Me and my boyfriend have recently become vegetarians and we need some help.?

Question

He's been craving meat... and when I say craving I mean that he wakes me up in the middle of the night and says that he wants to eat meat but he can't. I keep telling him that it's his body's way of telling him that he needs protien. Am I telling him wrong? Has anyone else had craving like this? When he looks at meat he gets grossed out but he still craves it... why? Should i get him a protien sub? any suggestions?

This was a descion that both of us made mutually. I did not force him to become a vegetarian. HE does not have to be a vegetarian he is more than welcome to eat meat but he chooses not to. Its just the cravings that he has a problem with

Answer 1

Since the 2 of you have only been veg for a short while, I'm thinking he is either having this craving out of habit, or maybe he's going through a kind of detoxification process & his cravings are a kind of 'withdrawl' from all the toxins, hormones etc. in meat (especially commercial beef). Another possibility is that he's not getting enough to eat in general, which could happen while you & he are transistioning into your new way of eating.
While it's possible he's not getting enough protein, it's really pretty unlikely as long as he's eating enough of a healthy & varied selection. He could always speak with a dietician for advice. Also, there are lots of vegetarian protein powders available, they can be added to smoothies if he likes them.
When I went veg, I'd get cravings every time I found myself within smelling distance of the KFC on my block but I eventually realized it was the *seasoning* that I wanted. My SO still gets an occasional craving, especially if he's particularly hungry & we happen to pass a fast-food place. With his cravings as well as mine, the idea of actually eating meat has been more than enough to get past the craving.

Answer 2

The first thing you need to figure out, is it the meat he is craving or simply the food he used to eat and now does not. For example is he craving chicken parmesan, or hamburgers simply because he is used to eating this(and enjoyed it) and is now eating differently?

I cannot speak for everyone, but I think lot of people go through this, they miss the food they used to like and have not yet found a vegetarian food that they really enjoy. As your recipes expand he will find other dishes that he loves and probably begin to crave that.

When I first went to a vegetarian diet I craved meat, and this was simply because my recipes were limited. As I began to find more vegetarian food I liked these were the foods I craved. I also found that foods that I missed could be made vegetarian, since it was not the meat I missed but the taste. For example tacos could be made with lentils or veggie crumbles, and faux meats could be used for other recipes.

He could need more protein is his diet, but it could also be that he is simply craving meat because he is new to vegetarianism and hasn't replaced old meat favorites with new vegetarian favs.

Answer 3

There are lots of restaurants or vegetarian shops serving meatlike food for vegetarians made from soybean, starch, flour .....

Vege Meat Loaf

3 egg whites, beaten
1 C fatfree cottage cheese
1C rolled oats
1tsp sage or parsley
1 finely chopped onion
1T soy sauce
1t marmite or vegemite (yeast extract spread...i think it is a kiwi thing, so
if you can't get it try some kind of stock)

Mix all ingred together and put in greased loaf tin. Bake approx 45 mins in
moderate oven till firm and brown.

Eat hot or cold.

The texture and flavor is fairly close.

I think that the closest you can get to meat.

hang on there!

Answer 4

I've been vegetarian for about a year now and I still get cravings for fried chicken, which is completly weird because I never particularly liked it when I did eat meat. My best advice is to eat fake meat. Boca burgers, morning star, quorn. You'd be surprised how much they taste like the real thing, and you dont have to feel bad about eating an animal. I dont think it's lack of protein causing the changes, it's just breaking a habit.

Answer 5

it's normal to crave ANY food that you like but don't allow yourself to eat. I know this well.. went veggie at age 10 and now, 17 years later, have been dieting like crazy and not allowing myself to eat alot of my favorite (vegetarian) foods.. I, of all people, know cravings!!! But I got over most of my meat cravings.. Fried chicken still smells good to me (I think it's the seasonings). Also sometimes I think about how much I used to enjoy a nice tuna sandwich with LOTS of miracle whip mixed in. So I go buy a certain brand of veggie hot dog, mash a couple up, add lots of miracle whip and pickle relish, and make a sandwich from THAT instead.. just as yummy... Man I wish I could eat that right now.. but it's WAY too fattening for my diet :(

also your body, once used to eating a certain way, takes awhile to ajust to a new diet, even a better one.. and your stomach might not "feel right" for a little while (very little while)

As for vegetarians being deficient in protien, that's mostly a myth.. Beans, soy, tofu, even vegetables and grains, contain PLENTY of protien (the human body doesn not require as much protien as the meat industry would have us believe) .. If you think you're not eating enough protien.. sneak some Peanut butter on your toast, waffles, pancakes, celery, all yummy!! I LOVE peanutt butter and hot fruit sauce on my waffles or pancakes!! Okay.. I've been dieting too much LOL!! I'd go for just about anything more filling than salad and fruit right now LOL...

Answer 6

Protein subs will help. He is missing protein. I suggest you search for vegan recipes. There are certain combinations of vegetables that will make up for the meat. BTW, I've been off beef & pork/ham for about 10 months now, chicken & turkey for about 3 months, and I don't miss any of them.

Try Boca Burgers, Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs (with spaghetti), and veggie pizzas (TJ's Pesto Pizza is awesome).

Answer 7

1. try cutting down the portion of meat intake every day graudally
2. Add protein, olive oil and nuts to your diet. I crave for nuts when not eating meat
3. Try improving cooking skills. Using more spice and herbs on food.
4. Try immitation crabs and immitation meat from grocery store. See if you will like them

Answer 8

i think of you purely informed us what you may tell him. i advance into in a similar boat. I informed my bf that i wanted to attempt a veggie weight loss plan, he laughed and pronounced he provides me a month through my obdurate nature. this is month 2 now, and that i'm going solid. What fairly helped me to instruct him i'm extreme is examine. I accumulated as plenty concepts approximately why and what i advance into doing. as quickly as I shared with him my reasoning, he appeared so plenty extra open minded. I informed him that if he fairly loves me and respects me, he would be waiting to help me. So now he makes useful as quickly as we've been given to eat out I fairly have a terrific variety of issues i will eat. i think of that 4 years is an prolonged time, and that i'm useful you have been by way of plenty at the same time, a metamorphosis of way of existence should not be that sizable of a deal. in spite of if it may take him a while to get used to the assumption. solid success, and stick to it!!

Answer 9

You could be right. It's definitely important to get appropriate amounts of protein, and complete protein. It wouldn't hurt you guys to take a class on nutrition or something to make sure you have all the information.

Answer 10

This is precisely why I have not gone veggie.

Humans are, frankly, omnivores. We like all food.

However, I have gotten good at going most of the week with no meat. The way I got to this point is by setting a date that I can cheat on being veggie. Over time, I set the next date out further and further.

To date, it is much easier to go without meat, have that pizza with sausage, or indulge in BBQ. Instead, I found lots of things that are meat like. I find that noodles do well to fill. When I was in Nepal, they had this great veggie that tasted like meat... I wish we had it in America... and bread is really filling.

For some odd reason, tomato sauce does well to fill me up and reduce my desire for a good steak.

I don't think it is really protein as much as habit.

Good luck!