30 Vegan Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

Check out these amazing Vegan Recipes for Weight Loss! These easy, healthy recipes are low in calories but will help bulk up your plate to make losing weight easier.

But first, I want to start by saying that I think everyone should be whatever size they like as long as it makes them happy. Period. Rock your bod anyway you like it! Second, I want to say that I lost 10 pounds over the last couple of months, plus I'm pretty dang sure I gained muscle while doing it. ~flexes measly bicep~ I was happy with my bod a couple months ago, but I was starting to realize my potato chip to vegetable ratio was a little off, so I thought it was time to do something about it.

On average, vegans have a lower BMI than meat eaters or even vegetarians. The reason? Whole plant foods are low in calories, high in fiber (a calorie-free filler upper), have a high water content (another calorie-free filler upper), and are nutrient dense, so your body will feel nutritionally satisfied (aka no cravings). Whereas animal products, especially meat and cheese, tend to be high in calories, lower in nutrients, and contain zero fiber. So it's definitely easier to stay slim as a vegan, but just because on average vegans weight less, it doesn't mean all vegans are super thin. After all, potato chips are vegan too (as my love handles discovered).

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After reading Proteinaholic (I highly recommend this book); where I learned about North America's needless obsession with protein, I learned the simple truth (science-backed): the ONLY way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than you put out. Period. No matter what the macronutrient ratios you strive for, whether it be low carb, high carb, high fat, low fat, high protein, low protein. No matter what fancy name you give your diet, Paleo, Keto, Weight Watchers, 80/10/10, it doesn't actually matter when it comes to weight loss. The reason you lose weight is because you consume fewer calories than you put out, whether you realize it or not. Don't believe me? Read Proteinaholic.🙂

This is super good news because it makes it so very simple: eat whatever you want, just eat a little less, or find ways to lighten the calorie load a smidge. That's it. Keep doing that and you will lose weight, slowly, but surely. It takes time to put weight on, so don't rush to take it off.

So, what are the best vegan recipes for weight loss? If you are on a similar journey as me then hopefully you find some scrumptious deliciousness here. I've selected vegan recipes that are low in calories but will help bulk up your plate and I've listed the calories per serving for your convenience. To view the full recipe click on the picture or the title of the recipe.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Tofu Scramble

175 calories per serving.

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Rhian's Recipes: Vegan Tofu Rice Noodle Salad

203 calories per serving.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!):VEGAN NACHO STUFFED PORTOBELLOS

218calories per stuffed mushroom.

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Strenght & Sunshine: Raw Spiralized Thai Salad

52 calories per serving.

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Strength & Sunshine: Quinoa Spring Rolls With Homemade Duck Sauce (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

110 calories per serving, 8 servings in this dish.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Vegan Seitan Steak

295 calories per steak.

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Strength & Sunshine: Grilled Ginger Cauliflower Steaks with Tahini Sauce

203 calories per serving.

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Veggie Inspired:ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SALAD W/ LENTILS & GRAPES

217 calories per serving.

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A Virtual Vegan:Healthy No Oil Crispy Roasted Potatoes

185 calories per serving.

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Veggies Save The Day:CHICKPEA STIR FRY (OIL-FREE)

240 calories per serving.

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VegAnnie: Healthy Fudgy Brownies

59 calories per brownie.

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Veggie Desserts:SPANISH BEANS WITH TOMATOES

125 calories per serving.

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Veggie Desserts:EASY VEGAN PEANUT STEW RECIPE

164 calories per serving.

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Veganosity:GREEN SPRING VEGETABLE BOWL & CREAMY CHIMICHURRI

168 calories per serving.

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Yummy Mummy Kitchen:ONE PAN ZUCCHINI NOODLES WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES

203 calories per serving.

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As Easy As Apple Pie:HEALTHY CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATOES

96 calories per serving.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Vegan Butter Cauliflower

195 calories per serving. (Doesn't include rice).

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Chocolate Covered Katie:Crispy Lemon Cauliflower

114 calories per serving. (Doesn't include rice).

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Wallflower Kitchen:100 CALORIE CHOCOLATE ORANGE MUFFINS

108 calories per serving. Liar! Teehee... 🙂

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Yummy Mummy Kitchen:CHICKPEA VEGETABLE SOUP

211 calories per serving.

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Veganosity:SOFRITAS TOFU LETTUCE WRAPS

61 calories per lettuce wrap.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!):Easy Vegan Potato and Corn Chowder

126 calories per serving.

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Cookin' Canuck:SLOW COOKER ITALIAN CHICKPEAS

188 calories per serving.

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Eat Yourself Skinny:ZUCCHINI NOODLES WITH CREAMY AVOCADO PESTO

214 calories per serving.

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Eat Yourself Skinny:SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN QUINOA BAKE

273 calories per serving.

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Build Your Bite:BROCCOLI TOFU STIR FRY

309 calories per serving.

