Question for the Meat Eaters

[Haven]

I have noticed that DH and I are always hungry really soon after eating a meal without meat. Dinner tonight was fresh salad, corn on the cob and a few freezer burnt veggie burgers I wanted to get rid of. We both ate a large meal of it.

Within an hour we are both sitting here complaining about being hungry. Personally I crave meat all the time - love it.

Does this happen to anyone else? Is it just because meat digests slower, or is there something else about eating meat protein that allows you to stay fuller longer?

[rags57078]

we always have some sort of meat for the last 2 meals of the day . yes meat digest slower and its good for you

[FarmerRob]

Meat protein definitely makes you feel fuller longer.

Since all the vege-burgers I have ever encountered were soy based I want to suggest that you go here: http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert

Personally I would never touch ANY soy product that is not fermented and even then in fairly small doses. Would not feed it to any of my livestock either.

[chickenista]

Meat does take longer to digest, but it could also be your body telling you that there are proteins, minerals and enzymes and amino acids in the meats that your body is needing right now.
There are meals where I cook the meat, but only have the side veggies. There is nothing like a bowl of mashed potatoes and parsnips topped with green peas and a slice or two of tomato and maybe a slice of cheddar on the side. That particular day I am just not hungry for meat.

[jen74145]

Your body expects what it is accustomed to. If you don't give it "the usual" it freaks out all "Oh no, there's no more food! Panic!"

My husband used to be a carnivore. Meatless meals led to him raiding every food in sight. He ate a great deal more food than we are "supposed" to need.

He went to a raw diet. Lost eighty pounds in less than three months, down to 180. Then, he started running and working out and put some more muscle on. Mind, he was working in Iraq. Rather physically taxing just being outside, lol.

It's all in your head. I flip from vegetarian to omnivorous, and have been doing the raw thing now for a week, just to see how it works for me. I am.. astounded... at the results. I tried it last summer but wasn't eating enough/enough variety. I'm also a nursing mother.

We used to be SAD, too. It's been gradual, getting here, but... holy cow. I'm not hungry. I've had a tomato, a green smoothie, a couple small pieces of fruit and a chunk of raw carrot cake (not like tradional at all, it's a bunch of nuts and dates, carrots and spices) today. I probably will have some avocado and corn before bed. I feel great. Energy levels are wonderful, skin is clearing up. Joint pain, gone (huge for me).

I imagine after six weeks I will reassess and am not opposed to being somewhere around 80% raw.

[Ken Scharabok]

I recently spent four days in a hospital due to dehydration (long story). When the food services came by on menus, I choose the vegetarian (no meat) menu. Greatly pleased with it. On two evenings I ordered a chef's salad. They called to remind me it had meat on it. I said, OK, I'll just put them to the side. It was the vegetables I wanted.

Breakfast came with two strips of turkey bacon. Tried a bit. Doesn't taste like hog bacon one bit. Eggs were dehyrated, reconstituted baked and then spooned out with an ice cream scoop.

[HeelSpur]

Cereals do that to me worse than no meat. And goes thru alot quicker too.

[FarmboyBill]

Yucko lol

[Ravenlost]

You need to add some protein to your meatless meals...peanut butter (or other nuts), beans, cheese, etc.

We often have meatless meals, but I always include some protein.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

I recently spent four days in a hospital due to dehydration (long story). When the food services came by on menus, I choose the vegetarian (no meat) menu. Greatly pleased with it. On two evenings I ordered a chef's salad. They called to remind me it had meat on it. I said, OK, I'll just put them to the side. It was the vegetables I wanted.

Breakfast came with two strips of turkey bacon. Tried a bit. Doesn't taste like hog bacon one bit. Eggs were dehyrated, reconstituted baked and then spooned out with an ice cream scoop.

Ah geez take care of yourself Ken!! if the problem don't kill ya the hospital food might! I can eat a vegetarian meal without too much fuss later but it seems more substantial than one with meat added. I'm usually doing physical work, I need protein coming in for some endurance. Fast carbs nearly kill me initially, but I'm trying for a more balanced diet over-all. We did the fast food burger marathon and I darn near died from that too!

[Rusty'sDog]

Eggs are also an excellent meatless source of proteins.

[CarolT]

A few years ago, my daughter started having trouble with her vision. Took her in for an eye exam and new glasses. Left with a doctor's appt. After an MRI and a spinal tap, she was told the fluid wasn't draining off her brain as it should (like waterhead in babies) and it was pressing on her optics nerves and inner ears trying to get out.

