All food pyramids aren't developed equal. The beloved "USDA Food Pyramid" that we all grew up with and were reminded of every single day in school, does not quite satisfy the nutritional demands and wants of vegetarians and vegans. A couple of reasons why some people fall off the "vegetarian wagon" are; people really don't "feel full" or people say they become sick on a vegetarian diet. The greatest causes of these two ill symptoms of vegetarianism are rooted in one issue; the lack of nutritional foods and supplements to assist the body. Often times, vegetarians don't know how to eat adequately, thus, leading them to feel ill or not feeling full and content from the foods they are consuming. This results in vegetarians loading up on veggie burgers, pre-packaged meals, pizza, cheese sandwiches and junk food, just to attempt to satisfy their hunger, all the while sacrificing their health.

To prevent vegetarians from failing at their life-style and eating habits; to prevent vegetarians and vegans from eating an excessive amount of of the improper types of foods (i.e. veggie burgers, soy-based meat alternatives, and carbohydrates) and to prevent vegetarians from getting sick, here is a meat-free food pyramid to empower vegetarians and vegans with the foods which they must focus on consuming everyday to support their bodies and their appetites.

Vegetables and Fruits - The foundation of your meatless diet should be fresh vegetables; thus the word "vegetarian." Vegetarians ought to eat at the very least 6 servings per day of vegetables and fruits. This is really important due to the fact the plant kingdom offers various nutrients, natural vitamins and trace minerals that vegetarians and vegans require to provide their bodies with energy and natural vitamins to support cell advancement and development. Avoid canned fruits and vegetables as these kinds of products do not add very much benefit to the body. Instead, opt to consume fresh or lightly cooked vegetables to maximize the nutritious benefits that the plant kingdom has to offer you. Vegetables and fruits are also full of fiber and are an excellent way to naturally cleanse the body. Vegetarians will be surprised at how much more energized they can feel just by eating fresh vegetables and fruit.

Pasta, Rice, Whole Grains, Cereals, and Bread - Take into account several years ago, everyone was "anti-carbohydrates?" During that time, carbohydrates caught a negative rap. The trick is consuming complex carbohydrates in moderation. As a vegetarian, grains and pastas are a staple of this meatless diet. Vegetarians and vegans should not remove this main fuel from their diets. Just be certain to eat a minimum of 4 servings per day to support the functioning of the brain and supply your whole body amino acids.

Legumes (beans), Seeds, Nuts - Beans and nuts are amazing options of healthy fats, fiber and proteins for any meatless food plan. 3 servings is the appropriate amount that vegetarians and vegans should consume to balance their meatless diet. Attempt to avoid canned beans considering that these beans are loaded with preservatives and salt. To really obtain the most nutritional benefit from beans, use dried beans cooked slowly in a crock-pot.

Meat Alternatives - Meat alternatives for example veggie burgers, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tempeh, tofu, and seitan should be limited to about 2 servings per day. It is far better to eat tofu, seitan, and tempeh then it is to eat the processed "faux meat" products on the market. The less processed the foods, the more nutrients vegetarians and vegans will receive from meat alternatives.

Fats, Oils, Sweets - Incorporate fats, sweets, and oils in to your sparringly. When selecting fats and oils to consume or cook with, make an effort to pick out the healthier fats for example oils from Avocado and Olive Oil. You will practice the same principal for sweets. Try using agave or applesauce as sweeteners as opposed to sugar. If sugar is all you have access to, consider cooking with the raw sugar cane.

If you are a vegetarian that consumes dairy and eggs or a lacto-ovo vegetarian, then you want to make sure that you are consuming no more than 3 servings per day of dairy products such as cheese and milk. If you eat eggs then you should eat eggs sparingly. Only 2 to 3 times per week.

As a vegetarian, your most important purpose is to have a healthy and balanced and diverse diet that includes a variety of several meat-free foods. Eat a variety of the food items in the vegetarian and vegan pyramid to make sure that a strong dietary base has been established to aid the commitment to a meatless way of life and the commitment to a healthy life.