How to Eat Low Carb as a Vegetarian

Dana Barnett
Everyone's heard of the Atkins diet and other trendy low carb plans. According to the success stories, you eat lots of meat and barely any carbohydrates and you will lose massive amounts of weight. Low carb has caught on and most of us try to follow it to one extent or another even if we're not obsessive about it.

The majority of low-carb diets on the market are specifically geared towards meat eaters. The diets include some type of meat at every meal, but they don't offer any suggestions for those of us who would like to eat fewer carbs and more protein without eating anything that was once alive.

For vegetarians, there is a way to eat low-carb and relatively high protein without compromising our beliefs. There are many food options available to us that are healthy and will easily fit into a low carb diet.

Vegetables:

Although some vegetables such as corn are high in carbohydrates, other vegetables have few carbs. Broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus are great choices to enjoy at every meal. Salads contain few carbs too, so make a big salad with lots of different veggies. They're healthy and filling and they provide protein too!

Nuts:

Nuts are low in carbs and contain a lot of fiber. Nuts are a great snack when you're hungry, or you can add them to your favorite salads. Nuts are also a good source of protein, but be careful that you don't overdo it because nuts contain a lot of fat and eating a large amount of them will defeat the purpose and cause you to gain weight.

Tofu:

A serving of tofu is not only a low carb meal option, it is high in soy protein which is a healthy addition to any diet. Tofu can be prepared in a number of ways. It can be eaten raw, stir fried, or scrambled. Tofu is one of the most versatile foods on the planet, so don't be afraid to give it a try.

Veggie Burgers:

Most of the veggie burgers sold at the local grocery store are low carb. Check the label, though because some of the veggie chicken and other meat flavors are higher in carbs than the others. Veggie burgers are also high in protein and usually low in fat and calories, so they are a great meal option. If you want to do without the bread, put the burger between two slices of tomato with lettuce for a lower carb option.

Published by Dana Barnett

Dana is currently attending graduate school but enjoys writing in her very limited spare time. She also has two dogs who are the loves of her life.  View profile

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