What do vegetarians eat: should we feel sorry for them or envy them? Vegetarian nutrition using my example and the basic principles of a healthy diet for everyone. What vegetarians eat.

Almost all meat-eaters believe that those who give up meat chew exclusively grass (yes, greens should definitely be on any person’s menu). What else do vegetarians actually eat? Is their diet as meager as most people think?

When people ask me about the diet of vegetarians, I immediately remember a funny story from a friend of mine who gave up meat many years ago. Her husband still continues to eat it. Day after day, when they go shopping together at the store, he immediately sends his wife to the fruit and vegetable department with the words: “Your silo is there!”.

So, almost all traditionally eating people who were interested in my menu began to groan, sigh and feel sorry for me. How can I, poor thing, still live in this world, sitting on nothing but grass?

By the way, it was on greens, fruits and vegetables, that is, that I felt the best, but that’s a slightly different story. Today’s article is devoted to vegetarian nutrition in the broader sense of the word - a menu that still includes thermally processed food.

What else is included in a vegetarian diet? Let me start with what is definitely not included there.

Fish and eggs also contain animal protein.

Most people who are far from a plant-based diet believe that a vegetarian is a person who has stopped eating animal meat. In fact, this concept is somewhat deeper.

It’s not enough to stop eating lamb, rabbit, pork, beef, kangaroo meat, crocodile meat, and all other animals. It is also necessary to spare chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and all kinds of game, that is, stop considering the flesh of birds as food.

Very often, the diet of vegetarians in the initial stages also includes fish and seafood. As the experience of my friends, and my personal one, shows, for some reason it is more difficult to give up them than meat. People usually either don’t like seafood at all or adore it.

So, gradually a person who seeks to improve his diet also disowns these animal products.

Anyone who, in addition to abstaining from meat, does not eat fish, shellfish and eggs is a vegetarian.

All the rest have nothing to do with this power system. Of course, one can object and say that there are even special names for such people. So, someone who eats fish but refuses meat is a pescetarian, and a person who eats scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs and puts eggs in baked goods is an ovo-vegetarian. But all of them are not vegetarians in the full sense of the word.

No, I’m not being mischievous or fanatic at all! 🙂 You know that the term “vegetarianism” comes from the Latin "vegetalis" What does "vegetable" mean? And, please tell me, what does herring, squid or eggs have to do with it?

Cow's milk is for cows!

Frankly speaking, people who call themselves “lacto-vegetarians” cannot be called fully herbivorous, because they include animal products in their diet.

However, this is the diet for vegetarians that is most common in the world. Why? Well, firstly, from childhood we were taught that if we drink milk and eat products made from it, we will definitely be healthy. And many people still blindly believe in this children's fairy tale.

Secondly, lacto-vegetarians have a very strong addiction to cheeses, butter, yoghurts and kefir.

If the casein protein, which is present in dairy products, is not broken down into amino acids in the body, it turns into caseomorphin.

Cute name? The action of this intermediate product of protein breakdown is similar to opiates, since they are similar in chemical structure.

We also produce opiates for ourselves - the well-known endorphins that help cope with pain or give pleasure. When such substances are supplied from the outside, for example, with dairy products, natural opiates are produced in smaller quantities, and then the body begins to demand more of them, that is, to want even more yogurt or even more cottage cheese. More! Even more!! 😆

Hence the addiction to dairy products, similar to a narcotic– remember the famous mouse Roquefort from the Disney cartoon about Chip and Dale? The one who, sensing the smell of cheese, lost his will and flew towards his favorite delicacy, forgetting about everything...

Jokes aside, but we, people who love milk, look about the same, you must admit! I confess, to this day I cannot cope with my cheese-ryazhenka addiction. After long periods, I am still briefly tempted by dairy products. And this despite the fact that I know a lot of facts about their harm to health - both modern and even Ayurvedic.

In a word, milk is good, but let human cubs eat their mother’s milk, and at least two years old, let’s leave cow’s milk for the calves! What then are the products for vegetarians? What remains for them, carrots and? Let's expand our boundaries and get acquainted with vegetarian food.

