Doc Says More Protein...

[bakinghomesteader]

My doctor wants me to try to get 90 grams of protein a day. I counted it up and I am getting 25-30 a day. I just don't think I can get that much. I have a protein shake that is 17 grams. Maybe that will help. My left leg is wasting away and we didn't know why. I guess my body is stealing protein from my muscles. That would explain my extreme fatigue and weakness. I just want to feel better. Still waiting for my intestines to heal.

Stephanie

[ShayFL]

You might want to try a balanced amino acid supplement too to help rebuild that leg.

[Ursa Major]

Unless you are a vegetarian, it really shouldn't be a problem. Eat bacon and eggs for breakfast (lots of protein in eggs), tuna salad on crackers for a snack, chicken tortillas for lunch, your shake for a snack, dinner with a large portion of meat for supper, something else with protein for a bedtime snack (like hummus on something) .........

It is possible, just eat different kinds of protein for every single meal and every snack, and you can easily do it.

[bakinghomesteader]

I guess it seems hard. lol. I seem to not eat very much despite being very hungry. I am thankful for the food suggestions. I just can't seem to think anymore. I just feel so bad right now. I really don't like eggs, except deviled. What is hummus and what do you do with it?

Thanks

[missy'smom]

There are some veg. sources you can check out too. Don't forget dairy, some vegetables, tofu and grains. It all adds up. I understand that quinoa is a source of complete protein just as good as meat, althought it may or may not have the same protein content per serving. You can use it as a salad or pilaf and add your serving of meat as well. You can add pureed tofu to many things and not even notice it. I used it in hamburger steaks tonight instead of the egg and breadcrumbs and milk, just as an example. This particular use may or may not yield an overall higher protein content. Crumble it in lasagne with or instead of the cheese filling. Put it in smoothies. You get the idea. Just offering another perspective.

If you just really don't like or can't eat meat, eggs or dairy, I understand. Both apply to me.

[missy'smom]

I guess it seems hard. lol. I seem to not eat very much despite being very hungry. I am thankful for the food suggestions. I just can't seem to think anymore. I just feel so bad right now. I really don't like eggs, except deviled. What is hummus and what do you do with it?

Thanks

I got in a rut a while back and wasn't eating much, quantity, variety or good balance. Had a routine blood test and found out my potassium was low. Started forcing myself to eat more, a banana a day plus some other good serving of potassium a day, whether I felt like it or not and even if I was full(took it like medicine). Got tested again recently and my numbers were up to normal. Was a bit of a wake-up call and I felt better and less fatigued after I made the change. Depression played a part in me getting off track.

Hang in there.

[Ursa Major]

Hummus is a spread made from chick peas. You eat it with chips, crackers, whatever you like it on.

Well, deviled eggs are fine......... still eggs.

Also, you can eat brown beans, chili...... whatever.

[purple]

Beans and brown rice make a complete protein. Bragg's liquid aminos tastes like soy sauce and has 16 amino acids. Pop your own popcorn on the stove in coconut oil. Almond, cashews and peanuts have over 20 grams of protein in a cup. Grind them up and put them in/on your food. Eat flax, chia, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Only eat raw seeds not roasted, salted and oiled. Eat beans everyday. Make chef salads with all the protein piled on. Spread peanut or almond butter on everything. My daughter puts a knife filled up with peanut butter and dips it in stove top popped popcorn and eats it like a popsicle...hm...haven't tried it. She puts peanut butter on chicken...hm..haven't tried that either. She puts pb on waffles, pancakes and muffins...that sounds ok to me We had refried beans last night with a drained can of black beans in it for tacos or chips...good stuff!

[bakinghomesteader]

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. I will have to try them. My husband came home today and said he was afraid I was going to die. He said I really need to try and eat what you all are saying. I will. I want to. My body is taking my muscles for protein. With the celiac and all, I just never thought it would be stealing from my muscles because I am not absorbing nutrients for so long. I am going to give this a try tomorrow.

Cereal and milk

shake

deviled eggs for lunch

and then deer roast for supper.

[JNBunnie1]

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. I will have to try them. My husband came home today and said he was afraid I was going to die. He said I really need to try and eat what you all are saying. I will. I want to. My body is taking my muscles for protein. With the celiac and all, I just never thought it would be stealing from my muscles because I am not absorbing nutrients for so long. I am going to give this a try tomorrow.

Cereal and milk

shake

deviled eggs for lunch

and then deer roast for supper.

You might want to consider finding a source for raw milk and raw cheese. You'll be able to digest the proteins easier and your body will be able to use them better. Also, when boiling eggs for deviled eggs, try splashing a bit of vinegar in the water before boiling, helps the shells come off easier so it's faster for you. Try some buckwheat fine cut kasha with cherries and pecans and cooked in milk for way more protein than you get with normal cereal.

[dbmamaz]

Cereal and milk

shake

deviled eggs for lunch

and then deer roast for supper.

Cereal and milk - and throw some nuts in your cereal to increase the protien - or make sausage - i make a batch and have one piece in my grits every morning.

