Vegetarian Cooking - Becoming Vegetarian

In days gone by to proclaim to family and friends that you were becoming vegetarian it is highly probable that you would have been shouted down in flames. What on earth would you eat? You certainly can't live on lettuce and carrots and lentils and things!!

Thankfully times have changed and although there still are many who believe that vegetarians are just radical hippies, the majority of people don't even question dietary preferences.

With the abundance of foods from all over the world right at our fingertips it certainly so much easier to sample and/or convert to vegetarian cooking.

Whatever the reasons for becoming vegetarian, be it ethical, health or even religious belief the decision is so much easier in today's society. The great quantity of nutritional ingredients is in ready supply and the marvelous choices of dishes certainly makes for creative vegetarian cooking not experienced in the past.

For many people in the western world meat, chicken and to a lesser extent fish, have always been an easy option. Meat has formed the basis for any meal to the point that it is often there three times a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have overloaded on meat and due to wonderful marketing by meat producers we have been led to believe that it is the only source of protein and something that we must have.

How is it then that other people from other cultures whose diet is mainly vegetarian survive? In fact their health is in better condition (excluding external hardships) than our own.

Many are beginning to recognize the fact the there is an imbalance in the way they have traditional eaten and are starting to modify their intake of flesh foods. It is this sort of change of eating habits that starts the process to becoming vegetarian. They may not be vegetarian in the strict sense of the word, but as they come to realize that vegetarian cooking is not only easy but gastronomically delicious the meals they are preparing a having less and less meat added to them.

As they gain confidence with their vegetarian cooking and experiment with the wealth of color, textures, flavors and aromas they begin to see that their health improves with increased vitality and say goodbye to any weight problem they may have.. Other benefits can include clearer skin and less constipation.

The term vegetarian can be applied quite loosely now days. Some exclude both red and white meat but keep fish in the diet, others choose to have meat once every so often and others take all animal flesh out totally.

Whatever the reasons, whatever instigates the change, becoming vegetarian is so much easier in this day and age that ever before. Vegetarian cooking has a wealth of choices to give a balanced, nutritional and tasty alternative. Search out the internet for many, many recipes and give yourself a treat.

Jane Hartwood is a mother of three and grandmother of two who enjoys vegetarian cooking. To read her story Becoming Vegetarian and find a wide range of quality foods, books and cooking tools visit www.thevegetariancenter.com her website.

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