Going Vegetarian

She is the only vegetarian in our family, but my niece, Deanna, is in good company. Notable vegetarians include Leonardo da Vinci, Pythagoras, Albert Einstein, Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, and Steve Jobs. And, a recent study in the British Medical Journal concluded that children with above average intelligence were more likely to become vegetarians.

Global trends indicate we need to reduce meat consumption now. Scientists are worried that by 2030, the world will be unable to produce enough grain to feed the livestock required to meet soaring demand for meat.

Eating less meat also reduces the risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, gallbladder disease, and diabetes.

Vegetarians do not eat flesh, fowl, or fish. Vegans go one step further and do not eat eggs or dairy products.

In the book, David Suzuki's Green Guide, David Suzuki and David Boyd provide the following low-cost and no-cost tips for easing into a plant-based diet:

• Eat smaller portions of meat and dairy.

• Eat meat and dairy less frequently.

• Replace meat with products that look and taste like meat but are made of plant protein (e.g. veggie burgers or sausage)

• Borrow a vegan or vegetarian cookbook from the library and experiment with a few meals at home.

• Have at least one meat-free day a week.