I feel like all I do is eat all day but I’m still always hungry. I’m assuming this means that I’m not getting enough protein, which is entirely possible. So today I need to do more research on protein sources and pick up some soy milk and see if I can find some soy protein powder.
Other than the whole being hungry all the time thing, I am quite enjoying my new way of life. I really like the fact that I can look at a giant plate of food and know that nothing had to die for me to have it.
A recent discovery of mine is hemp. It has an amazing nutritional content. I’d suggest looking for a place in your area that sells it.
Thank you for the suggestion! I’ll see what I can find.
Hi Jenn, is Whey protein out of the question? I’m not too familiar with vegan diets but I do know Whey is a better protein for sustaining muscle mass and numerous other benefits.
Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately whey is out of the question as it is derived from milk.
It would actually be really unusual to be lacking in protein on anything other than a pure starvation diet. More likely is just needing time getting used to eating more food, or differently than your body is used to. Beans and grains (not just rice – try amaranth, quinoa, millet, barley, kamut, etc) will go a long way in terms of sustained energy. They also are great sources of protein, but there is a really good chance that you’re just eating less calories than you’re used to, and your body is telling you to eat because you need to eat! Lacking protein is mostly a myth on a vegan diet, honestly.
Also keep in mind that most everyone misinterprets thirst as hunger at least sometimes. Make sure you’re drinking enough water!
You might want to pick up some resources, like “Becoming Vegan” or check out pcrm’s website or the vegetarian resource group, but I’d also recommend sticking what you’re eating into something like fitday for a week or so to get a handle on what exactly you are eating. I am repeating myself, but I can’t help it – the likelihood of a protein defficiency is slim! People obsess about protein, but if you focus on eating whole foods and making sure you’re actually getting enough calories, you’re not going to be lacking in protein.
Something to keep in mind in general is how our bodies digest. 2 main things trigger our digestion to slow down – fat and fiber. I can’t recommend a high fat diet, but a judicious handful of nuts, a flaxseed oil dressing on your salad, a few seeds added to your salads…a little goes a long way. Fiber is one reason why beans and whole grains are more satisfying for us, and sate our hunger for longer. The body is able to recognize that there is more to be gotten from these things, so it slows our digestion down, which means you stay “full” for longer.
This has become a really long comment. Sorry!
Wow thank you for all the info Deb! I was actually just checking out your blog earlier today
I think one of my biggest problems was that I wasn’t spreading my calories out very well. These last couple of days I’ve been trying to eat a bigger breakfast which seems to help a lot. I’m sure part of it was that my body just needed to get used to the change. I’ve been much less hungry the last couple of days.
I eat too much stodgy food – particularly bread. I think I might look into hemp and quinoa as I find that I’m always hungry when I just eat salads!
Glad to hear you’ve been less hungry the past couple days, Jenn! It is definitely healthier to eat our big meals early in the day…not that I manage to do that! I’m the type who is too lazy to prepare food ahead of time so I bring 3 or 4 pieces of fruit to work, and eat them throughout the day. It works, probably as much because it is what I’m used to as anything else!
Too funny that you were looking at my blog earlier. Small world I guess!
My girlfriend and I noticed we were more hungry when we went vegan about a hear ago and I don’t remember how long it lasted but it definately just goes away as you adjust to new eating lifestyle. W Potatoes are good to fill up on, and fiber. I’
If anyone is trying vegan protein suppliments the best tasting, best mixing, best priced powder is brown rice protein. Check out NutriBiotic Vegan Rice Protein Drink. Just one heaping tablespoon has 13 grams and you can buy it in 3lb cans for under $25 online. I’ve only tried unflavored and it tastes pretty good in just water and could easily be addded to anything with no bad taste.
Also “Soy Free Veg Protein” and “Veg Protein (w/ soy)” by Naturade is a good. It’s not nearly as tasty but it’s got iron, calcium, b’s and other stuff in addition to high protein.
I’ve tried different hemp brand as well. Hemp is an amazing plant and I look foward to all sorts of new hemp foods. Hemp milk is very good, sold like rice/soy milk now in health food stores. The plain hemp protein pownders are gritty due to it’s high insoluble fiber but that’s really good for you so you feel you get a nice digestion tract scrub. It’s also got a perfect ratio of omega’s. It’s such a good food. Seems to be the least bang for the buck though if you are looking for cheap protein. If it’s ever legal to grow in the US, it would be so much cheaper.
I try to avoid too much soy and have easily done that while putting on lots of muscle in recent weight lifting! When I get hungry after workouts I love chowing down on a mesquite smoked tofurky sandwich, lentil soup, baked potatoes are really filling, bowl of oatmeal or cereal, and plenty of water. Amy’s Organics vegan burritos (sold frozen in lots of places) are great too.
So much info, seriously you guys rock!
I will have to look into some of the protein powders you mentioned. I found one (I don’t remember the name of it off of the top of my head) but it tastes really chalky.
Thanks again for all the awesome info!
Leafy greens! Help with that…at least that is what Vegan Momma told me…I am still working on it at times! lol
Check out http://veganmomma.com/blog – Opal’s a great lady!!!