A Vegetarian Weight Loss Diet - A Simple Flavorful Alternative

Studies show that Americans spend $30 Billion per year on diet programs and products, and yet, after a short time, most of these people have regained the weight they initially lost. One of the main culprits is the high fat content of our foods. And high fat means high calories.

Generally speaking, people who eat grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts as their main source of food tend to be slimmer. These people do not eat meat and are usually referred to as vegetarians.

Now let's not get involved in any philosophical or religious reasons why some people choose to become vegetarians. The purpose of this article is to show that using a vegetarian weight loss diet can be an effective method of reducing weight.

A person who does not eat meat, fowl, fish or any by-product is normally referred to as a vegetarian. They live on a diet of grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit - some vegetarians eat eggs, milk and milk products. Those who abstain from all flesh and meat products, and eat only plant-based foods are called vegans.

You don't need to give up all flesh to be a vegetarian. You can be a part-vegetarian who eats (say) fish or a little chicken. Vegetarianism doesn't demand obedience to a set of strict veggie-rules. So follow the sort of vegetarian weight loss diet you want to follow.

A plant-based diet contains a low amount of fat, so it lets you eat larger quantities of delicious fresh food, with less guilt and fear of weight gain. Just remember to eat a variety of foods and use a generous supply of fiber-rich foods in your diet.

The Vegetarian Food Pyramid recommends limiting fat intake because most Americans diets are too high in fat, especially saturated fat. Use the Pyramid to maintain a healthy balanced diet by eating foods from all the food groups. Each of these vegetarian food groups provides some, but not all, of the nutrients you need. No one food group is more important than another - for good health, you need them all.

Adequate protein can be found in dairy products, eggs and nuts. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that those who choose foods of only plant origin must supplement the diet with vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc by eating fortified foods or taking vitamin B12 vitamin D supplements.

Vegetarian food is easy to cook - many of your snack meals may already be 'vegetarian'. And there is plenty of delicious vegetarian recipes to choose from. But because meat provides a range of different vitamins and minerals, it means that a person practicing vegetarianism should eat a greater variety of foods than meat-eaters.

A well-balanced vegetarian weight loss diet provides all the nutrients you need for good health. Using such a plan or "diet' can expose you to a wide selection of tasteful foods without the drawbacks of high-fat/calorie foods that simply add the unecessary pounds to your body.

Gary Machado is an internet marketer and writes on a variety of topics of interest. Did you find these tips on vegetarian diet useful? You can learn a lot more by visiting http://www.dietsuccessnews.com