“Poor” vegetarians don’t even know what to eat 😆

The food of vegetarians or, to be precise, vegans is various plants in any form. And this is not so little! When I switched to a plant-based diet, at first I, of course, limited myself to only the products that were familiar to me, and then I began to boldly expand it - trying exotic fruits, mastering the preparation of cereals that were not traditional for my country, and combining seemingly incompatible ingredients. Now my menu is much more varied than it was in the days of eating meat, which means that the body receives almost the entire range of nutrients.

Vegetables

Vegetarian food is, first of all, in any form. For greater benefits, of course, it is better to eat them raw, but if you are not yet ready for a pure raw food diet, experiment with heat treatment of vegetables.

Personally, as a child, I couldn’t stand raw vegetables and I know that most children are of the same opinion (the truth speaks through the mouth of a baby - it’s better to eat something alive!). Over the years, when I began to master the intricacies of using spices, I fell in love with stewed cabbage, vegetable stews, steamed broccoli, and was even able to add the hated boiled carrots to the vegetarian Olivier salad.

What am I talking about? Besides, if you still doubt the variety of vegetarian tastes, try playing chef with vegetables. I'm sure you'll like it!

What vegetables can be used for cooking? This list includes products traditional for Russian-speaking people, as well as those that may seem exotic:

all types of cabbage (white, red, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, Peking, Savoy);
carrot;
, sweet potato, Jerusalem artichoke;
onions (green, white and red, leek);
(both young and in cloves);
(black, white Daikon, green, and also green on the outside and pink on the inside, very delicate), ;
horseradish (both leaves and roots);
(stems, roots, greens);
turnip, rutabaga;
cassava;
artichoke, parsnip;
rhubarb;
, squash, ;
cucumber;
okra.

These are the vegetables that, one way or another, I have encountered in my life. But I'm sure the list is actually even longer.

Fruits

There are people who eat only, and they are called fruit eaters or also fruitarians. What I mean is that this type of plant food is ideal for humans, it satisfies their need for nutrients, provides energy, and therefore must be included in any diet, not to mention a vegetarian one.

And children simply love fruit. You can diversify your vegetarian menu with both familiar and exotic fruits:

, kumquat, clementine, medlar, pomelo, sweetie;
bergamot, hibiscus;
, and quince;
guava, guarana, durian, passion fruit, papaya, tamarind and mango;
, date fruit, ;

As you understand, this is not a complete list of fruits. I listed only those products that I myself found in supermarkets. Almost all vegetarians and all raw foodists strive for hot countries - there is somewhere to roam!

Berries

Let's not forget about, which are also excellent food for vegetarians and which children love.

As a child, the yard boys and I fenced trees and bushes around our five-story building - there was a mulberry tree growing opposite my entrance. It is still there, and now I take my children there to graze. Behind the house, again, under our windows, there were thickets of bushes. And all my life I’ve been trying to understand what I love more - or? 🙂

I'm sure you love berries too.

, (such pretty berries, large and satisfying);
barberry, elderberry, viburnum, dogwood, rowan (including chokeberry);
goji (yes, those advertised ones!);
, cherries, strawberries, gooseberries;
lemongrass;
cloudberry, bird cherry;
(and these are also berries!);
thorn;
feijoa, physalis;
mulberry.

Berries are rich in vitamins, which is why they are so often used to treat viral and colds.

Nuts

– an excellent source of plant-based, easily digestible protein. At least it is absorbed much better than animal protein. For raw foodists and fruitarians, however, they are a little heavy, but for a vegetarian snack they are just right. Nuts include:

Brazilian, and ;
cashew nuts;
macadamia;
pecan;
and and.

Surely you already know, if this is not your first time visiting Sunny Mint, that you need to buy nuts in closed shells, pre-soak their kernels in water and eat no more than 100 grams per day. Then the body will receive all the benefits from them without side effects.

Seeds

Included in a vegetarian diet, they can easily replace. Some of them contain more of it than cottage cheese and cheese, and this mineral is absorbed much easier and more correctly.

