National Vegetarian Week

National Vegetarian Week is here!! Ever thought about going veggie but just can`t stand the thought of giving up your bacon sarnies? Well, why not start by giving up meat for a week and experiment with some delicious veggie recipes to help celebrate National Vegetarian Week. Give it a go!! You`ve got to start somewhere.

I have dabbled in vegetarianism a few times only to be lured back to the dark side (some would say) by an irresistible Sunday Roast (sorry!!). My last attempt, was a few years ago and lasted 4 weeks. This time I am three months in and already feeling healthier and looking forward to celebrating National Vegetarian Week.

What exactly does it mean to be a `Vegetarian`? Well I`ve discovered that this depends on where you are in the world, as different country`s have different definitions of vegetarianism.

To `non veggies` it means not eating meat or fish, but it seems that it is not quite that simple. To call yourself a `non hypocritical`, `responsible` vegetarian the following rules apply : No meat, fish,fish eggs,no cheese with animal rennet (harsh!!) no wine, beer or spirits with animal derived agents (even harsher!!) no gelatine, no new leather, fur or new silk…and there you have it. If you want to be a purist this is what you have to work towards.

Well I am no purist and no expert…. I love cheese,dairy,wine,jelly,leather and silk which makes me a leather heeled, wine sipping, trifle loving, silk scarf wearing lacto-ovo-vegetarian!! But I have made a start and for all those who want to step on the first rung of the vegetarian ladder follow our easy step by step guide.

Celebrate National Vegetarian Week With Our Top 10 Tips to Becoming a Vegetarian

National Vegetarian Week is the perfect time to experiment with some delicious vegetarian recipes. Follow these top 10 tips to help you make the move to a healthy veggie lifestyle.

1) Take your time – If you rush into it then you may fall off the wagon sooner than you think. Ease yourself into vegetarianism gradually

2) Reduce the number of times per week you eat meat. Try this fabulously fresh and filling pasta recipe on one of your meat free days

3) Cut out red meat but still eat chicken and fish

4) Experiment with foods you haven`t tried before. The “Eat It” wall chart is a great tool to use.

5) Stop thinking of meat as a main dish and instead turn your favourite side dishes into main courses. Sometimes I just love making a giant bowl of salad topped off with roasted nuts and seeds for added flavour.

6) Gradually phase out chicken and fish from your diet. Instead of a chicken burger try this yummy Falafel Burger recipe instead

7) Replace meat with veggie protein alternatives such as quorn and tofu. Great for the classic favourites Spag Bol,Lasagne and Shepherds pie

8) Introduce pulses into your diet. There are some great recipes using lentils and mixed beans. I just love this Jerk Sweet Potato and Black Bean Curry.

9) Experiment with herbs and spices to add flavour. Why not grow your own herbs so you always have them to hand. I always have my favourite herb pots and herb scissors on my kitchen windowsill.

10) Buy a veggie cookbook or magazine and look online for inspiration. You will be surprised at how excited you will become about vegetarian cooking. Check out the official National Vegetarian Week website for some tasty recipes.

These top 10 tips should be enough to start you off on your veggie journey and what better time to start than National Vegetarian Week. Becoming veggie not only makes you feel and look great but it is also economical and makes you more eco-friendly too!! Remember to always have your Compost Bin to hand in the kitchen for all your veggie scraps and trimmings.

For more info and recipes on how to celebrate National Vegetarian Week visit the official website here.