Feeling Empty

So I've been a vegetarian for about a year now, and I've constantly had problems with feeling hungry all the time. It's as if I always need more. I'm watching my protein intake, and I appear to be taking in as much as I need, yet I still feel sooo empty, like I could eat everything in the house.

Does anybody have any ideas about why this might be and how I can fix it? I'd like to stay veggie, but I'm getting more and more disconcerted by my perpetual hunger.

What kinds of food are you eating on a daily basis? It might give us a better idea. I know that when I eat a giant salad loaded with beans and veggies, I'm full for hours. Same thing with a big bowl of hearty soup with whole grain bread. Vegetables have very little calories for the most part and have lots of fiber and water that should fill you up pretty well. Are you keeping hydrated? A lot of times drinking a glass of water, tea or even diet soda will make you feel satiated as well.

Good luck with everything!

If you're not already, try eating wholewheat pasta and brown rice instead of the white versions. I find this makes a massive difference. If I eat white pasta now when I'm out, I'll usually be hungry later on.  I think it's because the unrefined foods have a lower GI so they keep your blood sugar at a more even level, though I'm not an expert on that.

You may be underestimating either how many calories you need each day or how many you're taking in.  Vegetarian food can be quite light on the calories although filling.... it's therefore easy not to eat enough.   CC has some good calculators to help you work out your calorie needs and the food log (if kept accurately) will let you see how many calories you're eating/drinking each day.  A lightly active young woman of 21-25 needs about 1900-2100 a day.  If you're running each day you probably need more like 2500, or even more.  If you're hungry... eat.

Aim to get 20-25% of your daily calories from  protein and 25-30% from fats since these provide a lot of the satiety of a diet. Wholegrain  & unprocessed foods are generally more satisfying than refined starches and ready-made foods....  Good luck

Yeah, you don't have to eat meat to have rib-sticking comfort food...there is nothing magical about animal flesh that makes you full.  To your body, it's basically just protein/fat/vitamins...whatever.  Maybe what you're eating just isn't nutirent-dense enough.  Sometimes I'll eat a whole bag of frozen veggies and be hungry again in an hour.  That means it's time for a sandwich or something more substantial.

Try eating more for a few days, or try eating higher-fat, higher protein foods.  Have a big ol' tofu scramble with veggies and fake sausage (if you like that sort of thing) for breakfast.  Have a hearty chili or bean soup for lunch...maybe with a big ol' hunk'a whole grain bread.  For dinner the other night I just had a plain bean and soy cheese burrito, but it really hit the spot and I felt full for HOURS!

You can figure out what your body needs...and it probably isn't an animal.

I'm an ex-vegan, and experienced exactly what you are describing for almost a year.  Bottom line, some people need more protein, and perpetual hunger is often a sign of that.  When I was veggie, most of what I read told me I only needed 50 grams of protein a day, but honestly, I feel much better eating 80 or 90.  Eating more tofu, tempeh, and protein-dense legumes like lentils may help, but if your body is really and truly demanding more, you could try being lacto-ovo vegetarian and eating organic dairy and free-range eggs.  I actually went back to eating meat, and for the first six months, I ate whatever I craved.  That basically meant turkey and cheese sandwiches several times a week, and two-egg omelettes almost every day.  It was nuts, but after a while my body calmed down and I felt normal again.  I totally support the veg-lifestyle, but every 'body' is different, and if you can't reach your protein needs with vegetarian options, I think your health should take priority. 

Thanks for all your helpful tips!  I'm going to try eating more hearty, protein-filled foods. As a lazy college student, I usually only get around to eating what's easiest to prepare or what's at the cafeteria... which ends up being salads and peanut butter sandwiches most of the time. I'm thinking I could throw some more eggs and beans in the mix.

Thanks guys!

If you can get your hands on a good bowl of vegetarian bean chili and a big slice of homemade or bakery bread, I think it would go a long way towards filling you up. Always worked for me when I was a vegetarian (and still does, even though I eat some meat now).

i second pumpkin314~~i usually eat every couple of hours or so anyways. my reccomendation is to eat a potato,,! those are pretty hefty, usually carbs  will do the trick. when eat them you feel super full.