Diet Chart for Weight Loss for Female Vegetarian

Namita (25-years-old) works in a private advertising agency in Pune. Namita has put on some weight over the past few months. Now, Namita wants to lose those extra pounds to regain her shape and self-esteem. Namita has already implemented exercises like physical activities, yoga, etc. to curb her weight. But one of her colleagues advised her to consult a dietician for a diet chart for weight loss for female vegetarians.

Diet contributes extensively to your weight loss journey. Moreover, Namita is a vegetarian, so she should know what food items she should consume to boost up weight loss process. The dietician prescribed a proper diet plan for weight loss for females. Now, Namita has started to see the results because of her diet and exercise plan.

It is an ardent job to lose weight on a vegetarian diet. Because people are eating too many refined carbs or highly processed foods. This article will give you an idea regarding how to lose weight if you are on a vegetarian diet.

What is a Vegetarian Diet?

Vegetarian diets include all food items except meat, fish, and poultry. Some people follow this diet solely for religious reasons; others may follow this diet due to its health benefits.

Some prime types of vegetarian diets are:

• Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian: People consume eggs and dairy but exclude meat, fish, and poultry
• Lacto-Vegetarian: In this type of vegetarian diet, people consume dairy but excludes eggs, meat, fish, and poultry
• Ovo-Vegetarian: This type of diet allows eggs but excludes dairy, meat, fish, and poultry
• Vegan: This type of diet excludes all animal products, including honey, dairy, and eggs

Many women used to follow a vegetarian diet as it helps them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Vegetarian people consume food items like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These foods are fiber-rich and contain micronutrients and beneficial plant compounds. Thus, they offer lower calories, fat, and protein as compared to animal foods.

Tips to Lose Weight for Women on a Vegetarian Diet

Several strategies will help women to lose weight who follow a vegetarian diet.

1. Fill Half of Your Plate with Non-Starchy Vegetables: Always choose high-fiber vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, leafy greens, and mushrooms. These foods will help you to stay full and minimize calorie intake.
2. Incorporate Protein at Every Meal and Snack: Consume high protein vegetable items like beans, nuts, seeds, lentils, eggs, dairy products, and soy foods (tempeh, tofu, and edamame).
3. Go for Complex Carbs: These fullness-increasing foods are mainly whole grains, starchy vegetables, fruits, and legumes.
4. Monitor your Portions of High-Calorie Foods: Pair nuts, seeds, and wholesome fat with lower-calorie foods are ideal.
5. Consume Mostly Whole Foods: Unprocessed foods like whole fruits and vegetables don’t contain any unnecessary ingredients.
6. Control Highly Processed Foods:  Discard meat alternatives, frozen meals, and other ultra-processed foods as they contain unwholesome additives, excess salt, and added sugar.

Also Read: What Is A FODMAP Diet? How Does It Deal With Digestive Issues?

A balanced vegetarian diet keeps focus on whole plant foods and restraints refined carbs and extensively processed products. Thus, a vegetarian diet is beneficial for your weight loss journey.

Vegetarian Food Items That Boost Your Weight Loss

To strengthen your weight loss process, follow a vegetarian diet that comes up with whole, minimally processed plant foods.

Vegetarian foods that support your weight process are:

1. Non-starch Vegetables: Broccoli, bell pepper, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, celery, and cucumber
2. Starchy Vegetables: Peas, potatoes, corn, and winter squash
3. Fruits: Berries, oranges, apples, grapes, citrus, kiwi, and mango
4. Whole Grains: Quinoa, brown rice, millet, barley, and bulgur wheat
5. Beans and Legumes: Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans
6. Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and nut butter
7. Lean Proteins: Beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, nut butter, eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, and soy products like tofu, tempeh, and edamame
8. Healthy Fats: Avocado, olive oil, coconut, nuts, seeds, nut butter, and cheese
9. Water and other Nutritious Beverages: Organically flavored seltzer, fruit-infused water, and plain coffee or tea

Foods that you must avoid while following a vegetarian diet

1. Ultra-processed vegetarian foods: Vegetable burgers, meat replacements, freezer meals, frozen desserts, and artificial dairy products
2. Refined carbs: White bread, white pasta, bagels, and crackers
3. Sugary foods and beverages: Candy, cookies, pastries, table sugar, sodas, fruit juices, mocktails, and sweet tea

Let’s take a look at a 5-day meal plan for weight loss for females.

Day 1:

• Breakfast: You can start your day with steel-cut oats, apples, peanut butter, and cinnamon
• Lunch: Try to consume healthy food items in your lunch. You can take a bowl of salad along with full-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette
• Dinner: Go for light food items for your dinner like black-bean soup with Greek yogurt, whole-grain bread, and a small bowl of salad
• Snack: Almonds and dark chocolates could be ideal

Day 2:

• Breakfast: On day 2, you can start your day with broccoli, cheddar along with a handful of berries
• Lunch: A burrito bowl with brown rice, pinto beans, tomato, onion, and avocado could be your ideal choice
• Dinner: Zucchini noodles with sunflower seeds, and white beans are perfect for your dinner
• Snack: String cheese or orange could be great

Day 3:

• Breakfast: Start your day with Greek yogurt along with pineapple, shredded coconut, and walnuts
• Lunch: Lentil soup, chopped bell peppers, and guacamole are the perfect options for your lunch
• Dinner: Eggplant, Parmesan cheese along with whole-grain pasta and green beans
• Snack: Granola bars or berries

Day 4:

• Breakfast: A glass of smoothie made up of almond milk, spinach, hemp seeds, frozen berries, and a banana
• Lunch: An egg salad on whole-grain bread with strawberries and carrots could be an ideal choice
• Dinner: Prepare a stir-fry dish with tofu, carrots, broccoli, brown rice, soy sauce, and honey
• Snack: Dried mango and pistachios

Day 5:

• Breakfast: Make a healthy breakfast with two eggs and one slice of avocado toast along with a handful of grapes
• Lunch: For lunch, you can prepare a salad with pecans, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and edamame
• Dinner: Go for handmade chickpea patties alongside sautéed mushrooms and a baked sweet potato
• Snack: Greek yogurt with cherries

The Bottom Line

Women who follow a vegetarian diet should choose nutritious foods that will boost their weight loss process. Discard refined carbs and highly processed food items. But you must remember that not all vegetarian foods are healthy and will help in losing weight. If you want to lose more fat from your belly, then follow a specific diet chart for belly fat loss for females.