Could you ever imagine eating your last cheeseburger or chicken wing? I know I couldn't. This is a struggle many people face when considering becoming a vegetarian is brought up. A vegetarian diet is appealing to countless individuals due to the personal health benefits. However, many cannot bring themselves to completely give up meat. It is delicious, juicy and there are far more recipe options and accessibility compared to a vegetarian diet.
Taking into account all these issues, a revolutionary idea was shared by Graham Hill on Ted Talks about the idea of a weekday vegetarian. It is exactly what it sounds like. No meat Monday through Friday, and on weekends, you can eat all the meat you want. This allows people to reap the benefits of becoming vegetarian without giving up some of their favorite meals.
The Benefits:
There is no question vegetarians live a longer healthier life. Studies have shown there are huge advantages of having a green based diet. For one, according to Harvard Health Publications , vegetarians are 25% less likely to die from heart disease. Nuts, legumes, beans and fiber protect one's heart and lowers both blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, vegetarians have about a 50% lesser chance of developing type-2 diabetes. Not only does a more plant based diet simply lower ones chances but typically vegetarians have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index), lowering the chances of obesity and the likely hood of developing diabetes.
There is no question vegetarians live a longer healthier life. Studies have shown there are huge advantages of having a green based diet. For one, according to Harvard Health Publications , vegetarians are 25% less likely to die from heart disease. Nuts, legumes, beans and fiber protect one's heart and lowers both blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, vegetarians have about a 50% lesser chance of developing type-2 diabetes. Not only does a more plant based diet simply lower ones chances but typically vegetarians have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index), lowering the chances of obesity and the likely hood of developing diabetes.
The benefits
don’t end here. Vegetarians are said to have more resistance to developing cancer.
The chances of lung cancer are significantly decreased while the chances of
colon cancer are nearly eliminated. Life span is also increased. Because the
body is not taking in as many toxins and chemicals that are commonly found in
meats, following a plant based diet is said to add on an average of three to
six years onto an individual’s life.
Vegetarianism the Safe Way:
Despite all this, a vegetarian diet should not be attempted without any knowledge. Many times, vegetarians are found to be deficient in a few nutrient categories. Protein is one of the major concerns. Although vegetables and beans have large amounts of protein, a vegetarian needs a greater consumption to reach recommended amounts. For example, as stated in Health-aliciousness, in 100 grams of chicken, 30 grams of protein can be found. This is much higher while comparing to the 17 grams out of 100 grams in beans. This causes many vegetarians to be deficient in the protein requirements that are recommended.
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| Credit to blogspot.com |
Vitamin
B-12, iron, zinc and omega-3 essential fatty acids are also typically deficient
in a vegetarian based diet. Meat provides an excellent source for all these nutrients.
It has been proven that although these nutrients are existent in veggies and
legumes, they are more readily absorbed when consuming animal based products.
In my
opinion, this is why becoming a weekday vegetarian is the best option when it
comes to choosing one's diet. Becoming a weekday vegetarian allows one to see
the benefits of only consuming a plant based diet, including weight loss and
increased longevity. And yet, on weekends, the nutrients one is lacking can be
increased while enjoying the foods one has become so accustomed to. It doesn't stop
at the increased health though. Weekday vegetarianism supports a positive
effect on the environment and can actually help you save money.
Meat Depleting the World:
Meat consumption has certainly increased dramatically over the past few decades. This has led to an increase in factory farming which has had a serious impact on the environment. According to Global Issues, meat production accounts for nearly 18% of the greenhouse emissions. Following this, transporting all the meat accounts for 13% of all the green house emissions found in the atmosphere. If everyone would eliminate meat consumption for 5 days of the week, this would indirectly alter how production is run so profoundly it could change global warming as we know it. Moreover, factory farms account for one of the highest causes of deforestation and degradation. Nearly 23% of the worlds land is used for agricultural mass production. This has caused depletion of the soil and contamination of the majority of shore water ways and rivers. Lastly, it takes a profound amount of energy to produce the pesticides and fertilizers to produce the whopping 70-80% of the world’s grain production to feed the 1.3 billion cows. All these factors have dramatically increased due to higher demands. The amplified desires for fast foods and cheap hamburgers have caused the world to literally deteriorate before our eyes.
