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Feb.27,2005 -Mar.6,2005 |
Going Vegetarian
Recipes and tips for a delicious Italiano meat-free lifestyle
By Rita Simonetta
Originally Published: 2005-01-16
Think Italian cuisine isn't the best place to start if you are avoiding the meaty side of life, then think again. Sure, Italian food is part of the Mediterranean umbrella, but we're not talking Greek food here. Italian cuisine is probably one of the best options for vegetarians. The staples of Italian cooking - spaghetti sauce, risotto, and hearty soups - are based on fresh veggies and herbs. Italian food happens to be one of the few cuisines in the world featuring a lot of classic dishes that just happen not to have any meat. So if you have decided to become a vegetarian for whatever reason, you can let out a sigh of relief - you can still enjoy la cucina italiana.
Whatever diet guidelines you follow, it's all about melding the ideal with your practical, everyday living. Vegetarian doesn't mean carrot sticks and plenty of processed cheeses. A vegetarian diet is not automatically low in fat. Vegetarians should switch to lower fat alternatives like skimmed milk and low fat cheese. Remember that cheese is high in fat (especially saturated fat), so it should be used in moderation.
And carrot sticks and tofu is a thing of the past when it comes to going vegetarian. If you follow a proper and healthy vegetarian lifestyle, you won't have to worry about monotony. There are hundreds of different vegetables, grains, fruit, pulses, nuts and seeds to incorporate into your meals. And when it comes to protein, balance is key. You can find it in dairy products, eggs and nuts, as well as in combinations of foods such as pulses like kidney beans, chick peas, as well as grains. Other iron rich foods include bread (especially whole-meal), flour, fortified breakfast cereals, eggs, potatoes and green leafy vegetables.
A well-balanced vegetarian diet means a low-fat and high-fibre diet, and because of this, countless medical studies have proven that a proper vegetarian diet has plenty of benefits like helping to prevent cancer and lowering heart disease and blood pressure.
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