A vegetarian keto diet could be the best of both worlds. You get the fat-burning, weight loss benefits of a low carb diet along with the anti-inflammatory and gut health benefits of a plant-based diet.
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Today we’re going to cover a lot of ground:
What Is The Keto Diet
Can You Do Keto As A Vegetarian
What Are The Benefits of A Vegetarian Keto Diet?
What Foods To Eat
What Foods To Avoid
90 Vegetarian Keto Diet Recipes To Try
The keto diet can be confusing, especially if you are a vegetarian. One minute you’ve got it all together, searching for dinner recipes, and next thing you know, you’re googling macro counts and plant-based proteins because you think you may be doing the whole keto diet wrong!
It happens to the best of us.
That’s why I wrote this guide – Total Keto Diet For Beginners to help folks navigate the keto diet without losing their mind.
Hey, I understand second-guessing the weight-loss gurus out there.
You should be skeptical!
But this is not just another keto blog. Seriously, the keto diet changed my life.
Six years ago I was a little heavier than I am now. Ok, a lot heavier:)
After a series of unfortunate events, including over-hearing one of my daughter’s friends calling me fat, and realizing I was becoming a shut-in due to my weight and a heavy cloud of depression, I decided to start this life-changing keto diet that I didn’t believe in at first. It appealed to me because I loved food & I refused to starve myself. I saw results immediately, and once I gained momentum there was no stopping me. I lost more than 20 pounds in the first two months. That’s when I started to believe in the keto diet. You can read more here.
Over the past six years I’ve learned a few things that I think will help you get control of your health and lose weight on the keto diet too. This guide outlines everything you need to know.
As cheesy as it may sound, you can change your life with this diet.
Not just shed a few pounds for a wedding, or get in shape for bikini season, I’m talking about real life altering progress.
The keto diet offers many health benefits in addition to weight loss that have impacted my life big time. It helped with my depression, balanced my hormones, stabilized my crazy migraines and I look ten years younger.
Hell, let’s be honest. I’m a different person now. And that’s fine. Because I hated who I had allowed myself to become.
But enough about me, let’s get to keto!
What Is The Keto Diet?
The ketogenic (keto) diet is a low carb, high-fat diet that helps you lose weight by entering a natural metabolic state known as ketosis.
In addition to weight loss, numerous studies have indicated that a ketogenic diet reduces factors for cardiovascular disease (diabetes, heart disease, stroke), and some suggest it to be beneficial for certain types of cancer.
The ketogenic diet works by forcing your body into a metabolic state known as ketosis.
Ketosis is a natural metabolic state. Ketones are produced when you eat minimal amounts of carbohydrates and moderate amounts of protein. When your body doesn’t have carbohydrates to burn for energy, it burns fat.
What Is A Plant-Based Diet?
Whole food, plant-based diets are heart healthy, environment-friendly, type-2 diabetes-fighting lifestyle eating plans that celebrate food and nourish your body.
On a plant-based diet, you’ll focus on eating whole or non-processed foods and plants like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts.
The major difference in a vegetarian keto diet and a plant-based diet?
You’ll omit the fruits (at first), grains, and legumes.
Benefits of A Plant-Based Diet
Gut Health
Plant-based diets that are full of whole grains, legumes, and seeds support gut health by increasing the healthy bacteria in our GI tract.
Diabetes
Both The American Diabetes Association and The American Academy of Dietetics recommend the plant-based diet for patients with diabetes.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women (& men) in the United States. Plant-based diets reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol, and helping with weight loss.
Cancer
Recent research shows us plant-based diets may help with slowing the progression of some cancers due to the antioxidant content of whole plant foods like fruits and vegetables.
How To Go Keto When You’re A Vegetarian
Ok, so there are a ton of carnivores on the keto diet. But here’s the truth:
You can make a vegetarian keto diet work by focusing on whole, plant-based low carb vegetables and lots of healthy fats.
What’s the down-low on fat? I thought fat was the enemy?
The way I see it, the low-fat trend that led to SnackWells cookies becoming a “healthy choice” is to blame for our obesity epidemic.
I’ll spare you the boring details of the backstory and hit the high-points.
Our long and sorted tale of misinformation begins back in 1911 with Proctor and Gamble’s patent for Crisco, which made trans fats a staple in margarine, shortenings, doughnuts, packaged cookies, baked goods, and fast-food fryers.
1956: Legislation to form the highway system gave McDonald’s, Burger King, and other fast-food joints (who used partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to transport their foods on the cheap) easy access to everyone’s hometown.
1976: Cut to 1976 when Senator George McGovern voiced concerns about possible links to diet and disease. McGovern called upon head guru of the day Nathan Pritikin whose belief was that you could reverse heart disease with nutrition.
The theory was that fat was the problem.
This hearing led to the first set of American mitybary guidelines that listed eat more carbs as a goal.
1981: Then it gets super shady when a1981 Welsh study that found a link to these oils and heart disease gets ignored.
Meanwhile, the food industry is capitalizing on the new recommendations, and the general public gets inundated with all sorts of “healthy” low-fat foods.
The story gets slightly better when Harvard researchers published findings similar to the Welsh study in 1993 – This time, people paid attention.
But in between, the number of Americans with type 2 diabetes and heart disease skyrocketed. And now here we are with today’s confusion about eating fat. Oh, and over 70% of our population is overweight.
