OK.  I just started my vegan journey (I say journey because I am not totally off meat yet) a few weeks ago and am making some better choices for my family and myself.  We are slowly moving towards this great lifestyle but it is a little more tricky when my three girls are involved.  So my biggest issue is that I am hungry all of the time.  I feel like I am on a diet and am surrounded by foods that I cannot eat.  Does anyone have any suggestions for me to not be hungry all of the time?  I am not a plus sized dad but I could lose a few pounds.  As a man I feel like I have a bigger appetite and my body is magically drawn to meat.  Can any other guys identify with my struggle?

i say eat more! unless you're eating nasty foods. i am hungry all the time as well... so i am just trying to eat more and get more filling, hearty dishes in. since i am not eating meat or dairy, i haven't seens a negative effect of me eating more... i am not putting on an extra weight- i actually would like to b/c i've gotten to skinny for my taste.

i would like to see what others suggest b/c i need help as well!

I would agree, eat more. My boyfriend and I were both ravenous the first two weeks of the transition, wanted to eat all the time, but eventually it leveled off. I would suggest eating smaller meals more often, and like Alicia say in TKD, chew! It seriously works. I consulted the book when we were sooo hungry, and that was a recommendation. Chew very well so that your body absorbs more of the nutrients, and will therefore be less hungry. This helped me.

Nick, I am beginning to eat "kind" not because I hate meat, actually I love it-ALOT. I am however, compelled to no longer collude with corporate agriculture and the lack of dignity and respect shown to animals. I can't condone this. I suggest going a little higher in the fat department with your vegan choices right now. I suggest the "Veganomicon" cookbook, as it will give you some great recipes that will feel more substantial, some with more fat, that are more rich and feel a little more decadent. The one thing to keep in mind, which I have found, is that until eating and choices become second nature, you will have to consciously plan every meal, every snack to ensure variety and ward off frustration. I also recommend the Gardein line of products which are quick easy and meat and dairy free. The "beef" tips, "chicken" products and buffalo "wings" are quite yummy. You mention having three girls and be sure to check out the Tofutti "ice cream" snacks that are perfect for summer. Vegan does not mean boring, bland or gross as we have been led to believe. It can be rich, decadent and delicious but it does take some planning. Best of luck-I am right there with you. 

Seitan Piccata. Teriyaki Tempeh. Pizza with Field Roast Sausage, Daiya Cheese, and whatever other veggies of choice (tonight was Brussel Sprouts, Tomatoes, shredded Sweet Potatoes, and sliced Portabella Mushrooms).  Nachos with Black Beans, Guacamole, and Vegan Sour Cream.

These are just some of my favorites.  The foods are out there.  You just have to keep looking and learning.  I'm nearing my 8th month vegan and, I'll tell ya what, as someone who did love meat, I don't miss it at all.  I'm magically drawn to GOOD FOOD, as I'm sure you are too.  So go out, buy a cookbook or two, or even just a good book that runs down a full list of all the foods you can eat...and go to town!

Another important thing that's been mentioned already is to plan ahead.  Having some snacks ready throughout the day will stop the pangs of hunger beckoning at your stomach.  Nuts, carrot sticks, fruit, chips (and any combination of them or others) will keep you feeling good between meals.  I agree with Thom about the Gardein line of products - it'll satisfy your hunger and tastebuds (from what you got out of meat).

Beans, pasta, potatoes, grilled vegetables.  Once you get a handle on tofu, tempeh, seitan (the "meat alternatives"), you're set.  Make large portions - eat til you're full - and have any leftovers for lunch the next day. 

Good luck with it - it's gonna get easier and easier and yummier and yummier.

I can't fit any of my meals on one plate only. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all have to be carried out on two large plates.  This food is just not calorically dense enough for me to get away without eating a ton every day.

I am the thinnest person I know and will eat more then anybody as well.

Focus on eating whole foods with high nutritional content that your body can easilly digest.  I find a huge "monster" salad works great.  For kids, I recomend the purple cabage, kale, broccoli finely chopped (all raw), with currants (or raisins), with carrots and daicon, sunflowerseeds, hemp seeds, drizzled with hemp oil, a little bit of flax oil, and a little pumpkin oil.  It is for the most part a mild and sweet salad.  Throw in some sprouted quinoa for extra protine and you've got something that will satisfy your hunger with pure nutrition.  That's my lunch.  Sometimes, like with the broccoli, chopping it fine, or with carrots, using a carrot peeler instead of chopping it, changes the texture enough so that the ingredients are mixed together harmoniously so that even picky eaters will enjoy it. 

Breakfast is a smoothy with a banana, a handfull of walnuts, 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed, blueberries, two tablespoons of hemp protine, and enough coconut water to cover 2/3 of the other ingredients.  Blend it all up.  Kids love it!

Eat snacks!  apples, dates, nuts, carrots, pumpkin seeds... etc.  

Keep in mind, the more energy you need to digest food, the less energy you'll have and the more hungry you'll be later.  That means stay away from highly cooked foods, processed foods, stimulating foods (sugar and caffiene). 

I got my tips from:  http://www.brendanbrazier.com/book/index.html

I think what most said above is good, just eat more.  I find that one bean sandwich or wrap is not enough for me sometimes so i will eat two. I eat alot of chips and cookies during the day at times as well... 

And a simple one : NUTS!!!!   Nuts will fill you up...brazil, walnuts, almonds and cashews are the main one i eat... (usually raw and organic)

 

As Smith said above "Field Roast Sausage" ~ those things are pretty good, i just recently had some for the first time.

My boyfriend had this problemas well!  What we found worked the best was that I would pack him all kinds of delicious snacks to have on him throughout the day to snack on whenever he started to feel hungry!  When you let yourself get beyond a certain point of hunger you start to tell yourself it's okay to cheat, but then it happens all the time :(  we do a lot of almonds, cashews, dried apricots, apples, oranges, banana chips (at trader joes, clayton goes through at least two bags a week!) and other healthy stuff.  Just always keep some on you and you'll do just fine :)

so THATS where all the guys were hiding!  nice to see you out and about!

the best thing I can suggest in regard to feeling you are surrounded by stuff you can't eat is to make sure none of it is in your house.  I literally went through everything and filled up bags with food that was no longer good for me and gave it all away to friends/family.  If I am hungry and go into the kitchen, I can pick on anything I want because its all good now!

 

I second what John said about a monster salad. If you feel hungry but dont want to overeat get a whole food that is nutrient dense - like vegetables and fruits. Heck, a good apple can fill you up because its full of fiber. Eat smaller meals spaced out throughout the day. I typically do: Breakfast Snack Lunch Snack Dinner Snack Keeps me satisfied throughout the day. My snacks are always raw fruits and veggies. Even something like green pepper strips and hummus make a great snack that is filling.

My hubby is always more filled when I add in quinoa as the grain or soba / udon noodles to salads, along with tempeh (he's not into plain old tofu yet). And variety on your plate will definitely help...for example, quinoa salad, braised cabbage and greens, tempeh cutlets...this definitely fills my hubby up and he is a big guy with a massive appetite! He also snacks on an apple, orange and banana during the day which seems to curb his hunger :)