Going VEGAN: What's All The Fuss About?

Hey guys!

As most of you know, more word is getting out lately about adopting meatless diets and opting for a diet focused more around whole grains and vegetables.

You might be wondering, "What's all the fuss about??"

Firstly, there is a difference between a simple vegetarian diet and following a vegan lifestyle.

Vegetarians do not eat meat, chicken, fish, pork, or the like, but will still consume other animal by-products like dairy or gelatin.

Vegans avoid all animal flesh and animal by-products in every aspect of life.

Adopting these lifestyles may seem challenging or let's be honest, even CRAZY, for most of us that were brought up with meals basically centered around meat as the main course.

The truth is that because of the way animals are treated in factory farms and slaughterhouses, the quality of our meat has disintegrated over the years. Unfortunately, animals are pumped with antibiotics and hormones to make them grow faster, and this eventually makes it to our plates.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has stated that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes." *

Below are some websites with more information on adopting a vegetarian diet and an info-graphic that may answer any questions about how vegans and vegetarians get their nutrition.

If you need some Vegetarian/Vegan inspiration, check out this list PETA put together of all the vegetarian celebrities out there! Peta Vegetarian Celebrities 2012

As with any lifestyle change, remember that it's important to take BABY STEPS.
Following a meatless diet can be very extreme if you're not careful to replace it with
better healthful choices. You can start by eliminating meat one meal a week and then maybe build to twice a week, three times a month, etc..

Is anyone out there vegetarian or vegan?? Would you be willing to try it if you knew what steps to take? Let us know in the comments! Tag us on Twitter @BerkleeLiveWell and remember to "like" our Facebook page!!



*EatRight.Org

Sources:

http://isveganhealthy.com/wondering-about-a-vegan-diet/

http://isveganhealthy.com/5-common-vegan-myths/

http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=1233#.UF0ZzI6lCr8

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/the-challenge-of-going-vegan/

http://thekindlife.com/

http://www.ellentv.com/categories/going-vegan-with-ellen/