Vegetarian cooking

In American culture we are told by the media at a very young age that eating meat is a no-brainer and that meat = food. When I was growing up, my family owned a small restaurant in the northeast, New Jersey to be exact, and my palette was developed on burgers, philly cheesesteaks, sausage, bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches, and the like–admittedly, all very tasty foods. And I must say, I really enjoyed them.

But long story short, as I got older, I recognized that these types of foods are not that good for you unless you only eat them in moderation, so I started to eat some vegetarian meals. This was many years ago, and I have been eating them ever since. The point of this article is not to try to convert anyone to becoming a vegetarian. It is to try to chop away at the “us against them” mentality between vegetarians and those who eat meat. What I would like to convey is the fact that there are many vegetarian foods that I was totally unaware of back before I started eating mostly vegetarian that are really tasty. I think that a lot of “anti-vegetarians” may want to rethink the health aspect of the equation and add some vegetarian meals into their diets.

It is true that meat for every meal has traditionally been the American way. But then again, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, colon ailments and high cholesterol have become the American way as well. Perhaps a more balanced and intelligent approach to eating and exercising would help to keep people healthier. If you can develop a taste for some vegetarian meals and really enjoy them, your tastes will change somewhat and you will find it easier to eat a more balanced diet.