The Fastest Way To Lose Weight While Being A Vegetarian

According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, vegetarians tend to have lower body weight than non-vegetarians because they consume more plant-based foods. Vegetarian diets are naturally designed to be more heart-healthy, so it's fairly simple to tweak them for weight-loss purposes. Vegetarians can lose weight quickly if they keep an eye on their calorie and fat intake and ensure that they're getting proper nutrition. Careful planning is key when trying to lose weight while being vegetarian.

Step 1

Visit your doctor to determine the amount of calories, fat and protein you should eat each day. This will help you plan out your meals and snacks better, advises Vegetarian Times.

Step 2

Make a food journal in a notebook. Record the foods that you're eating, the time of day you're consuming them, and the amount of fat, calories and protein in each item.

Step 3

Evaluate your protein sources. Because they do not eat meat, it's important for vegetarians to get enough protein from other foods each day. However, if the majority of your protein is coming from items like full-fat cheese and peanut butter, the fat and calories add up quickly. Replace some of those choices with lean options such as beans, quinoa, tofu and low-fat dairy products, says mayoclinic.com.

Step 4

Measure everything with measuring cups and spoons. Fats such as butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing and cooking oil are high calorie, and often people forget to count them in their food logs.

Step 5

Alter your standard cooking methods, especially if you tend to fry or saute foods in oil. Mayoclinic.com says that switching to grilling, roasting or steaming food will automatic drop your calorie and fat intake and help you lose weight quickly.

Step 6

Snack on whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, as opposed to processed goodies such as chips and crackers. Fresh produce is much lower in calories than just about anything else you can reach for. Plus, it's packed with vitamins and nutrients, it will keep you feeling full longer and it's a vegetarian-friendly choice.