How to Become a Successful Vegetarian!!

Going vegetarian can boost your health in many ways, including lowering your blood pressure and cutting your cancer risk. But if you do it the wrong way, you might find that it's simply a recipe for weight gain. Make sure you follow these going vegetarian dos and don'ts to get all the benefits without the extra pounds.

Don't…
Give in to carb cravingsCutting animal proteins out of your diet can leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Many vegetarians wrongly turn to carbs like bread, rice and pasta to fill up. Inundating your body with carbs will send your blood sugar shooting up and down, zapping your energy, and increase your cortisol levels, which can add to belly fat.

Reach for frozen meals
Packaged, pre-prepared vegetarian or vegan meals often look like a quick and healthy meal option when you look at the cover packaging, but if you take a look at the nutritional information you might be less pleased. These meals are often full of calories, fat, sugar, salt, artificial flavors and preservatives. One popular frozen vegetarian pad Thai, for example, has more calories than a fast food bacon double cheeseburger, and more sodium than four and a half small orders of fast food French fries. Vegan baked goods and ice creams often contain more calories (and just as much sugar) as their non-vegan counterparts.

Overdo the cheeseCheese can be a great source of protein for people who don't eat animal proteins, but if you eat too much or pick the wrong ones, you'll gain weight fast. Some cheddar cheese, for example, has four times the calories and nine times the fat of skinless chicken breast, when you compare the two ounce for ounce. In addition, cheese is often high in salt, which can make you hold onto excess water and gain water weight.

Do…
Eat more plant-based proteinTo cut down on cravings and keep your body strong, up your intake of plant-based proteins. Get at least 46 grams of protein a day to keep your energy high, your immune system healthy and your stomach satisfied. Incorporate more of these great sources of protein into your diet: lentils, legumes, quinoa, Greek yogurt, hemp seeds and almonds.  

Pick the right prepackaged foods, and freshen them upDon't let pre-packaged foods sneak extra calories into your diet. Be careful to eat no more than three packaged meals a week. If they contain any kind of grain, make sure it's a whole grain to keep your insulin and blood sugar from spiking. Finally, incorporate a cup of fresh vegetables into any pre-packaged meal.

Eat better cheeses If you're a cheese lover, but don't want to overdo it, opt for healthier cheeses like goat cheese, feta and gruyere. Grating cheese on top of your meals instead of chowing down on whole chunks is also an easy way to limit how much you eat.