Is it possible to Low Carb as a Vegetarian?

WantToBeSE

boots_babe wrote: »

I'm vegetarian and switched to low carb about 3 years ago. This was for health reasons rather than weight, but I did as a side effect lost around 3 stone which was nice.

And have been much healthier since - both in terms of how I feel, but also borne out by test results I've had before/after the switch.

It's absolutely possible, and once you start you see it's not difficult really. There are plenty of options for what to eat out there.

I started with this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vegetarian-Low-Carb-Diet-weightloss-vegetarians/dp/074992649X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

A couple of other good recipe books I use often are:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vegetarian-Low-Carb-Diet-Cookbook-no-hunger-weightloss-vegetarians/dp/0749926988/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454873176&sr=1-2&keywords=rose+elliot+low+carb+veg

And this has some lovely unusual recipes:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Low-carb-Gluten-free-Vegetarian-Delicious-Lifestyle/dp/1909108731/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454873272&sr=1-1&keywords=low+carb+vegetarian+celia+brooks

Good luck!

Thank you Boots, some great links there

Caterina

Subsctibing to this thread as I am in the same boat, mostly vegetarian (with small amount of fish thrown in for health reasons), was low carb for a long time but I just cannot do with the insane amount of cheese that I was eating. A bit of cheese is ok, not too much.

The Rose Elliott Low Carb Vegetarian book is really good.

I am planning to reduce carbs this way, from Monday:

- Base breakfasts on eggs and veg (think scrambled eggs with spinach, or omelettes courgette/asparagus etc...).

- Eliminate wheat bread completely, not because I am allergic or sensitive, but because the lovely sourdough I buy, which DH loves and needs to eat for health reasons, is so gorgeous it's addictive and I end up eating copious slices of it, smothered in butter and marmite. Abstinence is easier.

- Without completely eliminate carbs, just introduce lower carb, higher protein carbs, e.g. Socca (farinata, Faine'), a pancake made of chick pea flour, Google for recipes. Also very moderate amounts of quinoa, buckwheat and brown basmati.

- 1/2 my plate to consist of non starchy veg, green stuff, which I love, 1/4 protein (egg, nuts, pulses, tofu, tempeh etc), 1/4 the better carbs described above.

- Intersperse with no carb days, once or twice a week (other than low starch veg which have minimal carb content) e.g. Egg and spinach breakfast, smoked salmon and salad for lunch, a few nuts for snack, tofu and veg stir fry on cauli rice for dinner.

- NO SUGAR, under any circumstances, and NO ALCOHOL, which is even in minimal amounts a surefire deal breaker for me. One glass of wine and I hit the refined carbs, tried and tested.

- Only low sugar fruits, and one portion only per day, eaten with protein. Blueberries with full fat yogurt, or small apple with peanut butter.

************PORTION CONTROL!***********

That's more or less my plan from Monday. Let's do it together, I am also now subscribed to the OS weight loss thread for support and food diary.

Good luck!

MallyGirl

I looked into low carb but I don't eat eggs/cheese and have very little milk/yogurt. It didn't leave much. I am not a vegetarian though.
I have made some changes such as home made low carb granola for breakfast with berries instead of normal cereal, generally carb free (apart from the small amount in veg) lunches and then trying to keep the carb down for dinner. I very rarely eat bread. Lunches would be harder if I didn't work from home - I can make something veggie with whatever is in the fridge.

WantToBeSE

Caterina wrote: »

Subsctibing to this thread as I am in the same boat, mostly vegetarian (with small amount of fish thrown in for health reasons), was low carb for a long time but I just cannot do with the insane amount of cheese that I was eating. A bit of cheese is ok, not too much.

The Rose Elliott Low Carb Vegetarian book is really good.

I am planning to reduce carbs this way, from Monday:

- Base breakfasts on eggs and veg (think scrambled eggs with spinach, or omelettes courgette/asparagus etc...).

- Eliminate wheat bread completely, not because I am allergic or sensitive, but because the lovely sourdough I buy, which DH loves and needs to eat for health reasons, is so gorgeous it's addictive and I end up eating copious slices of it, smothered in butter and marmite. Abstinence is easier.

