Background and History:
The simple definition of someone who calls themselves a vegetarian is someone who doesn’t consume meat products. There are many reasons one may become a vegetarian. One reason might be because they are against animal cruelty and do not want to be a part of that or they want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The lifestyle of a vegetarian diet has been going on for many years. The first recorded meatless diet was in the 1800’s and was originally referred to as “the Pythagorean diet” yet, many religions and other cultural backgrounds have been practicing meatless diets since much before the 1800’s. Most anthropologists believe that early humans would have eaten a predominantly plant-based diet; after all, plants can’t run away like animals do. Also, our digestive systems resemble those of herbivores closer than carnivorous animals. Prehistoric men ate meat, of course, but plants formed the basis of their diet.
Different Types of Vegetarians:
There are a diverse amount of different vegetarian diets for whatever diet is meant for the person trying to ultimately go 100% vegetarian and lastly vegan is the ultimate goal. The first type of vegetarian is someone called a “lacto vegetarian” which means these people do not eat any meat products, fish or eggs, but they do eat other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, or milk. The second type of vegetarian is called an “ovo vegetarian” in which they do not eat meat products, fish, or dairy products but, they will eat eggs. The third type of vegetarian is called “lacto-ovo” vegetarian which is someone who does not consume any meat products but still consumes dairy and egg products, this is the most common type of vegetarian. The fourth type of vegetarian is one who does not eat any meat products but does eat fish, eggs, and dairy products in which they are called “pescatarians”. There are other names for people who are kind of vegetarians called “flexitarians” or “pollotarians” but these type of people are not considered vegetarians by society because they are still consuming meat products.
What You Can Still Eat as a Vegetarian:
10 Reasons Why It’s Green to go Veggie:
- Reduce global warming
- Avoids excessive CO2 production
- It reduces methane/nitrous oxide production
- Saves large amounts of water
- Avoids further pollution of our streams/rivers/oceans
- Reduces destruction of topsoil and tropical rainforest
- Reduces destruction of wildlife habitats and endangered species
- Reduces use of antibiotics, growth hormones, and chemicals
- Reduces ecological footprint
- Helps ensure environmental sustainability
The Process of Becoming a Vegetarian:
Many people believe that other people that go vegetarian just make a decision to go vegetarian and then they have no meat in their life after that decision. This statement in fact is not true. As explained by my aunt Elizabeth Harwood she says “I believe that to become fully vegetarian, you need to slowly cut out meat of you life, you won’t believe how many foods have meat in them, tacos, sandwiches, hamburgers and even holidays such a thanksgiving is something tremendous to be giving up”. The first step of becoming a vegetarian is to make a decision of that it is something you truly want to do and for the right reasons. The second step is to cut out meat in your diet that you do not normally eat on a daily basis, such as steak dinners, turkey meats (for thanksgiving) etc. The third step is to slowly start cutting out the meats you do like. In my aunts case she said that she had the hardest time cutting out chicken because it’s everywhere and chicken itself is easy to dismiss in the fact that it’s not as bad to the environment as beef or other red meats. Finally, cut all meat out of your life all together. The benefits to your health are endless.
The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Vegetarian:
The benefits of becoming a vegetarian strongly outweigh the negatives of becoming a vegetarian. The overall positive of becoming a vegetarian is the benefits to your physical health.
- It lowers your blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels
- Prevents type 2 diabetes
- Reduces your risk of cancer
- Promotes good heart health and bone health
- Reduces risk of diseases (ex. heart disease)
The only negative to becoming a vegetarian is first, you have to be dedicated to not eating meat, and second you have to eat a lot more food products to get a efficient amount of protein in your body.
Vegetarian Fajitas With a Side of Guacamole:
Ingredients for Fajitas:
- 1 white onion
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 Portobello mushroom
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
For Serving:
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 lime
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Fresh cilantro
- 8 tortillas (flour or corn)
- 1 15-ounce can vegetarian refried beans
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Thinly slice the onion. Slice the bell peppers. Chop the cauliflower into small florets. Chop the mushroom into bite-sized pieces. Add the veggies to a big bowl and toss them with the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Add the vegetables in a single layer. Roast 15 minutes, then remove the sheets, stir the veggies, and sprinkle on another 1/2 teaspoon salt spread between the trays (1/4 teaspoon on each). Stir again, then return to the oven and roast another 10 minutes until tender.
- Meanwhile, pit the avocados. Scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the lime juice, salt, and cilantro.
- Heat the refried beans in a small sauce pan.
- If desired, char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm. (See How to Warm Tortillas.)
- To serve, place the refried beans and roasted veggies in tortillas, and top with guacamole.
Try this vegetarian diet for an amazing meatless dish! Yummy!
Blog Post by Sydney Harwood-