About the Program
A healthy Vegetarian Diet is more of a lifestyle rather than a diet plan. It’s based on eating wholesome foods while excluding red meat. A desire to lose weight is the primary reason most people switch to this type of diet, but it’s also a lifestyle that is gaining popularity each year.
Vegetarians do vary their diet somewhat depending on how strict they’ve decided to be with their food choices. For example, a lacto-ovo vegetarian will include eggs and dairy in their diet. A fishetarian or flexitarian will include fish in their diet, but no red meat.
The good thing about a vegetarian diet is that it’s one of the healthiest ways to eat since the diet is plant-based rather than protein-based. It also focuses on more fiber and less cholesterol and fat. This type of lifestyle is also beneficial to the environment, making it a great choice for yet another reason.
Food You Can Eat
– Whole grains
– Legumes
– Soy protein – cheese, tofu
– Nuts
– Leafy greens
– Fruits
– Vegetables
– Milk – soymilk, almond milk, or rice milk but not cow’s milk
– Egg replacers
– Fish – optional
Essentially, if the food comes from the earth or is plant-based, it is permissible.
Avoid: red meat, animal fats, chicken and poultry, pork, dairy, and possibly fish/seafood
Exercise
Exercise is always a good boost for health no matter what foods you eat, but vegetarians tend to be mindful of their health overall, so exercise is likely already incorporated into their lifestyle. If however you’ve just made the switch to a vegetarian way of eating, do include regular cardio and strength training along with healthy food choices.
Costs
There’s no cost per se for this program other than the food you purchase at the grocery store. However, adopting a vegetarian way of eating isn’t inexpensive.
Some books I recommend if you are transitioning to this lifestyle:
The Complete Vegetarian: The Essential Guide to Good Health (The Food Series)
The New Becoming Vegetarian: The Essential Guide To A Healthy Vegetarian Diet
Some books I recommend if you are a vegetarian trying to lose weight:
Weight Watchers Versatile Vegetarian
The Vegetarian Low-Carb Diet: The Fast, No-Hunger Weightloss Diet for Vegetarians
Pros
– Weight loss seems to come easily
– More options are available in the stores for vegetarians
– This diet reduces your risk of developing diabetes, stroke and heart disease
– Beneficial to the earth and environment
– Flexibility within the vegetarian lifestyle – some eat fish and some don’t
Cons
– A learning curve exists – you must learn how to get enough protein in your diet or else your body could become deficient and develop medical conditions as a result of too many carbohydrates and not enough protein
– All meat, except possibly fish, are off limits
– Protein deficiency is a real possibility if you’re not careful
Summary
The vegetarian diet is considered healthy overall. Admittedly, a vegetarian must be vigilant about getting enough protein in her daily diet given that meat is not an option. Adopting a vegetarian lifestyle means you could lose that unwanted weight and feel more energized. Just be careful to include other sources of protein in your diet so your body has a balanced intake of nutrients.
