Being a vegetarian
Being a vegetarian means a person does not eat meat and fish because they don’t like the taste or
texture, they disapprove of the way that animals are reared, or the way that animals are reared, or
the way that animals and fish are killed. There are different types of vegetarian including semi or
demi vegetarian meaning they eat no red meat, but will eat fish and poultry. Lacto- vegetarian’s diet
includes dairy such as yoghurt, milk and cheese, but not eggs, meat fish or poultry. Ovo- vegetarian
includes being allowed to eat eggs, but not dairy, meat, fish or poultry. Lacto-ovo- vegetarian
includes been allowed to eat dairy products and eggs, but not meat, fish or poultry.
A vegetarian diet is usually high in fibre and low in fat and this makes it a healthy diet. As long as
vegetarians are aware of the need to combine vegetable-based foods to make high biological value
proteins, they can get all the nutrients they need.
Veganism is a stricter form of vegetarianism, and vegans eat no animal foods at all. Many refuse to
wear leather or wool goods as well. Vegetarianisms and vegans must combine different plant
proteins in meals to ensure that they get enough protein in their diets. Vegans can suffer from
vitamin B 12 deficiency as this is mainly found in animal products, although yeast extract is a good
source, and provided vegans know about healthy eating choices, they can obtain everything they
need from this diet. Nutritionists tend to advise that a vegan diet is not suitable for young children
because it contains so much bulk that is filling that they may not eat enough to get the energy they
need. However, a vegan diet containing a wide variety of foods will allow children to grow and
develop normally, although they are likely to be lighter and leaner than meat- eating children. The
health benefit of a vegan diet includes increased energy, younger looking skin and eternal youth are
just some of the claims from vegans, themselves. Well- planned plant-based diets are rich in protein,
iron, calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals. The plant based sources of these nutrients
tend to be low in saturated fat, high in fibre and packed with antioxidants, helping decrease some of
the world’s biggest health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The production of meat and other animal products causes problems on the environment. For
example, the vast amount of grain feed required for meat production is a significant contributor to
deforestation, habitat loss and species extinction.
Vegans are vegetarians who abstain from eating or using all animal products, including milk, cheese,
other diary items, eggs, honey, wool, silk or leather. Among the many reasons for being a vegetarian
are health, environmental, and ethical concerns, dislike of meat, non-violent beliefs, compassion for
animals and economics.
What about nutrition?
Protein- Vegetarians easily meet their protein needs by eating a varied diet, as long as they consume
enough calories to maintain their weight. It is not necessary to plan combinations of foods. A
mixture of proteins throughout the day will provide enough essential amino acids.
Sources of protein includes beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, tempeh, chickpeas, peas.