want to phase out meat, concerned about protein, hate beans.

[sarahtar]

I'm wanting to slowly phase out eating so much meat in our house. But DH seriously hates beans. He won't consider eating them. Truth be told, I'm not a fan, either. And we don't eat dairy at all. So if I cut out meat, how would we get enough protein?? DH bodybuilds, so having enough protein is super important to him (and he's trying to avoid protein powders, since it seems so unnatural).

[ShangriLewis]

Well, does he want to phase out meat? There are raw vegan bodybuilders, so it can be done. I know it's a lot for bodybuilders to handle (my cousin is a bodybuilder and owns his own gym...has a sponsor for competitions..blah, blah, blah). Are you sure you don't like beans? Maybe you could try new ways of making them like falafel or bean burritos. Protein can be a bit overrated as most Americans get way too much and it's very taxing on your system. Has your husband seen Nutiva brand protein powder. There is nothing unnatural about that. It is derived from Hemp and it's awesome. http://www.nutiva.com/products/0_protein.php I usually buy mine online through this store, especially when it is on sale. http://www.mothernature.com/search/index.cfm?query=nutiva&Type=Products It's on sale right now for $14.24!

Have you read any books or vegetarian or vegan eating? We have a good list going on the resource sticky. Have you googled vegan or vegetarian bodybuilding yet?

http://www.veganbodybuilding.org/
http://ksteveh.tripod.com/vegetarianbodybuilder_home.html
http://vegetarianbodybuilder.ipbhost.com/
Here is a search for body building on a rawfood board. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/search.php?searchid=272045

[sarahtar]

Thanks! I haven't done much research yet. Yes, DH also wants to cut down on meat.

Yes, we're sure we don't like beans. Hummus & Falafel is about as far as we go. It's a texture thing. I can eat them, but DH is such a baby he even picks out lima beans from mixed veggies.

[Katiebug]

Well, he can eat nuts and nut butters, and soy, and eggs..fish is great if he's not trying to go totally veg.

Whole grain breads and pastas contain a lot of protien. As does broccoli.

I will say that I believe our society places way too high a value on protien. Most people get more than they need quite easily.

[sarahtar]

Maybe I'll try just not stressing about it. We can eat a mostly veg diet, but track our nutrition on one of the online nutrient keeper-trackers, and then I can see how we're doing...