Top Tips to Lose Weight the Vegetarian Way

If you are trying to lose weight but don't eat meat then you may find it difficult to find diet plans for a vegetarian weight loss diet. Even if you are a meat eater, vegetarian foods can be very healthy as a vegetarian menu is generally high in fiber, complex carbohydrates and vegetables, providing all the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Vegetarian food is generally lower in fat, and the fats it does contain are usually of the healthier, polyunsaturated variety. That is one reason why a vegetarian weight loss diet can be so good.

Some people worry about their source of protein if they are following a weight loss diet. This needn't be a problem because there are many sources of vegetarian protein. Dairy products are a good source but these are fairly high in fat, so not great as the main source of protein in a vegetarian weight loss diet. Meat substitutes such as quorn or tofu are high sources of vegetarian protein too, as are beans, lentils, chick peas and other pulses.

Breakfast is the most important meal in any diet, whether as part of a vegetarian weight loss diet or not. You should make sure you eat plenty of carbohydrates at breakfast. Oats are a good source of protein and very low fat, so porridge (made with water) would be an excellent start to the day in a weight loss diet. If you don't like porridge, then a good alternative would be home made muesli made with oats, dried fruit, a few nuts, and seeds, and soaked in apple juice overnight. During the morning it is a good idea to have a snack to keep your blood sugars up - fruit is great for this. Just because you are following a vegetarian weight loss diet it doesn't mean you have to stop snacking!

Your lunch is a crucial part of your weight loss diet. You need enough to keep you going for the rest of the day but want to avoid fatty foods. You could have a baked potato with a small amount of cheese, a rice and vegetable salad, pitta breads with mixed beans and salad, or baked beans on toast. All would be good sources of carbohydrate and protein. Why not make up a snack box of nuts and dried fruit for the afternoon munchies?

For your evening meal you should make sure you include vegetables and fruit. You could have stir fried tofu and vegetables with rice, a lentil bake with salad, quorn bolognaise, chilli beans and rice. You could follow that with fresh fruit, a low fat yoghurt, even a low sugar, low fat pie - just because you are following a vegetarian weight loss diet it doesn't have to be boring.

To lose weight successfully you can't get bored with your food or you will lose interest. Have a look for some low-fat vegetarian meals as part of your vegetarian weight loss diet plan, keep things interesting and you will be more likely to succeed.

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