The HCG Diet: Vegans and Vegetarians Friendly

The HCG diet is not typically considered vegetarian or vegan-friendly. BUT vegetarians and vegans can absolutely do the HCG diet with no worries. And yes, they can even lose the maximum amount of weight when done properly. 

In case you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you can still lose weight with HCG Diet by making a few simple changes to the meal plan. 

The HCG Diet for Vegans and Vegetarians Options

Vegan and vegetarian options are available for those who want to undertake the HCG diet. Dr. Simeon, in his book “Pounds and Inches,” provides recommendations specifically for vegetarians. Here are some of the modifications you can make::

·      For vegetarians who consume eggs, you can substitute one whole egg with the whites of three additional eggs, which can be served poached or boiled.

·      You can have about ½ liter of skim milk per day, splitting it between lunch and dinner. 

·      Another option is to have ½ cup of plain sugar-free yogurt or ½ cup of non-fat cottage cheese.

·      Vegetarians can’t have conventional vegetable protein sources such as rice, wheat, beans, and nuts because of their starch content.

·      Soymilk is a safer alternative to skim milk, but it should be sugar-free. 

There are different types so vegetarianism. The most common include:

·      Vegan: They do not consume any animal products or by-products like milk, eggs, and honey. They do not consume white meat, red meat, fowl, or fish. 

·      Lacto vegetarian: They do not eat any meat, fowl, fish, or eggs but they consume animal by-products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

·      Ovo vegetarian: These types of vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or fowl, or dairy products, but they consume eggs. 

·      Lacto-Ovo vegetarian: They eat eggs and consume dairy products.

If you are a vegetarian who eats seafood, you can substitute lobster, crawfish, shrimp, or crab meat for beef or chicken. However, strict vegetarians who avoid all animal products are likely to lose about half the weight compared to someone who includes meat in their diet.

Getting Enough Protein

Protein intake is crucial for successful weight loss on the HCG diet. While the protocol includes lean protein from beef, chicken, and fish, vegetarians can still obtain sufficient protein while following a calorie-restricted diet. Here are some high-protein options for vegetarians.

·      Tofu

·      Cottage cheese

·      Tempeh

Helpful Tips to Consider

1.    To meet the recommended protein intake, you can replace 30 grams of meat protein with 30 grams of vegan or vegetarian protein. For example, a cup of cottage cheese contains approximately 30 grams of protein, while a cup of protein shake provides around 20 to 30 grams of non-meat protein. 

2.    Tofu offers about 20 grams of protein per cup, and tempeh contains 30 grams of protein per cup. You can incorporate these alternatives into salads or vegetable dishes to create a high-protein meal.

3.    If you choose vegetarian or vegan options while on the HCG diet, consider adding probiotics to your diet as well. Probiotics can help regulate the bacteria in your gut, reducing food cravings and aiding in weight management.