Healthy vegetarian diet?!
I am 15 and becoming vegetarian!. Does anyone know a healthy, balanced, and hopefully tasty vegetarian diet!?
Thanks!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Thanks!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Vegetarian diets can be extremely healthy and tasty!
Try to base your diet around vegetables with a few fruits!. Vegetables are great for vitamins and nutirents and despite what too many people think, there are some that can kick meats butt in a protein competition!. Try adding black beans, white kidney beans, or fava beans to a salad!. Veggie burgers ( I like Yves veggie burgers), veggie dogs, veggie breakfast sausage, veggie chicken strips, veggie chicken nuggets, etc, etc!. can all be good healthy parts of your diet since most are low in fat and packed with protein and have at least some fiber!. For grains, eat multigrain oatmeal, porridge, cereals, etc!. As a vegetarian you can have basically everything that you used to eat minus the meat, chicken, fish, and eggs!. So really, the only thing you need to change is your sources of protein, and you can get tons of it from soy products (veggie burgers, soymilk, etc), beans, split peas, peas, air popped popcorn, nuts and seeds, broccolli, spinach, etc!.)!. You don't really need to worry about iron as long as you eat lots of veggies (especially the dark green ones) and vitamin c helps your body absorb more iron!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Try to base your diet around vegetables with a few fruits!. Vegetables are great for vitamins and nutirents and despite what too many people think, there are some that can kick meats butt in a protein competition!. Try adding black beans, white kidney beans, or fava beans to a salad!. Veggie burgers ( I like Yves veggie burgers), veggie dogs, veggie breakfast sausage, veggie chicken strips, veggie chicken nuggets, etc, etc!. can all be good healthy parts of your diet since most are low in fat and packed with protein and have at least some fiber!. For grains, eat multigrain oatmeal, porridge, cereals, etc!. As a vegetarian you can have basically everything that you used to eat minus the meat, chicken, fish, and eggs!. So really, the only thing you need to change is your sources of protein, and you can get tons of it from soy products (veggie burgers, soymilk, etc), beans, split peas, peas, air popped popcorn, nuts and seeds, broccolli, spinach, etc!.)!. You don't really need to worry about iron as long as you eat lots of veggies (especially the dark green ones) and vitamin c helps your body absorb more iron!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It is simple and very tasty!! Just beware of animal products like:
gelatin (made using meat byproducts) - this includes gel medicine caps, gummy bears, etc
lanolin (made from wool)
rennet (an enzyme found in the stomach of calves, young goats, and lambs that's used in cheese-making)
honey and beeswax (made by bees)
silk (made by silkworms)
shellac (the resinous secretion of the tiny lac insect)
cochineal (a red dye derived from the cochineal insect)
Just stick to it and remember why you are turning vegetarian!. Trust me, you get extremely used to it fast and you don't ever think about eating meat!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
gelatin (made using meat byproducts) - this includes gel medicine caps, gummy bears, etc
lanolin (made from wool)
rennet (an enzyme found in the stomach of calves, young goats, and lambs that's used in cheese-making)
honey and beeswax (made by bees)
silk (made by silkworms)
shellac (the resinous secretion of the tiny lac insect)
cochineal (a red dye derived from the cochineal insect)
Just stick to it and remember why you are turning vegetarian!. Trust me, you get extremely used to it fast and you don't ever think about eating meat!. Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
In my teens I was vegitarian for a few of years for ethical reasons!. I have since grown up and become more of a realist than an idealist!. Im not here to tell you not to be a vegitarian though!.
Do everything you can to get enough iron and protein!. There is a lot of vegetarian recipes and advice on the net, you should be able to find a few recipes you enjoy!. Sanitarium makes a lot of nice food for vegos and vegans, like rediburger and nutmeat etc!. It can get expensive buying that stuff though, so find tasty stuff you can make your self like lentil burgers and vegetable pies!. You might find you will start eating a lot of sweet treats and other meatless junkfood to be satisfied!.!.!. try not to do that!.
It is not the best time in your life to become a vegitarian because your body is growing and changing and on a vegitarian diet it can be difficult to get the right balance of nutrients!. But this is my advice!.!.!. Make sure you get the nutrients you need, because I know people who have been on vegetarian diets long term and they look waaayyyy older than they should, like really haggard!. Premature aging!.!.!.!.*shudder*!.!.!. as you get older you worry about that sort of stuff!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Do everything you can to get enough iron and protein!. There is a lot of vegetarian recipes and advice on the net, you should be able to find a few recipes you enjoy!. Sanitarium makes a lot of nice food for vegos and vegans, like rediburger and nutmeat etc!. It can get expensive buying that stuff though, so find tasty stuff you can make your self like lentil burgers and vegetable pies!. You might find you will start eating a lot of sweet treats and other meatless junkfood to be satisfied!.!.!. try not to do that!.
It is not the best time in your life to become a vegitarian because your body is growing and changing and on a vegitarian diet it can be difficult to get the right balance of nutrients!. But this is my advice!.!.!. Make sure you get the nutrients you need, because I know people who have been on vegetarian diets long term and they look waaayyyy older than they should, like really haggard!. Premature aging!.!.!.!.*shudder*!.!.!. as you get older you worry about that sort of stuff!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
The other people who answered your question have done a very good job of it! But there are a few things I'd like to add!.
If you want to be certain that you have enough "good" fat in your diet, in order to maintain healthy skin and hair, you might want to consider adding some omega 3 fatty acids to your diet!. The way I do this is by having 1 - 2 tablespoons of smart balance peanut butter nearly every day!. It is 100 calories per tablespoon, so if you eat this make sure you don't overdose on it!
"Omega-3’s are “essential” fatty acids: compounds that our bodies need, but can’t produce!. We simply have to get them from our food!. The American Heart Association recognizes Omega-3s to be integral to heart health, and evidence of their other possible benefits – from lowering blood pressure to improving joint health – continues to stack up!."
Another thing - you might want to start tracking your nutrients by using an online food calculator, such as fitday!.com!. It is surprisingly easy to keep track of your calories and nutrients with that site!.
Lastly, make sure you consult your doctor to make sure that you aren't neglecting any vitamins or minerals in your new diet!.
Good luck! I hope you will find vegetarianism to be as rewarding as I do!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you want to be certain that you have enough "good" fat in your diet, in order to maintain healthy skin and hair, you might want to consider adding some omega 3 fatty acids to your diet!. The way I do this is by having 1 - 2 tablespoons of smart balance peanut butter nearly every day!. It is 100 calories per tablespoon, so if you eat this make sure you don't overdose on it!
"Omega-3’s are “essential” fatty acids: compounds that our bodies need, but can’t produce!. We simply have to get them from our food!. The American Heart Association recognizes Omega-3s to be integral to heart health, and evidence of their other possible benefits – from lowering blood pressure to improving joint health – continues to stack up!."
Another thing - you might want to start tracking your nutrients by using an online food calculator, such as fitday!.com!. It is surprisingly easy to keep track of your calories and nutrients with that site!.
Lastly, make sure you consult your doctor to make sure that you aren't neglecting any vitamins or minerals in your new diet!.
Good luck! I hope you will find vegetarianism to be as rewarding as I do!.Www@FoodAQ@Com