I’ve learned the hard way that no diet will be successful if you’re hungry all the time. Sheer willpower only saves you for so long before you fold, and begin eating everything in sight. For a weight loss plan to be truly successful, it needs to fill you up with healthy food…ones that will curb your hunger and make you feel satisfied. Only then will you lose weight.

One of my sons is a vegetarian, and as a mother, I worry about him eating sufficient amounts of protein. But I found there is a wealth of foods that are a good source of protein. Here are some suggestions for the vegetarian or even those who want to reduce their meat consumption.

Eggs add protein to our diets, as well as various nutrients.  They supply all essential amino acids and provide several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron calcium, phosphorus and potassium and choline.

Chicken eggs are graded by size, for the purpose of sales. The United States Department of Agriculture sizing is based by weight per dozen. The most common size of a chicken egg is large and is the egg size commonly referred to for recipes.

We live near Boulder, CO where “hippies go to die.” But it is also a wonderful place to discover natural and organic foods that is served in many of the local restaurants. Quinoa has become one of my new favorite foods. It is very tasty, having a wonderful, nutty crunch. It is high in protein, vitamins, and amino acids, making it a complete protein. Because of the high protein content, it’s economical and saves money since it satisfies your appetite, unlike rice or other grains. You can easily serve a nutritious high protein meal without the need to purchase meat. Therefore, it’s perfect for vegetarians who need to add protein to their diet.

Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is an ancient grain that has been cultivated in South America for over 5000 years. Yet not many of us know about it in the United States.