Health Tip: Eating a Healthy Vegetarian Diet

Dec. 9 -- (HealthDay News) -- A vegetarian diet doesn't have to lack nutrients or variety. There are plenty of delicious and nutritious meat substitutes to include in a vegetarian diet.

The United States Department of Agriculture offers these suggestions:

• Choose low-fat proteins, such as beans, lentils or rice.
• Replace meat with vegetables in dishes such as pasta, pizza and stir-fry.
• Consider serving soy sausage substitutes, veggie burgers, bean burgers or soy hot dogs.
• Avoid high-fat dairy drinks and substitute with soy beverages.
• Ask for meat substitutes or no meat in dishes at restaurants.
• Ethnic menus -- such as Asian or Indian -- tend to offer a variety of vegetarian dishes.