Diversify your daily menu with the following seeds:

, flax and ;
pumpkin seeds;
(yes, these are actually seeds);

These are the most useful and affordable seeds for purchase, which, like nuts, need to be pre-soaked, and even better, sprouted.

Legumes

03.01.2016 Vladimir Zuikov Save:

Hello, dear reader! Now you will find out the answer to the question: do vegetarians eat eggs, milk, cheese, dairy products, honey. I will adequately answer these questions and explain in clear words without imposing the idea of vegetarianism. So make yourself comfortable.

To adequately approach the issue of products in a vegetarian diet, you first need to know what types of vegetarians exist. You can read about this in detail. But I will still briefly repeat myself more specifically, with an emphasis on the above-mentioned products in the diet of each vegetarian.

Types of vegetarians and their diet

1. Lacto-ovo vegetarianism. If a person is a vegetarian for health reasons, then in addition to plant foods, you can eat eggs, milk, dairy products and honey.

If you are an ethical vegetarian, there is a limitation - almost all cheeses (are made from an enzyme from the stomach of a calf, which can only be obtained by killing it). It happens that an ethical vegetarian eats only unfertilized eggs, because... fertilized is already the embryo of a new life.

In general, from an ethical perspective, the essence of lacto-ovo vegetarianism is the following - no one should die while receiving food. If this type of nutrition is adopted purely for health, usually a person is not guided by these principles.

2. Lacto-vegetarianism. Allowed to eat plants + milk, dairy products. In this case, eggs are excluded from the diet - any eggs, no matter what they are.

In an ethical manner, milk and products made from it are purchased from rural cows, because... industrial animals are subjected to torture and cruelty when milking. The essence of ethical lacto-vegetarianism is that no animal is subjected not only to death, but also to unnecessary cruelty in obtaining food.

3. Ovo-vegetarianism. Such vegetarians eat plants + eggs. All dairy products are excluded from the diet, usually due to lactose intolerance or due to a doctor's diagnosis. Usually in this case there is no ethical factor.

4. Veganism (strict vegetarianism). Only plant foods are allowed for food: fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, mushrooms, honey. For ethical reasons, honey is also often excluded because... bees are subjected to cruelty during its production.

The essence of ethical veganism is to not cause any suffering to any living beings. Therefore, such vegans also do not wear fur coats and genuine leather products.

These people have very developed compassion for animals. But sometimes this develops into hatred of meat-eaters with fights and human casualties. In this case, there is fanaticism or mental deviation of the vegan.

Answers to the questions: Do vegetarians eat...

1. Do vegetarians eat eggs (chicken, quail, etc.)? Yes, most vegetarians eat eggs, especially when starting out as vegetarians. Over time, the need for them may disappear and a person switches, for example, to lacto-vegetarianism. What do you personally think: can vegetarians eat eggs?

2. Do vegetarians eat cheese? As we found out above, calves must be killed when making cheese. Most vegetarians do not eat hard cheese for this reason. I don’t know how accurate the data is, but Adyghe cheese does not contain this enzyme. Check it yourself, because... I don't eat any cheese. There is also vegan cheese (not made from milk).

3. Do vegetarians drink milk, kefir, cheese milk and other milks? It all depends on the group above. Most vegetarians drink milk and eat dairy products. But everyone decides for themselves whether it will be industrial milk from a bag or natural homemade milk from kind people who treat cows well.

4. Do vegetarians eat honey? Honey is a plant product obtained from flower pollen and sweet plant secretions. Most vegetarians consume honey and bee products. Many vegans do not eat honey for ethical reasons, because... The bees may have been treated cruelly. You can read about choosing quality honey.

5. Do vegetarians eat gelatin? No, they don’t, this is a completely non-vegetarian product. It is obtained by evaporating animal bones, which is contrary to even the mildest form of vegetarianism. Jelly, desserts, yogurt, sweets, and jelly are often made from gelatin. In 90% of cases it is written in the composition of products, but not always.

6. Do vegetarians eat fish, seafood, caviar, and crab sticks? No, they don't eat. This is the flesh of a living creature, whatever you call it. Although it can be called correctly - fish meat and squid meat, oyster meat, etc. This is also meat, such as chicken. You can read more about why vegetarians don’t eat seafood in this article.

