Quoting primesuspect

here's one example of a dish I like a lot:

Mutter Paneer (this is indian curry with chunks of goat cheese)

1 serving:

147 cal
10.7 carb
8.5 prot
8.1 fat

That's just one example - it's 1:45 am and I don't feel like trolling the web for nut. info on various veg dishes. You can do the same if you're that curious.

Remember that plant protein is just as valid as meat protein, and doesn't contain any sat. fats or cholesterol. Also the fiber intake is way up which is good for the cholesterol and digestive system.

It's sure easier to get protein through meat, but then that's why america is probably the fattest country on earth. I don't exempt myself from that - i'm fat too, but like I said, I'm not in this for any reason other than "i feel better after a while".

I'm not suggesting you're in it for other reasons. I'm just pointing out the nutritional deficiency, with regard to protein that brings about, for people that eat that way as a rule rather than a break from regular dietary eating.

That dish you suggested is fine nutrionally as a snack. If those are the kinds of meals you're eating all day you need probably 20x the nutrients in order to be approaching optimal nutrition. I realize you're doing this because you feel better. I'm speaking from a physical fitness / bodybuilding perspective. I structure my dietary needs around two goals at different times of the year, adding muscle, or losing fat. From that perspective, at 10g of protein per meal, I'd need to eat a solid 20 of those dishes per day to get the nutrients I need.

Again, I realize we have different goals. I'm just pointing out the deficiency in case other people in the fitness clubhouse here have similar goals to my own.

America is not the fattest country on earth because of meat. America is the fattest country on earth because of two reasons:

1 - Our food portions are ridiculous. Most people order a meal and they feel compelled to eat everything on their plate. The portion sizes in this country are signficantly larger than other countries. As a result people here eat a friggin tripple cheeseburger and a supersized fries with a large coke and they just took in more than 1000 calories comprised mainly of fat and carbohydrates. Most people who aren't actively bodybuilding can survive quite easily and healthily in the 2000 calorie range. People in this country take in more than half the calories they need for a day in a single sitting. That stalls metabolism and overloads your bloodstream with excess calories that get stored as fat.

2 - The carbohydrates we consume here. Carbohydrates, particularly high glycemic index carbohydrates like fries and what not, spike the insulin levels in the human bloodstream faster than almost anything else. As a result the bulk of the carbohydrate and fat calories are stored as fat. We all know that isn't healthy. In other countries a healthy meal consists of fruits, vegetables, sliced chicken in a salad, etc. Those are high fiber and primarily low glycemic index carbohydrates paired with lean sources of protein. Here, its a friggin bigmac and fries.

Cutting out sources of protein is not going to yield signficant weight loss, the opposite is true of carbohydrates. Protein doesn't spike insulin levels the way carbohydrates do. Protein is also harder for the body to break down and thus leaves you feeling full and satiated longer. As an added bonus protein is less likely to be stored as fat, boosts metabolism, and is more likely to be converted to muscle than carbohydrates.

I'm glad the veggie stuff makes you feel better but meat isn't why america is fat and veggie food, while healthy, is not a significant source of protein.