deelbee's Journal, 10 Nov 21

I struggle to get enough protein every day. Would love to be about to get up to 70 grams a day but I aim for 40 minimum. I don't eat much meat so it's tough. Dairy is a big part of my daily protein grams. Can you drink fat fee milk? 12 ounces is 12 grams of protein. I also snack on string cheese, about 7 grams and raw almonds. I think 20 raw almonds is about 5 grams, but it is high in calories. I just piece together several items of 5-7 grams of protein each to try to reach my goal. Brussels sprouts has high protein for a vegetable and very low calories. I've roasted some this week in the oven. Just a few ideas but the milk really helps me meet my goal. I used to have a cup of hot cocoa every day instead of coffee but got tired of it. I still have it once in awhile or I just drink a glass of milk. 2 glasses of milk a day really helps but I usually don't have more than one. 

Thanks fritzy for the suggestions. I think I was thinking too much about adding back the meat & beans to get the big hit of protein, instead of looking at the smaller hits using dairy, nuts & seeds. I don't have any allergies to dairy, so maybe I should start buying simple skim milk again, just to drink daily as a beverage in the evening (instead of water)...and drink enough to hit the 70g target. Great idea, which I totally forgot about. (I only gave up milk 4 years ago because of calories, and to help drink more water daily when I was thirsty) I am obese and 40-50g was what I was eating when my hair started falling out. I tried tofu but it caused cramps about 30 minutes after eating it. Nutritionist said to try soy milk before I gave up on soy products altogether. But I have not bought any yet. I will try it this week-end. I made a big shop at Costco this past Monday and got brussels sprouts, unsalted roasted walnuts, unsalted raw cashews, coconut milk (but I don't really know what to do with it), extra lean ground turkey, chia seeds (don't know what to do with those either), and aged cheeses (which I have to worry about binging on). I will start looking for recipes.. maybe a recipe using chia seeds + coconut milk.  

I eat raw almonds, they have less calories than walnuts, although I keep chopped walnuts in the house too. So many people have told me that no one has a problem getting enough protein. Even my doctor says people can get all the protein they need from the plants they eat. All my doctors are vegan and I am leaning towards being a vegetarian but am not there yet. I have no idea how my doctor gets protein from plants alone. Although I have never tried (and am not likely to try) tofu. It seems like it would mean eating several cups a beans a day and I can't imagine that. I had some chia seeds a few years ago and would put them in fruit smoothies, but they usually ended up at the bottom of the blender. I buy Frigo light mozzarella string cheese. It's 50 calories and 6 grams of protein. Like you I will overeat cheese if I buy packages of block cheese. I'll cut off chunks to eat. But the string cheese is fine. I won't over eat and 2 of them for 12 grams of protein isn't bad. Sometimes I roast garbanzo beans but a half cup is 120 calories and 7 grams of protein. Kidney beans are about the same. Anyway, good luck getting enough protein. 

I’m vegetarian and hit 70 a day. Protein shake in the morning with soy milk =20 grams alone. Iron Vegan is the best on my stomach. Tofu and tempeh are amazing sources for protein as well. Both high protein low cal! There’s amazing recipes online for bbq tofu in the oven or tofu puffs and they’re really good.