Favorite Protein Sources?

[tattooedsuess]

I am honestly struggling with getting enough protein in now that I'm pregnant. I was doing so well with it before becoming so, and now I have to come up with creative ways to get it in.

I think a lot of it is head stuff more than anything. I'll just look at tuna fish or canned chicken and want to gag. It's like the thought of it alone is gross to me. I've forced myself to eat it though, knowing that I need it, and so does the baby.

Does anyone have any good ideas for HIGH protein sources? I am going to go look over the lap band food stages thread I posted to see what I can dig up there, but any and all suggestions are welcome.

Some of my favorites lately:

Hard Boiled Eggs

Peanut Butter on unsalted crackers

Chicken patties baked in the oven


And yeah, that's about it. My hair has actually started falling out because I'm not getting nearly enough protein in my system. I need to do something, and fast!

[tattooedsuess]

I am going to go to Wal Mart and see what kinds of protein powder they sell. I think I'm going to end up making a trip to GNC though to get some Isopure. It would give me more protein for my money.

Until then, maybe some extra baked beans and hummus?

[Neal R.]

I found some microwavable meals at the store today. They are by Nutritious Living Hi-Lo. I have not tried it yet. I am looking at one of the meals now - Turkey Chili with Beans Sante Fe. It has 20g Protein, 6g fat, 5g net carbs, and 180 calories. The 3 meals I bought are similar in values. I am going to try one tomorrow and will let ya'll know

[JudyBellyBand]

My really enjoy the strawberry by ProCal-100 shakes. IT's higher in cost compared with some others, but worth it to me. I just mix it with about 10oz water and it's really good. Sometimes I will use less water and it's a wonderful pudding. Here is the details:
Number of servings per box : 12 individual packets for $13.00 USD
Serving : 1 packet - 11.5 oz. (323 grams)
Calories per serving : 100
Protein per serving : 14 grams
Fat per serving : 1.5 grams
Carbohydrate per serving : 7 grams
Contains aspartane for sweetness.
Here is the link:http://www.procaldiet.com/

[reblynd]

i really like body fortress protein powder. you can get a big tub of it from walmart for about 14 dollars. 2 scoops have 48 grams of protein. Tricia K. recommended it and I really like it.

[tattooedsuess]

Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone! I am going to go look at Walmart here shortly to see what they offer. I will look for the Fortress PP and see if our Walmart carries it. Those are some good numbers for protein, and I could live with that.

I had a yummy filet of steak earlier for lunch and that was soooo good. My husband cooked them up for us and I dipped it in my Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette dressing. Now that's a protein source that I can love!

[gadgetlady]

I struggle with the same thing (although I'm not pregnant LOL!). The problem with protein is there's no easy way to grab it and run (other than cheese). My dh keeps suggesting yogurt and cottage cheese, but I don't care much for either.

Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad. Nuts, in low quantities. I use Lean Body for Her (by Labrada) protein powder, which gives me 30 grams of protein and 170 calories in one shake.

Good luck!

[Irish Girl]

I sautee tofu (crazy, I know). But you can use a variety of different sauces to change the taste. I even put it in with scrambled eggs and some cheese. There is a protein packed breakfast.:D

[tattooedsuess]

I love cheese and everything dairy, but I try so hard to limit my quantities of cheese - due to its binding qualities. I could eat it ALL DAY!!!

I actually like tofu if it's in with a recipe. It takes on the flavor of whatever you put it in with, so that is totally cool by me. I should look into some of my old tofu recipes and see what I can find.

Thanks again to everyone for the ideas.


P.S. I looked into the Pro-Cal 100 shakes too, but they have aspartame in them - which tends to give me migranes. But thank you for suggesting it! The orange and chocolate sounded good to me.

[Stitchy]

As a side dish, I like refried beans with a little shredded cheese (and LOTS of onion) :heh: :heh:

And for an afternoon snack, 3-4 ritz crackers with hummus.

