What's a good vegetarian diet?

I’ve been a vegetarian for 4 years, living on a college student’s budget (which basically means I’m broke). Honestly, it’s really really difficult to live off a vegetarian diet while you’re still living with your parents, but it is doable. I tried it many times but I wasn’t able to go totally vegetarian until I went to college, but if your parents are more supportive you might have better luck.

That being said, if you still want to try, pasta is your best friend. It’s cheap and easy, plus you can easily make it vegetarian if your parents are making it (just microwave your own sauce). Try and get as many kinds of beans as you can into your diet. I eat a lot of baked beans (make sure you get the vegetarian kind) and a lot of burritos with low-fat refried beans, lettuce, and tomatoes. Hummus is my personal favorite veg food, it seems gross but try it on crackers or pita bread with spinach and tomatoes. Also check out the soup aisle wherever you shop for vegetable soups, but make sure you look at the ingredients list for chicken or beef broth.

Basically, eat lots of brightly colored vegetables (dark leafy greens like spinach, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, etc), beans, and carbs (pastas, breads, rice). You’ll be fine.