If you’re thinking of giving vegetarianism a go this year, we’ve got some top tips on how to make the process as easy as possible. You could be choosing to become a vegetarian for a number of different reasons – whether it’s for health reasons or you want to have an impact on the environment. Regardless of your why, it doesn’t have to be as challenging as many people think it is, and you can still eat and enjoy incredibly tasty food.
The concept of vegetarian cuisine
To put it simply, vegetarian cuisine refers to food that meets vegetarian standards by not including meat and animal tissue products. If you are happy still eating dairy products such as milk and cheese, as well as eggs, then this is known as lacto vegetarianism. On the other hand, if you’re wanting to be super strict and cut out anything produced from or by animals, you would have to cut out your dairy products, eggs and even honey.
Can we find good vegetarian alternatives?
Thanks to vegetarianism and veganism becoming increasingly popular, many of the large food brands have had to develop alternatives to keep up with demand. Not only that, but you may be surprised at how many different cultures across the world are already typically vegetarian anyway. For example, if you’re a lover of a good curry, did you know that around 40% of the population of India is vegetarian?
You can create so many delicious and hearty dishes with vegetarian alternatives. Whether you throw in meat substitutes or you stick with the basics, getting in the kitchen and trying them all out is key!
Can you get protein in a vegetarian diet?
One of the main things to remember about your new diet is that you can still get all the nutrients your body needs to survive. Protein is one of the key nutrient groups that you’ll need to make sure you’re getting enough of, as you won’t be able to get it from the likes of chicken or beef.
Here are some of the top foods and ingredients to include in your cooking:
Eggs
Nut butter
Oatmeal
Green vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Beans (black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, chickpeas and more)
Soy products
Lentils
Fish (if you’re a pescatarian – a vegetarian who still eats fish and shellfish)
What are some of the easiest vegetarian dishes if you’re just starting?
If you’re just starting on your vegetarian journey, you may be wondering where on earth to start! Do you just cook the meals you were doing but cut out the animal products? That’s easier said than done.
Love cooking up warming food during the winter months? Grab your favourite cookware from the likes of Circulon and try a burnt aubergine veggie chilli to warm up your soul. You could even try your hand at a vegetarian wellington if you’re entertaining your family or friends. This involves creating a centre filled with beetroot, mushrooms and butternut squash wrapped in pastry instead of beef.
There are so many dishes you could try, from vegetable lasagne and veggie enchiladas to satay sweet potato curry and bean and halloumi stew. Write yourself a shopping list, get your ingredients and give these recipe ideas a try!
