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Does Noom work for vegans, vegetarians, and plant-based diets?

by | Nov 6, 2022 | Last updated Apr 17, 2023

  • Noom’s customizable weight-loss plan works for anyone following a vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diet.
  • Our food-tracking app, 1:1 coaching, and recipes help plant-based Noomers get enough protein, nutrients, and calories each day.
  • Noom encourages plant-based eaters to explore not only what you eat but also why you eat—and reframe your thinking to make lasting changes.

Whether you’re already following a plant-based diet or looking to make the switch, Noom Weight will support you every step of the way on your weight-loss journey.

So how does Noom for vegetarians, vegans, and plant-based diets work? Read on to find out.

Before diving in, a reminder that before making any major dietary changes, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.

What makes Noom vegetarian and vegan friendly?

We get a lot of questions around weight loss for plant-based diets. Does Noom have a vegan plan? Can vegetarians do Noom?

Most definitely.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian or vegan weight loss plan, Noom Weight is one of the best programs around. Here’s why:

Noom encourages a plant-forward approach to weight loss

At its core, Noom Weight is vegan and vegetarian-friendly because it already provides a plant-forward approach to weight loss.

That is, we heavily encourage Noomers to primarily eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 

At Noom, we’ve developed a unique color system to help you easily understand what’s in the foods you’re eating and make healthy eating choices accordingly. 

Foods are divided into green, yellow, and orange categories (with corresponding calorie density).

  • Green foods have the lowest caloric density and/or the highest concentration of healthy nutrients. Think: veggies, fruits, whole grains, tofu, quinoa, and non-fat dairy products.
  • Yellow foods have a mid-level caloric density and/or a medium amount of healthy nutrients. Think: lean protein, avocado, starches, legumes, black beans, tempeh, and low-fat dairy.
  • Orange foods have the highest caloric density and/or have the least healthy nutrients. Think: desserts, red meats, olive oil and other oils, peanut butter, and full-fat dairy.

Noom’s approach to weight loss favors green and yellow foods because they contain fewer calories and fill you up quickly.

In fact, the more green you eat, the better. 

As you start tracking your food intake, you’ll be amazed by how much of the “green stuff you can eat and still stay within your calorie range. You’ll soon notice and feel the health benefits of your choices.

Noom Weight teaches vegans and vegetarians other important cornerstones of weight loss, like how to reduce their consumption of processed foods. Because contrary to popular belief, vegetarian or vegan meals are not automatically healthier than other options.

For example, let’s take those delicious (and highly processed) frozen veggie burritos you pop in the microwave for lunch.

With Noom, you can still have a frozen burrito. But you’ll also learn that it’s a yellow food packed with calories, saturated fat, and sodium. So, you might choose to eat them less often in favor of green foods that are more nutritious (but just as satisfying).

To be clear: No foods are off-limits in the Noom Weight program. 

Our philosophy is that all foods fit in moderation.

So go ahead and enjoy the vegan ice cream you love. Just make sure it fits into your daily calorie range.

Ready to make a lasting change?

A healthier you, wherever you are.

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Noom helps you understand what drives your eating

Rather than just focusing on what you should or shouldn’t eat, Noom Weight’s psychology-based approach helps you change the way you think and feel about eating.

From day 1, daily lessons of around 5-15 minutes prompt you to explore your mindset around the way you eat and feel about food.

Our lessons are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of therapy that’s been proven to help people change their habits and behavior.

You’ll get exercises, quizzes, or tasks to complete, and insights into the root causes of your eating habits. Through these lessons, you’ll learn:

  • What triggers you to eat when you’re not hungry
  • How to overcome emotional and stress eating
  • How to incorporate mindfulness while eating
  • How to choose foods that pack a powerful nutrition punch (but still keep you feeling full and satisfied)
  • How to manage plateaus (when your weight loss temporarily stalls)

And so much more.

Noom provides the tools and structure you need

The Noom Weight program is more than just convenient. Its tracking tools are designed to empower you to hit your goals at a pace that’s comfortable for you.

Vegans and vegetarians, like all Noomers, can track their weight, calorie intake, blood pressure; log daily steps and exercise; and receive personalized coaching and guidance.

Noom’s daily food tracker helps ensure you’re getting enough calories, protein, and essential nutrients every day—a common concern for people following plant-based diets.

The food tracker also guides you toward plant-based foods with low caloric density (like grapes) that fill you up quicker with fewer calories than foods with high caloric density (like raisins).

Noom Weight offers mini nutrition guides for vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based diets to assist with meal planning and avoid common missteps.

For example, vegetarians can access Noom’s suggestions for dairy- and plant-based sources for protein, Vitamin D, and iron. Vegans will find suggestions for non-dairy proteins and foods with essential nutrients like Vitamin B12 and Omega 3s.

And let’s not forget the recipes and meal prep.

The Noom Weight program includes a database with 1150 recipes, including recipes that are vegetarian-, vegan-, and flavor-friendly such as Cajun Rice and Beans, Roasted Root Vegetables with Edamame, and Curried Cauliflower Soup.

Each recipe includes detailed preparation instructions, calories per serving, and other nutritional information.

Noom’s coaches understand how to support vegans and vegetarians

Emotional support is important too, which is why Noom Weight pairs you with a dedicated 1:1 coach at no extra cost. 

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, your coach will help with individual needs and ensure you have the information that’s right for you.

Noom’s health coaches are trained in a range of topics related to health and wellness. Your coach engages with you one-on-one through the app’s messaging feature.

They’ll provide personalized suggestions and answer questions, like how to incorporate a greater variety of green foods in your diet, how to reduce processed foods, and where to find vegan or vegetarian recipes in the Noom recipe database.

Noom Weight coaches can also review your daily food logs and provide insights on your  choices.

You’ll also be assigned to a Noom Weight peer support group with a group coach to moderate. 

These groups are made up of 10 to 15 other Noomers, who come together to post weight loss tips, offer accountability and motivation, and celebrate achievements big and small.

And if you’re looking to transition to a plant-based diet for the first time, Noom Weight has you covered too.

Your coach will work with you on a plan to transition your diet in a healthy way. They may encourage you to begin with Meatless Mondays or help you figure out which animal product-free foods you like to eat and prepare.

Noom gives you the practical knowledge and skills you need to build smarter, more sustainable long-term habits and behaviors.

Ready to make a lasting change?

A healthier you, wherever you are.

Take The Quiz

Vegan recipes and meal plans you can use in Noom

Noom Weight has recipes and meal plan resources specially designed for vegans and vegetarians.

Our vegan meal plan guide, for example, contains a complete week of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks rich in nutrients, without leaning too heavily on pre-packaged vegan convenience foods.

Here’s what a typical vegan day looks like on Noom:

Meal TimeMeal Title
BreakfastTofu Scramble and Small Side of Fruit
Morning Snack1/2 cup hummus and four medium celery stalks, cut into sticks
LunchCrunchy Hummus Wrap
Afternoon SnackQuinoa & Lentil Stuffed Vegan Cabbage Rolls
DinnerRoasted Spaghetti Squash & Veggie Bolognese + ¼ demi-baguette

There are more options and creative ways to be vegan and vegetarian now than ever before. 

Noom Weight can help you take full advantage of those options with our color-coded food tracker and easy-to-follow healthy recipes and vegetarian meal plans.

Get started with Noom for plant-based diets

Begin your weight-loss journey to achieve long-term health and wellness. Sign up for a free trial of Noom today.