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Entry bubble Vegetarian Awareness Month

By: Jess | October 22, 2009 | Category: Health

Fruits and vegetablesI know to many Americans the thought of living without meat seems practically impossible. But there's an entire group of people in the country who do it and love it. Vegetarianism has many forms, from the super flexible flexitarian, who eats meat on occasion, to the extremely strict vegan, who doesn't buy any product that was tested on animals or contains any animal products.

The North American Vegetarian Society dubbed October as Vegetarian Awareness Month to teach people some of the benefits of not eating meat. Don't worry, the group isn't trying to convert you. It just wants to show you that it's possible to go a day, a week or even a month without eating meat and still have plenty of yummy and healthy options.

Personally, I consider myself a flexitarian. I only eat meat if it's served to me or if I'm at a restaurant and the vegetarian options aren't that great. Or on that rare occasion when I just want a turkey sandwich. For me it wasn't a big moment when I realized eating meat was wrong, or anything like that. Touching raw meat in the kitchen just kind of grosses me out.

So in honor of Vegetarian Awareness Month, I present you with a challenge. Check out some of the great vegetarian resources from USA.gov and explore some vegetarian recipes and lifecycle information available. Pick a recipe and try it. You might be surprised to find that a diet based in fruits, vegetables and healthy grains tastes better than you expected.

Do you consider yourself a vegetarian? 

| Post a Comment | View Comments [14] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: awareness   diet   eating   jess   vegetables   vegetarian  

Comments (14):

blue comment bubble Posted by veg on October 22, 2009 at 10:39 AM EDT

I have been a vegetarian for 8 years, and a vegan for 4 years. I personally find the term “flexetarian” ridiculous. Saying you don’t eat meat “except for” is the same as someone you says they are a non-smoker but smokes when they are drinking alcohol and maybe occasionally with friends. While I do agree with most the unemployment and taxes are a major issue. If the US doesn’t stop consuming meat at the rate they currently are. There are no more natural resource s too rely on.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jess on October 22, 2009 at 11:01 AM EDT

Hey Veg,

I know a lot of vegetarians think the term flexitarian is weird. But for my lifestyle, cutting out meat completely isn't really feasible. When it's something I can control I try to make the socially conscious decision, but when I'm eating with others or a guest at an event serving meat, I don't demand the host make me my own food. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Joan on October 22, 2009 at 02:06 PM EDT

I agree: if many people make a conscious effort to cut back on meat consumption, it will eventually have a positive effect. Maybe that is a more realistic goal than expecting everyone to become a true vegetarian.

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blue comment bubble Posted by yvette in michigan on October 22, 2009 at 05:38 PM EDT

i am proud to see our school having a meatless monday and a more healther menu i made those suggested 10 years ago with others and it's good to see it now being implemented i think things like vegetarian awareness month helps promote healthier menus for adults and kids.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Lloyd on October 23, 2009 at 01:22 AM EDT

Being vegetarian is good to our health. It gives our body essential nutrients and free from sickness.

http://www.noah-group.org

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blue comment bubble Posted by Waverly on October 23, 2009 at 05:42 AM EDT

This is the main problem with Americans that they can't even imagine vegetarian food. If they change their habit, the percentage of obesity in America can decrease.

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blue comment bubble Posted by ThirstyApe on October 23, 2009 at 08:47 AM EDT

Hey Jess. Have you checked out the book The Flexitarian Diet by Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner? It is a great resource for vegetarian/flexitarian recipes. They are all simple to make and very delicious. The book is packed with great nutrition tips as well. I highly recommend it. The author's website is a really great resource for recipes as well and they are all vegetarian. http://www.dawnjacksonblatner.com

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jess on October 23, 2009 at 08:58 AM EDT

Hey ThirstyApe

No I haven't heard of her book or website. I'll have to check it out though because I'm always looking for new recipe ideas! Thanks for the recommendation!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Hannibal Lecter on October 26, 2009 at 03:36 PM EDT

I am aware of vegetarians, and I think they are very tasty!

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blue comment bubble Posted by VeggieFed on October 27, 2009 at 01:37 PM EDT

All this talk of going green, finally we talk about the most significant life change that can protect our world: going vegetarian. Eating meat and the realities of eating meat (factory farming and methane gas) are far more damaging to the enviornment that driving your SUV.

I've been vegetarian for 5 years. I'm also lactose intollerant and I don't care for eggs. My husband is vegan and has been for 15 years. I too, considered myself a "flexitarian" before that until I realized how ridiculous that notion is. I hope to make the bridge to veganism soon. I hope that everyone will try going vegetarian and would urge everyone to try it, just for a week! They would see its to so bad, not at all limiting, and how much better they feel!

I'm writing this from my lunch break and am enjoying yummy Indian food leftovers and clementines.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Kristina Clark on October 28, 2009 at 09:30 AM EDT

Vegetables are really good for the heart. I am not a vegetarian but I keep on thinking on what the vegetables guarantee me to have a healthy life?. Simple, it's like eating your favorite chocolate. That's how I live healthy, eating and craving the right and green food. Being healthy makes you beautiful and being beautiful, you'll definitely
<a href="http://www.matchmaker.com">Find a Date</a> of yours that will fulfill your healthy love life. Thanks for the great post and keep it up!

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blue comment bubble Posted by chef124S on November 04, 2009 at 12:31 AM EST

I just saw the third recall this month on some kind of meat product!!! The problem I have is that the way to identify if the ground beef people bought is the e-coli stuff is to look at the number inside the U.S. FSIS inspection stamp!!!! What the HECK did they inspect then... THAT THE PRICE WAS LARGE ENOUGH SO THEY COULD GET THERE CUT?!?!?!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ben on November 07, 2009 at 11:13 PM EST

Smoothies are a great way to eat vegetables. Here is a bunch more great smoothie recipes http://www.thesmoothiekitchen.com/. Take a look at the green smoothie section.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Justin D.R. on November 09, 2009 at 09:33 PM EST

There are some great resources & please check out some info @:::

GoVEG.com
IVU.org
PETA.org
veganoutreach.org

"we be vegan naturally (BIO:VGN)"

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