Non-meat Protein Sources

[shel]

Two of my doctors have suggested that I reduce substantially, or even eliminate, meat in my diet. This is not necessarily a permanent change, but essentially an experiment to see if reducing meat protein will help to eliminate or reduce a medical problem I'm having. And since my nutritionist and dietician is unavailable for a while, it seemed a good idea to start looking for non-meat protein sources by asking here.

So, what vegetables, grains, or nuts might make reasonable substitutes for meat protein. There's quinoa, and tofu that I can think of, but what else is there?

Thanks for any help ...

shel

[Suzanne]

If you can have dairy, eggs and cheese and other milk products.

And, of course, beans. In combination with rice, pretty complete.

[shel]

Ahh, yes - eggs! I forgot about them, although I eat a few boiled eggs every week.

Beans and rice are good choices, although I need to eat them in moderation. Certain cheeses may be very workable, althoughg I don't care much for milk

Good quality, organic, sugar free peanut butter on high quality,organic whole grain bread looks to be a good choice (add that to the Cheap Eats thread), especially with a few banana slices. I gotta watch my intake of that delicious treat though <sigh>.

Thanks!

scb

Originally Posted by Suzanne

If you can have dairy, eggs and cheese and other milk products ... And, of course, beans. In combination with rice, pretty complete.

[bughut]

So many soya based products are widely available now and take on all the flavours you give them(as they have none of their own.) Quorn is a great substitute. TVP (Textured vegetable protein) can substitute or be an add to. A wee bit of steak mince and a handfull of TVP can make a great spag boll. Never tried it completely on it's own though.
Why not try Humus or Falafel Chick peas are nutritious. Wrapped in some flat bread or tortilla with a greek salad
Have you tried googling protien substitutes for meat? I'm sure there will be something interesting
Good luck. ..I'll count my blessings that i can still eat anything

[shel]

I looked up Quorn products and they don't appear to be anything I'd want to eat. What's "steak mince" and "spag boll?"

I enjoy chick peas and eat them often. I make hummus every now and then.

Thanks,

scb

Originally Posted by bughut

So many soya based products are widely available now and take on all the flavours you give them(as they have none of their own.) Quorn is a great substitute. TVP (Textured vegetable protein) can substitute or be an add to. A wee bit of steak mince and a handfull of TVP can make a great spag boll. Never tried it completely on it's own though.
Why not try Humus or Falafel Chick peas are nutritious. Wrapped in some flat bread or tortilla with a greek salad

[bughut]

Sorry, sometimes i forget about the great differences we have culinary-wise either side of the Atlantic.
Steak mince is very lean ground beef and spag boll is a shortened version of spaghetti bollognese.

I thought the same about quorn till i tried it. I use it in some highly spiced Indian vegetarian menu items, and I'd defy anyone to think it wasnt chicken.
You can buy deep-fried bean curd at your chinese supermarket... Lovely stuff if you slice it and add it to a veggie stir fry...Has no flavour, but it soaks up what you give it and its an added texture.
Always worth a try

[shel]

Thanks for clarifying, bughut.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Quorn products taste good, however, they contain ingredients I'd rather not eat. I'm a little fussy at times, and much prefer - almost demand - high quality organic products. That's not to say I won't eat non-organic food (including some junk and fast food everynow and then), as some farmers' market items can be very high quality even though they are not organic.

scb

[Gummy-Bear]

My dad and step mom are vegetarians. You would be surprised at how the non-meat products have gotten. Try MorningFarms breakfast sausage links, not the real thing, but very lean and actually quite good. I'll think of more...

[shel]

You must mean Morningstar Farms. I've tried their products a few times, found them not at all to my liking. My recollection is that the products I tried were pretty laden with salt and fat compared to other similar products. Morningstar Farms is owned by Kellogs, and I try very hard to stay away from mass-produced foods made by or owned by large corporations

Thanks for jumping in.

scb

Originally Posted by Gummy-Bear

My dad and step mom are vegetarians. You would be surprised at how the non-meat products have gotten. Try MorningFarms breakfast sausage links, not the real thing, but very lean and actually quite good. I'll think of more...

[OregonYeti]

Split pea soup
Indian mansoor dal sauce with rice or flat bread
is seafood out of the question? I could go crazy with that.

[shel]

I probably should have been more specific. Meat = beef, pork, other red meats, fish, fowl. Essentially the flesh of animals.

scb

Originally Posted by OregonYeti

Split pea soup
Indian mansoor dal sauce with rice or flat bread
is seafood out of the question? I could go crazy with that.

[KYHeirloomer]

Shel, it's really not very hard. What you merely have to remember is that, with two exceptions, neither grains nor legumes provide complete proteins.

In combination, however, they provide the balanced amino acids found in animal proteins. So, at each meal, you make a legume/grain combination. Beans & rice is certainly once such mix. Use your imagination to come up with others. Or just pick up a good vegetarian cookbook.

The exceptions, btw, are quinoa and soy beans, both of which supply complete proteins.

[OregonYeti]

True, but even with quinoa or soy beans, you want to vary your protein sources. That's not hard to do, and in fact hard not to do. Most of us eat more protein than we need, and that includes vegetarians.

[shel]

Originally Posted by OregonYeti

Most of us eat more protein than we need, and that includes vegetarians.

I agree with that assessment. Years ago (Summer of 1979) I met a fellow who was very knowledgeable about nutrition, and he showed me several articles that made the same claim. Over the years I've read a number of articles and papers on the subject, and more than 20 years ago made a conscious effort to start reducing my protein intake.

scb

[DC Sunshine]

Barley is a nice inclusion, as is greek style yoghurt. Great substitute for sour cream.

Made a really nice green split pea soup here last night for our main meal, with lots of crusty bread, thickened the soup with rice instead of cornflour (not that it really needed it!) bit of cumin, ginger, was nice - made excess to freeze.