Vegan and pregnant - uncomfortably full from protein!?

Question

I'm 4 wks pregnant. I'm vegan and my doctor told me to eat at least 70 grams of protein per day. I have no problem finding foods that contain ample amounts of protein. However, I'm having trouble eating SO much food each day to accomplish the 70 grams of protein. I feel stuffed all the time and I don't like the feeling. I tend to just eat when I'm not hungry in order to get the appropriate amount, but I'm worried because my weight shouldn't be too much too soon. How do I go about this?

Answer 1

Here's a recipe that I use to get a lot of protein
without overcrowding my stomach.

1/4 cup organic split peas- 22 grams protein
1/4 cup organic french green lentils-19 grams protein
1/4 cup quinoa- 5 grams protein

1/4 cup oat groats.-5 grams protein
all simmered in water until tender.

1/2 can of Amy's - no chicken noodle soup,
coconut milk Thai soup,
or barley and vegetable soup
mixed in and heated with finished grains

mix in two to three servings of vegetables

This is a high protein dish that you don't have
to eat all at one time. You can split it into
lunch and part of dinner.

You might also try vegan protein shakes.

Also eat lots of greens and some almonds
and kidney beans, these have iron and
calcium.

For snacks:
low sugar PB and organic wheat bread
lunar bars

light meals with protein:
cabbage and pinenuts

chard, spinach, walnuts, kidney beans
- tahini dressing

for breakfast: a high protein low sugar
cereal- light Nature's Path Optimum Slim
or Grape Nuts with Rice milk.
mixed with blue berries or kiwi

You' ll probably get better advice from
the ladies but hopefully these ideas
will give you some options.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

First of all congrats, you must be so excited about baby to come! You will be glad to know that you can cut back on the food, everything you eat has protein in it, even fruit and vegetables. No wonder you feel stuffed, 70 grams of protein a day is too much! The average American eats over 2 times the amount of protein needed and too much of anything is not healthy! Listen to your body, if you feel stuffed then your body is trying to tell you something. What your doctor is telling to to eat is complete proteins. Protein is made from amino acids, your body makes 15 off the 23 amino acids. The other 8 must be eaten in foods. A complete protein is made from all 23 amino acids, your body will make its own complete proteins if you eat foods that contain the 8 that your body can't make. Another good thing to understand about protein is that whatever plant or animal it comes from it is made unique to each species, example.. A human protein and a nut protein are constructed differently, a chickens protein is constructed differently than a cows. So lets say you eat a nut, when it is being digested your body can't absorbe the nut protein in the form it's in, it must be broken down into its amino acids then it can be absorbed and constructed into a human protein.

All fruits, vegetables, legumes, grain, nuts contain tons of amino acids mostly the kinds your body can't make. Some of those foods contain all 23 amino acids aka (complete proteins).

How do animals like cows for example get enough protein to be pregnant and feeding a fast growing calf at the same time? (a calf is born weighing 75lbs and will double its birth weight 45 days after birth, it will continue to feed from its mother for 6 months, by 6 months the calf will weigh around 500lbs) not only that but it will continue like this for as long as 15years. Cows eat 100% plants. Good thing grass and all plant food is rich with amino acids.

I think you should eat till you feel comfortable and trust in your body to tell you how much you need to eat. Sometimes I think that humans have a tendency over think about things instead of trusting in mother nature and ourselves what millions of years of evolution and what the test of time has put us humans through. Mother nature knows best, trust in her!

Answer 4

You can go to a health food store and try to find a rice protein powder that is safe for pregnant women. It usually has about 14 gr.
Protein. If you start your morning with a shake. Mix the powder with soy milk which has about 7-9 gr. protein and fruits and some almonds you soak over night you can start your day with at least 25 grams protein without feeling too full and only about 300 calories. Luna bars have 10 gr. protein. They make great snacks. They are healthy and are not too filling. 180 calories.
http://www.vegfamily.com/dietician/0205a.htm
http://www.lunabar.com/community/lunamom.cfm?documentid=46&location=3,2
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/pregnancy.htm

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

ok if you drink 4 glass of soy of 8 oz each glass you should get 80 g of protein, read the back lable to be sure

or eat a handful of peanuts 3 times a day, it's 20g each handful
read back lable and weight it yourself

eat a block of tofu cost 1 dollar, 50g of protein

Answer 6

CLIFF BARS. they taste great and give you around 15 grams of protein or more i think. sold at trader joes in a large variety of flavors (peanut chocolate chip is my favorite). they taste better then odwalla bars too.

Answer 7

my boyfriend is vegan and asked that i respond....

try soy or whey protein drinks, they taste good and have a ton of protein without fat or sugar.

Answer 8

protein powder and also supplements.
http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/realveganchildren
keep your moral up! good luck

Answer 9

Quinoa has a complete protien. Try that. I know you don't want to hear this but you might try eating egg whites.