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Real Life Nutrition Questions Answered

Real Life Fitness Questions Answered

Emma Brown
Nutritionist

Janet Aylott
Nutritionist

Kelly Marshall
Fitness Consultant

Q.

What vegetarian protein sources can I eat?

I have just gone veggie, what can I eat as a good low cal source of protein?

A.

Our expert says...

Hi,

Well, the good news is that there are many sources of protein for vegetarians who don't eat meat or fish, so you can still have an interesting and varied diet.

Pulses, for example, provide an excellent high fibre protein concentrate that is rich in minerals, such as magnesium, and many vitamins, including the B Vitamins. The fibre pulses contain makes them very filling and they are low in fat too. So, they are definitely a good source of low calorie protein. Pulses cover a wide group of foods, which includes peas (e.g. chickpeas) and beans (e.g. kidney beans and lentils). Pulses can replace meat and form the main item in a dish, such as casseroles, curries etc. They can also enrich home-made soups - lentils are a good thickener when liquidized after cooking. If you've not eaten a lot of pulses in the past, add them to your diet slowly to avoid the temporary, but unpleasant, side-effects of bloating and wind that can sometimes occur.

Seeds and nuts can also be used as a protein source in a meal, but you need to be more careful with these as some are quite high in fat and therefore calorific. Having said that, I recommend seeds, and in particular pumpkin seeds, as they are a good source of the essential fat Omega 3. Your body cannot make this fat, so you have to eat it in your diet. As you are not eating oily fish, which is often the main dietary source of Omega 3, pumpkin seeds can be a good way to ensure you get this essential fat. The same caution applies to dairy products, which can also be high in fat and calories. Either use sparingly or buy the low-fat versions

Eggs are another good protein source, as they are a 'complete' protein containing all the different amino acids that your body needs. You can also use products like soya and Quorn in your cooking ? these are great in stir fries or casseroles.

I hope this helps to give you some ideas! It may be worth investing in a vegetarian cook book to give you a few more.

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