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Connoisseurus Veg:EGGPLANT BOURGUIGNON

331 calories per serving.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!):Vegan Irish Stew

233 calories per serving.

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Minimalist Baker:SPICY KOREAN-STYLE CAULIFLOWER WINGS

142 calories per serving.

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!):10 Minute Peanut Butter Popcorn

215 calories per serving← I make this recipe on repeat.

I hope you enjoyed this post of vegan recipes for weight loss!

Bon appetegan!

Sam.

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30 Vegan Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

FAQs

How to lose 20 pounds on a vegan diet? ›

5 Habits for Easy Vegan Weight Loss: How I Lost 20 lbs
  1. Consuming enough vegan protein. ...
  2. Eat enough Fruit and Vegetables. ...
  3. Make sure your meals are balanced! ...
  4. 80/20 Rule. ...
  5. Create a list of easy vegan recipes.
Feb 3, 2024

How do vegans lose belly fat? ›

Maintaining healthy gut bacteria, getting adequate sleep, reducing stress and eating plenty of fiber all help reduce belly fat. Another key factor is weight loss. Reducing overall calorie intake and increasing exercise significantly helps reduce overall body fat.

How much weight can you lose in 2 weeks on a vegan diet? ›

Vegan diet to lose weight

Studies have shown that a vegan diet can reduce your weight by an average of 5.6 pounds in 18 weeks, or less or more than a third of a pound per week!

What vegan foods are best for weight loss? ›

Focus on Whole Foods: Encourage individuals to prioritize whole, unprocessed plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These nutrient-dense options are lower calorie density and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, supporting weight loss and overall health.

Why did I lose so much weight going vegan? ›

Can you lose weight just by being vegan? That's sort of complicated. Yes, vegan diets are often produce-rich and high in fiber, which helps you feel up during a meal and stay fuller, for longer, between meals. And, yes, produce often contains high amounts of water, which also helps with fullness.

What is the best diet to lose belly fat? ›

Focusing on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choosing lean sources of protein, such as fish and low-fat dairy products. Limiting processed meats, as well as the saturated fat that's found in meat and high-fat dairy products, such as cheese and butter.

Does tofu reduce belly fat? ›

Tofu greatly aids in reduction of belly fat because of its high content of soy isoflavones. Grab yourself some soy milk, soy ice cream (in moderation of course), or go straight for the tofu. Remember that having a not-so-tight tummy is not the end of the world, but it doesn't have to a permanent condition either.

Are vegans usually slim? ›

While there's no guarantee that a vegan diet will lead to weight loss, there may be some good reasons to give it a try. Many observational studies suggest that vegans tend to be thinner and have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than nonvegans ( 5 ).

Is peanut butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

How do vegans get protein? ›

Soy: One cup of boiled soybeans (172 g) contains around 29 grams of protein. Nuts and nut butters: One tablespoon of almond, peanut or cashew butter provides 3 to 4 grams of protein and 8 to 9 grams of total fat. Tofu: High in protein and containing all the essential amino acids the body needs.

How long after going vegan do you see benefits? ›

A registered dietitian was on call to answer questions during the study, Stanford University said in a news release. After eight weeks, the group consuming the vegan diet showed lower insulin, decreased weight, and reduced levels of lipoprotein cholesterol, a protein associated with heart disease and stroke.

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

52 vegan snacks
  • Vegan flapjacks. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Curried cashew dip. A star rating of 4.2 out of 5. ...
  • Protein balls. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Marinated tofu. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
  • Hummus snack packs. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Chickpea panisse. ...
  • Spicy microwave popcorn. ...
  • Spicy sweet potato hummus.

Do vegans eat potatoes? ›

For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)

Is it harder for vegans to lose weight? ›

Going vegan leads to reducing the number of high-calorie foods you eat, because sometimes you end up replacing high-calorie foods with high-fiber foods, which have fewer calories and keep you full longer. Many studies have shown that vegan diets are much more effective for weight loss than other diets.

What is the fastest way to lose 20 pounds? ›

Here are the 10 best ways to quickly and safely drop 20 pounds.
  1. Count calories. ...
  2. Drink more water. ...
  3. Increase your protein intake. ...
  4. Reduce your refined carb consumption. ...
  5. Start lifting weights. ...
  6. Eat more fiber. ...
  7. Follow a sleep schedule. ...
  8. Add cardio to your routine.

What is the 80 20 vegan diet? ›

Tom Brady said he follows the 80/20 rule, meaning 80% of his plate is plant based and 20% is meat. This is one of Brady's lifestyle habits that have allowed him to play in the NFL at the age of 44. Nutritionists say that following the 80/20 rule might be even healthier than being fully vegan.

How long does it take to lose 20 pounds healthily? ›

That said, many healthy weight-loss guidelines say you should aim to lose one or two pounds per week (whether you have five or 50 pounds to lose), that means it could take anywhere from 10 to 20 weeks to lose 20 pounds. That may seem like a while, but it's better to go slow.

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