Really struggling to get protein, help please?

[user1465023742]

Really desperate for some help about my food. I'm having a problem getting enough protein. Protein is the only thing that fills me up properly but I have a very limited budget as I'm on disability benefits and I just can't afford to eat meat or fish every day. I can't eat cheese because I have migraines. Quorn is out because I'm allergic to mushrooms, I can't have eggs because I'm allergic to the white so things like omlettes and scrambled eggs are out. That leaves lentils, which I do like, but the only way I know how to make them is in things like bolognese which i can't have because I'm allergic to tomatoes.

I'm really really struggling and surviving on carbs, which are just making me fatter and fatter and I'm constantly hungry because carbs leave me starving after 2 hours. What can I do?

Food intolerances aren't unusual and neither are migraine triggers caused by foods which is the majority of the reason I can't eat a lot of this stuff.

Sorry, I didn't mean the intolerances but the sort of extreme hunger than would leave you faint an hour after eating/drinking something that I assume had a reasonable amount of calories as well as a high protein content.

Another poster mentioned ulcers that present as hunger - you mention severe reflux - and there are also thyroid conditions etc that might be worth investigating.

I forget whether you've had a referral to a dietician to help manage your food intolerances?

There's "plenty of fibre" in four bits of wholemeal toast, ForHarry. Still doesn't stop the hunger. If that much fibre doesnt fill me up, I think it's safe to assume that lack of fibre is not the issue here.

Honestly, I'm givng up now since it's clear most people haven't even bothered to read what I said. For those who bothered to actually listen to what I said and suggest helpful sources of protein, thank you, it's much appreciated.

I'm sorry that you thought my post was rude. It certainly wasn't meant to be. I was really just passing on the information I got from a dietician I recently worked with who was helping me to lose weight.

I won't post any more and wish you well on your weight loss journey.

I know you mentioned you don't eat much sugar, but 'white' carbs act in your system the same way sugar does. So you have a skie in sugar levels followed by a corresponding crash, which is the fainting-with-hunger, dizziness, headaches you experience.
The approach I mentioned in the link above suggests we need an amount of protein equivalent to our own closed fist, each meal. This is how I aim yo eat and it usually sustains me between meals, but I can't go without carbs as well and I try to keep carbs 'brown' - wholemeal bread, pasta, always eat the skin from potatoes.
Can you eat bacon? I sometimes chop up two rashers and add it to porridge in the mornings - makes the porridge 'hold' me for longer.

I've asked my doctor about an ulcer. I know that can present as gnawing hunger but that wouldn't make me feel faint and dizzy. I've also been on high strength meds for the reflux for ages that would also have cured an ulcer had one been present so theyve ruled that out.

Skie was meant to be spike.

Sorry cross posted. You obviously are feeling sick op not just normal hunger. I have had the shaky ill feeling before and the never feeling satisfied but not to the extent you are feeling.

I just hope some ideas on this thread are helpful. I find eating pulses the best to keep me from feeling faintness.

It's not that it's rude it's just so frustrating that nobody is actually bothering to read what I actually say :(

I only ever eat wholemeal bread, I don't eat white. I sometimes have white rice but not often at all maybe once a week if that.

Re being referred to a dietician, only in terms of weight loss not actual foods i can eat, and the service is absolutey useless, they don't listen to me either!

User, that's incredibly rude. I'm sorry about the banana. I did read the entire thread. But never have you said that you can't do porridge, and it is sustaining. You have talked about toast and cereals, neither if which are.

You have ignored my Italian protein recipe. You have ignored my carrot tip, via which a nephew lost about 3 stone, you haven't answered my are you a feaster or a grazer. .

I too am disabled, I too get migraines from the things you have mentioned, but never would I behave to someone who is trying to help as you have done.

I am now inclined strongly to doubt that you want to do this.

Yeah the pulses suggestsions are very helpful, thank you. I mean, for example, knowing what to do with them without cooking with tomatoes, just that on its own is a big help. That's been a big restriction in the past.

Orlando's tuna and cannellini bean salad is easy and lovely - had forgotten about that. If you use red onions and soak them in water for half an hour they're less repeatable.

