Every time my wife and I go out for dinner, I know I must choose our restaurant wisely. Not only does my wife have a severely limited diet, due to stomach complications, but she is also a vegetarian. Before her, I never understood why people chose to be vegetarians. My mother was a vegetarian for a decade, one day she just stopped eating meat, made the switch for no particular reason. However, what if you have Interstitial Cystitis, and you want to become a vegetarian? Could you afford to just up and drop a diet dominated by meat? Are there enough safe vegetables, fruits, and legumes for you to eat and still maintain a healthy diet?
If I were to ask ten different vegetarians why they chose to be a vegetarian, I would end up with ten different answers. The argument that it is better to be a vegetarian has to be built on evidence supporting healthy living. According to the American Dietetic Association, an appropriately planned vegetarian diet is nutritionally adequate, providing healthful benefits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. In addition, Vegetarian Nutrition Info states that kidney, Lima, pinto, great northern, garbanzo, black-eyed peas, lentils, and fava beans all take the place of meat and fish as a major source of protein. In addition, plant foods embrace cancer-protective properties. These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cucumber, caraway, dill, parsley, and fruits such as cantaloupe. Also herbs and grains like brown rice, oats, whole wheat, flaxseed, nuts, garlic, scallions, chives, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and basil. I counted 34 foods that not only help prevent disease but are also listed as safe to try, and are on the approved Interstitial Cystitis Food List.
The evidence supports a healthy transformation from Carnivorian to Vegetarian. Eating whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables lacks very little when compared to the vitamins and mineral found in meat alone. I still believe the only reason one would remain a meat eater is because meat tastes so darn good. Therefore, I guess it is my job to make you veggie heads some great tasting recipes! My wife will love me for it.