Vegetarian Dishes: Calories & Nutrition Facts

Vegetarian dishes take many forms but they all have one thing in common – they do not contain meat or seafood. Because the vegetarian diet does include eggs and milk, it is easier for vegetarians to meet their nutritional needs (especially for protein) than for vegans. If you view the nutrition facts or the nutrition label for your favorite vegetarian diets, you will find this to be true. Check the calorie chart for your favorite vegetarian dishes to determine the calories and nutritional value.

Many vegetarian dishes are a good source of nutritional value but people following a vegetarian diet need to be careful to make sure they get enough protein. Refer to the calorie calculator for your favorite vegetarian dishes to determine the calories and nutritional information.

Vegetarian Protein

Protein is an incredibly important part of a vegan diet because it helps to promote cell growth and repair – it is also digested more slowly than carbohydrates to keep you feeling fuller longer. Some popular sources of vegan protein that you may find in vegan dishes include green peas, quinoa, and nuts and nut butters. A 1-cup serving of green peas contains nearly 8 grams protein and a similar-size serving of quinoa has the same amount. Nuts and nut butters contain about 160 calories per ounce and 5 or 6 grams of protein.

Calorie Content

Unless you plan very carefully, if can be difficult to meet your nutritional needs on a vegetarian diet. Many new vegetarians base their diet around vegetarian dishes like cheese pizza or heavy pasta dishes. These vegetarian dishes are very high in calories and they do not necessarily provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs. In order to maintain a healthy vegetarian diet you need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

While the calories in vegetarian dishes vary greatly depending on the ingredients used, as part of a healthy vegetarian diet, vegetarian dishes may help you to lose weight and reduce your risk for certain diseases. Refer to the calorie counter for your favorite vegetarian dishes to determine the calories and nutritional information.

Reduced Risk for Disease

Vegan and vegetarian diets are often low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals as well as other vital nutrients. These diets have also been linked to a decreased risk for a variety of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Vegetarian dishes are low in calories and animal fat and cholesterol which helps to prevent coronary heart disease and other health problems.

Healthy Weight Loss

A study conducted by the University of South Carolina found that individuals following a vegan or vegetarian diet plan for an 8-week period of time lost an average of 8.2 to 9.9 pounds. Individuals following various omnivorous diets lost only 5 pounds during the same 8-week period. Vegetarian dishes are often low in calories but high in nutritional value which are the cornerstones of any weight loss regimen.