Paleo diet mainly includes having meat and animal protein. But vegetarians can also indulge in this diet that will have great health benefits. Other than having meat, in the paleo diet, one has to eliminate toxins and include nutrient-based items that are vegetable-based. Also, one should eat more of whole foods than processed food items. So, it will be beneficial for your health to opt for a vegetarian paleo diet.
A basic vegetarian paleo diet plan
There is no such strict right way to have a vegetarian paleo diet. It can be both a low-carb diet along with animal protein and a high-carb diet with plants. But for the right approach, you have to know what to include and avoid in the diet. One can include items like eggs, fruits, seeds, nuts, fish, meat, spices, oil and healthy fat in the paleo diet. For better results, one has to avoid sugar, food drinks, grains, dairy items, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oil and fats.
Some tips for vegetarian paleo diet
Eating lot of eggs
To maintain a proper vegetarian paleo diet, having lots of eggs will be advisable. This will help your body to have a great source of protein. Try to keep it up to six eggs per week and meet the protein requirement without eating any processed or unauthorized food. With dozen eggs, you can have an adequate amount of protein that may be missing from an otherwise vegetarian paleo diet.
Including hemp seeds and grain-like seeds
Seeds like hemp and grain-like seeds contain a good amount of carbohydrates. From the seeds, you have the protein requirement of your diet. Even these can be used when cooking rice, pasta and the like when on strict vegetarian paleo diet.
Try to have soaked or sprouted beans
This can be considered as the easiest and the best option for vegetarian paleo diet. This is because beans and legumes are an excellent source of protein. In addition, it is said that enzyme inhibitors in the items are suitable in their raw form. It interferes with digestion even after cooking the items. However, by soaking the items, the amount of anti-nutrients can be reduced.
Health vegetarian paleo diet recipes
RAISIN NUT CRUNCH CEREAL
Ingredients required
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 1/3 cup coconut
- 1 cup almonds, chopped
- ½ cup almond pulp from milk
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon squash seeds or more pumpkin seeds
- 3 tablespoon coconut oil
Method to prepare
- First preheat oven to 325 degrees and combine dry ingredients except for raisins.
- Add warm coconut oil, honey and vanilla and mix well.
- Spread the cereal mixture over baking pan and bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. After stirring the mixture, again bake for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Now cool it and serve by adding raisins, homemade coconut milk or homemade almond milk. Store in air tight container for further use.
Paleo Vegetable Burrito Bowls
This good recipe when on a vegetarian paleo diet that takes 35 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
- 1 red and yellow bell pepper, de-seeded and sliced
- 2 cups halved mushrooms
- 3 medium sliced zucchinis
- Sea salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of half a lemon
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Cubed avocado for serving
- Fresh cilantro, for serving
For Cauliflower Rice
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 diced onion
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 2 cups riced cauliflower
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- Sea salt and pepper
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 400 Fahrenheit and place bell peppers, zucchini and mushroom on a baking sheet and put olive oil. Also season it with dried oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Use paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper on the peppers.
- Now coat vegetables with seasoning, and place in the oven. Roast until the vegetables seem to be done.
- For rice, fry the onion and garlic in coconut oil until soft and add cauliflower and then add the chicken stock into it.
- Now allow the stock to dry and the chicken to get cooked properly and season it.
- On cauliflower rice, add vegetables and serve it hot with cubed avocado and fresh cilantro which is optional.
Potato and Olive Stuffed Banana Peppers-A Saucy Kitchen
With a minimum time of 15 minutes, this recipe is a healthy option to be included in a vegetarian paleo diet.
Ingredients required
Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 1 clove
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 400 grams tin of chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup of water
Stuffing for olive and potato
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 500 grams of potatoes, cut into small cubes
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 cup of pitted green olives
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 6 sweet pointed peppers
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Method to prepare
TOMATO SAUCE & PEPPERS
- Heat the olive oil and add onion, garlic and balsamic vinegar and cook well.
- Now stir in cumin, oregano, tomatoes and water. You have to reduce heat and simmer it and season with salt.
- While the tomato sauce begins to simmer, prepare banana peppers. With knife, cut the peppers down lengthwise along the stem.
- Pull back the sides of peppers and eliminate the white membrane and seeds.
POTATO & OLIVE FILLING
- Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius and also warm olive oil on medium heat.
- Now, add the potatoes, garlic, cumin, oregano and peppers into oil and let the potatoes cook.
- After this, add ½ cup of sauce with olives and potatoes and season it with salt as required.
Assemble the sauce and filling
- Spread tomato sauce along and place peppers on top of the sauce.
- Now, spoon out the potato and olive mixture on the peppers.
- Put in to bake in the oven and leave it uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until it is tender. Once it is done, serve hot.