[tattooedsuess]

Refried beans? Ooooooohhhhh! That sounds so yummy right about now! And I was right in Wal*Mart today and forgot to get some hummus. GGGRRR!!!!!

Sidenote: I did check to see if they have the Body Fortress Protein Powder and they do! So on payday one of those big containers is coming home with me! I think the chocolate one sounds delish!

[Stitchy]

Also check the freezer section for Gorton's frozen fish. There are a couple of kinds that aren't breaded - herb and garlic or something like that. They are 3 oz sized and bake up pretty quickly.

[503-250]

OK here's a protein saver...plus tons of taste and easy to make.

Did I mention it's delicious?


BTW, I stole this from a Lapband Cookbook that I got from NOLAgirl and I swear it's great.

I make it (when I say I, I of course mean my wife who loves me and is so wonderful it baffles me why she is here every morning when I wake up) I use veggies to eat it up, I prefer carrots, cucumber and celery. You can make up your own mind, I think NOLAgirl and the SMMC Chicas like it with Turkey Pepperoni chips.

Anyway, less talk more recipe


Buffalo Chicken Dip
This saved me when I first started mushies. I am a fan of spicy cuisine and this helped me get through the early phases of banding!
12.5 oz. can of chicken, drained (I use perdue chicken selects)
¼ cup hot sauce (NOT Tabasco...it would be toooo hot!)(I don't use any hot sauce...the wife don't like spice)
8 oz. package reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese (it didn’t make a difference taste-wise and I AM picky about that...hate ff)
½ c. reduced-fat sour cream
1 T. dry Ranch mix 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can diced green chilies (once again, not in mine)
Mix it all up together and heat. I mixed it and took out what I wanted to eat. Heat in microwave in 30 second spurts...stir and heat until cheese is melted and dip is hot through. Pretty darned tasty and lots of protein! Makes 8 - ½ cup servings


The wife makes ours with the spice when it's just for me, without when we share. I like em both. She uses her stick blender to really make it into a nice chunkless dip.

[AnnDe]

oh my! I just made the Buffalo Chicken Dip. It is wonderful. Made it with NF cream cheese and NF sour cream. It is the best dip I have had.. Like you 503 NO hot sauce for me.... but I did add the green chilies What a hit!!!! Thanks.....

[DebbieChoos]

Wow, the Buffalo Chicken Dip is a major hit!! I loaded it up real good with the hot sauce and the chilies and took out and portion and nuked it as per 503 instructions....freaking awesome. To me it's not very spicy, but then I have a bad cold (am playing hooky today). I am dipping with eat-smart parmesan, garlic & olive oil soy crisps which adds even more protein!! It didn't taste right with carrots and I am too lazy to clean celery - thanks for the recipe!

BTW - What Lapband cookbook? Please enlighten....

Debbie

[tattooedsuess]

This sounds delish 503! I would be trying it without the hot sauce and green chiles, but I still think it'll be bombdiggity!

[JDru]

Yum!! I can't wait to try this dip. I will have to go shopping tonight!

[JDru]

Oh, I forgot to mention that when I make pudding (sugar free/fat free) I add 2 scoops of unflavored protein powder to add 40 g of protein total. So with the milk, each serving has about 13-14 g of protein/serving (about 90-100 calories/serving) and it feels like you're having dessert!

[lil'bitty]

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I can not wait to try this............YUM-O anything with cream cheese is right up my alley!

I picked up Kellogg's Special K2O Protien water today. It comes in Lemon Twist and Strawberry Flavor. I just got the lemon and it isn't bad. It has 5 g of protien, however I neglected to notice the sugar - 8g for 16 oz bottle. Also picked up the Bolthouse Chai protien drink and LOVE it. I saw a few peeps mention this before.

Also I grabbed a few cans of 50 Grand Slam from GNC over the weekend. It has 50 g of Protien. The can is 15 oz, so I poured it into something else and drank about 6 oz over about an hour. I am pretty weird out funky tasting health food stuff and the bananas and cream was pretty good. I also got the cookies and cream and it wasn't bad either.

