What’s more, we’ve made it a lot easier for you to navigate the nutritious waters of this compilation by categorising these healthy recipes! In here, you’ll find ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. Also, for each recipe, you’ll see, protein, calories and total time. That should make it much easier for you to find your way around. It’s important to note though, weight loss isn’t just about skipping carbs – carbs are not the enemy – nor is it about keto, or paleo. Taking control with healthy but still tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals is key for effective weight loss and the good news is, vegetarians are already in the right spot when it comes to that – the veggie diet can be surprisingly effective! So, start off your weight loss journey on the right foot with this collection of healthy meals, where every recipe has something special going for it.
Vegetarian weight loss recipes? Don’t sweat it! Here are 65 of them.
Reach those body goals and have a delectable time while you’re at it by trying out some of the great recipes below! And, if you need more help, there’s also a FREE full one-week vegetarian weight loss diet plan you can download. It’s completely free and available as a downloadable PDF.
Breakfasts for weight loss
Bonus: cheap and simple ingredients, light and nutritious meal This world’s easiest pancakes recipe contains just two ingredients (egg and banana) and is super quick – just minutes from bowl to plate! Simple and tasty. Bonus: quick, light and nutritious breakfast, super yummy 😉 This yoghurt parfait is rich with fruits and nuts and is a deliciously quick way to start the day. Never get bored of breakfast again! Bonus: full of health benefits, quick and nutritious breakfast Deliciously tasty and vegan overnight oats in a jar: High in fiber, great against diabetes and heart disease. Did we mention it’s vegan too? Bonus: tasty, nutritious and low calorie breakfast, works as a snack too 🙂 Fresh basil, salty feta, tangy sun-dried tomatoes and sweet cherry tomatoes: that’s the beautiful combo that gives these breakfast egg muffins the name ‘Italian Style’. Bonus: light, easy and just needs 3 easy ingredients Just mix eggs and cream cheese to get delicious low-carb, high-taste pancakes. Ready in 10 minutes. Bonus: irreplaceable weight loss drink, healthy and quick, simple ingredients Super healthy and powerful chia seed energy drink. Fuel up with this five-minute recipe used by the best runners of all time for thousands of years! Bonus: light but filling Ever heard how powerful a good oat breakfast can be? Try our Swiss Bircher muesli recipe – super easy and yummy! Bonus: use ripe bananas for a touch of sweetness! We proudly present to you a healthy oatmeal banana pancake recipe, made with oatmeal and topped with a blueberry sauce! Bonus: works great as a snack, desert and even for breakfast An insanely healthy chia pudding with almond milk that will give you all the nutrients you need, without any unnecessary calories (check out the weight loss benefits of chia seeds here!). Bonus: served on a corn tortilla Huevos rancheros are a quick and easy traditional Mexican breakfast that make a great healthy option for vegetarians (this way for more vegetarian Mexican dishes). If you want to know how to make huevos rancheros, try this recipe, easy to make and healthy as anything. Bonus: we’ve got tips for using fresh, juiced, powdered or pureed acai! Not even the hippiest California Sunshine Breakfast House can serve an Acai bowl this original. High in anti-oxidants, great for weight loss, the perfect morning meal! Bonus: a soft and protein-packed recipe you can’t egg-nore Breakfast beans and eggs are an absolute classic– simple, cheap and full of good stuff that will fill you up and keep you running. We’ve taken that classic, comforting dish and gotten creative with it, resulting in a healthier weight loss-friendly version of eggs and beans. Bonus: high in nutrients, low in calories Win over the crowd at your next brunch without hurting your waistline with these raspberry low calorie pancakes! Bonus: a tasty, nutritious and simple recipe This recipe is one we’re pushing heavily when it comes to a healthy, balanced diet. These quinoa breakfast muffins are incredibly high in protein and are perfect for the avid gym-goer. Bonus: a sneaky way to add more protein and fiber to your diet We’ve made certain that our vegetarian pancakes are nutritionally rich and contain a good amount of protein, and we are proud to call them protein weight loss pancakes! Bonus: tastes like Tarte flambee! Boasting 22 grams of protein per serving and a taste like the beautiful French pizzas known as Tarte Flambee. You gotta try our High Protein Smoked Tofu Breakfast Egg Muffins! Bonus: versatile and vegan-friendly! Our delicious vegan take on the trendiest cafe food of the moment, Mushrooms on Toast. It’s perfect for everything from a savoury breakfast to a light dinner.