7. Do vegetarians eat insects? No. This is a living creature, it’s the same as with seafood.

8. Do vegetarians eat chocolate? No, although it is made from beans, it also contains tropical cockroaches - inhabitants of bean trees. It is impossible to get rid of these cockroaches when making chocolate, so 5-10% of a chocolate bar is their particles. How do you feel about chocolate and candy?

9. Do vegetarians eat margarine, chips and other supermarket delights? Unfortunately, most vegetarians eat all sorts of rubbish and chemicals. This is especially true for ethical vegetarians and vegans. This does not take into account how much harm is caused to nature and animals during the production of these surrogate products. Perhaps some vegetarians should reconsider their position and take this point into account.

Of course, each person has his own motives for what to eat and what not. Anyone who has chosen vegetarianism is already doing well! Motives are not so important, because any awareness of a person already improves a person’s own life and life on the planet as a whole.

Vegetarianism is beneficial even if the adherent selfishly wants to take care of his health and refuses meat only for this reason. By doing this, he already saves many animals and contributes to the improvement of society and nature, whether he wants it or not.

Personally, I only eat plant foods. This could be called veganism, but I eat it raw, i.e. I don’t cook, fry, bake, etc. This is called a raw food diet. Who cares what it is.

I personally feel that this type of nutrition is the most optimal for humans, animals and the planet. What do you think, is this so?

That's all I wanted to say on the topic of controversial foods that vegetarians eat and don't eat. Everyone chooses for themselves what to eat and what not. There is no need to go to extremes and do what you are not ready for. Everything will work out, you just need to take steps towards your goals, even if these steps are very small.

If you need help with vegetarianism, raw food or addiction recovery, you've come to the right place. This blog and I personally will help you with this. If you have questions about the article, ask below in the comments, I will be happy to answer and tell you what is not clear. See you soon!

Subscribe to blog updates– there are still many interesting articles ahead!

Most, when faced with such a concept as veganism, immediately begin to think about hungry days and a meager diet, from which there are no health benefits, and they will be absolutely wrong. Products of plant origin are incredibly tasty and healthy; just learn more about this nutritional system.

So what do vegans eat? In short, these people deny meat, fish and other animal products, from cow's milk to natural honey. Of course, compared to “meat” diets and trends, such a diet and list of products will probably seem boring and very limited, but this is far from the case. In this article you will learn about all the intricacies of creating a vegan menu and what products you can eat with it.

Veganism is a strict form of vegetarianism. Followers of both directions eat exclusively plant foods, but there are some differences between them. If vegetarians do not eat fish, meat, and do not deny themselves dairy products, eggs, and natural honey, then vegans completely abandon animal products.

This limitation of the vegan trend is reinforced by the philosophy of the direction. The main principle is the exclusion from the diet of everything that is associated with suffering and exploitation of animals. It must be said that vegans not only do not eat this food, but also do not wear clothes made of genuine leather or fur.

A vegan diet is based on cereals, legumes, vegetables/fruits and nuts, and mushrooms. People follow his principles if they want not only to lose weight, but also to improve their body health. This trend has enormous benefits, but avoiding animal products entails a health hazard, as there is a lack of many useful substances, macro- and microelements. Before switching to it, you need to consult a specialist.

Veganism involves strictly avoiding the consumption of animal products. And this applies not only to meat, fish, but also to many other items. The “allowed” food list is as follows:

Fruits/vegetables, berries. This is the basis of the modern vegan diet. Add a variety of greens to the fruit and vegetable component and a complete, balanced diet for the whole day is ready. There is no need to invent anything. You can eat them both raw and thermally processed. There are no specific dishes based on these products. Fantasy is not limited by anything.
Cereals. Vegans can eat absolutely any grain. Buckwheat, which can be eaten both boiled and sprouted, is especially valued. They also don’t forget about oats, wheat, amaranth, couscous, etc. All types of cereals are nutritious and healthy.
Dried fruits. This is a must-have component of a vegan menu. Dried apricots, apricots, prunes, dates, figs, apples - all this and much more can be eaten, both independently and as additives to porridge and many other dishes.
Nuts/seeds. We can talk endlessly about the benefits and unique composition of nuts, grains and seeds. You will not find such a quantity of nutrients and amino acids in any other product. Modern manufacturers constantly delight followers of proper nutrition with original products based on nuts, seeds and grains. For example, stores offer a huge selection of cereals and muesli bars.
Soy. This is another essential component of a vegan diet. Soy meat and milk greatly diversify the diet and make the absence of animal products on the menu almost invisible.

