Balancing Protein and Carbs - Breakfast
| By Anai Rhoads
Anai Rhoads is a Human Rights journalist originally from Athens, Greece. Her work has been featured on several web based newspapers and media outlets, which include ZMagazine, MP Watch and Media Monitors. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for AnaiRhoads.org. A dedicated vegan since 2000, she is an advocate of activities which promote animal rights. Anai currently resides on the east coast with her husband and their daughter.
This is an archived Q&A. The following information might not be up-to-date.
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Question: Hello, I am new to the vegetarian community. My understanding of a "meal" is when you include carbohydrates and proteins. I am trying to put together various breakfast meals for my family. Do you have any protein suggestions for waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, grits, etc.? Thanks.
Answer: Question:
Hello, I am new to the vegetarian community. My understanding of a "meal" is when you include carbohydrates and proteins. I am trying to put together various breakfast meals for my family. Do you have any protein suggestions for waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, grits, etc.? Thanks.
Answer:
Thank you for writing!
Yes, the ideal meal should provide a balance of carbohydrates and proteins. Generally any food in moderation is good for you.
As for proteins, I will list some favourite protein choices used by many for their breakfast meals:
* Nuts and Seeds - Whether toasted, freshly cracked, chopped or bagged - nuts and seeds add protein to your oatmeal when stirred in during cooking, topped over pancakes or waffles or added to your breakfast muffins or breads.
* Peanut butter - There are so many peanut, walnut and even almond butters out there now. Spread the product on some toast or crackers and you have the perfect combination of carbs and protein.
* Soy - Look in the dairy aisle for Soy milk. There are many flavours now available. They are purely vegan and taste like melted ice cream. Silk Soy is one of my favourites. You can use the vanilla soy in foods that require cow's milk.
* Soy yogurt - This product is ideal with breadsticks, pitas, fresh fruit and nuts/seeds. Again, this product can be found in the dairy aisle of your local supermarket.
If you are shopping for any of the products I listed above and don't see them in your local market's aisles - request that the store to stock them for you. More and more supermarkets are now catering to the vegetarian and vegan diet. The more stores carry these products, the more choices meat eaters (and we) have to choose from as alternatives to animal products.
I hope my suggests for proteins have helped you. Thank you again for writing!
Anai Rhoads
12 January 2003
