Now that the July 4 BBQs and picnics have passed, you may be looking for some lighter fare. Ready to trade in the fried food, chips and accidental vegan snacks for some more whole, nutritious foods? If you’re trying to lose weight, try making these 10 healthy plant-based dishes:

1. Heathy and Vegan Yam Noodles With Miso Sauce

White pasta is a great friend to help you pack on the pounds since it’s so tempting to keep eating and eating until you’ve cleared an entire box of pre-made noodles. Try making noodles out of yams and you won’t feel so bad about eating a large amount.

2. Ayurvedic Spinach-Mung Detox Soup

This detox soup is a nutritionally balanced and protein-rich meal. It will help aid not only your weight loss, but also in detoxifying your body.

3. Roasted Beet Burger Patties

These beet burger patties are a great way to eat more vegetables, but in a hearty, familiar burger way. If you want to lose weight, eating a healthy burger cooked over the stove in healthy oil is fine. You need fat to help absorb nutrients.

4. Vegetable Lentil Soup

This soup packs in a ton of nutrition and will help fill you up without packing on the pounds.

5. Stir Fried Thai Basil With Tofu and Eggplant

This dish is from the Central region of Thailand. You’ll get protein from tofu (make sure to buy organic to avoid GMOs) and nutrients from the veggies.

6. Quinoa and Beet Salad With Hazelnuts

For this tasty salad, you’ll need quinoa, diced roasted beets, hazelnuts, scallions, fresh mint, extra virgin olive oil, champagne and salt.

7. Early Summer Light Veggie Saute

This simple summer veggie saute calls for produce that is in season during the summer, so make this now with zucchini, snap peas, basil, shallots and asparagus.

8. Toasted Quinoa Vegetable Stacks

This beautiful, nutrient-rich meal is loaded with iron, beta-carotene, and vitamin C from spinach, as well as antioxidants from the mushrooms and a complete protein from the quinoa.

9. Raw Green Pea Soup

All you need for this soup is avocado, almond milk, peas, onion, salt and pepper. There’s no cooking involved; this dish is super easy to make since you just blend the ingredients in a food processor, pour into a bowl and enjoy.

10. Roasted Pepper Zucchini Pasta

This fresh, light pasta meal is great for carb lovers who want to limit pasta but still dream about it. Try zucchini noodles. The combination of roasted tomatoes, arugula, and toasted pine makes for a delicious dish.

Lead image source: Early Summer Light Veggie Saute