Of course, the list of restrictions on the products consumed is very long, but what we have is enough to always come up with something tasty and unusual for yourself and your family.

Vegan food is not always good for the body. In order for this course to bring benefits to the body, you must follow several simple principles:

We carefully monitor the composition of products. Every day a person should receive the full amount of useful nutrients. We make sure that the diet contains all the necessary components: vitamins, minerals, macro- and microelements, essential amino acids. An imbalance can lead to negative consequences.
Refusal of soybeans grown from GMO seeds. You should not overuse “healthy” soy, as in excess it can cause hormonal imbalances.
It is best to replace baked goods with yeast with yeast-free products prepared with natural leaven. Consumption of yeast leads to the maintenance and development of putrefactive processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Even if there are no plans to switch to, it is still advisable to give up fried foods, which negatively affect the functioning of important organs.
We reduce the consumption of sweets - they contribute to the formation of harmful microflora in the body.
We buy products only from trusted places. A person must be completely sure that the products purchased are environmentally friendly and safe for health.
When transitioning and further following the principles of a vegan diet, it is recommended to periodically perform fasting to cleanse the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

By following these simple points, you will not only easily switch to a new lifestyle for you, but you will also comfortably stick to it in the future.

The vegan menu is compiled individually. Despite the limited list, you can create hundreds of different options for all occasions and any taste preferences. We present to your attention an approximate diet (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner).

Monday:

Herbal infusion and toast with avocado paste.
A small amount of nuts.
Zucchini soup, brown rice with vegetables and soy asparagus.
Lobio in tomato sauce.

Boiled buckwheat with the addition of pieces of apples and bananas.
Tomato soup with lentils and cabbage-tomato salad, seasoned with lemon juice and vegetable oil.
Rye bread with tofu.
Millet on water with soy texture and vegetable garnish.

Steamed oatmeal with raspberries and blackberries, vitamin tea with herbs.
Green borscht.
Dried fruits.
Mushroom risotto and beet salad.

Banana-berry smoothie.
Bean casserole with broccoli.
Fruits to choose from.
Zucchini gratin with tomatoes.

Barley with apples and coconut milk.
Rice soup.
A handful of dried fruits.
Carrot cutlets and cabbage salad.

Whole grain toast with vegetables and tofu cheese, green tea.
Banana and fruit smoothie.
Berry smoothie.
Vegetable stew with herbs and garlic, a couple of avocado slices.

Sunday:

Delicate casserole of cottage cheese with raisins.
Cabbage cutlets and mashed potatoes.
Banana smoothie.
Watercress salad with croutons, tomatoes and tofu.

Recipes for Vegan Days

What to add to your weekly menu for variety? Vegan products make it possible to create a varied diet every day, which is unlikely to bore you and will give you a lot of positive feelings. Among the most original and delicious recipes, we offer the following options.

Black rice cereal - 1 cup.
Tomatoes.
Bell pepper - 1 piece.
Canned peas - 1 can.
Olives - 4 tablespoons.
Cold-pressed vegetable oil - to taste, for dressing.
Arugula leaves.

Boil the rice in boiling water for about 40 minutes until fully cooked. Next, rinse the cereal under running hot water.
We clean, chop and add all fresh vegetables to the rice.
Add the remaining ingredients to the dish.
Mix everything thoroughly and season with oil.

Chickpeas – 450 grams.
Sesame paste – 4 tablespoons.
Water – ½ cup.
Lemon juice – 1-2 teaspoons.
Paprika – 2 teaspoons.
Cumin – 1 teaspoon.
Coriander – 4-5 tablespoons.
Olive oil.

