Vegitarian Friendly Low Calorie Meals

elmra

I admit it. I'm not a huge cook. I'm the only one in my family who doesn't eat meat. This usually results in me making some really unhealthy frozen dinner that doesn't even taste good night after night! Yuck! I'm tired of trying to eat healthy and lose weight while struggling to cook for one and eating food that really isn't good for me. Does anyone have any good recepies that could help me? Anything thats veggi friendly, and low calories! I'll continue to do some research online for good recepies, but I can use all the help I can get!

tapwaters

Take a look at Compassionate Cooks' website. They have some AWESOME stuff.

elmra

I'll do that! Thanks!

thistimeforme

I can't recommend this website enough!

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

LizGogol

There are tons of things you can make!

Bean Salad - beans, veggies, balsamic vinagrette and spices.

Veggie Pita Pizza - One Pita, tomatoe sauce, loads of veggies with a little cheese

Tacos made with ground round (soy) instead of beef.

Same idea goes for chili etc.

seafood eater?

Salmon cakes

scotty_81

My top five low calories vegetarian meals are (in no particular order):

Frittata - leek and feta is the best one I've tried so far with a lovely big salad on the side http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/03/king-of-frittatas.html

Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash - http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/01/cottage-pie-with-sweet-potato-mash.html

Fry off an onion in a spray of olive oil, cook off some carrots as well if you like them, add 300g of quorn mince (or other fake mince!) a tin of tomatoes a couple of teaspoons of vegetarian gravy granules, let it cook down for about ten minutes. In the meantime boil 420g white potatoes and 420g sweet potatoes, once soft mash with 25-50ml semi-skimmed milk and 25-50g light spread. Put the mince in the bottom of an oven proof dish and then top with the mash, grate 35g strong cheddar on top and put under the grill, serve with veggies of your choice. This is a good filling one.

Healthy tomato and macaroni cheese - http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/03/creamy-cheese-and-tomato-macaroni.html

Mushroom and rice one pot - http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2010/11/mushroom-and-rice-one-pot.html

Easy vegetarian curry - http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2010/11/veggie-curry.html - basically any kind of vegetable, some quorn pieces, fried off in a tiny drizzle of oil add a tablespoon of curry paste add a can of half fat coconut milk and serve with rice

I hope this helps. The BBC Good Food Website has lots of healthy recipes you just have to choose the 'vegetarian' option and then low fat and the calorie band i.e. 200-400 calories per portion

Ok, ok I couldn't just stick to five!

Here is a new one I tried on Friday, it is a really good pizza substitute - Caramelised red onion, tomato and mozzarella tart http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/04/red-onion-tomato-and-mozzarella-filo.html

This one is awesome and I'm going to make it again this week http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/01/roasted-butternut-squash-with-goats.html

Ooh and this one! http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/03/spinach-and-feta-pie-with-green-beans.html

JunkFoodJane

I try to eat the same meals as often as I can but without using meat substitutes (I'm anti-soy and would rather eat locally raised grass fed animals than soy). What I mean is- if I make the fam soft tacos, I skip the ground beef in mine and have Mex rice, black or garbonzo beans, cottage cheese (or sour cream, I prefer cottage cheese), tomatoes, guac, peppers, and if I feel up to it I cook broccoli in a taco seasoning to replace ground beef. Cooked with some olive oil it really is just about too yummy for words.

Spaghetti also- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, ricotta stirred into the sauce, topped with avocado. So easy.

Two favorite veggie sandwiches- lettuce, tomato and avocado or peppers cooked up in the skillet then put on a panini with avocado.

I may eat too much avocado being an adult is awesome. I so rarely got to have it as a kid!!

JackiSto

I'm not a vegetarian, but neither do I eat ton of meat. I recently discovered lentils, and am in love with lentil soup.

I used the following as my starting point for a recipe: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/01/eat-for-eight-bucks-moroccan-red-lentil-soup.html

Following is my version of the recipe. I include more carrots, use just regular lentils and use more of them (thicker soup) , and skip the cilantro, because I don't like it.

I triple it to make a batch that fills my chili-pot (boyfriend and I eat several meals of it plus I take it for lunch)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup dried lentils
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock (or water)
1 tablespoon lemon juice


Heat oil in large Dutch oven, or heavy lidded saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Saute onion and carrot, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, garlic, cumin, ground ginger, and salt and continue to sauté until very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lentils, tomato paste, and stock.

