One of the first things that people wonder when they hear the words "Vegan Diet" is where the protein might come from. We know that eating animals provides ample amounts of Protein, but that is where it ends for a person that has been eating the Western style diet their entire lives.
A meal without meat? What is that?
Though I've eaten a lot less meat in the last 10 years, I can understand the shock that a non-veagn finds when meat is non-existant in the meal. I love OutBack SteakHouse. I love Red Lobster.
But that is truly about experience and flavor. One can get plenty of protein and flavor from plant based foods. This is a widely known fact.
Lentils have been a staple in my diet for some time. Lentils offer a lot of protein and other vitamins, but rather than going into the details myself, I'll simply show you a portion of the Wiki page about Lentils:
Lentils -From Wikipedia
With about 30% of their calories from protein, lentils, like other legumes, have the third-highest level of protein, by weight, of any plant-based food, after soybeans and hemp.[4] Proteins include the essential amino acids isoleucine and lysine, and lentils are an essential source of inexpensive protein in many parts of the world, especially in the West Asia and the Indian subcontinent, which have large vegetarian populations.[5] Lentils are deficient in two essential amino acids, methionine and cysteine.[6] However, sprouted lentils contain sufficient levels of all essential amino acids, including methionine and cysteine.[7]
Lentils also contain dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B1, and minerals. Red (or pink) lentils contain a lower concentration of fiber than green lentils (11% rather than 31%).[8] Health magazine has selected lentils as one of the five healthiest foods.[9] Lentils are often mixed with grains, such as rice, which results in a complete protein dish.
Lentils also have antinutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitors and relatively high phytate content. Trypsin is an enzyme involved in digestion, and phytates reduce the bioavailability of dietary minerals.[10] The phytates can be reduced by soaking the lentils in warm water overnight.
Lentils are a good source of iron.[11]
Look for Lentils in your local natural food store. They are very cheap and they can go along way to fill the belly. But be careful. If you spice them the way we do, you will find that you can't stop eating them.
More on those later....
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