Place the boiled chickpeas in a deep bowl and grind with a blender to a paste.
Add sesame paste to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
Pour in vegetable oil, a little lemon juice, water and add all the previously prepared spices and herbs.
Once again we pass everything through the blender until smooth.
Delicate, aromatic hummus is ready. Bon appetit.

For the base:

Peeled almonds - 200 grams.
Agave syrup – 1-2 tablespoons.

For filling:

Coconut shavings - 2 cups.
Agave syrup - 1/3 cup.
Coconut milk - 5 tablespoons.

For chocolate:

Coconut milk – 3 tablespoons.
Carob – 2-3 tablespoons.
Chicory – 1 tablespoon.

To prepare the base, pass the almonds through a blender until it becomes flour, add the syrup and mix thoroughly. Place the finished dough into a prepared pan, forming a crust with sides. We level everything thoroughly.
For the filling, mix all the ingredients and process in a separate bowl with an immersion blender to form a homogeneous mass. Divide the filling into two parts. We spread one of them in an even layer on the prepared base. The second part is mixed with liquid chocolate and placed on top.
Prepare the chocolate for coating: heat the milk slightly and stir in the chicory and carob. Pour the prepared chocolate mixture over the cake and place it in the refrigerator to soak and infuse.
Before serving it, you can sprinkle the Bounty with coconut flakes.

We can talk endlessly about the benefits of food for vegans:

Positive dynamics in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. When switching to a vegan menu, you will quickly feel lightness in your stomach and intestines. It is worth noting that many diseases will go away on their own.
By giving up animal fats, the body quickly cleanses itself of bad cholesterol. Prevention of many unpleasant heart diseases and atherosclerosis is launched.
Refusal of animal products means exclusion from the diet of sausages, cheeses, yoghurts, which contain a lot of harmful components, additives and fillers. This reduces the risk of occurrence and development of cancer.
Antibiotics and hormonal drugs, which are given to animals in excess before slaughter, no longer enter the body.
Getting the maximum amount of fiber, beneficial nutrients contained in plant-based foods.
Weight loss, lightness in the body and always a good mood.

Have you decided to become a vegan? You can’t immediately limit yourself to food. The most important thing is a smooth transition, gradualness. If up to this point you have been a vegetarian, then switching to veganism will not be difficult. If the diet contained meat, dairy products, fish, the transition will take quite a long time. Here are a few points to pay special attention to:

To begin with, three or four meals a week that contain a meat component should be replaced with plant foods. After a couple of weeks, we will reshuffle a few more meals. Over time, animal products will be completely excluded from the menu.
Next, remove the fish and eggs. In this case, the main guideline is personal feelings and well-being. If you can give up eggs quickly, then it may take more than one year to completely eliminate seafood.
We introduce herbal products smoothly, gently, so as not to harm your body and emotional background. A sharp restriction leads not only to quick breakdowns, but also to the fact that veganism will be discredited in the eyes of a person.

Changing eating habits in modern times is very useful. An abundance of harmful foods is a huge stress for the body and the development of many unpleasant diseases. Veganism is an excellent way to maintain your health for many years.

Classmates

I decided to write this article because many people ask me about what vegetarians can eat and what they can’t? Are dairy products considered animal foods? Why can't you eat eggs? Is eating yogurt and cheese considered vegetarian? Isn’t it harmful to completely give up animal products?…

In this article I will tell you what vegetarians are, what foods they don’t eat, how this is justified, and how it’s generally correct?

For example, for a long time I could not figure out why some people eat dairy products and others don’t...

What types of vegetarians are there?

There are four main types of vegetarianism. Why are there four of them, and not one, ordinary vegetarianism?

Because each of these types is based on different motives. These motives determine which foods to consume and which to avoid. Therefore, vegetarianism branches out into many options. And here are the main ones...

I will not speculate and claim what motives these groups of vegetarians had (because I don’t know), but will simply tell you what pattern I noticed from my personal experience of communicating with vegetarians.

