# low-cal but filling food **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819 "2009-03-18T00:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819/21 "2009-03-21T17:35:18Z")
> [@Neverender](#): > > Swap the chicken for Quorn (or whatever else ‘vegetarian meat’ you can get) and you’re well on your way. Unless you’re keeping a vegetarian diet, I don’t think it’s necessary. Lean protein (like chicken breast) is pretty low cal. [According to this](http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-vegetarian-meals-chikn-patties-meatless-soy-free-frozen_f-Y2lkPTM5OTY1JmJpZD04MTUmZmlkPTc4ODg1JmVpZD0zOTQ5NzU5MDgmcG9zPTQmcGFyPSZrZXk9UXVvcm4.html), a Quorn chicken patty (2.6 oz) contains 150 calories. A 4 oz serving of a skinless, boneless chicken breast is about 120 calories. The best I could find with the Quorn products is the [Naked Cutlets](http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-quorn-naked-cutlets-i103005), which come in at 80 calories for about 2.4 oz. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Morningstar burgers and some of those faux-meat products, but, dietwise, they don’t seem to be any better than lean protein. Plus, for those who are controlling their carbs, it’s much easier to do so with protein that contains no carbs whatsoever. Sodium content on those things is pretty high, too, if you’re watching that. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to find, when I was counting calories, that, by weight, most of the vegetarian substitutes were more energy-dense than lean proteins. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819/22 "2009-03-21T22:33:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Morningstar burgers and some of those faux-meat products, but, dietwise, they don’t seem to be any better than lean protein. Plus, for those who are controlling their carbs, it’s much easier to do so with protein that contains no carbs whatsoever. Sodium content on those things is pretty high, too, if you’re watching that. Frankly, I was a bit surprised to find, when I was counting calories, that, by weight, most of the vegetarian substitutes were more energy-dense than lean proteins. I want to second the gist of this – that faux meat products are not necessarily healthy, and in some cases may be worse than real meat. In addition to what **pulykamell** already said, some faux meat products also contain unnecessary amounts of saturated fat (especially the non-vegan ones that contain milk and/or cheese) and not always as much protein as real animal meat. Additionally, excessive consumption of non-fermented soy products (which most faux meats are) has undetermined/controversial effects on long-term health; at the same time, protein from other vegetable sources may not be as high-quality or “complete” as soy or regular animal protein. It’s not ideal either way. As a wannabe-nutrition-nut-turned-vegan, I’m actually kinda sad that there aren’t more healthy, frozen vegan entrees available. If health is your primary or only concern, vegetarianism isn’t a requirement and may even be detrimental if you don’t know what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819/23 "2009-03-22T20:54:09Z")
> [@susan\_foster](#): > > I agree about whole grains, protein, and veggies, and didn’t want to forget to mention healthy fats. I know you had peanuts with your apple, but there’s also olive oil, fish, avocado… > > Meals should optimally have a balance between protein/fat/carbohydrates. Your lunch could have been modified just a little bit, and probably would have satisfied more. Maybe have spinach salad w/almonds & blueberries with the yogurt. If you wanted to keep the banana, maybe have it with the carrots alongside a PB&J on 100% whole wheat. Well, to be honest, I’m still having hunger issues even after taking a number of these suggestions into account. For example, today for lunch I had a wrap sandwich with lean ham, a piece of cheese, and spinach on a whole grain white wrap. I also had carrots and a small amount of pistachios. By 2:30 or 3 I was hungry. I had an apple at 3:30 and I hope that will carry me to dinner. Speaking of the nuts, which somebody else also mentioned, I have to admit I was surprised at how much fat and calories they have. I know it’s “good fat,” but they still have a heck of a lot of calories in a small serving. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819/24 "2009-03-22T20:59:45Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > Edit, because I found a better link: Foods low in [Energy Density](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00195) are what you’re looking for. That will definitely help - I’d be pretty hungry on what you are eating. > > Also, have you been tracking calories? I know what you posted is just a sample of part of a day, but it would leave me feeling very hungry too, and you don’t want to go too low calorie, it’s a great way to start feeling deprived and burnt out before you’ve accomplished anything. I haven’t been specifically tracking calories, but I’ve been paying more attention to them in the past week or so. Up 'til now, I mostly concentrated on not eating crap and substituting healthy foods instead – and convincing myself that I liked it! I don’t think I’m going to feel deprived or burned out, though the hunger is starting to wear thin, I must admit. I’ve lost 28 pounds since December (some of which was due to a week of stomach illness, I must admit), including about 13 pounds in the last three or four weeks, which is when I’ve really buckled down and tried to change my lifestyle overall. I fully intend to keep it going and not go back, but solving the hunger issue is certainly a challenge! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cal-but-filling-food/489819.md?page=1)