Lunches for weight loss
Bonus: simple and tasty, full of health benefits An animal friendly, fresh and tangy summer salad with some serious health benefits. It’s fresh and new, but still prepped within 15 minutes – awesome! In fact, as a German saying goes, “I would lay my hand in a fire” so sure I am that you like this recipe. Let me pass it on right now: Bonus: quick and nutritious salad, can be stored for a while in the fridge Our stress-free take on the cauliflower classic. Sweet yet punchy, spicy yet smooth. Perfection is here. Bonus: delicious, nutritious and healthy appetizer, can be stored for a while in the fridge A refreshing and tangy summer veggie wrap that’s easy to make and perfect for on the go – ideal for bbqs, picnics or wherever it’s needed! Bonus: light and very tasty, full of health benefits, can be stored for a while in the fridge Thai Quinoa Salad – Tropical Vibes. A refreshingly light, tasty Asian super-dish with lots of protein, fiber and tropical flavour. Get your summer feeling here. Bonus: tasty and full of important nutrients, perfect as a family meal or party appetizer 🙂 Mexican Vegetarian Tacos. Incredible taste with loads of veggie fiber and protein means this recipe makes you wonder why you ever wanted meat in the first place. Bonus: full of health benefits, very easy to make, can be stored for a while in the fridge This curried parsnip soup is creamy yet vegan, spicy yet not overpoweringly so. It’s also incredibly easy to make – chop, chop cook! Bonus: easiest soup ever, keeps well for a couple of days No complicated cooking steps means this refreshing carrot and ginger soup is ready in just ten easy minutes, and perfect for any weather. Take the stress out of cooking. Bonus: easy-to-find ingredients, short prep time A couscous and pear salad with goat cheese and spinach. Sound’s fancy right? Well don’t be fooled – it’s actually surprisingly simple and, of course, super delicious! Bonus: high in protein and keeps you going all-day A chickpea salad would be healthy enough, but a chickpea salad with avocado!? That’s elite-level health, right there. From just the one serving you get a great amount of protein and fiber, around 20g of each! Bonus: not a fan of grapefruit? No worries, this recipe works great with oranges too! A mouthwatering mixture of sweet and sour, creamy and juicy, this citrus salad recipe with grapefruit and orange is a beautiful and delicious addition to any table or lunchbox. Bonus: only 15 mins prep time! It’s packed full of vitamins K and A, B2 and B6, C and E, iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Incredible. What further excuse could you need to make a spinach recipe part of your meal plan today? Bonus: suitable for dinner as well A Smoked Tofu and Hummus Buddha Bowl that starts with a base of turmeric rice, topped with lamb’s lettuce, smoked tofu and a hummus dressing is the perfect burst of flavour for your lunch break. Bonus: filled with legumes, a great source of plant protein We have chosen to make our tabbouleh with couscous instead of bulgar wheat, and have added lentils to the mix, in order to up the protein levels and make it better suited to a weight loss diet! Bonus: stacked with nutrients and smells like heaven too! A hearty helping of this spinach and chickpea bake will definitely satisfy your brunch cravings this weekend! Bonus: great for a vegan diet This vegetarian chickpea salad sandwich is kind of like a tuna salad, but better because it’s, well, vegetarian. It’s got 20g of protein, none of the overfishing and is so tasty that it will almost certainly become a staple on your lunchtime circuit. Bonus: a delicious salad, made with light and nutritious ingredients A beautifully crunchy salad with a mix of rocket leaves, dried fruits, pear and walnuts set this salad above the competition. And it’s vegan too! Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: SaltAndLavender Bonus: healthy ingredients, keeps well for a couple of days, tasty and nutritious These vegan meal prep bowls are loaded with quinoa, spinach, carrots, almonds, and a delicious ginger/garlic/soy dressing! Calories: 125kcalReady in: 25 minutesRecipe by: Veggie DessertsBonus: very delicious and healthy, simple ingredients, can be stored for a while in the fridge These vegan gluten-free Spanish beans are packed with flavour, but are so easy to make in less than 20 minutes with just 7 ingredients! Perfect served with rice or fresh bread and only 125 calories per serving. Calories: 70kcalReady in: 12 minutesRecipe by: TheHiddenVeggies Bonus: super easy, quick and light, works as a main or side dish This creamy vegan cauliflower risotto with spinach will amaze you! Made with riced cauliflower and cooked to perfection, it’s dairy free, gluten free, and low in carbs and calories, yet rich. Make a creamy, delicious meal in less than 15 minutes! If you want a low carb vegan meal or side dish, this is it!
