Just started vegetarian lifestyle on Mon, but am STARVING! I'm this close to buying a burger. What's filling?

Question

I see now why I've only lasted 2 wks on a vegetarian diet in the past, because I had forgotten about the starvation factor! I want to see if I can stick to it this time. What can I eat that'll stick with me longer than 1 1/2 hours? (I know meat-eaters are laughing)

T, I know I used the word "diet" (you're right), but I didn't mean it in the weightloss sense. I meant it in the "way of eating" sense. I think I usually try to use the word, "lifestyle" when referring to the vegetarian way of eating.

Y!Answers put my question to a vote before I could choose a best answer! So I'll go ahead and let other readers choose. You ALL gave excellent answers, anyway, and have been extremely encouraging! I didn't give in. Now I have PLENTY of ideas to work with, thanks to you. I will also try Indian & Ethiopian food, which I've never had before. Tofrutti has also piqued my interest. Your meal suggestions have helped, tremendously, and I believe vegetarians are the most supportive people on earth. Thanks again, everyone! =)

Answer 1

First, if you're hungry you need to eat some fiber! Yuppers, add some oatmeal, barely, brown rice, whole wheat tortilla's or pasta, or cous cous and you will feel all full in a jiffy!

If you're hungry it's because you're getting too many empty calories. I bet you've limited yourself to fruits, huh? See that's not gonna work. Think of fruits like candy. They're the treat, not the main course! People are saying go have a veggi burger, and that's a terrific idea! When my daughter decided at 9 to be a vegetarian we started her with all the meat substitutes to help her over the hump. You can have ribs in bbq sauce, burgers, spaghetti and "meat"balls, chicken patties (which are great on a whole wheat bun with swiss cheese and spicy mustard!), chicken strips, tacos with "meat", hamburger helper with soy crumbles instead of ground beef, Morning Star Farms makes a really awesome soy sausage that most people don't know isn't pork! Hop over to your supermarket cold case section and look at all the choices there are!

Once you've filled your stomache up, look at what you're really eating. Like I said at the beginning, if you're hungry it's most likely you're not getting enough fiber. Having beans, including soy beans in any form, as the protien basis of your diet will increase your fiber intake and help you feel full. But that might take time, and it sounds like you're kinda impatient!

So go for the quick fix, have that bowl of oatmeal or Cream of Wheat NOW....make some scrambled eggs and soy sausages with it. And treat yourself with a nice piece of fruit! Lunch and dinner should be approached the same way!

Good luck!

Answer 2

pasta, rice, whole grains, or beans are the most filling vegetarian foods.

a bean burrito is simple and cheap, just be sure it doesn't have lard in it.

baked beans are also great and nothing could be easier than opening a can and heating it.

try frying up some mushrooms and zucchini in garlic and putting it over spaghetti noodles with some parmesan cheese.

vegetarian lasagna is quite filling.

and if you can't get over the burger craving, buy some boca burgers and make your own veggie burger! you can still eat practically anything as a vegetarian, and there are hundreds of meat replacements in the grocery store.

by the way, having warm meals makes you feel more full, which is probably why you're tempted to buy a burger. just cook up something warm and you'll feel much better.

Answer 3

Pastas and rice are heavy and filling. Try making things like Italian pasta dishes, or stir frys, and such. They are also quite a few vegetarian products out there now that are made of soy like chicken patties and burgers etc. I have been a vegetarian for 4 years now, and there are so many options that you would never even think of. I suggest you get yourself a nice vegetarian cookbook and just start experimenting. Go crazy, feel free to alter the recipes.
I have nothing against people eating meat, but I personally cannot bring myself to eat animals that are treated so terribly, often forced to eat diets they would not normally eat, and are often filled with hormones.
If it is an ethical decision like mine, trying finding free range food that guarantees no hormones and that the animals were allowes to roam free and eat natural diets. Good luck. eventually the cravings will pass and you will be healthier for it.
Also, people are suggested to eat more times in a day, but in less portions. It is a much healthier way to eat than having three large meals a day, and helps to regulate things like your sugar better.

