September 20, 2014
Food Philosophies: Vegetarian
To be specific, since there are a few arguments over what constitutes a vegetarian and the many kinds of vegetarianism out there, I’ll be talking about lacto-ovo vegetarians, who refrain from eating animal flesh, but will eat animal byproducts such as eggs or milk. Here's a handy dandy chart:
I’m a vegetarian and have been for 12 years, but I’ll be sure to keep my bias in check. Basically, vegetarianism is the practice of eating a plant-based diet that abstains from the consumption of meat.
Foods Included: vegetables, fruit, eggs, dairy products, legumes, grains, nuts/seeds
Foods Excluded: red meat, poultry, seafood
Possible Benefits:
I’m a vegetarian and have been for 12 years, but I’ll be sure to keep my bias in check. Basically, vegetarianism is the practice of eating a plant-based diet that abstains from the consumption of meat.
Foods Included: vegetables, fruit, eggs, dairy products, legumes, grains, nuts/seeds
Foods Excluded: red meat, poultry, seafood
Possible Benefits:
- Lowers cholesterol
- Lowers risk of heart disease
- Possible weight loss
- Reduced risk of obesity and various forms of cancer
- Lower intake of saturated fats
- Cost effective – vegetarian substitutes are generally less expensive than meat
- Chance of eating incomplete proteins, must combine foods to get necessary amino acids. (eg. Hummus with pita bread, beans with brown rice)
- Other possible deficiencies such as Vitamin D, B12, iron, and calcium
- Your sister might chase you around with a porkchop shouting “YOU MUST EAT OF THE FLESH OF THE PIG CREATURE” (No? Just me as a child? Well… it’s a valid concern)