Going Back To Meat...maybe. Craving Protein.

[foodiegurl]

I feel like lately I am craving protein. I see meat somewhere and want it! But when i start thinking about the meat and over-analyzing it, I wimp out.

I have only eaten fish for the last 4 years. (BTW....I can't do poultry. Ever since I was pregnant 5 years ago, I have had an aversion to it, and still do).

I honestly feel like my body is craving protein from red meat. It is so odd. Maybe it could be because I find when I eat certain things, higher in carbs, I will crash a couple of hours later if I don't have a snack, or something to eat. And maybe because the more protein I have the longer I can last?

So yesterday, we had lunch at Noodles & Co....and without thinking I ordered the sliced beef on my noodles! I surprised myself. If I over thought it, I would have backed out - LOL. And it was delicious, and I didn't get hungry for hours, it was great.

I went to Whole Foods and bought some steak to make steak tacos tomorrow.

If I think about it i get icked out, but I feel like my body needs it.

Anyone else have this? These cravings?

My husband has been a veggie for over 20 years, and I know he won't convert, so it is something I can really only do for lunch. But I am still not sure I will keep going in this direction.

I do take a multi-vitamin, and B12 to help with iron and b12.

[tarnalberry]

oh certainly. I do eat meat regularly, and I often crave it - particularly beef - but I do have low iron stores. I say 'listen to your body'! find ways to incorporate what you can eat, and if you can have a shared (meat/non-meat) kitchen, then make dishes you can add your own serving of meat to.

[ang1e0251]

Absolutely! I need the protein or I get those hypoglycemic crashes. I often use cheese and nuts for snacks too for the same reason. I agree with listen to what your body wants. There is a reason it needs it and it doesn't care if you get the icks!

[wschmucks]

Yep- i was vegan before i had to go gluten free because of celiac and now i eat meat in every meal. To be honest meat does have alot of really important vitamins and minerals, if you eat low fat meat it is probably one of the healthiest things for you. Its especially important for us because of our malabsorbtion issues...so its probably best that you do eat meat, just choose it wisely

[Ahorsesoul]

I went vegetarian for almost two years. No meats until the cravings set in, then I'd eat a whole roast myself and have to find something else for dinner for dh. This went on for for the two years. I also craved peanut butter which I didn't even like. Then I was told by a nutritionist, that I was a celiac and really should be gluten free. She also said I was very low on many amino acids. She wanted me to eat MORE red meat.

Was really fine with me because I've craved red meat my whole life. I'd even dream about big juicy red meat steaks cooked on a grill. Now that I'm gluten free I no longer have the cravings.

[Juliebove]

Yes. Although it isn't a craving per se, I know my body needs it because when I eat vegan for too long, I go anemic. Because I am allergic to dairy and eggs, I can't have those. I mainly eat ground beef. It's easy to mix in stuff. I can't digest steak at all and don't do well with roast beef.

I too have problems with chicken. I buy the canned kind and mix it in with noodles or rice. That way I can eat it. But I can't have anything on the bone.

[foodiegurl]

I think my delusions of meat grandeur may be over. I cooked steak tacos for lunch today, the first time i have cooked meat since i lived in this house, and I just feel icked-out now. Though my daughter scarfed it up - lol.

I don't think i could ever do chicken, because just seeing the word spelled out makes me queasy. I think I will hold out again right now, until I get the craving again.

I would have dreams as well..usually of pot roast. The one thing I really miss!

[JNBunnie1]

I think my delusions of meat grandeur may be over. I cooked steak tacos for lunch today, the first time i have cooked meat since i lived in this house, and I just feel icked-out now. Though my daughter scarfed it up - lol.

I don't think i could ever do chicken, because just seeing the word spelled out makes me queasy. I think I will hold out again right now, until I get the craving again.

I would have dreams as well..usually of pot roast. The one thing I really miss!

Can I ask what it is about meat in general that 'icks' you out? Is it the animal-lover thing?

This is pure curiosity on my part, I've been a carnivore all my life and am one of those who would happily raise, slaughter, and clean meat to throw on the grill that night. I know, something's wrong with me.....

[ang1e0251]

I'm with you. I didn't have a problem giving up gluten but giving up meat would probably make me take to my bed....

[Googles]

When I first when gluten free I had the worst protein cravings. One night I ate half a package of sliced ham. (I bought it meaning to last). I still get them and go after my apples and peanut butter. But not as often.

[Mskedi]

My first month gluten free I had some crazy meat cravings. I even gave in once (and regretted it... managed to get in three or four gross bites). Now that I seem to have more of a handle on creating complete gluten-free & vegetarian meals, the cravings seem to be (mostly) gone. I've been getting most of my protein from nuts & beans lately, and I'm thinking I'll buy some protein powder to mix in with my smoothies. It does rather suck that veggie fake meats are almost all made from vital wheat gluten -- I wasn't all that big on fake meat, but it was nice to have a veggie burger when I went out or to stuff cabbages with fake beef crumbles or to sometimes add fake chicken to my fajitas. I liked the texture (not quite a meaty texture, but definitely not a carrot texture ), so I think what I was craving was actually fake meat because the real meat definitely was NOT good.