Page 18 - MASALA LITE ISSUE 83 | AUGUST 2017

18 TRENDING NOW

To Meat or

or Not to

Meat?

Nanki Ghogar addresses the controversial question that

plagues most health conscious individuals — can we get all our

nutrients being a vegetarian? Let’s find out the facts.

“So, what do you eat?” I ask a vegetarian friend of mine.
“Food,” she responds matter-of-factly, sounding a little irritated at my question. Clearly, she has been asked this several
times before.
As someone who is interested in following a vegetarian diet, I had several questions regarding the intake of various
nutrients and vitamins. Do vegetarians have the same energy levels as meat eaters? Is it inconvenient to strictly follow
this diet? How do they get their protein? These are a few questions that four vegetarian women delve into, as they reveal
the journey that influenced their food choices.

RAVNEET K SACHDEV

How did you commit to being
a vegetarian?
I turned vegetarian when I was 21
years old. At that point, I knew that
I didn’t want to eat meat anymore. I
love animals, so I wanted to change
my diet. In fact, until that point I used
to only eat meat and rice, so it was a
big lifestyle alteration for me. But it
was worth it, because I am happy and
grateful for the choice I made.
So what major changes have you
experienced since your big decision?
Positive changes! I lost weight in
a healthy manner and I feel more
energetic. My hair is thicker and my
skin is clearer because I break out
less. My digestion has also improved.
That’s wonderful! Do you use plant-
based ingredients too?
I make an effort to. When I am
home, I will always use soy sauce or
mushroom sauce instead of fish sauce.
But for convenience sake, I am not
always so strict about what ingredients
I am consuming when I am dining out.
However, a good tip for vegetarians
when travelling is to download the
HappyCow App. It is so helpful. “A good tip for vegetarians when
travelling is to download the
HappyCow App. It is so helpful.”

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