Non-meat Post WO?

[Haren.13]

I don't like tuna (or any seafood, despite trying all types and preps over the years), and I feel like I'm already eating so.much.meat. Any ideas for non-meat post-WO protein? My workouts are 4-5 miles running on the treadmill or bike path 5 days a week, with lifting medium weights 3-4 days. One day totally off, one long run day of 8-10 miles (training for a half or full marathon most of the time)

[GoJo09]

Egg whites? That's about the only non-meat protein I can think of.

[Haren.13]

Ya, that's what I figured :/ we're going through more eggs than our chickens can lay, so I was hoping for something else! how many egg whites would I have to eat to be a full serving of protein (145lb 5'7" female)?

[Haren.13]

My whole family is doing whole30 (me, hubby, kids ages 2.5, 5, 6.5) so we're eating dozens of eggs each week. Think I'm gonna have to buy some from the store for the first time in forever!

[Tom Denham]

The guideline for a post-workout serving of protein is the same size as the portion for a meal. The guideline for eggs is as many as you can hold in one hand. If you are eating just the egg whites, you would need to use twice as many eggs. So if you can hold 3 eggs in your hand, you would need the whites from 6 eggs. 

 

Instead, I would recommend working on your aversion to meat and go with lean beef or chicken breast after workouts. 

[Haren.13]

It's less an aversion and more a cost issue, actually I don't mind eating cold chicken breast post-WO. We're already waaaaaay over budget, which I knew would happen and is ok in the short term, but isn't sustainable unfortunately. Are there non-whole30 post-WO meals that would work when I'm done with the 30 days? I plan to stick close to the plan with hopefully a few modifications after reintroductions, but meat is probably still my best option, right? What about protein bars/shakes?

[TessTurbo]

I'm allergic to just about every seafood, (who's allergic to TUNA, anyway?!) and don't eat organs, wild game, or lamb, so like you, I feel like I'm eating a ton of meat. Beef, pork, eggs & chicken. Yes, it gets old, but I change up the sauce, and pretend it's something more different than it actually is.

This morning I had an omelette with peppers, onions, zucchini...and topped with compliant spaghetti sauce. Tomorrow it'll be the same thing minus the zucchini...topped with salsa & avocados.

Good luck!

[GoJo09]

It's less an aversion and more a cost issue, actually I don't mind eating cold chicken breast post-WO. We're already waaaaaay over budget, which I knew would happen and is ok in the short term, but isn't sustainable unfortunately. Are there non-whole30 post-WO meals that would work when I'm done with the 30 days? I plan to stick close to the plan with hopefully a few modifications after reintroductions, but meat is probably still my best option, right? What about protein bars/shakes?

 

Protein shakes are considered a poor substitute for real food, but I'm with you on the cost factor! And there's only one of me - luckily my flatmate is quite happy to eat whatever I want for main meals, and she just subs in whatever rice and condiments she feels like.

[missmary]

What about protein bars/shakes?

I defy you to find a protein bar or shake that costs less per serving than canned tuna or chicken breast. It will not happen. That stuff is not only not food it is REALLY expensive. If you are able to afford those you can make room for real post-workout protein in your budget.

[Tom Denham]

A little philosophical thinking...

 

You can pay for food that makes you more healthy or you can spend your money in other ways. The other ways include Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and 1000 other diet programs, increased health care costs from diseases that would either not have developed or would have developed much later in life, etc. 

 

In the United States and maybe in some other developed countries, we have a distorted view of what food costs because government subsidies lower the cost to consumers of grains and soybeans and conventionally raised poultry and beef. We actually pay more for food than we know. We pay for the cheap food with higher taxes, never appreciating that our government is propping up a system that produces foods that make us less healthy with tax dollars. 

[ultrarunnergirl]

Don't forget to calculate the money you are saving by not buying: alcoholic and soda/sweetened beverages, cheese, sweets and the veggies that used to go to waste forgotten in your crisper that you are now eating!

[Haren.13]

All the money we're saving is going toward new stuff plus all the money we didn't have budgeted. We were very frugal, so didn't buy a lot of that stuff anyway. This way of eating is *expensive* - whether that is because of subsidized food and taxes or whatnot, the absolute amount of money I'm paying for groceries this month is higher than the absolute amount I paid last month

Mary - I don't buy protein powder/bars, so I didn't know what they cost or that it was more than chicken or tuna.

I'm not trying to say it isn't worth the cost, fwiw. I just know that we can't sustain this grocery budget with our current finances, and there really isn't anything to cut - that's why I was looking for less expensive protein sources (on plan or off )

[cewdressage]

All the money we're saving is going toward new stuff plus all the money we didn't have budgeted. We were very frugal, so didn't buy a lot of that stuff anyway. This way of eating is *expensive* - whether that is because of subsidized food and taxes or whatnot, the absolute amount of money I'm paying for groceries this month is higher than the absolute amount I paid last month

Mary - I don't buy protein powder/bars, so I didn't know what they cost or that it was more than chicken or tuna.

I'm not trying to say it isn't worth the cost, fwiw. I just know that we can't sustain this grocery budget with our current finances, and there really isn't anything to cut - that's why I was looking for less expensive protein sources (on plan or off )

 

I with you! As much as I want to eat perfectly, with the perfect ratio of protein and veggies, at every meal, it sometimes just isn't an option. And knowing the "pay now for good food or pay later in bad health" doesn't always help either, because it really can just come down to the simple fact that there isn't enough money. I do not spend any money on unnecessary items (I'm a super poor uni student  ), and yet I know that I sometimes miss out on some of the protein I should be getting simply because I can't afford it. 

 

I've learned to just compromise here. I'm also a runner, so I make sure to have good protein (chicken,beef or eggs usually) after a run or workout, when my body needs it most. This usually means I have to take some protein out somewhere else in the day. I know it's not optimal, but I figure having slightly less protein is still way better than eating all the junk I used to. Also, sometimes when I find a great sale on meat or have a little extra cash, I'm able to get a bit more meat and eggs, allowing me to eat the preferred amounts (wow, you know you're on a whole30 when you spend bonus cash on meat...), so I'm hoping it'll even out over time. 

[ultrarunnergirl]

I know you said you didn't like seafood, but have you tried the salmon cakes from It Starts with Food and/or Well Fed 2? So tasty.

 

Before you give up on fish try these!

[jent103]

Ditto ultrarunnergirl - I just had two of the Well Fed 2 salmon cakes for dinner and they are delicious - and I speak as someone who doesn't generally care for seafood! Cheap too - a can of salmon (enough for ~4-5 meals for me) is under $3.50 at my grocery store. Not as protein-dense as a steak or chicken breast, but filling and good for you and tasty too!