Vegetarian Assistance

xyzena

Hello there! I'm a vegetarian and I've been using MFP for awhile (Lost 25 pounds so far!) and still trying to lose more weight! The problem is working consumes a lot of my time. Therefore I usually eat at work, I work at a authentic pizzeria in the mall. Now, I know what you're thinking. Pizza place + dieting = trouble! We sell Pizza, salad, pasta, soups! I have been eating salad and balsamic dressing for awhile and I'm kind of getting bored of it. I was wondering if you can think of anything I can make that's healthy and vegetarian. Today I had a veggie sandwich on a hot dog roll. Please help!

Edit: Sorry I forgot to mention I eat there for free so I was wondering if there was anything you'd suggest that I can whip together there sorry forgot to add that in!

hajjcomb

Pack a lunch. Baked tofu in a pita with hummus, carrot and zucchini is a delicious cold veggie sandwich. Or make soup and heat it up at work.

shovav91

http://www.vegparadise.com/recipeindex.html

So many wonderful recipes here! I'm a vegetarian as well- feel free to look at my diary for inspiration
Good for you for making healthier choices!

Lady_Layla

<--drooling at what hajjcomb suggested! :-)

I snack on nuts a lot. I know they are high in calories and fat, but they are plant fats and protein, and therefore good for your body and muscles. Plus they are very filling! A handful of nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts) will really curb your hunger if that pizza starts to sound tempting!

melelana

Tofu, veggies, and rice keep surprisingly well when refridgerated and re-microwaved.

Other than that:
-premake asoup using veggie broth, fresh veggies, and a low cal grain or bean (like brown rice, lentils, black beans Freeze and microwave
-Make your own veggie sandwiches!
-There are a lot of really good frozen meals out there... Just weed out the meat ones
-BURRITOS & TACOS! Really easy to make low cal. Use tofu and/or black beans, salsa, a light cheese, tomatoes, avocado... use your imagination! Yummmmm...

Xtina_Beba

I agree. You should bring snacks to work.

Nuts, fruits (fresh or dried), fresh fruit/veggie smoothies, veggies, hummus, minestrone soup, tomato with basil soup, french onion soup.

gingerb85

I concur with everyone else - you need to pack your lunch and some snacks. I love an apple and some nut butter (raw cashew is my favorite) for a snack. Hummus and fresh veggies. A veggie loaded quinoa salad.

IvoryParchment

Italian food can be good on diets, especially if you don't have to restrict your sodium intake. You want to concentrate on vegetables, limit carbs, and avoid fats/cheeses. Wraps tend to be less carbs than rolls or pizza crust, so you can experiment with rolling things up in a vegetarian soft tortilla. Mozarella is often high fat, but you can substitute by melting vegetarian non fat cottage cheese in your wrap with tomato sauce and grilled vegetables, avoiding extra starchy veggies like potatoes. I think a nice spinach soft tortilla with grilled onions, mushrooms and bell peppers rolled up with a spoonful of nonfat cottage cheese and tomato sauce would be yummy, filling, and pretty low calorie.

Moonbyebye

you could bring your own ingredients to help spice up a salad. Like before you head out the door bring your own tofu, craisins, etc. (whatever the pizza place doesn't have!)

or you could bring your own veggie patty or something like that with you and use their buns etc.

_VoV

Agreeing with everyone here. Pack something from home that is hearty and nutrient dense. Check out the cookbook 'Appetite for Reduction.' There's a really good, packable quinoa-chickpea salad recipe there.