Let’s face it. If you’re living that vegetarian life like I am, then you’ve probably heard a slew of annoying statements targeted at your diet from all of those carnivores out there. “Where do you even get your protein from?” “What do you eat… like… salads?” “Why the hell would you cut bacon out of your life?” I know I definitely roll my eyes whenever these questions come across my path, but the truth is… I used to be the person that asked those questions before I went full vegetarian!
Most people don’t know much about protein content in foods other than meat and eggs. So what’s the deal with that? What everyone should know about the vegetarian and vegan life is that there is so much more to it than just “eating rabbit food.”
Unlike what we’re told by our lovely food pyramid in grade school, meat, eggs and dairy are not the only sources of protein that you can eat. Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, nuts and seeds have similar amounts of protein per serving to things like chicken and beef. Some foods like oatmeal, multiple vegetables and pastas have a good amount of protein hidden in there as well. It turns out we have more protein than we will ever need!
And don’t worry guys; you can still enjoy a tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner without any animal products. Seriously! How about trying some oatmeal with bananas, peanut butter, and maybe some cocoa powder in the morning? Maybe have a veggie burger for your lunch break? Then end the day with some pesto over pasta for dinner. The possibilities are endless, so don’t treat vegetarians and vegans like they munch on romaine lettuce all day!
So why even go vegetarian or vegan in the first place? Not everyone changes their diet for the rights of animals, but this is definitely a biggie. For me it was for all of the health benefits that go along with a healthy vegetarian diet. Losing all that meat can prevent obesity, diabetes, heart stroke and even some cancers. Trust me, if you pack those vegetables onto your plate then you’re going to be a much happier person.
A lot of animal products are mass-produced and commoditized in factories, not in farms. It’s kind of disgusting when you think about it, right? Some of us change our diets because it’s also better for the environment, since you reduce your carbon footprint. Not only that, you’ll probably end up keeping more of your money in your pockets since you’ll save from not buying meat!
There’s a lot of stigma behind the vegetarian and vegan population. People call them liberals, hippies, tree-huggers and that “picky” person who is the nuisance at family and holiday dinners. Let’s remember that not everyone that is a part of this population has changed their diet for the same reasons. There are a wide variety of benefits from taking out all that chicken, beef and pork that we eat multiple times a day.
I challenge you to try and change your lifestyle to a healthy vegetarian diet for a week and see what happens! It might be the best decision that you make, and your body will surely thank you. Honestly, you’ll be surprised at how good real food can taste.
Chloe is a senior anthropology major. She the communications coordinator for the BU Democrats, German club secretary, and is the Op/Ed Editor for The Voice.