How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition (2024)

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How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition (1)

You may be wondering, “If I eat nothing but plants, how am I going to stay full?” Whether you are thinking about going vegan or have already started practicing a plant-based lifestyle, it is important to satisfy your hunger by properly fueling yourself!

Because vegan diets are more nutrient dense than calorically dense (meaning, you eat many nutrient rich plant foods with lower amounts of calories per serving), it is normal to feel hungry more frequently than non-vegans or non-vegetarians.

Here’s the good news – eat more! The most common challenge we see is that “new” vegans and vegetarians do not eat enough calories throughout the day. Snackingis a great way to stay full! Make sure you are incorporating snacks between meals. These snacks allow you to meet your calorie needs as well as manage your hunger between meals.

Do not skip meals! Plan out your meals to make sure you are getting enough good quality vegan meals and snacks- rich in fiber and protein, throughout the day.

Fiber keeps you feeling full, so be sure to eat fiber-rich food at all meals and snacks. For example – a bag of chips is not nearly as filling as eating a baked potato. The baked potato is much more filling because it contains more fiber and protein. Eat a protein serving with each meal to keep you feeling full. Great vegan and vegetarian protein sources are beans, tofu, tempeh, nuts, quinoa, lentils, whole grains, and starchy vegetables.

As long as you focus on whole foods (rich in nutrients) and avoid processed foods and oils, it will be hard to overeat. Vegan diet food quality is a major factor in your success. Focus on whole foods that are minimally processed- whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, starchy vegetables, lentils… and the list goes on!

Make sure your portion sizes are big enough to satisfy you. Listen to your body! Eat until you’re about 80% full, or about an 8 on a hunger scale from 1-10; 10 being stuffed and 1 being starving. Become familiar with hunger and fullness cues versus food cravings.

Are you hungry or thirsty? Drink enough water throughout the day and monitor your hunger cues. Is it more water that you need? Try drinking a glass or two and reevaluate your hunger levels.

Lastly, take your time when eating. When you eat too quickly, your body does not have enough time to signal to your brain that you are full. Slow down your eating pace and practice mindfulness. Think about how these healing foods are nourishing your body and health.

Looking for more ways to stay full on a vegan diet? Your dietitian or nutritionist can help you create a plan to help balance meals and nutrients to maintain your hunger and satisfaction. Check out our blog post about how to build a vegan meal plan.

Our team helps people implement vegan and vegetarian lifestyles for many goals: weight loss, disease management, and improved quality of life. Visit our main page to learn more!

How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition (2)

How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition (3)

How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition (2024)

FAQs

How to Stay Full on a Vegan Diet | OnPoint Nutrition? ›

Eat a protein serving with each meal to keep you feeling full. Great vegan and vegetarian protein sources are beans, tofu, tempeh, nuts, quinoa, lentils, whole grains, and starchy vegetables. As long as you focus on whole foods (rich in nutrients) and avoid processed foods and oils, it will be hard to overeat.

How do vegans stay full? ›

As discussed in the last three tips, fats, protein and fiber are all important for satiety. To get the most out of these, try to create meals that combine all three. Add a source of healthy fats, plant-based protein and fiber-rich foods to most of your meals to help with satiety.

How to make vegan food more filling? ›

Dietary fibre: Foods full of dietary fibre - like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds - help promote feelings of fullness. Solid foods: The process of chewing food - and chewing slowly, to boot - helps send fullness cues to your brain, promoting feelings of satiation.

Can you get enough nutrients on a vegan diet? ›

You can get the nutrients you need from eating a varied and balanced vegan diet including fortified foods and supplements. For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.

What are the 5 most important rules of a vegan diet? ›

5 diet rules vegans get right
  • Eat foods that are in season. This isn't a steadfast vegan "rule," but many people who consciously choose to eat vegan are also making other conscious (or even unconscious) decisions. ...
  • Fill up with fiber. ...
  • Plant your protein. ...
  • Eat those good-for-you fats. ...
  • You may need to supplement.
Aug 24, 2017

What foods keep you full vegan? ›

Healthful foods that are high in protein, fiber, or both tend to be filling. Rich sources of protein for vegans include foods such as soybeans, pulses, and some nuts and seeds. Oats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fruit are all good sources of fiber.

What foods help you stay full longer? ›

High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain. One cup of air-popped popcorn has about 30 calories.

Why do I always feel hungry on a vegan diet? ›

Because vegan diets are more nutrient dense than calorically dense (meaning, you eat many nutrient rich plant foods with lower amounts of calories per serving), it is normal to feel hungry more frequently than non-vegans or non-vegetarians. Here's the good news – eat more!

How to gain 10 pounds on vegan diet? ›

How to gain 10 pounds on a vegan diet? Gaining 1 lbs (pound) usually means eating about 3,500 extra calories more than you burn in one week OR 500 extra calories per day. Therefore, to gain 10 pounds, you'd need around 35,000 extra calories (10 pounds x 3,500 calories per pound = 35,000 calories).

How to go 100% vegan? ›

You could start by removing meat or dairy one day a week and go from there. Or you could try changing one meal at a time, having vegan breakfasts during your first week, adding a vegan lunch during week two and so on.

What 4 nutrients are vegans likely to miss? ›

Unless a person plans their vegan diet very carefully, they may need to take supplementary vitamin B12 and iron. A person may also need supplementary vitamin D, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids. Below, we look into why vegan diets may not contain all the necessary nutrients.

What is the most common nutrient deficiency in the vegan diet? ›

Deficiencies in minerals such as iodine, calcium, and zinc may also occur. Iodine deficiency is very common among vegans, often leading to acquired hypothyroidism [58]. Vegan sources of iodine include iodized salt and sea vegetables containing various amounts of the mineral [45].

How do vegans get complete protein? ›

Tofu, tempeh, and edamame are all made from soybeans and are excellent plant-based complete protein sources. Tofu is made from condensed soy milk pressed into white blocks. It comes in a variety of textures, including: silken.

What are the weakness of vegan diet? ›

Several aspects of a raw vegan diet may result in weaker muscles and bones. For starters, this way of eating tends to be low in calcium and vitamin D — two nutrients needed for strong bones.

How are vegans not hungry all the time? ›

Fiber keeps you feeling full, so be sure to eat fiber-rich food at all meals and snacks. For example – a bag of chips is not nearly as filling as eating a baked potato. The baked potato is much more filling because it contains more fiber and protein. Eat a protein serving with each meal to keep you feeling full.

How do vegans stop bloating? ›

So, being more mindful of how much fiber you're adding to your diet can also help. Wells recommends introducing high-fiber foods to your diet gradually, rather than all at once. “Start with smaller amounts of beans or cruciferous vegetables in meals, and try alternating whole grains with refined grains,” she says.

How can a vegan bulk up? ›

So if you're looking to build muscle on a vegan diet, make sure your meals are loaded with high-protein options like seitan (made from wheat gluten), tofu, lentils, and beans (chickpeas are great). These foods are low in fat and high in fiber—and they don't contain any cholesterol!

How to go vegan without dying? ›

Our Guidelines For Eating A Plant-Based Diet
  1. Eat plenty of nutrient-dense vegetables at every meal.
  2. Eat a wide variety of organic, unprocessed foods.
  3. Eat protein with every meal.
  4. If you choose to eat grains, pick minimally processed grains like quinoa, amaranth, and oats.
Mar 2, 2014

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