Vegetarian Diets

It is estimated that roughly 2.8% of the American population consider themselves vegetarian. There are two reasons that people may switch over to a vegetarian diet, economic reasons and moral reasons. In some instances a person may switch to a vegetarian diet because of the cost benefits. Beans, grains, fruits and vegetables tend to be a lot less expensive than meat, poultry or fish. In the past, some people believed that vegetarian products, such as frozen vegetarian burgers, were a great deal more expensive than regular products. With the health food industry booming there are many more options for vegetarians and the price has fallen due to demand. Another reason that a person may switch to a vegetarian diet is because of moral beliefs. With groups such as PETA that are against animal cruelty, there have been many people that have cut meat out of their diets. On some farms, in which animals are raised for their meat, they suffer extreme unethical treatment. Some cattle are shoved into excruciatingly small spaces for weeks at a time. Many are injured and receive no aid or benevolence to ease their pain. For many vegetarians the thought and guilt of this causes them to cut meat completely out of their diet as a type of boycott to the mass production and distribution of meat and factory farms.

Today, there are many options for people who are considering switching to a vegetarian diet. There are many health food stores that have endless options for a vegetarian diet, such as Nature’s Bin in Lakewood. Even larger grocery stores are starting to carry more vegetarian products. Products such as tofu and seitan are great for people who are looking to switch to a vegetarian diet. There is a lot that you can do with tofu today. For example, at the Nature’s Bin deli they are making new vegetarian creations daily. They carry vegetarian spinach pies, seitan burritos, sweet and sour tofu and a number of other tasty options for vegetarians.

A quick and easy vegetarian dish that you can make right at home is Thai Peanut Noodles with Tofu. All you have to do is buy one block of firm tofu, cut it into small squares, place them on a baking sheet, turn the oven to 350 degrees and bake until they appear golden. Purchase a jar of Thai Peanut sauce, which you can find at almost any grocery store. Cook one box of noodles and mix with the jar of Thai Peanut sauce. Chop up some chives; add them to the pasta along with the tofu. It is that simple and now you have a wonderful, delicious and colorful vegetarian dish. Once mixed with the sauce and noodles you will never be able to tell the tofu isn’t really meat. Most people have a false image of what tofu tastes like in their mind. Some think it will taste soft and slimy. However, you can bake, eat cold or even fry tofu! With the endless ways to incorporate tofu into meals, you will wonder how you ever ate meat before and why you didn’t switch to a vegetarian diet sooner.

Cornucopia, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization
Nature's Bin: Open M-F 9-8 Sat 9-7 Sun 9-6
18120 Sloane Ave. Lakewood, Ohio, 44107
216-521-4600 Fax: 216-521-9460
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