People are beginning to shift more towards vegetarian-inclined diets. While many people have not eliminated meat from their diets completely, they are beginning to make the transition from a meat-rich diet to a more vegetable-rich diet – perhaps only indulging in meat once a week or less. There are two types of vegetarians, those who abstain from eating poultry, meat and fish, lacto vegetarians; and those who are strict vegetarians, also known as vegans, who not only abstain from poultry, meat and fish, but who also exclude dairy products from their diet.
Why are people shifting towards vegetarianism? There are myriad reasons for the transition, but the perhaps the most compelling is that it simply a healthier way to live. Many of the more recent diseases in our Western culture are diet-related and this is because of the over consumption of animal fats which has lead to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Among the plethora of merits of vegetarianism is that a vegetarian diet contains more fiber than you will find in either meat or poultry. Fiber plays a crucial role in the way our body processes the food we eat. Fiber aids in the regulation of bowel movements and greatly reduces the risk of certain types of caner as well as diverticulitis, a common digestive disease. Additionally, when eating a vegetarian diet, there are no food preservatives, colorings or flavorings for the most part as a vegetarian diet is based on eating “whole foods” where nothings has been taken away or added. Finally, vegetarianism is cheaper! The cost of fruits, nuts and vegetables is significantly less that poultry, meat and fish.
Transitioning to a vegetarian diet can be difficult for some as we are not as accustomed to preparing dishes that don’t include meat. The first step is to start to minimize you meat, poultry and fish intake. Try eating all vegetarian meals for a few meals each week. Slowly start to supplement meat for vegetarian dishes. Buying a vegetarian cookbook can be a great tool to get you started. You will soon learn that the world of vegetarian cooking is quite dynamic. Be sure that you are getting protein from other sources, such as nuts, legumes, seeds and even whole grains. Eating balanced meals are still important, so be sure to include all the major food groups in each meal – protein (beans, seeds, nuts), grains, dairy products and fruits and vegetables.