Meat Help

Hey-

I'm a recovering anorexic and have just decided to start eating meat again (not that gaining after being a vegetarian isnt possible, just that I also run and am tired of taking longer to recuperate then everyone else). I'm on the food log system with equivalences (i.e. bread=1 carb) and was wondering if anybody who was also doing this could tell me how to count different types of meat? Any help would be appreciated! I'm scared to add meat into my routine and would like to play it safe.

Meat and fish are classed as protein.  (I don't know what quantity of meat = '1 protein' but a portion of meat is 4 or 5oz.)  If you're recovering and trying to gain weight you can enjoy things like red meat (beef, lamb, pork, game) and oily fish (mackerel, salmon) as they are the most energy-dense and also provide other really valuable nutrition..... iron in the case of red meat and omega 3 oils in the case of oily fish, to name but two.  White meats like turkey and chicken are less energy-rich but still provide plenty of protein.

I'm a semi-vegetarian which means I seldom eat meat. I also do not eat any red meat (pork, beef, lamb, etc). If you were vegetarian before I'd strongly suggest to not eat too much meat; it's not that healthy anyway. Stick to a serving size of 3 oz of LEAN meat like chicken breast or fish fillet. Sea food is great b/c it's low in calories and has a lot of protein and good fat.

How is meat 'not healthy' for someone underweight and recovering?

Um, okay. Cricket, you're annoying me now. Don't go through a weight gain forum telling recovering anorexics what they shouldn't eat when it can be perfectly healthy. Red meat is fine in moderation.

To the OP: Begin introducing meat slowly. A little at a time. Have your first bit of meat in a half serving and make up the remaining protein with cheese or beans or what have you. Make the serving of meat bigger each time you have it until you're on a full serving per your exchange. I say this because, if you have been a veggie for a long time, your stomach might not be happy with you if it is introduced back to meat all of a sudden! I learnt this the hard way after my dad slapped a steak on my plate and demanded I eat it - I ended up in hospital the following day with my stomach going haywire. Remember moderation (I would personally eat more oily fish than red meats, as they generally meet a greater nutritional quota) but there is no harm having it in your diet. I believe the portion size should range from 3-5oz as GI-Jane said.

cricket: Please get off the weight gain forum! People who are trying to recover from eating disorders already have enough fears about food without you reinforcing them.

I was vegetarian for eight years but was made to eat meat while in treatment. I have continued consuming it because it is an easy way to get in the calories. I was also on the exchange system. Every ounce of meat, seafood, or cheese counts as one protein exchange, as does one egg. Normally, exchange systems recommend 3 - 5 ounces per meal but it can vary depending upon your body's needs. In comparison, 1/2 cup of beans, two tablespoons of nut butter, 1/4 cup of nuts, or four ounces of tofu are considered one protein exchange.

Thanks for all the replies! I know the exchange would be 1 protein, I was just wondering for what portion sizes. I bought a little bit of turkey to slip into sandwiches and my mom is making halibut tonight. I don't think I'm going to eat red meat for a while though...

The white meats like turkey, chicken and white fish you can afford to eat a 5-6oz portion because they're quite energy-sparse but good in other ways.   Red meats and oily fish, because they're rather more energy dense, a portion would be 3 or 4oz. 

So when you're slipping the turkey into the sandwiches treat yourself to several good slices... don't skimp :-)