Low Carb Vegetarian – Low Carb Vegan Diet Made Easy!
Does being a low carb vegetarian seem hopeless to you? These lists and tips can help make the low carb vegan diet possible, and can even keep you motivated.
The low carb vegetarian diet can be the most challenging and confusing diet plan around. In a low carb diet wherein meat is considered a key nutrient source, how can you really be a vegetarian at the same time? But the supposed benefits of a low carb vegan diet are true, as even medical studies have revealed. According to a study, the benefits of a low carb diet rich in proteins taken from vegetable sources were compared to those of a vegan diet with high carbs. The study showed that while both diets led to weight loss, the low carb plan also improved blood pressure and blood lipids, thus enhancing overall health.
The Problem
The whole low carb vegetarian diet sounds promising, and a lot of people are interested. It doesn’t take them long, though, to start running out of feasible food choices. And since a successful diet requires you to be in it for the long haul, and variety has always been the secret to dieting success, how can you really achieve your goals if you run out of low carb vegan food options to enjoy?
Low Carb Vegetable List
It is really challenging to think of food options that meet both low carb and vegetarian requirements. To make things easier for you, here’s a list of the low carb vegetarian foods you can consume guiltlessly:
- Green vegetables (lettuce, spinach, and so on)
- Collards, kale, and mustard greens
- Herbs such as cilantro, basil, thyme, parsley, and rosemary
- Radish
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Cucumbers
- Asparagus
- Green beans
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Avocado
- Jalapeno peppers and red/green bell peppers
- Scallions
- Zuchinni
- Summer squash
- Brussels sprouts
- Bamboo shoots
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Eggplant
- Onions
- Artichokes
- Okra
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Beets
- Corn
- Turnip
That seems like a short list for a whole lifetime of being a low carb vegetarian. But with a little creativity and resourcefulness, just imagine all the different types of meals you can come up with using all these possible ingredients. Not only that, but you can also choose the correct manner of preparation. Stir fried vegetables and vegetable curry are great low carb vegetarian options that are far from boring.
Low Carb Fruit List
Aside from vegetables, vegetarians also benefit a lot from fruits. These are non-animal food products that are tasty and can provide a lot of promising vitamins and minerals. But which fruits are most benefit for a low carb vegetarian? Here’s a list to get you started:
- Lemon or lime
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Cranberres
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Papaya
- Watermelon
- Peaches
- Melon
- Blueberries
- Honeydew
- Cantaloupes
- Apples
- Guava
- Grapefruit
- Apricot
These fruits can spice up your low carb vegan meal plan. You can add any of these fruits to all your meals as desserts and you can eat them as your main snack food. You can prepare fruit juices for a low carb vegan health drink. These fruits really come in handy for the vegetarian and low-carb dieter.
Low Carb Vegan Meal Recipes and Other Resources
Aside from vegetable and fruit lists, there are also a lot of readymade meal recipes for the low carb vegetarian. There are recipes for main dishes, side dishes, salads, appetizers, soups, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts.
Aside from meal plans and recipes, you can also find sauces and marinade recipes that can be used for tasty and saucy low carb vegan meals. One of the tips you often hear given to low carb dieters is to beware of sauces. In fact, some low carb experts say that eating a fast food burger is low carb enough as long as you do not add sauces. But a lot of people don’t feel comfortable eating without sauces; foods just taste bland and boring. Good thing there are special low carb vegan sauce recipes, such as:
- Low carb gravy
- Low carb BBQ sauce
- Berry syrup (can be used to replace pancake syrups)
- Plum sauce
- Red pepper cream sauce
- Peanut sauce
- Lemon sauce
The same food with a different sauce becomes a whole new meal in itself. So getting a few of these recipes can already help you prepare several exciting and tasty meals, all of which are low carb and vegetarian.
Summary
The concept of the low carb vegan diet seems highly restrictive and difficult to succeed in at first. But if you know which foods can help achieve your success and if you are willing to experiment and go creative with your meals, you can enjoy all the benefits promised by a low carbohydrate vegan diet.