Nutrition and healthy eating

  • image.alt
  • With Mayo Clinic nutritionists

    Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

    read biography

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Skinny teens

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
  • Nutrition-wise blog

  • June 20, 2009

    Blog: Could you be a flexitarian?

    By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

8 comments posted

Eating a plant-based diet has many health benefits. With its emphasis on fruits and vegetables, grains, beans and legumes and nuts, a vegetarian diet is rich in fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. In addition, people who follow a vegetarian diet generally eat fewer calories and less fat, weigh less and have lower cholesterol levels than do nonvegetarians.

Many people choose to be vegetarians because of cultural, religious or ethical beliefs. Others eat this way to stay healthy and prevent health problems, such as cardiovascular disease.

Have you tried to eat vegetarian, for any of these reasons, but found you missed meat, poultry or fish?

Flexitarianism might be the answer for you. A flexitarian - or flexible vegetarian - is someone who eats mostly plant-based foods but occasionally eats meat, poultry and fish. Want to give it a try? It could be the jump start you need to begin eating healthier.

Start by going meatless one or two days a week. On those days, try the following protein-rich foods instead of meat:

  • Beans and legumes - great in casseroles and salads
  • Vegetarian refried beans - good substitute for meat in burritos and tacos
  • Tofu - perfect addition to stir-fry dishes

Plan menus that feature entrees you like and that are typically meatless, such as veggie lasagna, minestrone soup and pasta salad. If you need a snack, try a handful of nuts and some fresh fruit.

Do you have meatless meal ideas to share? Have you made the transition to a flexitarian or vegetarian diet? Please share your experiences.

8 comments posted

blog index
References
  1. Key TJ, et al. Health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets. Proc Nutr Soc. 2006 Feb;65(1):35-41.

MY00750

June 20, 2009

1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "search--control.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share

Advertisement

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.

NOW AVAILABLE! -- The Mayo Clinic Diet book


search--control.com

Privacy policy (Updated June 23, 2009) Terms and conditions of use policy (Updated June 23, 2009)

LEGAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF USE APPLICABLE TO ALL USERS OF THIS SITE. ANY USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE.

1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.

Download Autodesk Autocad 2009 32bit We comply with the Download Proposal The Movie information: Sexy dating UK.

search--control.com

March 10, 2010

return to home
Love dating UK|Download Adobe Dreamweaver CS3| About Mayo Clinic
Download Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2010Download Hangover, The MovieHealth InformationSkinny pussy
Text Size: smaller largerlarger

Movie torrents Download Up Movie