Vegetarian Lifestyle

Turning to a vegetarian lifestyle is a personal choice as well as a lifetime commitment. Everyone has their own reason of becoming a vegetarian, most commonly the reasons behind this decision is;

• Weight Loss, Aging and Health.
• To Remedy A Medical Condition
• New Found Concerns for animal welfare

For those who are not vegetarians, it is difficult to understand why vegetarians are willing to miss out on consuming certain or all animal products and can’t comprehend the choice of a vegetarian diet; even knowing it provides more overall health benefits.

Vegetarians remain just as healthy with a diet of fruits and vegetables, with their vitamin intake remaining the same and still preventing toxins and undesirable hormones from red meat entering the body. Conditions such as cardiovascular disease are often linked with a diet full of saturated fats and cholesterol from GMOs in processed foods and meats. A diet high in red meat can lead to a much higher chances of heart disease, while going vegetarian decreases chances up to 15% and strict vegetarians only face a 4% of heart disease.

In side-by-side comparisons an average woman of 65 with an omnivorous diet had 35% bone loss while a vegetarian woman of the same age had only half the amount of bone loss detected. The reason behind this is because a vegetarian eats appropriate amounts of proteins in their veggies, where meat eaters can typically consume 150% more protein daily than required.

Energy

Meals which substitute meat with vegetables and fruits will stabilize blood sugar issues, lower cholesterol and sharpen brain function. Once you changes a diet to include more fruits and vegetables or transition completely to vegetarian menus, energy levels get higher, more consistent and tend to eliminate post meal fatigue.

Weight loss

This is one of the major and obvious advantages of cutting down or eliminating meat and dairy products. When researching supplements to help with weight loss, don’t check on TV or the Internet; seek a professional opinion. The “Doctors” on TV don’t know you, have no idea what you’re health history is and really just have a show to peddle their goods and wares.

The transition to vegetarian will make weight loss happen without the constant ups and downs of hunger. Switching from a cheeseburger to a Caesar salad or fruit salad and other substitutes isn’t easy but the payoff is well worth it.

The best part is once your diet has changed, maintaining your weight will become easier.

Money

It is not true that a vegetarian spends less money on food simply because a pound of tomatoes is much cheaper than a pound of sirloin, once you become a true vegetarian the recipes you use may become quite expensive due to the ingredient availability. You also could become “addicted” to a certain fruit or veggie that costs 10$ a pound; personally I am a sucker for Pistachios and will eat ten pounds in one sitting.

Lifespan

The vegetarian’s biggest benefit is a longer healthier life on average, as compared to a non-vegetarian or heavy red meat eater. As we age and try to enjoy our later years, we come to realize the damage we have inflicted on our bodies. Conditions such as obesity, heart failure, gout and diabetes are among many triggered by the constant consumption of red meat.

Vegetarians’ immune systems are better equipped to avoid certain conditions and limit the chances of becoming ill.

With family get-togethers, outdoor activities with the kids or just a picnic and day at the park this summer you can enjoy lite and healthy food faire. There are as many barbecue styles in the United States that can be traced back to the first settlers, natives and slaves who were here in the 17^th century. Each part of the USA has its own unique barbecue style, specialty meat, preparation methods, herbal rub or homemade sauce. BBQ sauces are generally tomato based, but there are fruit-based and gluten or organic barbecue sauces.

Two-Minute BBQ Marinade

This quick and easy marinade makes for a great last minute dinner idea. Switch out the meat for tofu and this is a tasty vegan meal.

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons of Massel Concentrated Liquid Stock
• Equal amount of your favorite red wine

Preparation

1. Place “5 tablespoons of Massel Concentrated Liquid Stock” into a large, deep bowl.
2. Add an equal amount of your favorite red wine (5 tablespoons)
3. Immerse meat in mixture, ensuring it’s completely covered.
4. Let stand for ½ minute to 1 minute depending how strong you like your marinade
5. Place on grill and cook as normal

This simple chicken marinade recipe makes for a tasty meal in just a matter of minutes!

Ingredients

• One pouch of Massel Concentrated Liquid Stock
• Equal amount of our favorite white wine

Preparation

1. Empty one pouch of Massel Concentrated Liquid Stock into a deep oven tray
2. Add equal amount of your favorite white wine (check Massel pouch)
3. Place your chicken breast into the mixture
4. Let stand for up to 5 minutes depending personal taste preferences
5. Place on grill and cook as normal

This is a delicious idea for a salad, rather than a recipe. Try raw zucchini sliced with a peeler with just a little of our Massel Lemon vinaigrette and a few crumbles of goat cheese. You can also add this salad combo to some steamy fresh cooked pasta with a touch more Massel broth and olive oil, and you have a great summer pasta dish.

Ingredients

• 2/3 medium sized zucchini
• Goat cheese to taste, crumbled-aged or fresh
• 1 teaspoon Massel Vegetable Better Bouillon Granules
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1-teaspoon honey

Preparation

1. Place 1 teaspoon of Massel Vegetable Better Bouillon Granules, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1-teaspoon of honey into a jar or heavy duty Ziploc bag. Close and shake well.
2. Carefully slice your zucchini into thin ribbons with the peeler.
3. Crumble your goat cheese over your zucchini.
4. (You can also add lemon and use your zester to add some fine strips of lemon peel.)
5. Serve your salad.