Dinners for weight loss
Bonus: healthy dinner, simple ingredients, can be stored for a while in the fridge Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers baked in a delicious tomato sauce – foolproof instructions and packed with vitamins and nutrients – bring the health back! Bonus: healthy ingredients, keeps well for a couple of day, tasty and nutritious Our stress-free take on the cauliflower classic. Sweet yet punchy, spicy yet smooth. Perfection is here. Bonus: very tasty and full of nutrients, can be stored for a while in the fridge Who said meat-free recipes can’t deliver? This meatless (aka vegan) chili proves that you can still enjoy your favourite meals, but in a new, animal-friendly way. Bonus: light, healthy meal and keeps well for sometime This roasted cauliflower steak with sauce made from red peppers and garlic, served with roast potatoes and ricotta, is straight up the best cauliflower steak recipe on the market. Bonus: packed with vitamins and protein This feta and veggie bake recipe is a delight, and proof you don’t have to sacrifice flavourful food in exchange for a diet-friendly dish! Bonus: packed with vitamins and protein Healthy African peanut soup with rice, based on a traditional West African recipe that’s packed with protein, vitamins and, best of all, flavour. Bonus: rich, creamy, quick and vegan-friendly! Our vegan chickpea curry is packed full of protein, fibre and iron. Plus it only takes 25 minutes to make – the perfect option for a weeknight dinner with a kick! Bonus: a leafy dish loaded with vitamins and minerals The combination of beets, arugula and feta is well known for being an excellent “pairing” of flavours and, purple pasta – how cool is that?! Bonus: garnished with sweet, anti-oxidising pineapples Imagine a meal that’s easy to make, and filled with colourful and super nutritious black beans. Sounds like a dream? Well then, this black bean burrito recipe is a dream come true. Bonus: keeps well for a couple of days, a perfect recipe for the summer After a healthy, quick-to-make meal? Try our roasted asparagus and tomatoes with halloumi and quinoa. Ready in 30 minutes! Bonus: slicing your vegetables into more petite strips is a great way to save time! These honey-roasted carrots and parsnips will impress at your next potluck or roast dinner: the ultimate nutrient-packed winter side dish. Bonus: just 35mins and holds well for sometime Looking for a healthy dinner recipe? Try this simple oven-roasted broccoli with halloumi & lentils. 32g grams of protein each! Bonus: you can completely remove the oil from this recipe dropping the already low 495 calories per serving to an amazing 370 calories per serving! With a preparation time of just five minutes this has to be one of the best quickest weight-loss recipes in the world! Bonus: light, easy and healthy soup, can be stored for a while in the fridge Make the most out of your veg with this Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup – tasty, easy, healthy, full of vitamins and only five mins to prep! Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUpBonus: quick and easy, delicious and healthy 🙂 The new vegan burrito is here, paving the way and setting the standard. Mega quick and perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Bonus: quick, delicious and nutritious, keeps well for a couple of days So comforting you want to sit in it. Only vegan ingredients, great taste and ready in 20 minutes. High in protein and fiber. You won’t be disappointed! Ready in: 40 minutes (5 minutes prep)Recipe by: TheForkedSpoonBonus: simple ingredients, can be stored for a while in the fridge287 calories per serving This easy and delicious vegetarian Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Gnocchi is made with just six simple ingredients including ripe tomatoes, eggplant, sweet basil, parmesan cheese, store-bought gnocchi, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes (20 minutes prep)Recipe by: KeepingThePeasBonus: very tasty and full of health benefits, keeps well for a couple of days130 calories per serving With all the traditional seasonings of the original this vegan meatless meatloaf with chickpeas, peppers, and onions is big on flavor topped with a tomato maple glaze. Perfect as the main dish at your next dinner party, or easy enough to pull together for a light dinner. Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: FoodMeanderingsBonus: delicious and healthy, can be stored for a while in the fridge272 calories per serving This easy and healthy Red Lentil Spinach Soup is a hearty and delicious vegetarian meal that’s ready in 30 minutes (for quick vegetarian meals, head this way)! It’s only 7 Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points. You must already be itching to try out one of those healthy vegetarian recipes, but, don’t run off to your pantry just yet, let’s answer some questions you may want to ask first.
Is Vegetarianism a good way to lose weight?
Sure! If you do it right. A fried cheese sandwich is technically vegetarian, but that doesn’t sound too weight-loss friendly now, does it? Exactly why Harvard Health recommends a well-constructed and healthy plant-based vegetarian diet if you’re really looking to slim down.
What Vegetarian foods are good for weight loss?
The basic components for effective vegetarian weight loss meals are:
leafy greens non-starchy vegetables lean proteins like tofu legumes eggs nuts, seeds (a bit less) starchy veggies (a bit less) Whole grains (a bit less) Cheese (a bit less)
Also try to reduce added sugars (refined grains too) and switch to a whole foods, plant-based diet. We hope you’ve enjoyed our collection of vegetarian weight loss recipes from around the globe and we wish you much success on your weight loss journey. Don’t forget to grab your free weight loss meal plan if you haven’t already.
