I've been vegetarian for a while now (2-3years), but I'm pretty sure my diet is unhealthy. Any suggestions?

Question

I'm not talking lose weight; I'm talking be healthy. I know the generics - ie, I need protein, ie eat tofu. Any more specific than that? Maybe an example of a good wholesome days worth of meals.

Answer 1

Here is a cool and easy quiz to take to evaluate your food intake and what you may be missing:

http://www.whfoods.com/foodadvisor.php

Then they have plenty of menus and recipes too:

http://whfoods.org/new7day.php

Answer 2

try and look at indian diet, indian foods. The only culture in the world whose population is 80% vegetarian, they have evolved their vegetarian diet to include all the necessary nutrition.

just do a search for indian recipes, that will ensure u a healthier veg diet

Answer 3

Hm, okay, try eating more fresh veggies and fruits, raw nuts and the like

Here is a sample day of mine:

Breakfast:

1 pint of blueberries

1 small-medium canteloupe

Lunch:

20 oz carrot juice

1 veggie sandwich (avocado, tomato, lettuce/sprouts, cucumber, vegenaise, bread)

a few crackers or pretzels or something

Dinner:

Big salad of assorted veggies

2 Yves BBQ beef skewers with BBQ sauce

and sometimes I will have a little soy ice cream or something

So I guess you just need to mkae sure you have your produce, not eat too many junky carbs(cakes, pastries. etc) and vegetarian junk.  Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

Take a look at the Vegetarian food pyramid

http://www.vegsource.com/nutrition/pyram...

Answer 5

Dont be selective. Eat all kind of vegetables..red..green..leafy ..root. Dont eat mock meat, a lot preservative and make you put on weight.

Answer 6

If you think that it is unhealthy - it more than likely is.

Have you thought about going to a doctor and getting a referral to a dietitian/nutritionist for help in setting up a good diet that meets your personal needs?

They can help setup menus and shopping lists to help you along the way to get started making sure that you are indeed eating a healthy diet.

You have been given several good suggestions here - but really think that you should also seriously consider talking to your doctor and getting the referral - to be on the safe side for your personal health.

Answer 7

I don't know if you eat any animal products at all. (e.g. milk, butter) And I am not a vegetarian but I try to stay healthy buy not eating a lot of processed foods. Here are my guidelines...

~I don't eat boxed cereals...they are poor in nutrients and hard to digest.

~Make my own salad dressing...the stuff you buy mostly contain rancid vegetable oils, trans fatty acids and additives.

~Always use butter..margarine can lead to impoverishing diseases.

~Put your money into whole foods rather than vitamins.

~The most nourishing vegetables are the least expensive..potatoes, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, onions, broccoli, beets.

~Eggs are very nourishing and a low cost alternative to meat. I buy omega 3 eggs.

~Use organic whole grains

~Also use whole grain flour or unbleached flour

~Use brown rice instead of white rice...

~Consider making kombucha its more nourishing than soft drinks, beer or wine.(I have not actually made this yet but plan on it)

~Cut out all junk food..prepared cookies and cakes, soft drinks, frozen foods, fast foods, etc.

Answer 8

~ I started out being a vegetarian but still ate like c**p.  Just because I cut out meat still left me with a lot of unhealthy choices.  Then I went to Vegan.  I felt better but was still not eating the right way and getting enough fruits and veggies.  I ate way to much pasta for one thing.  Now I have started eating raw.  I eat all day long as much as I want and I have never felt better.  I make veggies shakes, fruit shakes and snack all day on nuts, fruits and vegetables.  Nothing cooked and I feel great.  

Its not about what label you have or what you have or have not cut out of your diet but rather learning how much of everything your body needs, how to combine foods for optimal health and what is not providing anything.  I would include more raw food, eat more fruits and veggies cooked or raw and less processed sugar and starch.  Tofu is great as a supplement protein but has no real benefit to your health what so ever.  I have eaten some pretty unhealthy vegan foods over tofu.  :o)

Answer 9

Here are some web sites with some great vegan/vegetarian food.

http://silksoymilk.com -chocolate and chai flavors are good

http://amys.com

http://organicfoodbar.com

http://gardenburger.com

http://yvesveggie.com

http://sunshineburger.com

http://rightfoods.com

http://veganstore.com -they have chocolate!

http://nakedjuice.com

http://www.cedarsfoods.com/

http://bolthouse.com

http://naturespath.com

http://turtlemountain.com

http://fruitabu.com

http://clifbar.com

http://healthvalley.com

Here are some good recipes:

Stir fry- You need cut up tofu, soy sauce, olive oil, steamed veggies, and cooked rice

Get a frying pan and coat it with olive oil. The put the tofu in the pan and brown each side of it. Next, add the veggies. Add a little soy sauce and put in the rice. Mix everything up and then let it sit on the stove, occasionally stirring it to make sure it doesn't burn. After about a minute and a half of that put it in a bowl and enjoy!

Hummus- chick peas, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, black pepper, and any other spices/seasonings you like

Puree the chick peas. Then add a little lemon juice, paprika, pepper, and other spices. Then stir. Serve with a pita, with cucumbers, or on a veggie wrap.

Here are some snack and dinner suggestions:

Snacks:

Celery with peanut butter

Apples with peanut butter

Pita with hummus

Raisins

Amy's Apple Toaster Pops

All natural popsicles

Natural Valley bars

Clif Bar

Fruit Leather

Silk Chocolate Soy Milk

Naked Juice

Apple chips

Carrots

Celery

Dinners:

Tofu Stir Fry

Amy's Pizzas

Amy's entrees

Sandwiches made with Yves meatless deli slices

Tofu Scramble

Gardenburgers

Natural Oven's bagels

Dr. McDougall's Soups and Noodle Soups

Soy Cheese Quesedillas

Veggie Wraps

Lentil Soup

Tempeh Mixed With Wild Rice and Veggies

Health is Wealth Chicken-free Nuggets

Whole foods is a great store for vegetarians/vegans, so I recommend grocery shopping there. You also can get a lot of the things I listed above there.

Answer 10

Google (or yahoo) Vegetarian food pyramid.  You'll find out exactly what you need to be eating to be healthy!