I sometimes hear from folks considering the Medifast diet who are either vegetarians or who try to limit the amount of meat that they consume.
One common question is whether you can make a meatless "lean and green" meal or if meat is required for that main, larger meal.
I heard from someone who said: "I've read that Medifast has a plan for vegetarians where all of your provided meals are meat free.
But what happens with your lean and green meal? Do you have to include meat? And if not, are you given vegetarian instructions for protein?" I will address these concerns below.
There Are Specific Instructions For Meatless Lean And Green Meals (Which Are Always Allowed.
) This diet is really good about catering to vegetarians in my opinion.
You absolutely do not need to include any meat or animal products within your lean and green meal.
In fact, they have specific literature for vegetarians on how to handle this.
Of course, the three vegetables that you are asked to include are not a problem.
So your vegetable requirement will be the same as non vegetarians.
However, you'll need meatless sources of protein.
Folks who eat eggs often accomplish this by having their lean and green meal at breakfast and having omelets or frittatas and including vegetables.
However, a lean and green dinner isn't too difficult to accomplish either.
Many get protein from cottage cheese, tofu, or many of the meatless options that are on the market today.
In fact, the company's own literature suggests veggie burgers, veggie sausage links, and veggie chicken patties.
Basically anything that you could use as lean protein will work as long as you use the portion size amount suggested and include your three servings of vegetables.
Many Of The Medifast Prepackaged Meals Are Vegetarian Also: This woman already knew that the company offers a package for vegetarians.
But just so you know, most of the diet's food categories offer meat free options with the exception of some of the soups.
For example, all of the shakes, puddings, oatmeals, bars and snacks are vegetarian.
I realize that some folks do not consume eggs and milk, and these folks would have to exclude the diet's eggs, but the ready to drink shakes are soy based so even those who do not consume milk would be fine with these.
So to answer the question posed, no, you absolutely are not required to have meat or even animal products with your lean and green meal.
The diet is designed to be very flexible.
You basically just need three servings of low glycemic vegetables and one serving of protein.
As I am sure you already know, there are plenty of meat free sources of protein.
And many of them will work for your lean and green meal.