Answer 4

No starvation is necesary!

I satisfied my protein cravings with beans. Bean Burritos are delicious, if you are doing dairy, bean burritos with cheese are perfect for you. Most mexican restaurant and fast food restaurants have bean burritos, and they are easy on the pocket.

Craving fast food? Burger King has a vegetarian burger, it taste great, and has all the perks of a regular burguer without the dead animal in it.

BBQ blues? Bring your meatless burguers to the parties, you can find them at the groceries stores. They have meatless burguers (Boca ar my favorites), there is another brand that is made out of tofu, that also carries bologna.

For your protein cravings, I have found Kashi Lean cereal to be the best, it has 20 gms of protein and 30% of fiber. Total cereal is also a good alternative

When hunger strikes, I sometime have a protein shake, or a slim fast shake, I particulary like Slim Fast Optima, that will keep you satiesfied for atlead 3-4 hours.

Good luck. Vegetarians rock!

Answer 5

I know a lot of people have answered your question but I'm also a vegetarian. It can be hard at first but once you get into it and find particular foods that you like you'll get to the point where you won't miss meat at all. For me its hard but easy and the same time. Its hard because I don't like cooking nor am I good at it but its easy because meals are easy to make [and I'm kinda spoiled :) ]. But pasta is simple and filing and you can always put extra seasoning and works into store bought pasta and if you eat seafood you can always add shrimp. Tortellini, and vegetarian spaghetti is always pretty good. But greens, Mac and cheese, potato's (mashed potato's, potato salad, cheese or scallop potatoes, and even baked potatoes), rice, beans, mixed veggies (string beans, corn, and carrots are good 2gether. Put them on the stove and add some butter). But experiment. Go to the store and just take your time look around and shop find things that you like and interest you. Good luck. If this is what you want you can surely stick to it and do it.

PS - Grilled cheese, quesadilla', pop tarts, Eggo mini's, croissant's, muffins, and fruit are always the easiest for me (a teenager who isn't the best)

Answer 6

Okay you need to go to an Indian or Ethiopian restaurant because they have a variety of food that will definetly fill you up. I would suggest yetsome beyaynetu(all veggie ethiopian food in one plate) and from Indian food you can try vegetable carry with rice, they both taste really good. If that doesn't do it drink a glass of water before you eat and a glass of water after you eat it will fill you up. Just do that until you are used to be a vegetarian, otherwise it is unhealthy, you should atlest wait fir 30 minutes after you eat food to drink water.Good Luck!

Answer 7

I tried this ice cream once called Tofutti. It is totally vegetarian is really good. It comes in flavors like white chocolate almond, vanilla and butter pecan. I am not a vegetarian, but I like it. I found it in the organic food area of my local grocery store, but you might find it next to the Ben and Jerry's with the regular ice cream.

Also, garden burger makes a mesquite grill-flavored veggie burger that almost tastes like a REAL burger if you use condiments. It can be found at Gordon Food Service.

Answer 8

You should be eating BETTER as a vegetarian- if not, you need to learn how to eat and cook as a vegetarian. Vegetarian food is delicious! It is every bit as good as omnivore fare, and then some.

Don't give in! A burger isn't even food- it is a part of a dead animal.

My kids and I eat very well indeed. We enjoy our food- and it is healthy and more than filling.

There should be no 'starvation factor' whatsoever! Red meat and foul simply isn't good for you.

Send me an email if you want more ideas. [e-mail]

Answer 9

Hey you're doing really great, stick to it. It would be hard in the beginning in start but believe me that the satisfaction that you would get will be much beyond the suffer of not eating some food that you'd liked.
P.S. And don't bother about non vegetarians laughing on you. If they don't care about the pain of someone being killed, does it really matter what they laugh on?

Answer 10

If you are just eating salads and veggies , of course you will hungry. You should really get a book on the subject because if you are hungry, you are not eating right..

Try the vegetarian meat alternatives (some are better then others), pastas, whole grain breads, potatoes, rice dishes.