Deviled eggs AND a pb or turkey sandwhich for lunch

Cheese stick or on crackers for a snack between lunch and dinner

Deer roast - and maybe mashed potatoes with milk in them? Or baked beans or mac-n-cheese as a side?

Peanut butter cookies for dessert? Or roasted nuts/trail mix?

gl

[kbtoyssni]

Even making chili with lots of bean or using quinoa for a grain (it's got a lot of protein for a grain) will help when you need something other than meat.

[bakinghomesteader]

You all are giving me suggestions I haven't even thought of. Thanks!! I really wouldn't be able to do this without you all. My nutritionist didn't even tell me anything. Thanks so much!

[ShayFL]

There are so many good protein powders out there now depending on what you tolerate. I personally did not do well with rice protein. But do great with HEMP. A lot of them sell individual packets so you can try them without a huge investment.

[ravenwoodglass]

There are so many good protein powders out there now depending on what you tolerate. I personally did not do well with rice protein. But do great with HEMP. A lot of them sell individual packets so you can try them without a huge investment.

I was going to mention hemp. I like the hemp milks more than the powders. The vanilla and chocolate are really good. I have used them for a complete dairy replacement and they do give a high amount of protein. Much more than most non-dairy milks.

[Lockheed]

I got in a rut a while back and wasn't eating much, quantity, variety or good balance. Had a routine blood test and found out my potassium was low. Started forcing myself to eat more, a banana a day plus some other good serving of potassium a day, whether I felt like it or not and even if I was full(took it like medicine). Got tested again recently and my numbers were up to normal. Was a bit of a wake-up call and I felt better and less fatigued after I made the change. Depression played a part in me getting off track.

Hang in there.

I had that potassium issue too.. I had to add a banana milkshake (bonus for the calcium!) and I started eating the skins on my baked potatoes and that helped a ton.

It is hard at first. Don't forget that nuts have good proteins in them along with those good for you omega fats. You could eat some of those for a snack.

[Lockheed]

I was going to mention hemp. I like the hemp milks more than the powders. The vanilla and chocolate are really good. I have used them for a complete dairy replacement and they do give a high amount of protein. Much more than most non-dairy milks.

Where do you get the Hemp shakes? I'd like to look into those for my husband.

[ShayFL]

Here is the one I use. I use the unflavored one. But they have flavors:

Open Original Shared Link

I use one heaping Tlb per smoothie. You will have to play with it to see what you like.

[dbmamaz]

I've seen hemp milk in my hfs, but it sounded wierd . . . not sure why, its not like i havent eaten it before, sorta, in brownies I guess for me, tho, i'm allergic to almost everything, so trying anything new has to be done carefully.

[Ridgewalker]

I've been low on proteins for a long time, myself, and I would also find it VERY hard to squeeze in 90 grams. I might try some of these suggestions too... Thanks for starting the topic, Homesteader!

[gfpaperdoll]

Definitely get all your blood levels checked, & get a hard copy of the results for your files. Also, i would quit eating dairy & soy. & I would look at the amount of caffeine that you are consuming.

almonds are good, you could also replace your dairy milk with almond milk.

I always thought it was beans, rice & corn that made the complete protein. never looked it up, this was my understanding from childhood. In the South it was always beans, rice & cornbread. Fried catfish on Friday - if you were lucky & caught one.

[ShayFL]

You could add a digestive enzyme high in protease to help you get more bang from the protein you do eat.

[missy'smom]

Lockheed, and as an encouragement to bakinghomesteader

It is suprizing how much a little helps. I looked up and found one place that said you need around 4,000 mg a day and a banana has something like 300mg. After evaluating my diet I realized that I was getting almost nothing(I'm dairy free as well and a glass of milk has a decent amount). I thought there's NO WAY I can eat enough but need to do the best I can and consistantly and be re-tested to see if it's helping and it was enough to get me back into the normal range.

bakinghomesteader, you can add quinoa to rice too. I often add one tablespoon uncooked quinoa in place of one of the tablespoons of dry rice to add some extra nutrients.

[munkee41182]

My fiance has to watch his protien intake, he can only have 75 grams/day. 4 ounces of cooked chicken or beef is about 24-30 grams of protien. 4 ounces is the size of deck of playing cards. 1 large egg is 6 grams of protien. (I've had all these memorized in my head - I can even cut a perfect 3 ounce peice of meat now too!!!! ok that's enough of tooting my horn) Even if you add a few eggs (devilled or not) it will defininately increase your protien intake. And have a good peice of that deer tonight. LIke others have said, nuts are great source as well even peanut butter and celery! YUM! Protien will also help keep you full longer as well. I know you said you were always eating but always feeling hungry. Protien will help immensly! Even have a sausage or ham steak for breakfast will help too!

[bakinghomesteader]

So far I have squeezed in 55 g! I still have that deer to eat tonight.

I have been eating something every 2 hours and after 2 hours rolls around, I'M STARVING! Maybe that will subside.

After just doing this today tho, I can tell a difference in my energy. I actually have some today.

ps. the only reason I got the 55 right now is that I ate a protein bar with 20 g in it. I can't do that everyday. So it looks like I will be able to get 65-70 g a day. I hope the doc can be happy with that. I was only getting around 30.