DD hates meat, it's expensive anyway, so thinking we could start eating a vegetarian diet instead. Any advice?

[charchargabor]

As title implies, DD will not eat any meat at all, preferring lentils and beans. I don't eat that much meat now as I eat the same as her usually. Any tips or advice for a balanced vegetarian diet? How much protein do each of us need and what is the best to eat? Any other advice? TIA.

If you eat plenty of different pulses and vegetables, you should get enough protein. And obviously, cheese & milk products help too, if you eat those.

Soy beans are especially high in protein and I think Quinoa is good too.

this website has a good list

PROTEIN IN LEGUMES: Garbanzo beans, Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Navy beans, Soybeans, Split peas

PROTEIN IN GRAINS: Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Millet, Oatmeal, Rye, Wheat germ, Wheat, hard red, Wild rice

VEGETABLE PROTEIN: Artichokes, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Green peas, Green pepper, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard green, Onions, Potatoes, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnip greens, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

PROTEIN IN FRUITS: Apple, Banana, Cantaloupe, Grape, Grapefruit, Honeydew melon, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Strawberry, Tangerine, Watermelon

PROTEIN IN NUTS AND SEEDS: Almonds, Cashews, Filberts, Hemp Seeds, Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts

Wow didn't realise there were so many! I won't have too much trouble there then. Thanks for that, will check out link later. We eat loads of cheese so that's good.

Yes, being veggie is no problem. A Vegan diet takes slightly more consideration.

Eggs are also a good source of protein. DS loves them. I do not.

You must also make sure you get enough iron.

Lentils (and beans) are rich in iron but our body doesn't absorb it in the same way it does the iron from red meat. So to make sure that your body absorbs all iron from the lentils/beans you must have this meal with vitamin C.

So either have a glass of orange juice with the meal or use lots of lemon or cook it/serve it with veg rich in vitamin C.

i.e. lentils with tomato sause, beans with broccoli, spinach with lots lemon...etc