Need long-timer advice

[jobycom]

I've been veggie (not vegan) for about five years now. Suddenly, I'm very weak, and I'm blaming my diet--not the meatless part, but the part that lets me eat potato chips and sugar instead of anything healthy! So I'm trying to eat better. That's just the background.

The last few days I've been craving red meat. Not just a passing thought, but a real body craving, like I need it. I don't think it's protein--I'm pretty solid on tofu, edamame, beans, nuts, whole grains, the usual. Not enough veggies. Could be iron, I guess. Last time my iron was checked it was fine, but that was over a year ago. Could be an emotional craving for things past, even, but given the weakness and lack of ability to sleep, I'm a tad concerned. Not that I'll eat a burger or anything, just that I'm craving something I'm missing.

It could even be stress, I suppose. I feel pretty happy, but I've recently been through a series of weird things ranging from deaths of co-workers to separation to little stuff like missing my kids while they are with their grandparents.

Thoughts? Not asking medical advice, just opinions on the craving. Have you been through this? Is there anything I'm missing? (I mean, food-wise--you can't do anything about Nicole Kidman marrying another man).

[LeftyMom]

1. Have you kept a food diary?

I find that whenever there's a dietary issue getting an honest record of just what it is you eat can be a good start. Also, it's harder to eat junk when you have to record it for posterity. Nobody wants to write down "1 Amy's Roasted Veggie pizza, 1 pint Soy Delicious" (my actual dinner Saturday night- I am so bad sometimes!) so when you log what you eat it's a bit easier to eat well.

Once that's together and you've kept it up for a week or so, look over it for patterns of things you're missing.

In terms of faster fixes, green leafy veggies are a good dietary source of iron, and floradix iron and herbs is a fantastic supplement for iron. I found that when I was getting occasional meat cravings eating nuts was a good substitute, since they have protein, fat and salt so most of the things the body might want meat for are taken care of.

[jobycom]

7. I've been eating a lot of nuts lately.

The last two weeks. So much that my stomach is upset. But... I don't know, I'm missing something. It's not proteins or fat. Darn but your Amy's pizza and Soy Delicious sounds good, though! :)

Maybe flvegan is right, maybe it is something non-dietary.

[flvegan]

2. Seems like any other craving.

We all crave stuff we enjoy/enjoyed at one time or another. What specific type of red meat are you craving? Just a general craving (could be based on taste or texture in general) or specific (t-bone steak)?

I think we all have cravings, though I've not had one for meat (red or otherwise). My cravings I'll leave to the imagination so as to not get the thread locked, nor the post deleted, nor Elad riled. I think cravings are just that, mind/body driven desires.

Yeah, I know, this is pretty crappy feedback. Not really helping much. I think your statement about Nicole Kidman made me remember that Avril Lavigne just got married. Sigh.

[jobycom]

5. You know...

When I first stopped eating meat, I had a revulsion to it, and after about three years I went through some generic cravings, but they were just temptations, not really anything I felt I needed. This is pretty persistent. I'm a firm believer that most of what our body does is trying to tell us something.

What's interesting, though, now that you mention it, is that I've been craving sliced beef sandwiches. Po'boys! Maybe I've got some craving for home.

Sorry about Avril. I can relate. :cry:

[RebelOne]

3. Sometimes I will get a craving for a steak or a pork chop.

But I resist it. I used to love pork in my meat-eating days. When I first became a vegetarian 10 years ago, it was hard to stay away from the meat counter when I went shopping.

[jobycom]

6. THis is different than that kind of craving.

I get generic cravings all the time. Had one for chicken for a while, until I realized it was the biodiesel in my car making me want it! But this is different. More like the way I crave Cokes when I'm addicted, or even water when I'm thirsty. I've found that a lot of cravings are things our body wants, but can only think of one source to get it. So if you are short on iron, your body might crave steak, since that's what it associates with the nutrient it wants.
If that makes sense. I'm not explaining anything well today.

[livetohike]

4. Vegetarian since 1970 here

I never tried the meat subtitutes until last year! Some of them are surprisingly good. I think you have to figure out what you think you are missing. Is it the smell, the taste, the texture?

If you haven't tried any of those substitute products, see if you like them :-).

Also, there is nothing wrong with craving potato chips! That's my #1 vice. I can do away with sweets, but give me a bag of potato chips or pistachio nuts any day :-).

[jobycom]

10. Gardenburger Riblets!

My favorite faux! And :toast: to potato chips and pistachios!

[Codeine]

8. A healthy vegan for almost 20 years here

And I can tell you that even now I still occasionally crave a nice fatty chuck steak smothered in A1 steak sauce or a great big glazed donut. I'm healthy and not lacking in any nutrients, so 'm sure it's psychological -- I grew up on meat and dairy, so I'm bound to crave it occasionally.

This too shall pass.

[jobycom]

9. I have those cravings, too, but this is a bit different.

More necessary. Hard to explain.

[ThomCat]

11. Spinach and other Greens helps with meat cravings.

Fresh Spinach,
finely chopped and sauteed spinach with curry
spinach blended into veggie meat loaf
Pureed spinach in soups and broths

Kale too. :9

I only craved hamburger and only for the first few months (16 years ago). But I never liked meat much anyway so I had it easy. I've known other people who constantly craved meat and this is what seemed to work best.

[sbj405]

12. I'm not usually one to push a "diet" but I've recently started Eat to Live

to break out of the bad veggie habits. It can be used to lose or maintain weight. It's basically a return to whole foods. Basic idea is that you eat all the bean, greens, veggies, tofu, and fruits that you want. Limited whole grains. No sugar or refined foods. It's helped me with sugar, carbs, and dairy cravings and break out of eating fake meats which have a lot of sodium. I've never had meat cravings so I can't speak to that.

[Ilsa]

13. I had that happen to me before on a regular basis under unusual

circumstances: I wasn't a vegetarian then, but I'd do volunteer work in a newborn nursery in a large hospital. The work included feeding babies formula, which usually has alot of iron in it. After 5-6 hours of that, I'd "smell formula" when I peed, and I craved huge steaks. So I'd go buy the biggest one I could find and grill it and I'd eat it like an animal, the craving was so strong. Sometimes I get raisins and spinach to go with it. The baked potato seemed to help also.

So my question is, Are you being exposed to something, maybe even olfactory, that could be increasing this craving?

[jobycom]

14. Good question. I'll think about that angle.

Nothing comes to mind right off, but that makes sense. This isn't the normal meat cravings I get from time to time (along with Cola cravings, ice cream cravings, chocolate cravings, etc!). It's something like what you're describing, kind of urgent. Something is triggering it.

[yewberry]

15. Hey, joby, how are you feeling?

Still getting those crazy-strong cravings?
I hope things have been getting better for you!

[RebelOne]

16. Occasionally, I feel as if I am backsliding

because I get the craving for a nice, juicy rare steak just like I used to eat during my carnivorous days.

[ThomCat]

17. I had cravings for hamburger for the first year (or so)

But after a while those faded. I think we all get cravings. Hang in there. :)