Giving up Meat for Lent

Beginning yesterday, Ash Wednesday, I decided to give up meat for Lent.  And despite what the Church allows, that would include fish. 

Anyone have any ideas on how to maintain a good source of protein. It's nice to have a diet of fruit and veggies but I still need protein.

whole grains, dairy, nuts/nut butters, soy protein (i.e. tofu), and i'm pretty sure dark greens like spinach have some protein as well.

i'm no vegetarian - but beans & legumes provide some protien...

try QUINOA - it is considered a complete source of protein and a good source of calcuim, iron & phosphorus! (Used usually as a side dish - rice or in a salad)

Other grains with protein: Spelt (cereal/baking) & Barley (rice substitute, stews/soups/caseroles)

In addition to the aforementioned, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk.

Well, I do like stock up on green veggies as well as beans as they are also a good source of fiber.

As for the diary, I am a bit lactose intolerant so those items are not really an option.  Eggs are considerably high in cholesterol but i'm sure one scrambled per week one hurt anything.

I have never had Quinoa and may try it.  I am not getting enough calcium in my diet, according to my calorie-count log and could use more of it from this food item.

Thanks everyone for feedback.

Original Post by freshbakedpi:

In addition to the aforementioned, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk.

I don't think dairy and eggs are allowed. Right??

Here are good choices:

1- grains: quinoa, barely, brown rice, millet cooked with vegetables and fish for lunch or with soy/rice/almond milk with nuts and cinnamon for breakfast.

2- baked fish and green salad.

3- nut /almonds meal.

4- fresh fruit or nuts as snacks.

5-pasta. ( different kinds of pasta are all good).

6- if you like tofu, you can experiment with tofu. there is a tofu pan cake recipe in the forums recently.

7- for desserts, try gelatin. Jello with soy milk  and carob powder. smoothies are good too.

8- Lentils. Excellent source of protein cooked with fish and steamed vegetables. very healthy.

9- if you like yogurt, you can try soy yogurt. I have heard there is a probiotic soy yogurt, very healthy and rich in live culture. 

10- beans.

11- soy protein for your shakes.

Good luck.

Original Post by jason1966:

Well, I do like stock up on green veggies as well as beans as they are also a good source of fiber.

 

As for the diary, I am a bit lactose intolerant so those items are not really an option.  Eggs are considerably high in cholesterol but i'm sure one scrambled per week one hurt anything.

I have never had Quinoa and may try it.  I am not getting enough calcium in my diet, according to my calorie-count log and could use more of it from this food item.

Thanks everyone for feedback.

i buy a carton of the all white eggs which have no yolks and make scrambled egg whites with a little cheese, or just plain egg whites with salt and pepper on whole wheat toast.  there's no cholesterol in them and you get just as much protein. 

peanut butter is also a good source.  i RARELY eat meat at all, but get plenty of protein from nuts, vegetables, milk, cheese, peanut butter, and beans.

there's always soy milk if you can't have the original...

Original Post by jason1966:

Eggs are considerably high in cholesterol but i'm sure one scrambled per week one hurt anything  

 If you've eliminated meat and dairy products you're getting very little saturated fat which is the thing that most affects blood cholesterol.  And the cholestero presentl in whole eggs is not going to add to your blood-cholesterol - contrary to popular belief.  So you could have one or two a day and you'd be absolutely fine.  Plus the yolk contains most of the iron in an eggs... also 'lecithin' a natural antioxidant.  Enjoy eggs...

For vegetable protein you can't beat beans, lentils, chickpeas and other pulses.  Tofu is also good.  Nuts and seeds are excellent.  If you're lactose intolerant there are lots of good soya-based dairy lookalikes on the market.

Have fun... Vegetarian cuisine can be really delicious if you get it right.

I gave up meat for lent a few years ago... and I actually never took it back up! I eat lots of egg whites, peanut/almond butter, soy, tofu, low fat cheese, whole grain products, yogurt ect.  I think it's fun to experiment with meat analogs.... I fool my friends and family all the time with boca crumbles:)

Good luck and remember it's only 40 days...although when I gave up peanut butter that was a long 40 days:)