- Without completely eliminate carbs, just introduce lower carb, higher protein carbs, e.g. Socca (farinata, Faine'), a pancake made of chick pea flour, Google for recipes. Also very moderate amounts of quinoa, buckwheat and brown basmati.

- 1/2 my plate to consist of non starchy veg, green stuff, which I love, 1/4 protein (egg, nuts, pulses, tofu, tempeh etc), 1/4 the better carbs described above.

- Intersperse with no carb days, once or twice a week (other than low starch veg which have minimal carb content) e.g. Egg and spinach breakfast, smoked salmon and salad for lunch, a few nuts for snack, tofu and veg stir fry on cauli rice for dinner.

- NO SUGAR, under any circumstances, and NO ALCOHOL, which is even in minimal amounts a surefire deal breaker for me. One glass of wine and I hit the refined carbs, tried and tested.

- Only low sugar fruits, and one portion only per day, eaten with protein. Blueberries with full fat yogurt, or small apple with peanut butter.

************PORTION CONTROL!***********

That's more or less my plan from Monday. Let's do it together, I am also now subscribed to the OS weight loss thread for support and food diary.

Good luck!

Yay, i am so glad someone else is on board Caterina, your plan sounds really good.
My plan is just to do the following:

-Cut out bread and pasta. It makes me bloat horribly. Literally, after eating it i cannot do my trousers up. It makes me feel gross. So cutting that out totally, but have no idea what to have for lunches, as i almost always have sandwiches.

-Cut out alcohol. This is a biggie for me. I am now 2 weeks into doing it. I dont miss it at all, funnily enough.

-Cut out chocolate. Hmm...this is my hardest one by far! But if i cut it out, i see an almost immediate difference in my stomach bloating.

All that being said, my son and I are going away for Easter, for his 12th Birthday treat to Birmingham to a gaming convention. So i promised him Pizza Hut. You can bet your bottom dollar i won't be eating just salad at Pizza Hut! :rotfl: Do will allow myself to indulge there, but hope to be sensible at all other times :A

MallyGirl wrote: »

I looked into low carb but I don't eat eggs/cheese and have very little milk/yogurt. It didn't leave much. I am not a vegetarian though.
I have made some changes such as home made low carb granola for breakfast with berries instead of normal cereal, generally carb free (apart from the small amount in veg) lunches and then trying to keep the carb down for dinner. I very rarely eat bread. Lunches would be harder if I didn't work from home - I can make something veggie with whatever is in the fridge.

Yes, i eat very little dairy/eggs/milk too, and i find most of the low carbers to eat a dairy and egg (and meat) rich diet.

I cant even think of suitable breakfasts..i usually have toast! I am thinking porridge with agave nectar and some coconut.

Tried making cauliflower 'rice' and it was gross..and made so much mess! So thats a no no. I do have some quinoa and brown rice, so might just use that for now and concentrate on eliminating the bread and pasta.

I bought some courgettes, cucumbers and carrots to julienne (instead of buying a spiralizer)as i get the same results and i love the taste of raw veggies. I hate courgette, but it tastes so much better raw for some reason!

Teddi

Try vegan/vegetarian paleo recipes, some have sweet potato, etc for people who have already hit their goal weight so increase carbs slightly.


Some links:


https://lowcarb-vegan.net/tag/paleo/
http://sportyafros.com/nutrition/low-carb-paleoketo-vegetarian-chili/
https://uk.pinterest.com/positivekristen/vegan-%2B-paleo-%2B-low-carb-%2B-gluten-free-recipes/


I don't know how doable it is, but lots of people out there seem to do well on it.

WantToBeSE

Thanks Teddi, I'll have a look at those links I love sweet potato but didnt know i could eat it when low carbing.

Caterina

Sweet potato is not ideal if you want to be so low carb that you want to go into ketosis like in Atkins, but if you are looking to just reduce simple carbs and have a small amount of complex carbs and something with good nutritional value, sweet potatoes tick the box, in moderate amounts obvs!