1. The first and most common type of vegetarianism (especially at the beginning) is lacto-ovo vegetarianism. These people do not eat meat or fish (including seafood), but do eat eggs and dairy products. And they choose this type of diet either for health benefits, or because they have just switched to vegetarianism and it is easy for them to immediately stop eating meat and fish.

2. There are vegetarians who do not eat meat, fish and dairy products, but do eat eggs. This type is called ovo-vegetarianism. As I noticed, these people simply do not like dairy products because they have difficulty digesting them, but they believe that eggs are good for them. Their diet is based on the belief that such a diet is good for health and gives more energy.

3. Vegetarians who do not eat meat, fish, eggs, but eat dairy products are lacto-vegetarianism. Most of these people are probably vegetarians. They avoid meat out of compassion for animals or for religious reasons. They do not consider milk a product of violence, and they see eggs as a future living being. Even if this egg is not fertilized (as they sell in stores), it still implies that it is intended to give birth to a new life.

4. Veganism- This is strict vegetarianism and people who adhere to it do not eat: meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. And in some cases even honey. Most of them do not wear fur or leather items. These people have very strong compassion for animals and often participate in animal welfare activities.

But in fact, these motives may be completely different and may not correspond to what I wrote. Because cases really are different. I will tell you more about this later...

What is the “Correct” Vegetarianism?

In general, the word “vegetarianism” comes from the English language and initially it meant that food is not associated with murder. That is, it simply meant giving up meat or any food of animal origin: meat, fish, eggs or milk.

There was no strict list of foods prohibited for consumption.

There are no strict systems here at all. There is a general word that implies that “I don’t eat meat,” but what kind of meat I don’t eat depends on my reasons for stopping eating it.

And there is no right or best type of vegetarianism either. There are simply different understandings of this, different levels of refusal. This understanding forms the choice of acceptable or unacceptable products for oneself. That's all.

Some people don't eat meat because they know it's harmful. Some refused because a friend doesn’t eat and I decided to try. And others may simply not like him.

That is, if you become a vegetarian, you don’t have to choose which type you consider yourself to be and what I can’t eat now. You simply stop eating those animal products that you think are bad to eat for some reason.

As for me, in switching to vegetarianism as part of concerns about my health, I see selfish motives and they do not attract me. (Although, of course, good health is a huge plus of vegetarianism)

I give up meat not to make me feel better and be healthier, but because I want to use my life to cause as little suffering as possible to other living beings - this is the basis of my refusal of animal food. And since I began to be interested in Vedic culture, I abandoned my raw food diet and strict veganism (I was a terrible fan) and remained on a lacto-vegetarianism.

Personally, I don't eat meat, fish, eggs. But I do eat dairy products. Despite the fact that only domestic ones and those who do not kill cows (there are such)...

About milk!

Store-bought milk and dairy products are like buying meat for me. Because in dairy production. cont.” cows are kept in the same slaughterhouses, fed with hormones to produce more milk, and when they stop milking well, they are killed for meat, which is sold next to the milk shelf.

That is, store-bought milk is really a product of violence, which is also dangerous to health. In addition, non-vegetarian products are often added to them (for example, gelatin in yoghurts, bone meal in cheeses)

Therefore, if I have the opportunity to find homemade milk, I eat, if not, I don’t eat. Ayurveda considers milk to be the healthiest and most important product for humans, which develops the subtle tissues of the brain. And the cow is the second mother who teaches us selfless love.

I have studied the objections that often arise about the fact that milk is intended only for calves or that milk is not digestible in humans. From farmers, from scientists, in authoritative literature for me. (And I didn’t read it on the Internet on dubious sites, like most of the “objectors”)...

And here's what I found out:

Milk is not digested when it is drunk cold, mixed with incompatible foods, or when your digestion has been so damaged by a destructive way of eating that you cannot digest dairy products (and not only them, by the way).

A cow produces much more milk than her calves can drink. If you don't milk the remaining milk, the cow starts to have problems. And cows love it when people take care of them. When cows feel that they will not be killed, they become attached to these people as if they were their children.

How harmful is it to completely give up animal products?…

I have been a vegetarian since 2009 and when I go for routine checkups or tests, doctors say that they rarely meet such healthy people. (Although I used to have some problems when I ate meat)

I know people who not only do not eat eggs, nor milk, nor meat, but who have been eating only raw vegetables and fruits for many many years and feel normal, healthy, athletic.

