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As many thousands of people each week in the UK are continuing to discover, the movement away from a traditional flesh-based diet involves no inconvenience or hardship whatsoever. |
| Adopting a vegetarian diet need not affect the way a person lives, just the food on their plate for the better.
It is not a matter of making wholesale changes to your lifestyle to suit your diet. You simply choose the food that best suits the way you live.
Giving meat a miss is now easier than ever, with delicious and satisfying vegetarian alternatives available almost everywhere. From fast food outlets and top restaurants to your local shop or supermarket, the range of vegetarian options on offer is truly staggering.
Although going veggie is far from difficult, here are Seven Simple Steps to help you on your way... |
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Some people can and some do, but not everyone can change their diet overnight.
Should you prefer, start gradually by introducing vegetarian alternatives and build from there.
It is important to set your own pace and discover exactly what foods you like and how you like them prepared.
When cooking at home, pick a meal that you really enjoy -- it could be as basic or sophisticated as you like. Substitute a vegetarian alternative for
the meat or fish in that meal and give it a try.
Vegetables, pulses, nuts and grains offer endless possibilities and there is now a fantastic selection of vegetarian convenience products and ready-made meals available.
If you are dining out, pick a vegetarian alternative. These are now commonplace on most good restaurant menus and there is usually quite a
selection to choose from.
Once vegetarian foods make up the majority of a person's diet and they have discovered just how delicious and satisfying they are, most realise that getting rid of meat and fish completely involves no sacrifice at all.
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Don't be put off by what people around might say or think -- make up your own mind. There are many myths and prejudices that surround vegetarianism, so approach the subject with an open mind and find out for yourself.
Visit your local supermarket, shop or health food shop and discover the full range of alternatives on offer.
In recent years, there has been a major explosion in the scope of veggie-friendly foods available and you're now guaranteed a mouthwatering
vegetarian option every time you shop.
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| DID YOU KNOW? |
Famous vegetarians from the world of pop include:
Elvis Costello, Crispin Mills (Kula Shaker), Tommy Scott (Space), Morrisey, Mark Owen, Des'ree, Lenny Kravitz, BB King, Michael Stipe (REM), Charlie Watts, Jeff Beck and, of course, Paul McCartney.
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When shopping, make sure that the eggs you buy are free-range, cheeses and other dairy products are suitable for vegetarians and that the rest of your foodstuffs contain no hidden animal ingredients. This is not difficult but if you are not certain, be sure to ask.
Check food labelling for a list of ingredients. This book includes a list of the most commonly encountered hidden 'nasties' you should avoid.
Because of the considerable growth of vegetarianism, where the option exists, increasingly manufacturers now tend to use veggie-friendly
ingredients. Over recent years the words 'suitable for vegetarians' has become one of the most common sights on a massive range of foodstuffs, even some that most people would never dream could contain non-veggie ingredients.
This provides useful assistance, but the best policy of all is to look for The Vegetarian Society's trusted stamp of approval -- the 'V' symbol --
which is proudly displayed on over 2,000 product lines. Consumers are always guaranteed that anything carrying this trademark is completely suitable for vegetarians.
Be certain to use only non-animal products in the preparation of meals at home. Wave goodbye to animal fats by using oils derived from vegetable
sources when frying or roasting. Healthier still, use the grill. You will find more cookery tips later on in this book.
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Buy a decent vegetarian cook book. If you enjoy cooking at home, far from limiting your culinary activities, vegetarian food opens up a whole new,
exciting and refreshing world of taste.
From everyday quick snacks and meals to summer barbecues, right through to vegetarian banquets and dishes for special occasions, there is a genuinely fantastic range of veggie cook books on the market to suit every budget skill level and requirement.
The Vegetarian Society is able to provide information on the best titles around and itself sells many excellent cookery books.
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Get to know as much about nutrition and health as possible. Whoever you are, an important pathway to healthy living is to ensure that your diet is
well-balanced and nutritious. This is important for everyone and is fairly straight forward if you are aware of a few simple facts.
It is a myth to think that a vegetarian diet is in some way deficient in nutrients, vitamins and minerals, provided that the intake of foods is
well-balanced.
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Join The Vegetarian Society. Staff at the Society are on hand to make sure that you will be provided with comprehensive information concerning just about every vegetarian topic.
A range of experts is available to answer any questions raised by new and existing members and they are always willing to provide assistance.
Aside from receiving the many membership benefits on offer, those who join The Vegetarian Society help to provide funds which help subsidise many of the Society's campaigning and educational activities.
It's as simple as that! |
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For our latest advice for starting on a vegetarian diet, click
here
next page: exploding the myths |
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