21 Low-Carb Vegan Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you be low-carb and vegan? ›

Vegetarians tend to eat other animal-derived products, including dairy, eggs, and honey, while vegans do not. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be heavy in carbs, from grains, bread, starchy vegetables, and fruits. However, following a low-carb vegetarian or vegan diet is entirely possible.

This includes almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts and pumpkin seeds. Soy: Foods like tofu and tempeh are high in protein and fat, but low in carbs. This makes them acceptable on a low-carb vegetarian/vegan diet. Legumes: Some legumes, including green beans, chick peas and others.

The creator of this particular vegan diet, Marco Borges, is an exercise physiologist who believes veganism is the perfect way to achieve optimum wellness. His theory is that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, and so he developed the 22 Days Challenge in order to achieve his so-called "major breakthrough."

Both keto and plant-based have been shown to help with weight loss and in the short-term, keto wins for overall pounds lost. However, when it comes to fat loss, sustainable weight loss and compliance, nutrient-density, and overall health benefits, a plant-based diet comes out on top.

Lean meats such as turkey breast, sirloin, flank steak and chicken are great sources of protein to fuel and fill up your body in a low carb way. If you're looking for meals made with lean meats, we've got you covered with our recipes for Shredded Chicken Chili and Easy Chicken Parmesan!

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

This gradual calorie reduction can lead to a sustainable weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week. Optimize Protein Intake: Ensure adequate protein consumption by incorporating various plant-based protein sources such as legumes, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and plant-based protein powders.

22 Days… Or rather 44, in Beyonce's case. We are led to believe Beyonce went from 175 lbs to her Coachella body (estimated at around 135 lbs) in that timeframe while following a vegan, carb-free, bread-free, sugar-free and alcohol-free diet.

What are the best low-carb plant-based foods? ›

In addition to low-carb vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, and zucchini, other low-carb plant-based options include avocados, nuts and seeds, and tofu and tempeh.

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness.

Vegans can reach ketosis by relying on high-fat, plant-based products like coconut oil, avocados, seeds and nuts. The vegan keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein diet that excludes all animal-based foods.

The most important concepts of a vegan diet is FOOD QUALITY, especially for carbohydrates. Your body's main energy source is carbohydrates, so they are a key part of any diet. However, carbohydrate quality is very important in building a high quality vegan or vegetarian diet.

On this diet, you aim for 75%-80% of your calories to come from fat, 10%-20% from protein, and 5%-10% from carbs. To achieve this balance, you focus on eating high-fat vegan foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, and coconut and olive oils. You'll restrict grains and foods made with them, such as bread and pasta.

Carb cycling can still be a great option if you are a vegetarian or vegan. Just be mindful of eating lots of protein and eating when you are hungry and until you are satisfied. There are many different nutritional approaches that can work, so find the balance that is right for you!