And are veggie burgers more fattening that meat burgers? My boyfriend said they have more fat in them, but I’m pretty sure they don’t… ‘Cause don’t people become vegetarian to be healthy (and lose weight)?
I’ve been vegetarian since I was a small child, but don’t really know much about food groups and a balanced diet.. but my bf seems to think vegetarians just cant get a balanced diet and just eat way too many carbs!?
What would make up a balanced vegetarian meal? Like I tend to eat pasta, vegetables, omlettes, soups, salads, vegetable pies, Baked patatoes, currys, chillie, stuffed peppers, risotto, rattatouille… (obv all veggie), But I don’t know if these meals are balanced enough?
(And I also tend to eat cereal or yoghurt and fruit for breakfast and a sandwhich or soup for lunch)
Also does anyone know any good websites about vegetarian diets and food groups / nutrition?
Sorry to ask so many questions and Thankyou
Chosen Answer:
No, vegetables are vegetables and not carbohydrates. Vegetables contain carbohydrates, but are not carbohydrates in the simplest form – except potatoes.
Vegetables do NOT contain a significant amount of protein, but this does not mean they’re unhealthy. Green vegetables contain iron, which is found in meat, and this is why some people get confused and think they contain a large amount of protein. Iron is an important vitamin, but it is not protein.
No, most veggie burgers have a considerable amount less fat than meat burgers.
Actually, some people do become vegetarian to be healthy and lose weight. A balanced vegetarian diet can help weight loss, but you need to become educated on balancing food types also.
Vegetarians can get a balanced diet, and don’t have to eat too many carbs. Some do, but this isn’t healthy.
It sounds like what you’re eating is healthy. Make sure to eat enough protein (eggs, seeds and nuts), vegetables, fruit, dairy (or dairy substitute if you are a vegan or tablets, etc.) and carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are the best – found in wholemeal bread, and wholemeal pasta, and other wholemeal grain based foods.
It sounds like your diet is pretty healthy at the moment. if you’re concerned you can go and see a dietitian or nutritionalist.
As for your boyfriend, he’s obviously just concerned about your health. It doesn’t mean he’s a scientist, or that he deserves to be dumped just because he wants you to be healthy. Perhaps you could let him borrow a book about vegetarianism, or print out a web page and give it to him.
There are lots of books that you can buy about vegetarian diets and food groups and nutrition. Check out your local bookstore.
Websites:
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/
http://www.animalliberation.org.au/vegonutr.php
http://www.vegetariannutrition.net/
by: TALIA !
on: 10th January 10
4 Comments
Your diet is fine (with a few exceptions). For your boyfriend, I recommend a good kick to the crotch and a dumping. It sounds harsh, but trust me: people who follow the low-carb stuff and INSIST that vegetarian diets are unhealthy are ideologues, not scientists, and you deserve better than an ideologue.
A book I highly recommend is Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. Also, anything by Dr. Oz is bound to be great.
Did you know that most green vegetables are about half protein? That’s as much as meat. So next time someone says “where do you get your protein” or mentions a “protein-source” (that one really gets my blood boiling!) just say you get plenty of protein because you eat vegetables.
Talia: Your subtle attacks on my argument without directly addressing me are cute. No, I’m not “confused.” I’m aware that iron is not protein, thank you very much. Green vegetables like broccoli derive about 40% of their calories from meat. If you don’t like it, tough. Nuts and seeds by contrast are generally an excellent source of calories, but not protein.
The reason YOU are confused is that you are still following the nutrient/gram ratio, which means NOTHING because nobody follows a five-pound diet.
Your second pass at me is more forgivable, because the subject of whether she should dump her piggish boyfriend is subjective. Perhaps you know more about relationships than I do, just as I know more about nutrition than you do.
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No, vegetables are vegetables and not carbohydrates. Vegetables contain carbohydrates, but are not carbohydrates in the simplest form – except potatoes.
Vegetables do NOT contain a significant amount of protein, but this does not mean they’re unhealthy. Green vegetables contain iron, which is found in meat, and this is why some people get confused and think they contain a large amount of protein. Iron is an important vitamin, but it is not protein.
No, most veggie burgers have a considerable amount less fat than meat burgers.
Actually, some people do become vegetarian to be healthy and lose weight. A balanced vegetarian diet can help weight loss, but you need to become educated on balancing food types also.
Vegetarians can get a balanced diet, and don’t have to eat too many carbs. Some do, but this isn’t healthy.
It sounds like what you’re eating is healthy. Make sure to eat enough protein (eggs, seeds and nuts), vegetables, fruit, dairy (or dairy substitute if you are a vegan or tablets, etc.) and carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are the best – found in wholemeal bread, and wholemeal pasta, and other wholemeal grain based foods.
It sounds like your diet is pretty healthy at the moment. if you’re concerned you can go and see a dietitian or nutritionalist.
As for your boyfriend, he’s obviously just concerned about your health. It doesn’t mean he’s a scientist, or that he deserves to be dumped just because he wants you to be healthy. Perhaps you could let him borrow a book about vegetarianism, or print out a web page and give it to him.
There are lots of books that you can buy about vegetarian diets and food groups and nutrition. Check out your local bookstore.
Websites:
http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/
http://www.animalliberation.org.au/vegonutr.php
http://www.vegetariannutrition.net/
Reply to this comment
If you feel good are are a good weight….you are fine = )
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Vegetables have carbohydrates in them but are so low in calories that you can eat all you want. They are mostly fiber which is a calorie-free carbohydrate.
You need to define for yourself what you think “Fattening” means. If something has fat in it that doesn’t meant necessarily that it will make you fat. Carbohydrates, fat and protein all have calories even though fat has the most per gram. something with no fat can have more calories than something with fat.
Losing weight is not the main reason most people become vegetarian. People choose not to eat meat for many reasons. There are a lot of health reasons that have nothing to do with weight. Losing weight requires exercise and all around diet. “Healthy” does not mean “makes you lose weight.”
good luck and keep researching!!
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