I am thinking of being a vegetarian, how can I still get the necessary protien that one would get from meat?

Question

I don't like eating meat. It makes me feel bad that I am eating a inocient animal.

Answer 1

Vegetarians always ask about getting enough protein. But I don't know any nutrition expert who can plan a diet of natural foods resulting in a protein deficiency, so long as you're not deficient in calories. You need only 5 or 6 percent of total calories in protein... and it is pratically impossible to get below 9 percent in ordinary diets.
-Nathan Pritikin

MYTH: "Vegetarians get little protein."

Fact: Plant foods offer abundant protein. Vegetables are around 23% protein on average, beans 28%, grains 13%, and even fruit has 5.5%. For comparison, human breast milk is only 5% (designed for the time in our lives when our protein needs are as high as they'll ever be). The US Recommended Daily Allowance is 8%, and the World Health Organization recommends 4.5%.

MYTH: "Beans are a good source of protein."

Fact: There is no such thing as a special "source of protein" because all foods -- even plants -- have plentiful protein. You might as well say "Food is a good source of protein". In any event, beans (28%) don't average much more protein per calorie than common vegetables (23%).

Answer 2

That's just it, you are mistaken because there is no "necessary protein that one would get from meat". Don't you see, it's not necessary. Meat is not magical. People seem to think that they can stick anything they want in their mouths as long as they are eating magical meat, but it's really not true at all and is a common modern myth in N. America. I know people from all over the world who've never had any animal products in their whole life, and they never thought about vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, etc. They just ate good healthy food (which most traditional diets from around the world are made up of -- everybody was eating naturally at one time not long ago).

Answer 3

When you eat meat, you get way more protein than your body needs. That's one of the many reasons why eating meat is bad for your health besides being bad for the killed animals!

Beans are great vegetarian sources of protein. Tofu is another great source. Don't be afraid of tofu! It may be bland and tasteless right out of the carton but cook it with spices and it will absorb whatever flavors you cook it with. Tempeh is another great source. It's an acquired taste, though. You need a good recipe to follow or you won't like it. www.vegweb.com has lots of recipes that I have personally found to be fantastic. If you don't cook, you need to learn! But in the meantime, there are some of the Amy's Kitchen frozen entrees that are vegetarian. Thai Kitchen also has a number of vegetarian entrees. Not all of either company's stuff is vegetarian so you have to read the ingredient list.

Answer 4

Actually, your body takes amino acids from all the different foods you eat throughout the day and combines them to make its own protein. As long as you eat a good, varied diet rich in whole grains, legumes and lots of produce, but low in fried, processed and refined (non)foods your body provides the rest for itself.
Cows don't eat meat...how do you think they produce all that protein people say they eat the cows for?
Most people eat way more protein than is required daily. Also, being vegetarian or vegan does not starve you or make you sick, living on foods lacking in any nutritional value does so don't let anyone make you feel bad for doing what's right for you. Eat a good diet, do lots of research to educate yourself and you'll be fine.

Answer 5

Beans and lentils have more protein per serving than meat.

However, what I do is I drink protein shakes. One very other day because I don't eat beans or lentils every day.

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein

Answer 6

yeah!!! another vegetarian!! i am one and the more people in the world that are the less animals suffering. but anyway, your question:

their are many ways to get your protein. when i became one me and my mom sat down and talked about what we could substitute because its very important to get protein. we came up with this:

-nuts (they are in the same food group as meat so they are a
very good source of protein) but of course this is hard when
you have braces.

-soy. they have great brands like boca and morning star that
taste like real meat but are made of soy. one of my
personal favorites are boca burgers. they taste exactly like
a hamburger with the bun, etc. but with out killing a cute
cow!!!

-there are so many foods out there that i dont have time to list
them all!!! do a little experimenting to see what you like!!


hope i helped and good luck!!!

Answer 7

Well there are amny foods that stil provide protein some are eggs or even protein. If you go on line you can find a whole list of protein foods that arent meat.

Answer 8

You can follow a balance diet by eating differents grains and vegetables and get the proteins your body needs as beans and rice they togheter make a srong protein.

Answer 9

believe me, you will, just eat nuts, and even veggie burgers or corn dogs, substitue meat, you'll be fine. i was worried about that before i turned vegan from being a vegetarian for years but i am healthy

Answer 10

I start the day out with a shake made with Frutein (a soy based protein shake powder) and whey protein powder with blue berries, Udo's Oil, and greens powder.

Don't forget about those innocent plants!!!!