Bring to a simmer, then cook, partially covered until the lentils are tender, about 60 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Taste for seasoning.

JackiSto

Love your recs, Scotty!! that carmelized onion pizza replacement sounds amazing. Can't wait!

swimmermama

See if you can get into Indian food. The lentils and veggies that go into Indian cooking are cheap, nutritious, and yummy! There are lots of good recipes online. There's much more to Indian food than curries!

I made red lentils with spinach, onions, and tomatoes this afternoon for lunch. Similar to this but I used fresh spinach, about half the oil, and added half a can of diced tomatoes.

This is another favorite of mine, although I add cauliflower and other veggies to it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Coconut-Tofu-Keema/Detail.aspx

This is also very easy: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chickpea-Curry/Detail.aspx

abbyph311

One of my favorites is stirfry. Brown rice with veggies and a little soy sauce. I add shrimp to mine but you can cook it anyway you want.

corsayre8

I'm not a vegetarian, bit these two meals show up on my diary several times a week.

Veggie burrito - sorta, because it is open as I fill it with too many veggies. Whole wheat tortilla, 1/2 cup refried beans, 1/4 of an avocado, 1 Roma tomato, yellow onions, 3 leave of romain or red leaf lettuce, and Tapatio hot sauce. Always full for hours, and only about 350 calories.

Morningstar burger - morningstar griller pattie, whole wheat sandwich thin, 1 tbs BBQ sauce, tomato slices, onion sliced, avocado slices, lettuce leaves, and baked sweet potato fries (1 med sweet potato sprayed Pam and sprinkled with sea salt). Again very filling, and about 450 calories,

stephierue

I agree about trying to get into Indian food because it's very satisfying with all the sauces & spices. My family eats meat. I don't so I just substitute when I make mine. Try substitutions instead of trying to make something new everyday. Although I'm all for expanding my list. Go to the book store & look at vegetarian cookbooks. You will quickly become inspired.

majicone

Iv been a vego for 3 years now after being a meat adict for 25 years! I also cook for my wife who is allergic to just about everything and two kids so i see where your coming from!! The Great thing about Vego food is that it is simple and quick, as long as you have a well stocked healthy fridge! Meat substitute can be good if you cant be bothered. I always Keep a Vege mince(quorn or sanatarium) on hand, vege sausages and quorn pieces. If you make a spaghetti bolognaise use the vege mince for everyone.
They will hardly even tell iv served my spag bol to guests and have only had complements ++ its got bugger all fat in it!!!!!
But for what ever you cook you can keep a portion aside for your self and substitute as you go!

I have found that substituion is not that great for weight loss but its good in a hurry!.
Once you have a well stocked vego fridge and condiments section (i found this to be so important for healthy tasty food otherwise you get bored of eating the same old vegies every day.) some stuff i use regually soy sauce (sweet and normal) mixed herbs, oregano basil, Garlic lots of it!!!!(the real stuff try not to use the jarred stuff it makes you stink and its not that good for you buy a good knife or a good garlic crusher!!!!) salt pepper, vegie stock, tumeric, chilli flakes, cumin, corriander, thats just a few your imagination is your limit.

I am starting to write recipes and add them here! Ill add my pumpkin lasagna today! its a quick one most people love it I roast some thin slices of butternut pumpkin on some baking paper (i use this as pasta!) make some ratatouille then layer the pumpkin and ratatouille with some ricotta cheese. do a bout 4 layers and bake it in the oven for about 30 mins serve it with some salad awesome!!.

Anyway iv rattled on enough
hope this helps
If you want more ideas message me i was a chef once apon a time and im going to start a recipe book soon!

OH AND A HUGE BIT OF ADVICE!! WITH VEGO ITS EASY TO BE TEMPTED TO ADD FULL FAT CHEESE TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING!!! AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE AND YOUR MEALS WILL BE LOW CALORIE FOR SURE!!!!

MeekMeals

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maddymama

Appetite for Reduction is a great vegan cookbook that I am currently really enjoying. :-)
And, almost every recipe in it is simple and quick.
~maddymama

alyssia02

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