What are some tips on how to eat a balanced vegetarian diet and still lose weight?

Keep 90% of your diet just fresh vegetables and fruit, choose stuff that's in season and the cheapest. And good on you for allowing your child to have a choice. I allow my animals to have a choice. Try using your time with your daughter to go out and play, just take a ball to the park, go to the local pool, etc, good luck

You lose weight by restricting the calories you put into your body, or burn off the calories you eat with exercise. Has absolutely nothing to do with being a vegetarian or not. That's not the reason to decide to change your lifestyle. That said, there are many health reasons to become one. My biggest one is that I don't want to ingest the steroids and antibiotics that are in most commercial milk and meats. I also eat organic, in order to stay away from pesticides and food grown on depleted soil. The fats in vegetable sources are healthier fats, and you can get your omega 3's from nut sources. It's better for your heart, your bowels, the quality of your life. But just as with an ominvorous diet, you must eat a healthy and balanced diet. How to start? First read about nutrition and food combining and your body's dietary needs. Then choose your food wisely to sustain your health. Oh yeah, and don't eat meat. If you wish to begin as a lacto-ovo vegetarian, you can continue to eat dairy and eggs.

First, you are not a vegeatarian, as you still eat fish (which is seafood). As for what to eat-- Whole real foods. I try to avoid anything with white flour, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogeanted oils, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and artificial flavors. I shop at WalMart, Meijer, Kroger, Giant Eagle... Last night we went to Meijer, to get some sale items. We got fresh mushrooms, celery, Goldfish crackers (they were on sale 11 for $10; We get them as a travel snack and church treat for our three-year-old, though when I was pregnant, I discovered that the chocolate and the graham mixed taste good), tofu, olive oil spray, as we were out.... I think we got a few other things, but I was busy making sure our three-year-old didn't run off too far and holding a very unahppy baby.

Today, I plan on eating (and this is typical for me)

Breakfast: Apple (I can eat it easily if I'm nursing my son or if he's laying down and wants to get up, or if our daughter needs me; I don't have to worry about it getting cold, too warm or soggy)

~~ Lunch: Two slices of whole wheat bread (we shop the bakery outlet and get Nature's Pride for $1 a loaf or Roman Meal at another store for the same price), Yves veggie slices or a veggie burger (the slices are easier as I don't have to wait for the electric grill to heat up). For a snack, or part of lunch, I have baby carrots (again, something simple that I can quick grab out of the fridge), and/or a frozen veggie (I heat up the water and when it gets hot, I dump in the veggies just long enough to thaw).

~~ Dinner varies, though we've been having a lot of homemade vegetable soup and pasta this week, as we've had leftovers from a couple of potlucks we've gone to. (We stocked up on the Meijer pasta when it went on sale 11 for $10 and canned tomatoes for around $.89 can and either buy the $1.39 Trader Joe's whole wheat pasta or the WalMart whole wheat pasta.)

Basically, we go with what is on sale and add other things. My husband buys meat, eggs, and cheese from a local meat market that is owned by a family who raises their cows and humanely as possible. (They are the supplier for Whole Foods stores in Ohio.) I trust them as I know the family-- They are members of the church of which my husband is a pastor. (They know I'm vegan and respect me and my decisions, as they are similar to why I became vegan. Three is also a dairy farmer in our church as well.)

Anyway, part of it, too, is scanning store ads. We got the produce on sale, though we buy the baby carrots regular price. The frozen veggies are bought on sale for $1 a bag. Potatoes usually go on sale for about $3 for a five pound bag. Anyway, I've had to get up a few times while typing this and I hope I've been of some help.

PS: The soup is made up in one big pot. If we don't think we'll eat it immediately, we'll freeze it. To thaw it, we just put it in a warm pot and let it slowly thaw that way.

You're not a vegetarian if you eat seafood or fish according to the dictionary.