Protein at Meals!

[sparrow]

hi All:

so I'm totally at a loss with protein. I know most Americans get too much but I wonder if DH and I aren't getting enough. We have peanut butter in the morning, smoothies and dairy products here and there, but I'm at a loss as to how to incorporate protein into a large meal, if it's not meat. Soy products really bother our stomachs and there's only so many bean we can take. I'm trying to figure out what else to eat for protein!! What do the non-meat eaters do when you want protein as part of a larger meal, not the main dish? To illustrate, last night I made polenta with a variety of sauteed fresh veggies on top. Also had a big salad. I wanted some protein to go with that but...beans with polenta? A smoothie? ACK! If anyone has any suggestions or side-dish recipes, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!

Sparrow


Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage

 

[delfin]

I'm eating meat again; but when I wasn't, I did eat alot of beans any soy. Have you tried dal? There are a ton of different varieties, and it's quick and easy to make. Yeah, I know they're really lentils, but if you cook the moong dal long enough, they kinda dissolve alot and could be a great base for a soup or stew. Add some brown rice, and you've got good, high-fiber protein. I also find them easier to digest then, say, chick peas or other legumes.

 

[wutherhi]

I eat a lot of vital wheat gluten and/or wheat protein isolate. Prepared, it's called seitan. Most people I know don't like it, though. It can be pretty . . . chewy. I make mine into "cookies" with oatmeal and a little bit of Splenda, but there are many other ways to choke it down. It's not delicious, but it's filling. I also use TVP, or textured vegetable protein, which is a soy product. It makes great chili.

Shari

 

[NekkoCat]

You may want to try tempeh. It is a fermented soy product, so I'm not sure if it will agree with you if soy bothers you. But, (if memory serves me correctly), one serving contains about 20g protein. It may be worth a try!

 

[kathryn]

I'm surprised people don't like seitan. I've found that many meat eaters like the texture (very meaty) and sometimes think it is meat (in chili). Maybe the way you prepare it with oatmeal and splenda? (that doesn't sound very good to me, frankly). It's good for stirfries and seitan "stroganoff" or seitan "bourguinon."

Aside from tofu, tempeh, seitan and beans, quinoa and hemp are good sources of protein. Having a smoothie with some type of protein (I like a combo of hemp---a very easily assimilated protein that is much like the protein in human bodies--and another meal replacement/protein powder) will give you a good start to the day.

 

[ldy_solana]

>
>Aside from tofu, tempeh, seitan and beans, quinoa and hemp are
>good sources of protein. Having a smoothie with some type of
>protein (I like a combo of hemp---a very easily assimilated
>protein that is much like the protein in human bodies--and
>another meal replacement/protein powder) will give you a good
>start to the day.
>
>
i just looked this up and found out a place down the road from my mother sells this.i will have to go down and check some of this out. i am all for trying new stuff and this is defiently packed with protien from reading the nutrional facts.

thanks kathryn.

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey

 

[KathyH]

Hi Sparrow! I made last night a delicious vegetarian lasagna. It was awesome if I do say so myself. LOL I'll post the recipe to you tomorrow. I'm at work & I don't have it. I do remember though that it contains carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mushrooms, whole wheat lasagna noodles, 6 tomatoes, tomato paste & tofu. You top off the lasgna w/bread crumbs & parmesan cheese. I eat tofu everyday. I put it into my salad that I eat in the PM. Soups are also very good to make as well as stews. HTH, Kathy

 

[bethj]

Nuts are a good source of protein and the fats in them are the good kind. I put toasted almonds on veggies; toasted walnuts in a salad, and toasted cashews in curried rice and veggies.
Beth

 

[rjroubi]

>I'm surprised people don't like seitan. I've found that many
>meat eaters like the texture (very meaty) and sometimes think
>it is meat (in chili). Maybe the way you prepare it with
>oatmeal and splenda? (that doesn't sound very good to me,
>frankly). It's good for stirfries and seitan "stroganoff" or
>seitan "bourguinon."
>
>Aside from tofu, tempeh, seitan and beans, quinoa and hemp are
>good sources of protein. Having a smoothie with some type of
>protein (I like a combo of hemp---a very easily assimilated
>protein that is much like the protein in human bodies--and
>another meal replacement/protein powder) will give you a good
>start to the day.
>
>

I'm surprised too. I love Seitan and it tends to be a major staple of my diet. It is very low in fat and very high in protein (ie: 90 cal, 18 grams protein, less than 1 gm fat). I enjoy Tofu as well but I must admit, Tempeh doesn't rank high on my yummy list (I'm still working on finding better ways to cook it ) I do know that there are people who do have a difficult time digesting gluten products and should stay far away from seitan...thank goodness, I'm not one of them.

Robin

ETA: I, too, also use hemp protein in my smoothies. It can turn it a slightly funky green if you don't use enough berries, but it sure does boost up the protein power. Ah...but my mother always taught me green is "oh so good for you"

 

[kathryn]

>I' Tempeh doesn't rank high
>on my yummy list (I'm still working on finding better ways to
>cook it )
Have you tried tempeh 'mock chicken or the egg' salad?
That's my favorite way to eat tempeh (since I don't fry foods anymore, and I used to like it fried). Just steam for 20 minutes, grate or mash, add some type of mayo (I like one based on grapeseed oil), mustard, chopped onion (I often use onion powder instead, as onion can be a bit much for me), chopped celery, any other additions you like (chopped olives? parsley? capers? chopped red pepper), and a bit of poultry seasoning.

I like it, and I've tried it one some non-veg*ns who also liked it.

I, too, also use hemp protein in my smoothies. It can
>turn it a slightly funky green if you don't use enough
>berries, but it sure does boost up the protein power. Ah...but
>my mother always taught me green is "oh so good for you"

My smoothies have definitely changed color since I've been adding not only hemp protein, but a green supplement. They used to be a pretty fushia or pink color, now they're usually greyish purple (green + red makes grey!). But I like the flavor (may not have several months ago, but I've been gradually getting used to it and very GRADUALLY increasing the dose of green supplement).