Then you're perfectly free not to spend any time on this thread, Orlanda, Nobody is forcing you to respond.

I've asked my doctor about an ulcer. I know that can present as gnawing hunger but that wouldn't make me feel faint and dizzy. I've also been on high strength meds for the reflux for ages that would also have cured an ulcer had one been present so theyve ruled that out.

Is there a chance any medications could be contributing to/causing the issue? I'm honestly trying to be helpful. In your shoes I'd be pressing for all medical causes to be ruled out, as it's making the difficulties you already have with food even worse.

I will post o e last time just because I agree about wholemeal toast! For me it's better than white but really it wouldn't keep me right either. Hence my point about pulses which have the protein with fibre, and the salad stuff which has other positives in it aside from the fibre. And I too like other posters need that bit of fat so I make a basic dressing to make the salad stuff appetising.

OK that's enough from me. Apologies if any of this offends.its not my intention.

You should be able to find sardines in spring water/brine at most supermarkets.

Worth asking the butcher for suggestions, too - there's usually other cheap meat available as well as stewing steak.

The Cooking Without books I mentioned yesterday have tomato free recipes; tomatoes, dairy, wheat, potatoes, pork, were some of the things I couldn't eat forca couple of years when trying to resolve digestion issues.

Trying to remember useful recipes: BBC food's green lentil tortillas - just don't add the grated cheese; red dragon pie - like shepherd's pie but with pulses. You could use stock cubes and herbs to make the sauce instead of tomatoes. Add Worcestershire sauce as well.

Did you look at Jack Monroe's ("A Girl Called Jack") recipes? Her 9p kidney bean burgers are cheap, tasty and keep well in the fridge. They are easy to adapt with other ingredients if there is something you can't eat, or if you have something lurking in the back of the fridge needing to be used up. I've had them cold for lunch/breakfast. Kidney beans contain nearly as much protein as lentils (24g/100g compared with 26g/100g with lentils), are cheap and last ages in the cupboard and don't require nearly as much faffing to cook!

It sounds like you're having a bit of a Fuck My Life moment, but hang on in there, concentrate on what you can eat and be kind to yourself.

Take a look at MuscleFood.co.uk, still meat but a lot cheaper and higher quality than buying at the supermarket. The chicken breasts are huge compared to what you'd get a tesco - 1 breast would do 2 meals usually, and they have 99p deals on lean mince.

How about protein shakes (lots of non dairy ones available) with extra fibre added such as flax, psyllium husks to make it more filling?

MuscleFood.com, not .co.uk :)

Also, Tesco sell frozen white fish portions; 520g for £1.70. White fish typically contains 24g protein/100g. Can you eat fish? I have read the whole thread, but over a number of days, so might have forgotten something.

Although fairly tasteless by themselves, they are quick and easy to steam in the microwave and I sort of crumble them over tinned salad beans then add a tablespoon of sweet chilli sauce but you may want to skip this

I was just about to suggest a girl called jack too

Also, have you tried turkey instead of chicken. Much cheaper (at this time of year)

Also have a google for Hairy Dieters' recipes. They are very tasty and decent portions. They do a lot of stuff with pulses

Good luck OP it really does sound tricky

For breakfast have you ever tried making a flaxseed muffin? The standard recipe has an egg in it, but you could replace that with applesauce. It's very filling.

I know the kind of hunger you mean and it sounds like unstable blood sugars. How recently were you tested for diabetes? Have you discussed the possibility that you may have pre-diabetes?

You say food intolerances are normal, but actually the range and different effects of the food intolerances you describe is very unusual and it sounds like you have self-diagnosed them all. You also sound very angry and frustrated about it. Do you think some counselling support might help you?

User, that was an incredibly rude second post? Why? Does it make you feel better?
I've tried to be helpful, I've expressed a degree of hurt, I've apologised for the banana, fgs, and all you can respond is like this.

You might like to think about how you come across.

But I too have had to do end time on a v restricted diet and it's a pain. Literally. So I am innately sympathetic. So I hope you find something that works for you and I am now going to disappear.