Vegetarian food for muscle gain

[CaliforniaSupreme]

Beans (esp. Soy) are good suggestions, something else to look into is flax seed. High in protein and provides a good amount of Omega-3s.

Soy is counter-productive. It gets metabolized into estrogen compounds after you consume above like 30 grams of the stuff (a "Soy protein" shake would clock you over for example). You can only eat the stuff if its fermented, other wise its a junk food and shouldn't be a males (or anybody's to be honest) diet.

I like to use them in cooking, but other beans taste much better too. I don't think a little bit hurts anyone.

 

[kosko]

Beans (esp. Soy) are good suggestions, something else to look into is flax seed. High in protein and provides a good amount of Omega-3s.

Soy is counter-productive. It gets metabolized into estrogen compounds after you consume above like 30 grams of the stuff (a "Soy protein" shake would clock you over for example). You can only eat the stuff if its fermented, other wise its a junk food and shouldn't be a males (or anybody's to be honest) diet.

I like to use them in cooking, but other beans taste much better too. I don't think a little bit hurts anyone.

I agree It doesn't. I eat Tofu once or twice a month, no harm done. It just can be a trap to make it a staple because they are so cheap (soy products), so a lot of people try to rationalize using them as mainstays in their diets because of that.

 

[KC4]

I just noticed that i might have come out as cheap. But there are a few good reasons why i decided to to this.
1. Change of diet.
2. Do something different
3. See what its like to be vegetarian
4. Save few animals lives haha

 

[Surreyman]

I just noticed that i might have come out as cheap. But there are a few good reasons why i decided to to this.
1. Change of diet.
2. Do something different
3. See what its like to be vegetarian
4. Save few animals lives haha

I don't want to spawn an ethical argument, but if we didn't eat them, we would never have bred them. Vegetarianism saves their deaths, yes, but it prevents their lives (which in most of the EU are quite cushy).

 

[KC4]

No worries there, just stating that eating less meat would be beneficial for me. No need to start an ethical argument. But I do agree if we didn't breed them for food what would it be otherway

 

[KC4]

Bumping this thread. Need more advice before i go through with this next month

 

[Doctor]

Not trying to be a dick, but have you gone to your grocery stores and walked up and down every isle and pulled off every kind of food you think you could eat and check the nutrition label (if applicable, otherwise jot down what the food is and look it up when you get home)?

 

[KC4]

No worries mate, i just got the feeling that I am missing something. Just can't figure out what

 

[Mon]

Bumping this thread. Need more advice before i go through with this next month

As has been stated, as long as you're going the lacto-ovo-vegetarian route (still consuming dairy and eggs), you should be fine. You of course want the highest quality eggs and milk that you can get.
I like to get organic soy-free, pasture- raised eggs and raw grass-fed milk (goats and Jersey cows)... both directly from the farmers.
In addition to the well-known protein content, the arachidonic acid (AA) which is found abundantly in egg yolk & dairy stimulates the production of steroid hormones via a regulatory protein known as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR).

You can also get your self a high quality, grass-fed, cold-processed whey concentrate and/or a plant-based protein powder like Sun Warrior or Warrior Food.

Then, you have beans. You can neutralize the anti-nutrient properties of beans by soaking and/or sprouting them first.
I would stay away from soybeans as they present an array of problems such as:
*Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function, increasing estrogen chemicals and diminishing androgens (Buddhist monks eat tofu to reduce the libido)
*Trypsin inhibitors interfere with protein digestion and cause pancreatic disorders
*Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D
*Soy consumption has been linked to Alzheimer's disease in men
*Soy has been shown to inhibit the synthesis of the thyroid hormones T3 & T4, resulting in autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism
*WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER SHIT

Include fresh, raw, soaked (to neutralize anti-nutrient compounds) & dehydrated nuts/nut butters. We make our nut butters at home because I don't trust the stuff on store shelves to not have rancid oils.
Use hemp seeds and chia seeds.

I like to eat an abundance of olives (Kalimata & sun-dried Botija), avocados, and Durian... plant foods densely packed with healthy fats and sterols, which help to promote androgen synthesis.

 

[Fortitudinal]

Lentils. Shit tons of protein, cheap, delicious. Make them french style, indian, mexican, italian. . .myriad combinations possible. I favour a little garlic, thyme and collards. Good eats right there. Add a chipotle pepper and watch as you eat a whole kilo in one seating.
Just be prepared to be a one-man ompah pah band. Beano takes care of that quite easily though.

Also, get used to downing crazy amounts of olive oil. I used to down about a third of a cup with some balsamic when I had no time to eat (or was working in a the restaurant). Does the job, and its easy.
Buy in a large gallon tin can, no need to be Italian. Turkish EVOO can be just as cheap, and is as good, if not the same . . .

Somewhere I saw a recipe for 'breakfast' that was just a generous amount of EVOO, tomatoes, touch of salt and bread. That can be 500-700 cal easily.

Other nut oils are tasty too, and add a little panache to cooking. Sesame oil being a good example. Coconut oil is the shit. Experiment.
Go easy at first thought, too much oil and funny things can happen.

I had also lots of OATZ and protein powder. Have that ready at hand at all times.

Also, if you have access to african fruits give those a go. You'd be surprised how much protein some of them have.

 

[Fortitudinal]

I forgot to add:

Peanuts. Great source of fat and protein, cheap as dirt. Throw a few handfuls in a soup, they add a nice texture once they soften (might take a while). They kept alive African slaves, good enough for you.
Peanut butter everything, add to stirfries, curry, etc etc

Chickpeas. Soak them, boil them, grind them up with EVOO & garlic, BAM! Hummus. easy to enjoy, can last a long time, make a big batch at a time. Freezes ok. Many variations possible.

Recently discovered:

Mochi cakes (rice cakes). They have the texture of cheese, all vegan. Roast, boil, griddle. Easy to do, but very sticky. But if done irght you will be eating delicious cheese like things again. All vegan.