There is a misconception among people that all body building foods are non-vegetarian. Who says that vegetarian cannot have chiseled Greek God bodies. If you are a vegetarian and want to increase your strength & build muscle mass then there is a list to choose from. The body building foods mentioned below are purely vegetarian.

The right balance of these foods will give you the perfect vegetarian diet for a body builder.

1. Mushrooms: Mushrooms are a good way to replace eggs in your diet. The most important thing that mushrooms provides is immunity against diseases. It also stops any kind of unwanted cellular growth, keeping your process of cell division normal.

2. Broccoli: Did you think that broccoli is only for those who want to loose weight? Well, then you were wrong. Broccoli is a superfood that takes care of your all-round health and well-being. Body builders must have this amazing vegetarian food to increase the longevity of their cells.

3. Peanut Butter: This is an ingenious way to replace butter with bread and sandwiches. It is a powerhouse of proteins and contains vital nutrients like argnine, magnesium, folate etc. It will help you get beefed up if you have it in moderated amounts regularly.

4. Lentils: Dals or pulses are the most important body building foods for vegetarians. They are the best place to get all the proteins you need. Have at least one kind of lentil every day to fulfill your daily requirement for proteins.

5. Quinoa: Our Fitness Expert, Wanitha Ashok considers Quinoa to be king of grains that enhances the quality of life. Cereals contain carbohydrates that does not contribute to your muscles mass but adds fat to the body. The best replacement for rice and wheat is Quinoa. Due to its high content of amino acids, it is the healthiest grain for building muscles without hiking your glycemic index.

6. Cottage Cheese: Have you ever heard of whey protein? It is a kind of protein that gets absorbed by the body instantly. And cottage cheese is one of the richest food sources of this protein. Choose low-fat cottage cheese that helps you build strong muscles without adding the fat percentage to your body.

7. Sweet Potatoes: You need to workout to build up your bulk and for working out, you need energy. The healthiest way to get sustainable energy for exercising is having sweet potatoes. It is a healthy combination of simple and complex sugars that keeps you going in the gym.

8. Tomatoes: Surprised how a vegetable without any proteins or fibre can help you build up your body? Tomatoes have lycopene in their pigment that stops cellular degeneration. This restores your muscle strength.

9. Bananas: It is the perfect snack to fill your stomach after a hard workout. Bananas give you instant energy and also produce serotonin to relax your tensed muscles. The calcium in it is essential for your muscle and bone health!

These are the best body building foods for vegetarians. Which of these vegetarian foods do you have regularly?