Added: 06/23/2007 |
Vegan Recipes For All To EnjoyIt seems as if just about everybody one talks to these days is on some type of diet. Diet plan and diet pill commercials bombard consumers on television and radio alike. Many of these plans and pills however, are temporary solutions for long term problems. In contrast, Vegetarianism is a lifestyle change that eliminates certain foods from one's diet and does result in improved health for many adults. Vegan recipes that call for the substitution of animal products with plant based products may be an avenue to consider if one is looking for a complete lifestyle change.
Vegetarians participate in the practice of not consuming the flesh of any animal including sea life. Not all vegetarians are the same, however. There are four distinct practices of vegetarianism. The four practices are lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, and vegan. None of the four practices believe in eating meat or fish. Some of the practices, however, do allow for the consumption of eggs, dairy products, and honey. Veganism is the strictest of the four practices.
Veganism is defined as strict or pure vegetarianism. It is a philosophy and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans do not consume animal products such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs or dairy products. Vegans choose this lifestyle for various reasons. It could be due to ethical concerns for animal rights, environment, perceived health benefits, spiritual, or religious concerns. So, does this mean that a Vegan can never enjoy another burger? Not really.
Vegan recipes may be made with substitutes that try to replicate the taste and texture of an ingredient and some of its other useful properties in cooking. For example, animal products can be substituted for plant based ingredients. If Vegan recipes call for milk, cow’s milk can be replaced with nut, grain, or soy milk. If Vegan recipes call for eggs, they can be replaced by substitutes made from starch. People preparing Vegan recipes that call for cheese can use a cheese that is made mainly of potatoes, oil, and soy. Vegan recipes that call for meats can use imitation meats made from soy or gluten. For example, Vegans can use tofu to make tofu bacon. Unfortunately though, some ingredients used in cooking are almost impossible to replace.
It is recommended that a Vegan diet includes three servings of vegetables a day, five servings of whole grains, three servings of fruit, and two servings of legumes. For breakfast one could eat pancakes made from flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, soy milk, and vegetable oil. Bananas, chocolate chips, or cranberries and be added for a little extra flavor. A meatless chili can be made using red kidney beans, black beans, navy beans, corn kernels, tomatoes, chili powder, peppers, and onions. Pasta e Fagioli is a meatless dish made with white beans, olive oil, garlic, bay leaves, red peppers, parsley, macaroni, and salt. A Vegan can even enjoy a chocolate mousse cake made with a chocolate filling that uses chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and tofu.
Veganism is a lifestyle change, however it does not mean that one has to give up all the foods he or she craves. With the use of some clever substitutions, Vegans can enjoy the same types of foods others enjoy without compromising their principles. The Vegan gift of modified recipes can help many Americans enjoy better eating habits one meal at a time.
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