A Vegetarian Food Label Doesn’t Mean Low Fat

July 17, 2008

Food labeled “vegetarian” on its package or on a restaurant menu may not contain meat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s low in fat.

In fact, some vegetarian foods can be high in fat, including textured soy patties, soy hot dogs, soy cheese, refried beans and snack bars. Even tofu may have more fat than you might think: 4 ounces has about 95 calories and 6 fat grams, mostly from polyunsaturated fats.

Even those practicing the healthy vegetarian lifestyle should be aware to read the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels to compare the calories and the nutrients in foods. A registered dietitian can help you with a vegetarian food plan that is also low in fat.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team