Cosmo Q&A
Vexed over veges
Sydney-based dietician Susie Burrell has a simple and resonant motto: "It's your food, your body and your life." True, it's our job to take care of our bodies, but sometimes it's hard to stay on the path to purity! Luckily, Susie's here to lend a healthy hand! Submit your questions below.
Question:
I am a vegetarian; my diet includes carbohydrates (breads, mainly). I think that my diet isn’t very balanced because of this. Can you tell me how to eat healthily while sticking to my vegetarian diet?
Answer:
The key nutrients at risk when you follow a vegetarian eating style include iron, zinc and protein. Make sure you choose snacks such as low fat milk, cheese and yoghurt in order to get enough protein and calcium and beans, nuts and seeds also provide plenty of zinc, some iron and protein. Also, eating carbohydrates isn't necessarily bad - you just need to eat the right ones. Stay away from white breads and refined flours (found in bagels, pasta, cakes and pastries) and stick to yummy wholewheat breads like soy and linseed, pumpernickel or rye. These breads are really filling, too, so you'll feel more satisfied for longer.
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