GNC has buy one get one half off, and I got 2 cans of the 50 stuff and 2 pouches of protien powder. their powder completely disolves into the SF pudding. I put Choco/Caramel into Choco pudding and it made it rich and yummy and their were no protien granuales, very tasty. My kiddies actually were stilling bites!! didn't care for the vanilla though.

Craving a good steak, did I mention that???? Now that's some good protien!!! My time will come, must be patient!

[Stitchy]

...
Craving a good steak, did I mention that???? Now that's some good protien!!! My time will come, must be patient!

Careful with the steaks (when it's time). They can be hard on you. DH and I solved the steak problem this summer (BBQ season) with T-bones steaks. I got the really tender portion. He got all the rest. Both of us were happy.

BTW - I got really well aquainted with the local butcher. Found out the the more expensive porterhouse is just a bigger T-bone. Look carefully at the t-bones. Get ones with a larger inside tender portion.

[503-250]

NO MORE STEAK TALK!

I have a bunch of friends who still tour, and when they come home we goto Luger for steaks (then we go nuts drinking and throwing money to young college girls...who are talented dancers....artistic dancers....you know what I mean?). One of these days is closing in on me. I know I can eat the delicious bacon appetizer ( a gigantic SLAB of bacon...like an inch thick....mmmmmm bacon). I am terrified that I won't be able to keep down the mouth watering steak.

[gadgetlady]

I have no problems with steak AT ALL. It's one of the easiest things for me to get down. I think it's because I chew it better because it's got such a solid, firm shape. I feel like I chase around things that are slippery and soft in my mouth (like noodles) and therefore I don't chew them as well.

[tattooedsuess]

Thanks for more suggestions from GNC Bitty. I will have to make a trip over there and see what I can find. I found the Body Fortress powder at Wal*Mart for only $13, so I may try that first. I didn't check to see if it has aspartame or any other artificial sweetners in it though. I tried going to their web site and it denied me access, so not sure what's up with that. Artificial sweetners are a big no no for me, as they cause me migranes - not to mention that I'm pregnant and shouldn't be consuming them anyway. I'll have to check it out further before I buy it.

If that does have it in it, I'll be making a trip over to GNC (it's about a 45 minute drive from here) to get some things.

I did purchase a Bolthouse Vanilla Chai drink the other day, and that definately helped me some. I've been trying hard to down the chicken, steak, hamburger, etc. too. That's definately helped as well. I've even been eating more eggs, beans, a little cheese, some yogurt, more milk, etc. It seems like everything is helping me feel better.

Thanks again to everyone who offered suggestions. I am extremely greatful for them!

[willowbas]

I know this was in my cookbook! Wherever you got it, I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's one of my favorites!

[GirlWithIn]

http://www.newlifestylediet.com/ Lots of protein choices in shakes, soups, bars, etc.

[tattooedsuess]

Thank you Patrisha! I'm going to look now!

I did end up getting the Body Fortress Chocolate Protein Shakes BTW and love them! I think they've helped so much already, and the price was right!

[JoyceGA]

http://www.newlifestylediet.com/ Lots of protein choices in shakes, soups, bars, etc.


That looks great and you can purchase by the product instead of a month of meals like NutriSystem. I might switch programs!!

[503-250]

I HAD STEAK!

which probably means I need a fill.:sad:

[lil'bitty]

So today I began with a focus on eating low carb high protein (like I should have been) Atkins was always my diet of choice so no problem! I had a bag of pork rinds in the pantry from when I was on my low carb pre-op. I had a few for snack today and decided to check out the stats on this crunchy snack and low and behold, 9 pork rinds have 7 g of protein. To note, they also have 5g of fat and 0 carb, but they are a required taste. I dip mine into some kind of dressing which is usually 1 or 2 g of carbs