And yet, there the answer to reverse all of this is almost to simple to be true. Decrease demand. If consumers do not demand as much meat, production will be forced to decline. Even if it is cutting out meat for only part of the week, the impact can be outstanding. t would eliminate any emissions caused by meat production on an individual level by 70%. Individuals need to be educated on these consequences of meat production and take action in the right direction.
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| Credit to uwmc.uwc.edu |
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| Credit to all-creatures.org |
Is It Affordable?:
One major criticism of vegetarianism: it’s expensive. Now, there is no arguing that the cheapest way one can eat is to simply go to a fast food restaurant each day and order off of the dollar menu. However, there is also no doubt that this is the worst way one could feed their body. While comparing to an individual who mostly home cooks rather healthy meals, it is actually cheaper to cook for a vegetarian diet. The meat in stores can be expensive, being the priciest part of the meal. Eliminating this factor can not only help you save money but also improve health.
One major criticism of vegetarianism: it’s expensive. Now, there is no arguing that the cheapest way one can eat is to simply go to a fast food restaurant each day and order off of the dollar menu. However, there is also no doubt that this is the worst way one could feed their body. While comparing to an individual who mostly home cooks rather healthy meals, it is actually cheaper to cook for a vegetarian diet. The meat in stores can be expensive, being the priciest part of the meal. Eliminating this factor can not only help you save money but also improve health.
I wanted to prove this for myself. I took the simple hamburger, one of Americas most desired dinner options, and compared it to a similar veggie bean burger. While excluding ingredients found in both recopies (ie. Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes or any other condiments desired), I found that the veggie burger was nearly a third of the price of the hamburgers.
Ingredient
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Amount needed
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Amount bought
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Price
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90% Lean Beef
|
1 ½ pounds
*Packs only sold in 1 pound packs*
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2 packages
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$8.58
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Canola Oil
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1 ½ tablespoon
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1 bottle
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$2.29
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Salt
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Pinch
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1 can
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$4.99
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$15.86
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|||
Makes 4
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Price per burger:$3.97
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Ingredient
|
Amount needed
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Amount bought
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Price
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Black Beans
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31 oz
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2, 16 oz bags
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$2.98
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Eggs
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2 eggs
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½ dozen
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$1.09
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Garlic Powder
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Pinch
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1 bottle
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$2.69
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Bread Crumbs
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1 cup
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1 bottle
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$1.99
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$8.75
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Makes 6
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Price per burger:$1.46
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| Credit to Food Channel |
More Yummy Ideas!
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| Credit to iccc-group.com |
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| Credit to Woman's Health Magazine |
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| Credit to aarp.org |
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| Credit to Fitness Magazine |
Bringing It All Together:
Ultimately, there are many factors that need to be considered when committing to a vegetarian diet. Personally, after trying it for about a month, I already feel more energetic and healthier. It has not been that difficult proving it is actually possible. Despite the possible deficiencies that may arise, many people feel as if they could not imagine giving up their favorite meals forever. This revolutionary idea of a weekday vegetarian allows individuals to feel the benefits of a plant based diet, but also enjoy their beloved meat dishes. Personally, it is the best solution to many epidemics. With rising obesity rates, over consumption of cheap, fast meat is a high contributor. Simply decreasing this consumption can be huge for one's health and might even reverse a person's risk of becoming obese. Moreover, one can single handily help improve the well being of the earth and can create a more sustainable environment But the best part: it's realistic.
Ultimately, there are many factors that need to be considered when committing to a vegetarian diet. Personally, after trying it for about a month, I already feel more energetic and healthier. It has not been that difficult proving it is actually possible. Despite the possible deficiencies that may arise, many people feel as if they could not imagine giving up their favorite meals forever. This revolutionary idea of a weekday vegetarian allows individuals to feel the benefits of a plant based diet, but also enjoy their beloved meat dishes. Personally, it is the best solution to many epidemics. With rising obesity rates, over consumption of cheap, fast meat is a high contributor. Simply decreasing this consumption can be huge for one's health and might even reverse a person's risk of becoming obese. Moreover, one can single handily help improve the well being of the earth and can create a more sustainable environment But the best part: it's realistic.
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