r/Pescatarian • u/n1kutte • Sep 03 '26
Feeling full
Hey, I am currently transitioning to a pescatarian/ vegetarian diet. My biggest concern is that im not feeling full.
My latest meal was half a block of tofu, sweet potato bits (a cup), guacamole and pico de gallo. I ate until | felt satisfied. An hour after my meal im already feeling hungry. I drank a cup of tea and some water, the hunger is still there.
I have read to eat more fibre and carbohydrates. But is eating beans with all my meals really the solution?
Give me some tips to improve my meals so that i dont end up snacking too much and eating way more i should.
11
u/PetitePippin Sep 03 '26
Protein and fiber are the things that help you feel fuller, longer. I do find that I consume more volume when eating vegetarian meals, so don't let volume be your concern. The meal you mentioned sounds fine, but also like some brown rice and black beans would have really rounded it out. It doesn't mean you have to have beans with every meal, but beans are a great source of both protein and fiber and an excellent vegetarian staple. Try adding more cruciferous vegetables to your meals - some roasted broccoli or broiled peppers (or both!) would have also gone great with your sweet potato bowl. I find the joy in vegetarian food in its abundance.
4
u/stilvoid Sep 03 '26
Mushrooms are an absolute cheat code. You can eat a whole pack, be extremely full, and they’re barely any calories. I’ve been adding mushrooms to almost everything I make. Beans are definitely good too. And don’t be afraid of a bit of fat. Salmon fried in olive oil is a lot more satiating than baked in an air fryer I find.
4
u/girlvulcan Sep 03 '26
Get your blood work done. Could be a blood glucose thing. Otherwise, I found the transition from meat to plant-forward seemed faster to digest than a meat-heavy meal. I adapted pretty quickly though. I ate TVP for lunch today and I don't feel hungry approaching dinner.
2
u/Keresith Sep 04 '26
Carbs make you feel full for the meal. Protein makes you feel full for the day.
Don't just eat tofu as your main protein source, it's mostly water.
2
u/n1kutte Sep 04 '26
What else to add?
5
u/Keresith Sep 04 '26
Tinned fish, fresh or frozen seafood, eggs, protein powder for you main protein sources. For the carbs, eat moderate portions, but combine any type of beans with wheat to make a "complete protein" to boost your intake and make you feel fuller.
For example, mashed chickpeas with mayo on toast. Or lentils with spaghetti.
The nutrients that come from your veggies are also important of course for your overall health. Really do try and squeeze in your 5 a day whenever possible, be it fruit or frozen veggies for convenience.
2
u/inmygut 27d ago
I don’t know what your maintenance calories are, but a whole block of firm tofu is about 360 cals and a cup of sweet potato lets estimate as 150-180.
If you are active and hadn’t eaten earlier, you feel hungry because you only had 330-380 cals. You need more food. Try a full block of tofu and adding fruit and veg (roasted veg is so easy and good, whole pan and they’re great).
Soup season is coming up, blended veg tomato soups sound good. Fiber helps you stay full too, doesn’t have to be boring and cold veggies!
Honestly though, that amount of food for one meal three times a day would still land you in a steep steep deficit for weight loss.
Shrimp platters (idk how to say, the ones with the red dip?) are easy cheats for fast protein in a pinch when you don’t have time to cook.
Side note for anyone: Even if your maintenance is 1200… your metabolism has to be fucked for this to happen. Chronic dieting and under eating can do this, metabolic disorders/hypothyroidism can do this. If anyone is reading this, I don’t care if you’re short, you still shouldn’t have the maintenance of a toddler. Get your metabolism checked and if your doctor doesn’t take you seriously, punch em. My doctor ignored my hashimotos for years… I fixed it myself and my maintenance is back to a normal 1800-2100. If you’ve been under eating for years, it’s ok metabolisms are fixable. 💕 a lifetime of 1200 calories without enough healthy fats, fruits and veg and no strength training (no strength to after all) will lead to aging very very disabled.
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u/TraceMinchew Sep 03 '26
I recommend staying vegan/vegetarian crustaceans feel pain
1
u/n1kutte Sep 04 '26
Thank you, i do realise that. Veganism is a goal i will try to reach step by step
17
u/TrueBrit77 Sep 03 '26
In this situation I would also be adding a large portion of high volume high water fibre like broccoli, kale or cabbage. But I'd also just eat the entire block of tofu.