What exactly is a vegetarian diet? Well, it depends on what kind of vegetarian you are interested in becoming. A basic vegetarian diet includes a lot of vegetables, and sometimes fish and chicken. People who are vegan eschew all animal products including cheese and milk as well as meat of all types including seafood. The real vegetarians say that they don’t want to eat anything with a face.

A vegetarian diet is a healthy way to eat – one that will keep you energetic, vibrant, and even help with weight loss. People who don’t agree with vegetarian diets say that it is an unhealthy way to eat because you won’t be getting essential nutrients that your body needs like iron and protein. But the truth is that a well-planned out vegetarian diet can help you meet all of your body’s nutritional needs and then some.

Plants can provide all sorts of nutrients even protein and iron if you choose the right vegetables and foods for your vegetarian diet. Vegetarians can get all the protein they need through nuts and grains like rice, lentils, and beans. A vegetarian diet generally contains less fat and cholesterol, and typically includes more fiber.

To keep your vegetarian diet on track, you may find using a vegetarian food pyramid helpful. This pyramid outlines various food groups and food choices that, if eaten in the right quantities, form the foundation of a healthy vegetarian diet.

Meatless products, such as tofu dogs, soy burgers, nut loaves or texturized vegetable protein, add variety to your vegetarian diet. These products, found in many grocery stores and health food markets, simulate the taste and texture of meat and usually have less fat and fewer calories. Many of the meatless products, such as tofu or tempeh, are made from soybeans.

If you follow a vegan diet, you may need to find alternatives for eggs and dairy products. Try these suggestions when meal planning or cooking:

• Milk. Drink fortified soymilk, rice milk or almond milk in place of cow’s milk.
• Butter. When sautéing, use olive oil, water, vegetable broth, wine or nonfat cooking spray instead of butter. In baked goods, use canola oil.
• Cheese. Use soy cheese or nutritional yeast flakes, which are available in health food stores.
• Eggs. In baked goods, try commercial egg replacers — a dry product made mostly of potato starch. Or you can use the following to replace one egg: 1/4 cup whipped tofu or 1 tablespoon milled flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. For an egg-free omelet try using tofu instead of eggs.

Choosing to eat a vegetarian diet can be a great way to eat for the right person, but it does take commitment and a whole lot of creativity!