I have met several people recently who told me they went on a strict vegetarian diet to lose weight.  Granted, I lost 15 pounds when I first went vegetarian, but that isn't the case for all people.  The key ultimately is to avoid packaged foods and focus on the produce section of your local grocer. Tomatoes are AMAZING this time of year, and summer squash, zucchini, and eggplants are all looking great too.  

To add some greens to your diet, try adding a leaf or two of kale into your fruit smoothies.  I do this at least once a day (sometimes twice), and love it!  It tastes great and I feel energized after drinking it.  Victoria Boutenko (12 Steps to Raw Foods) says blending your greens into a smoothie is the perfect way to break down the tough cell walls in order to release the nutrients in greens.

And speaking of fruit - wow!  What goes better with summertime than fresh, organic (local if possible - check out the nearest farmer market) strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries!?!!  And melons!  The somewhat mushy and bruised pieces are easily hidden in your smoothies, while the firmer pieces are nice to snack on as-is!

My favorite dinnertime meal currently is pancakes.  I use a simple recipe from the Candle Cafe Cookbook, serve with Isa's Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes, and a side of fresh fruit.  A smoothie to drink, and I am STUFFED!

I'm still 15 pounds lighter than I was pre-vegetarian, so this isn't a "fad" way to lose weight.  It can be permanent!  Just don't kid yourself into thinking that just because a package says VEGAN, it is going to be healthy for you.  Vegan cakes and cookies are a great treat - as long as they are just that - a TREAT.

Take care of your body, and you will feel the results!  Healthy vegetarian cooking isn't hard, but it does require a little thought and planning.