Even without faux meats, veg*ns get protein from less processed soy foods like tofu, from beans and other legumes (lentils, peas, peanuts, peanut butter, chickpeas,) from whole grains, from nuts and seeds, from fruits and vegetables (especially dark green ones) and from mushrooms.  A well-balanced vegan diet with enough calories to meet one's energy needs easily includes enough protein; a vegetarian who is eating eggs and/or dairy atop that is likely getting excess protein.

Answer 8

Beans, Tofu, TVP, Yes it's healthy

Answer 9

this protein myth has to stop already.

i can't believe this how many think you're not getting any protein at all.

listen,  go to this site and read up on the protein information.

http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/mi...

there's mineral information also...

i've been a vegetarian for 30 freaking years..  i do not so have a protein issue.

i'm even on lipitor because i still get more protein than recommended!

there...   i wish those who keep butting into vegetarians and vegans and try to tell us we are killing ourselves would find purpose in life and move on.

we aren't dying from any problem.   fruits and veggies are good for you.. matter of fact even the lousy government claims we aren't eating enough of our veggies.....

we eat too much meat and dairy.. that's why we have problems..

if you are so worried about protein still.. eat soybeans, beans...   nuts.

you'll get more than you need daily.. as a matter of fact, weekly.

thanks.

spread the word..    there is no protein problem in a vegetarian diet.

none,  nadda..   not even an iron problem..   you get more than enough daily!

Answer 10

I drink E.A.S protein drinks.

they don't take gross.

i suggest the chocolate flavor.

Answer 11

Sea...weed.

Answer 12

Good job on being a veggie. You save 90 animals a year!!

Now,

First off, there is a word for that. It's pesca-vegetarian. Second, products made from soy are healthy, because when you get down to it, it's just beans. Soy beans.

For the protein thing, there is a common misconception. Meat itself does not provide protein. The only reason you get protein by eating meat is because of the plants that the cow, or chicken, or other creature ate.

Things like sesame seeds, beans, and soy (a bean) provide protein. My personal body needs a little over 45 grams of protein per day. Just one 8 oz. glass of my soy milk gives me 7 grams! So protein is not hard to get as a vegan or vegetarian as long as you know what to look for.  

Answer 13

A diet containing rice and beans will provide all of the essential amino acids your body needs.  

Buy a rice cooker or a microwave steamer designed for rice.  Both are fairly simple to use, and cook the rice quickly.  Brown rice is best.  Beans can be bought in cans and heated.  They don't have to be eaten at the same time.

Answer 14

SOY HAS A LOT OF PROTEIN!!!!

Madie out.

Answer 15

Peanut butter.

Answer 16

we eat FOOD like every one else, just not dead animals....

Answer 17

For Protein eat Eggs, Protein Shakes, Cheese, Milk (Chocolate Milk for more flavor) like dairy products and stuff. Shakle Protein shakes are one of the best kinds. There really good and have allot of Protein www.myshakle.com. and click Sports Nutrition and then find Protein Diets and then click Protein Shakes. Hope this is helpful. I am also a Vegetarian and drink the shakes they are top notch.