Bottom Line: Let go of the past and embrace heart-healthy fats.
Healthy Fats
Coconut Oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
Macadamia Nut Oil
Walnut Oil (Use Small Amounts)
MCT Oil
Palm Oil
Also, stock up on healthy, low carb veggies.
Having them on hand when hunger strikes is your best bet.
Best Low Carb Vegetables For A Vegetarian Keto Diet
Asparagus
Avocados
Broccoli
Bell Peppers
Bok Choy
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Cucumbers
Collard Greens
Eggplant
Green Beans
Jalapeno Peppers
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Olives
Onions
Pumpkin
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Watercress
Zucchini
Eating fiber and nutrient-rich veggies will make you feel full during and after meals and help provide the vitamins & minerals your body needs for a healthy immune system.
**The complete list of ketogenic diet foods can be found & downloaded here.
Where To Get Your Protein On A Vegetarian Keto Diet
Concerned about protein? Or lack thereof?
I get it.
Since meat is out of the question, many people are left wondering if a vegetarian keto diet leads to protein deficiencies.
The answer is no!
You can get all the daily protein you need from eggs and cheese.
Still, eggs and cheese can only be prepared so many ways until they get so boring you can’t take it anymore.
Here are 5 tasty sources of protein that are keto-approved.
Eggs & Dairy
Tofu
Tempeh
Natto
Miso
Unsweetened Coconuts
Foods To Avoid
Ok, so it is always better to focus on what you can eat rather than what you can’t. My experience has taught me that the moment I tell myself a food is off-limits, the more I want it. But these foods are what I call universally unhealthy ( meaning no matter what “diet” you choose – these need to be on the avoid list.
Sugar
Sugar-Filled Drinks: Energy Drinks, Soda, Fruit Juice
Refined Grains: White Rice, White Pasta, White Bread
Processed Foods: Candy, Cake, Pastries, Chips
Fast Food
Junk Food
+ Foods To Avoid On A Vegetarian Keto Diet
Meat
Poultry
Seafood
So, if you’re ready to try the vegetarian keto diet, here is a sample meal plan that includes 90 recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus snacks.
Enjoy!
Keto Diet For Vegetarians – Breakfast
Vegan Bulletproof Coffee
Adding fat – in this case – coconut oil – to your morning cup of coffee will boost energy & fat burning! Try this Vegan recipe via Create Mindfully
Veggie Egg Muffins ~ Word To Your Mother Blog
Cheesy Egg Muffins ~ Nom Nom Paleo
Chaffles (Keto Waffles) – Word To Your Mother Blog
Low Carb Blueberry Pancakes ~ Tastaholics
Coconut Low Carb Porridge ~ Low Carb Yum
Easy Shakshuka
Crustless Spinach Cheese Pie ~ Low Carb Yum
Easy Oven Baked Eggs ~ Word To Your Mother Blog
Vanilla Waffles ~ The Big Man’s World
Keto Overnight “Oats” ~ Healthful Pursuit
Simple Tofu Scramble ~ V Nutrition
Baby Kale, Mozzarella, And Egg Bake Recipe ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Mini Eggplant Parmesan Breakfast Pizzas ~ Inspector Gorgeous
Vegan [Eggplant] Bacon ~ PopSugar Fitness
My Favorite Breakfast Frittata ~ Eat Yourself Skinny
Chia Pudding [5 VARIATIONS] ~ Wellness Mama
Cinnamon French Tofu Sticks ~ VegAnnie
Cheesy Spinach & Mushroom Breakfast Casserole ~ What A Girl Eats
Very-Veggie Cauliflower Hash Brown Breakfast Bowl ~ Iowa Girl Eats
Omega-3 Keto Porridge ~ The Castaway Kitchen
Breakfast Kale Salad ~ Glue & Glitter
Cheesy Spinach & Mushroom Breakfast Casserole ~ What A Girl Eats
Green Low Carb Breakfast Smoothie ~ Tastaholics
Breakfast Keto Smoothie ~ Broke Foodies
Low Carb Cinnamon Roll Muffins ~ The Big Man’s World
Vegetarian Mushroom Breakfast Casserole ~ Plaid & Paleo
Blueberry Muffins With Almond Flour ~ Wholesome Yum
Vegan Keto Peanut Butter Donuts ~ Meat Free Keto
10 Minute Blueberry Muffin In A Mug ~ Word To Your Mother Blog
Vegetarian Keto Diet Recipes – Lunch
Photo: Tastaholics
Caprese Salad ~ Tastaholics
Vegan Keto Bento Box ~ Julie’s Lifestyle
Rainbow Cauliflower Crust Pizza ~ Gimme Delicious
Margherita Pizza With Portobello Mushroom Crust ~ 80 Twenty Nutrition
Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese ~ The Iron You
Keto Tabbouleh ~ Two Sleevers
Guacamole Salad In A Jar ~ PopSugar
Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower Salad ~ Sugar Free Mom
Spicy Tomato Basil Soup ~ Tastaholics
Chopped Thai Salad With Coconut Curry Dressing ~ The Wicked Noodle
Butternut Squash Bisque ~ Civilized Caveman
Low Carb Vegan Bibimbap ~ Low Carb Vegan
Greek Collard Wraps