We went through a lot of heartache and problems (when you have blind spots that block out a semi, you have to be driven everywhere, and lit classes in college are a nightmare), until one day she quit the ovo-lacto vegetarian diet she was on. Something in meat had to have been the trick, because the reversal was astounding. She still has nerve damage to her eyes, but can drive again...

Being vegetarian is a choice, but not always the healthiest one.

[Kymus]

Carol, read Dr. Weston Price's book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. It will shed a lot of light on why that happened. Here is a good article on Dr. Price and the foundation that carries his namesake.

[hotzcatz]

There was some sort of research one of those major universities just came out with about how there are three different types of stomach flora. Apparently you are born with a certain suite of biotics(?) to digest your food and that will determine which type of diet you will thrive on. My DH read me the "good parts" from the article which is why I'm remembering it so vaguely. But anyway, there was mention about one third of the people not being able to be vegetarians because they lack the right stomach flora.

Personally, I get cravings for meat much more often than cravings for vegetables. Hmm, what category is chocolate in?

[wyld thang]

it could be you're not getting enough fat, rather than missing protein so much

the exertion before the meal makes a difference though--if you'd done a lot of heavy work or exercise, your body will need/want protein to repair and rebuild.

[Ronney]

Originally Posted by Haven

I have noticed that DH and I are always hungry really soon after eating a meal without meat. Dinner tonight was fresh salad, corn on the cob and a few freezer burnt veggie burgers I wanted to get rid of. We both ate a large meal of it.

Within an hour we are both sitting here complaining about being hungry. Personally I crave meat all the time - love it.

Does this happen to anyone else? Is it just because meat digests slower, or is there something else about eating meat protein that allows you to stay fuller longer?

Back to your orginal question as opposed to what is good or bad for somebody. I'm a meat eater but a small one. Equally I like my veges too, both cooked and salad varieties. Like you, if we have a meatless meal we are both peckish within a couple of hours of dinner. I suspect it has something to do with both the fact that meat takes longer to digest and the protein.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Old John]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

There was some sort of research one of those major universities just came out with about how there are three different types of stomach flora. Apparently you are born with a certain suite of biotics(?) to digest your food and that will determine which type of diet you will thrive on. My DH read me the "good parts" from the article which is why I'm remembering it so vaguely. But anyway, there was mention about one third of the people not being able to be vegetarians because they lack the right stomach flora.

Personally, I get cravings for meat much more often than cravings for vegetables. Hmm, what category is chocolate in?

Hmmm.......IIRC, doesn't it have something to do with your "Blood type", too?
And, I think that Ancestry or Heritage has a part in the built in affinity for a particular diet, IINM.
I read about it but it has been a few years ago and I forget the details.
I, myself have to have a good balance of meat/protein, vegetables, for roughage and carbohydrates for energy. If I go short on any of them it throws my whole system out of whack, Balance needed.

[Ken Scharabok]

Remember the tiger who jumped out of his enclosure and attacked the youths? It was reported the tiger's sole diet was horsemeat and rabbit. Both are lean meats and it was reported the tiger was underweight for its age and body frame. I wonder what would have happened in they had included fat and some vegetable matter in the diet, such as a type of raw stew.

I recall reading where when some predators kills a vegetarian animal, one of the first things they go for is the stomach.

Teenage daughters announcing they have become vegetarians is usually more of a ecological statement rather than a dietary need.

[Haven]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

There was some sort of research one of those major universities just came out with about how there are three different types of stomach flora. Apparently you are born with a certain suite of biotics(?) to digest your food and that will determine which type of diet you will thrive on. My DH read me the "good parts" from the article which is why I'm remembering it so vaguely. But anyway, there was mention about one third of the people not being able to be vegetarians because they lack the right stomach flora.

Personally, I get cravings for meat much more often than cravings for vegetables. Hmm, what category is chocolate in?

This kinda ties into another recent thread where ppl were asked to choose a few foods they could eat everyday, if forced. I believe my choices were steak, lobster/crab or cheesburgers.

I crave meat like most people crave sugar. Would be neat to look furthur into the blood type diets, and theories on gut flora etc...

[Randy Rooster]

I havent eaten meat in 15 years - and I dont miss it- am healthier than Ive ever been.