Are you a vegetarian? Our family is not, but we are working on putting together a Vegetarian Meal Plan in the near future. Here is some interesting info. if you are a Vegetarian, or just would like to know more about it. This info. is curtesy of E.D. Foods (used with permission). If you haven’t done so yet, don’t forget to order your FREE Soup Sampler from them. www.dinewithoutwhine.com/soup Their soup is excellent! After our samples it became a staple at our house - we even gave it away in Christmas Baskets to our family! They also have many Vegetarian Choices that are 20% off this month. (You still have a couple days left to get in on the deal!)
Thinking of going vegetarian but don’t know where to start? How about here! This website offers tools and tips on how to successfully transform your diet into a vegetarian one without overwhelming your body and mind with the new and sudden change. http://www.veggie123.com/
This website is a great tool for parents raising vegetarian babies and children - filled with tips, recipes, articles and even product reviews. You can also talk to other parents! It’s guaranteed to give you a few creative ideas. http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/meet.shtmlI thought this was an interesting find - choose your state and city, and this tool will generate a list of vegetarian restaurants in your area (US and Canada)! Very convenient. http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.htm
Curious about which famous faces are vegetarians or vegans? This website has all the names! You might be surprised who’s name shows up. http://www.famousveggie.com/peoplenew.cfm
Disclaimer: Vegetarianism has become a sensitive subject for some people, and there are many views and opinions on the matter. The literature is abundant, and we can’t possibly cover it all! So all we’re doing is giving you the basic facts and information - just for your reading pleasure! We know there is much, much more to know about vegetarianism - so check out our links section above to read all about it.
Going green? Vegetarianism is a lifestyle that many people choose to follow these days - it’s a healthy alternative, but you have to make sure you’re getting enough of all your nutrients (like protein, most commonly found in meats and fish). As much as you should be following a well-balanced diet any day, if you’re a vegetarian, it’s extremely important to stick to it.
I went vegetarian about 5 or 6 years ago - it only lasted about a year though. I did it for personal reasons, but eventually didn’t stick to because I didn’t find my meals had enough variety (mind you, I was also a teenager and cooking wasn’t my favorite pass-time). That being said, vegetarian meals can have great variety - you just need to bring it to your foods. I am now what they call a semi-vegetarian.
There are a few categories of vegetarianism that we should take a look at - just so we all get an idea of the different types and what they mean.
A vegetarian is defined as someone who does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by- products such as gelatin or animal fats. Common types of vegetarians include Ovo Vegetarians (eats eggs, but not dairy), Lacto-Vegetarians (eats dairy, but no eggs) and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians (eats dairy and eggs).
A vegan does not eat or use any animal by-products, like leather, silk, honey, eggs, cheese and milk.
A semi-vegetarian is someone who has cut out certain types of meats, but still eats fish or poultry.
There are also Raw/Living Foodlists, who only eat raw food since enzymes are destroyed through cooking, and Fruitarians, who only eat fruits, fruit-like veggies (i.e. tomatoes) and sometimes seeds and nuts.
Vegetarians live on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, with or without free-range eggs, milk and milk products.