Is anyone else having incredible cravings for protein?

[Mere]

My craving for protein is practically insatiable...I want it all the time. To satisfy myself I eat lots of eggs, meat, beans and cheese...does anyone have any other ideas for a quick protein fix? I'd like to focus more on healthier sources of protein other than meat.

[Bekka]

In the health food section or at the health food store in your town, you should be able to find flavored tofu. It's quite expensive compared to regular by-the-brick tofu, but there are different flavors and you just slice off two or three slices like cheese, and it is a really quick fix for me. My favorite is smoked flavored, and it doesn't have any sulfites. I've also seen like Caribbean flavored and others; those have a bit of kick. Eat on crackers or with cheese or plain ...

[merino]

I want steak everyday! This craving started before I knew I was pregnant. I don't normally eat much red meat, so this is pretty weird. Also, whenever I've cooked eggs over the last few weeks, they taste sooo good! Like the best eggs ever! Normally, I don't get quite so excited over eggs. As for healthier sources of protein, I know cottage cheese has a lot of protein, more than most dairy products.

[thebipper]

That could mean you need iron....and red meat is the most absorbable form of iron. I have a friend who was a vegetarian until she became pregnant. Last pregnancy, I couldn't get enough, this time I'm not craving it.

[mcsarahb]

I second the cottage cheese - I make pancakes or waffles and add lots of eggs and cottage cheese to the mix. They are great! I have a good recipe if anyone wants it.

Also hummus, black bean dip with toasted corn tortillas (yum!), rice and bean soup. Had a great "cheese nut loaf" at a friend's for Thanksgiving. Rice, cheese, nuts, etc.

Tuna salad (I know not every day, but once a week is good), chicken salad...?

Sarah

[CajunMama]

That is all I have wanted my entire pregnancy ( I'm 38 w) and I have lived on beef, eggs, dairy and soy.

the best snack I have found is frozen edamame ( soy beans in the pod) that I drop in boiling water for a few minutes, drain, salt with sea salt, and pop out of the pod and eat. YUM :love I could eat these all day and they have no fat and tons of good vitamins etc. I found them in the frozen section of a specialty market, but i am sure that you could find them just about anywhere.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. :D

[spatulagirl]

Oh... CajunMama... edamame!

I lived in Japan four 4.5 years and that was one of my main sources of protein there (I am vegetarian). Edamame are great. You can get them at an asian food store or healthfood store in the States/Canada. Just be sure not to cook them too long, put lots of salt on them and viola. Awesome yummy food. Great with beer (though not now ;) )

I too have been craving protein and have been whipping up dips and snacks I can bring with me to work.

mcsarahb - I would love to have some of those recipes you mentioned!

[Artisan]

OMG, YES!! I never eat red meat except while pg. And I am in love with cheese!

[MamaOui]

I was completely off dairy for a year before this pregnancy. I have been eating some (but not as much as I used to) and I have been eating more red meat than usual. And it all tastes so good.:)

[wolfmom]

Two words: peanut butter! I liked peanut butter before i was pregnant but this time i am acutally having some m/s and believe it or not, peanut butter is what makes me feel better the fastest. you could of course substitute any other nut butter for peanut.

[sagewinna]

Almonds are what I ate a lot of this pregnancy. Protien and calcium in one shot, and I could keep them in my car!

[padomi]

I'm not pregnant, but when I saw this I had to reply. When I got pg with dd, I had been a vegetarian for 6 years. I hadn't had ANY meat or meat products in 6 years. Never even craved it. Then I got pg and let me just say that craving is too mild a word. I HAD to have protein - and we're not talking tofu or fish. We're talking RED MEAT. I ate it every day of my pregnancy - couldn't get enough of it (makes me sick to think about it now!). Turns out I needed a lot of iron after all b/c I lost a lot of blood (emergency c-section) and stayed anaemic for months after dd was born.

Imagine going from NO meat products for 6 years, to steak and roast every day for 9 months!!! :LOL

[MamaOui]

I just put a tomato and meat sauce on some sliced French bread and topped it with fresh parmesan cheese and popped it on the oven. :yum

Over the last few weeks I can't get my mind off of food. :nut

[mcsarahb]

Protein (cottage cheese) pancakes/waffles:

5 eggs
12 oz. cottage cheese
1 cup flour, whole wheat or white
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil or melted butter

1/4 t. salt
1 T. brown sugar (optional)
1 t. vanilla

Blend all in blender or food processor, should be pretty liquidy. Make pancakes or waffles, oiling griddle well. Done when golden brown. Will be slightly "wet" in the middle, but thin, almost like a crepe. Serve with fruit and powdered sugar, or just fruit, jelly, or any topping. Also good with chocolate chips (my childhood favorite). :) Serves 3 or 4 (maybe 2 if pregnant).

Sarah