All the protein necessary for humans and the set of “essential” amino acids are completely contained in plant foods. There is no need to eat someone else's protein when the human body is capable of producing its own protein. From the same plants that produce it from herbivorous cows (“beef”), pigs (“pork”) and chicken.

Otherwise, all these vegetarians would have died long ago. Or, if they were so lacking in some nutrients, their hair would fall out and they would all be in wheelchairs.

There are simply people who are very strongly attached to meat (including doctors and scientists) and therefore prove in every possible way that it is healthy and cannot be lived without it.

Taking advantage of their influential authority, doctors interpret things in their own way, in a way that is more convenient for them. Simply because they want to continue to eat meat or do not want the world “meat production” to go bankrupt. Therefore, normal people have already stopped arguing with them about this. (Well, let them eat, we’d better show them how to live without meat!)

What a Vegetarian Shouldn't Eat

By the way, a few more words about what foods ALL vegetarians avoid. These are cheeses and gelatin...

Gelatin is made from the horns and hooves of animals and is added to some desserts, sweets, jellies, jelly and drinks are made from it. It is usually written on the label as part of the composition.

Almost all hard cheese contains rennet, which is extracted from the stomachs of calves. And since this enzyme is very expensive and they began to replace it with an artificial one, there is a chance that you can still buy cheeses... But bone meal is added to almost all cheeses (at least in Ukraine). One hundred pounds of vegetarian cheeses are Adygei and Cheddar.

So, you decide for yourself what is right to eat and what is not. And the right decision is your decision, your understanding. Nobody forces anyone to become a vegetarian...

Remember that you can’t suddenly quit everything if you’re not ready for it. I abruptly stopped eating meat, but only after a while I “gave up” fish and eggs. And there’s nothing to worry about if you can’t give up something yet. Over time, it will disappear on its own.

P.S. I have deep respect for all vegetarians, no matter what choice they make. We are all united by non-violence. To the extent that each of us understands this.

Becoming a vegetarian, a person excludes quite a lot of foods from the diet - and they definitely need to find a replacement that is tasty and nutritious. Here is a list of 25 foods that every aspiring vegetarian should include on their shopping list.

The products listed below can be divided into three main categories:

substitutes for animal products;
products that diversify the plant diet;
foods rich in vital nutrients.

Of course, this is not a complete list, but beginner vegetarians will find it very useful.

Substitute for dairy products

1. Alternative to regular milk: almond, soy, rice milk.

2. Vegetarian cheese. Yes, yes, this happens too.

Instead of Belk

3. Tofu.

4. Soya beans.

5. Beans. Cheap, tasty and nutritious product.

6. Chickpeas It can be used to make a variety of vegetarian dishes, including delicious falafel.

7. Seeds. Sesame, sunflower, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia - they all contain a lot of protein and healthy fats.

8. Nuts and nut butter.

More about foods containing protein in our article "".

What grains and cereals can

9. Brown rice More nutritious than its white “brother”.

10. Quinoa.

11. Oatmeal. An ideal breakfast product.

12. Whole grain cereals. They have a rich taste and are rich in nutrients.

13. Whole wheat couscous.

14. Whole grain pasta.

15. Bread and flatbreads made from sprouted wheat. Rich in nutrients.

What to use for cooking

16. Agar-agar. Vegan gelatin substitute.

17. Nutritional yeast fortified with vitamin B12. A product suitable for beginner vegetarians. But they must be of high quality.

18. Tomato paste. Source of iron.

19. Dried mushrooms. For example, white. Add as a meat substitute to soups and stews.

20. Sun-dried tomatoes. They make the dish more aromatic and its taste richer.

21. Capers. Another product for a bright aroma.

22. Spices.

For baking

23. Flax and chia seeds. A nutritious replacement for eggs. Simply soak one tablespoon of seeds in three tablespoons of water for 15 minutes.

24. Coconut oil. Can replace butter in some recipes.

25. Agave syrup.