Vegetarians & Vegans Support Group

There is a certain B vitamin that can help with appetite. I forget which one, but you can get all of your B vitamins in one dose as vitamin pills. But there's more to it than that...

Often you can find them at stores such as WalGreens as B-complex or StressTabs. The StressTabs are great because they have high doses of them. I'm fairly certain that it's not possible to overdose on B vitamins, but you'll want to check with the pharmacist.

But don't just get the pills and hope that your appetite will come back. Try eating foods that are rich in B vitamins. These same foods are typically high in protein and calories and other nutrients.

The ones that first come to mind are nuts and beans (and edible seeds--which are nuts). I heard somewhere that peanuts block protein absorbtion of other types of proteins, so you may want to try other types of nuts instead of peanuts.

A doctor told me that lentils (which are beans of sorts) are particularly good for vegans and vegetarians because they have certain nutrients that are typically only found in meat.

I like to soak lentils overnight and cook them gently the next day. Soaking them overnight makes it so that you don't have to cook them so harshly.

There are other sources of B vitamins too. They are good for the brain and nervous system and help with energy levels too. Are you depressed by any chance too? Luckily, high consumption of B vitamins might help with depression too.

Try making an effort to eat throughout the course of the day. Pick set times every few hours and eat something small for those times that fall in between a regular meal time and try to focus on foods that will give you whatever nutrients you think you need to focus on. For a midmorning or afternoon snack you could have a handful of nuts. It won't make you overly full, but you'll be getting some protein. Or you could make a smoothie (I usually use frozen bananas and fruit juice) and add some protein mix/tofu/flax, etc. The smoothies can replace a meal like breakfast so long as you've got enough stuff in there to make it nutricious.

Any chance you're depressed, anxious or coming down with something? That can kill your appetite. I would try eating more nutritionally-dense foods like seeds & nuts that have a ton of calories for their size and are packed with nutrients.

Quinoa is a super nutritious grain with loads of calories...nuts and seeds are energy dense foods too.

Thanks for the advice!
Don't most stress tabs have stearic acid? I've looked before.. are there any brands that are vegan?

I have been really anxious and somewhat depressed.. my home situation is really unstable.. I just moved for the 3rd time in a year, but this time it's a good home. I'm 17 getting ready to go to college etc. I keep a 4.0 gpa and so that's stressful too.. and I work a lot.. i get stressed out super easy.

I've been snacking on nuts a lot! they are a good way for me to get calories.

Hi! I like avocado, and am including the nutritional information below. I have an autoimmune disorder, so the anti-inflammatory properties of avocado are helpful for me. It is also a good source of Omega-3, and Omega 6 fatty acids, and other good stuff.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts...

Flaxseed (which tastes like walnuts) is another great solution -- high in calories, anti-inflammatory and generally great for you.

Try varying your diet as much as you can -- more different kinds of grain.

I'm pretty sure I may have a gluten intolerance.. so I've been avoiding most breads/tortillas/cereals etc... which doesn't make it any easier to get enough nutrients/calories... avocados sounds like a good idea.. and i have heard of quinoa, but don't really know how to make it!

Quinoa is uber easy to make. It only takes 15 minutes, way quicker than brown rice. The ratio is 2:1 water to quinoa. Bring water to a boil in a covered pot, add quinoa and reduce heat, simmering for 10 - 15 minutes. While it's cooking, I just chop up veggies to throw in raw. Add spices and oils or dressing of your choice and you're good to go. It's a great idea to make enough salad to last you a couple of days so that you have a quick meal when you need it.

Many grains are gluten-free. Don't avoid all of them!!!