Low Carb Diet Plan for Vegetarians

The secret to formulating a successful low carb diet plan for vegetarians is to focus on the cornucopia of foods available to build meals. There is no time to pine over what you cannot eat when there is a colorful array of tasty menu options awaiting your selection.

Stick to salads and you will miss some of the most pleasing and nutritious ingredients out there. Think of a diet change as the chance to grow, to expand your horizons and move into a new realm of culinary possibilities.

Protein

Focus on the abundant sources of low carb protein available to vegetarians. Most vegetarian low carb choices are also lower in calories than animal products.

Do not despair if you are vegan. You still have numerous protein options. Tofu and soy products in particular are good low carb choices and pair nicely with the acceptable (low carb) vegetables and spices. Nuts, nut butters and seeds are filling and provide healthy fats. Seaweed and wheat gluten are not as widely used, but lend variety.

Vegetables

Try adding an additional vegetable to every meal. For lighter fare, select green leafy spinach, kale, cress and lettuce. Spice up your meal with peppers and onions. Return to childhood staples like broccoli, green beans, cauliflower or turnip. Experiment with exotic bamboo and Chinese cabbage. Zucchini, squash, and asparagus are inexpensive when in season and avocados are an indulgent treat.

Reset your habits. One of the benefits of eating low carb is that you are forced to focus on filling in the gaps in your meal (where once heavily processed, calorie dense items ruled) with healthier choices. Going cold turkey from processed foods allows your mind and body to adjust to the flavors of these new options. With no way to retreat to the chips or cookies, you will gradually become used to, even anticipate these nutritious items.

Fruits

Maximize your fruit intake. Choose raw fruits for their fiber and you will get your juice naturally, with no added sugar. Blend and freeze strawberries, pears, or honeydew melon for a cool treat. Tart cranberries and chewy raw figs make good snacks. Tomatoes are versatile--cook them, eat them whole, or cut them into a nice salad.

Aim for raw fruits as they are generally lower in carbs. Savor citrus, oranges, grapefruit or go with traditional, easy to transport apples or grapes.

Fungi

Consider mushrooms. Fungi are low carb choices. For vegetarians, they can create the illusion of meat when prepared properly.

Quorn is made from fungi and is useful for those who need to avoid soy. Quorn is used as a meat substitute, made into vegetarian burgers, chicken, sausage.

Herbs

Dive into piles of herbs. They have a negligible number of carbs. Herbs add flavor, texture and variety to your meals, dressing up the same old ingredients and turning them into culinary delights. Garlic, chiles and onion pair nicely with many herbs.

Keep it simple. Some of the best dishes use only a couple of items and the right blend of spices.