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Michael
Michael Sendmail

How do you deal with the "Protein Question?"

posted over 3 years ago | Report

I was recently at a family get together and had to deal with the protein question from some members of my family. My wife and I are raising our daughters to be vegetarian. It seems like at every family function I get the same questions/concerns - Is she getting enough protein? As a runner how do you eat enough protein to recover. Does anyone else get this question and if so how do you respond?

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13 posts

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  • Alaina
    Alaina Sendmail

    hey, yeah I get this question. I just explain that I eat quorn/tofu/soya, and that the body can't store protein so eat it every day as needed. eating more than is needed is pointless.
    I dont have children but once read a fab article (maybe from PETA) about how healthier children are if brought up vegetarian..much less likely to get lots of illnesses. I was quite surprised..and pleased!

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Jim W.
    Jim W. Sendmail

    I usually just ask them how much protein THEY eat in a day and of course they have no idea. They don't know how much they're supposed to eat or even if they are eating enough protein as a "meat eater". As vegetarians and vegans we are usually tuned into our diets more than the folks who ask these types of questions.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • StephPRO
    Steph Sendmail

    I have this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37561421&ref=sr_gallery_1&&ga_search_query=how+i+get+protein&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

    on my fridge :) and one in my purse!

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Michael
    Michael Sendmail

    Great Link Steph, Thanks!

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Lashonda A.
    Lashonda A. Sendmail

    I explain that I eat quorn, soy, and beans as well as plant based protein.

    I think there is this mistaken idea that eating meat daily means you are getting your protein stores, and that just isn't always the case since the protein and the "fabric" if you will of meat is a lot more difficult to break down than that from plant based sources.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Becky A.
    Becky A. Sendmail

    You know, I've been wondering about this for a while. I'm an ovo lacto vegetarian. I'm currently training for my first marathon, and I'm hoping to gain some muscle or at least not loose weight as I train.

    I'm not as diligent as I should be, but I try, for lunch after my long run, to basically have scrambled eggs. (I understand eggs are a good source of some key B vitamins that are hard for vegetarians to get elsewhere.)
    Otherwise, I generally snack on nuts and eat a lot of veggie burgers, bean burritos, veggie chilli, tofu, and hummus wraps.

    posted about 3 years ago | Report

  • Nicoal
    Nicoal Sendmail

    Ask the person how many people they know of with a protein deficiency. :)

    posted about 3 years ago | Report

  • Sue O.
    Sue O. Sendmail

    I eat tempeh often (but no other soy, other than soybeans), beans, nuts, nut butters and I supplement with hemp protein powder and vega meal replacement when needed. I use a liquid iron supplement occasionally, too, which always makes me feel better if I'm feeling weak.

    posted about 3 years ago | Report

  • Chris O.
    Chris O. Sendmail

    I generally steer clear of talking about my love for soy milk, tofu, tempeh, and almond butter (because they they think I'm enough of a freak already ;-). However, I can pretty effectively shut people up by pointing out what a bunch of protein junkies we are in this society and how we got by for thousands of years on primarily plant-based diets. People don't consider how, even 50 years ago, meat was a lot more of a scarce "luxury" item than it is today.

    posted almost 3 years ago | Report

  • Kristen S.
    Kristen S. Sendmail

    I really like this response, especially since most people have no idea. My response to this question usually involves the following, "I am eating 'x' per day because I'm preparing for 'y', so today I will make sure I eat ..." When you start using real numbers and real foods, I find that questioners often are dumbfounded by the idea that people actually know how much you are supposed to eat. (usually these questions come up during a picnic as they are sucking down a greasey hamburger and drinking some sort of sugar drink!)

    posted almost 3 years ago | Report

  • JosephinePRO
    Josephine Sendmail

    may not be the type of response you are looking for... ive a been vegetarian for close to 15 years, i was a young teen at the time of my decision and have been dealing with this question ever since. No answer that I have ever come up with has satisfied my family (hence the reason they keep pestering me) so currently with them I roll my eyes direct them to "google" and walk away. With other, friends, coworkers, my Dr. I briefly explain what I tend to consume. Beans, whole grains, veggies, fruits, eggs, cheeses, yogurt and so on. I have found it is not effective to get defensive or bring up the protein myth usually turns into an vebal battle and I prefer to avoid them :)

    posted almost 3 years ago | Report

  • Suzanne W.
    Suzanne W. Sendmail

    I know you asked this 8 months ago, but I have a feeling that you, and the rest of us, are still getting this question on a regular basis - so I thought I'd add that Gary Francione just did a podcast on this issue that I think is fantastic.

    I'm not sure how to link to the individual episode, but I'll try to. If I screw it up, it's episode #19 of Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach.

    http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/category/podcast/

    posted over 2 years ago | Report

  • Joe S.
    Joe S. Sendmail

    Ugh! Most meat eaters get way too much protein in their diet. They don't realize it reaches a point of diminishing returns.

    I nonetheless keep an eye on my protein intake, especially when I'm training. Kashi Go-Lean is a great breakfast cereal for protein (and fiber!). Brown rice, beans, tofu, and the occasional supplement keep me on track.

    posted about 2 years ago | Report

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