Types of Vegetarian Foods

Vegetarians can eat more than just vegetables.

Vegetarians choose to give up meat in their diet for any number of reasons. Some oppose killing animals, some oppose how the animals are treated before they are killed, others follow a vegetarian diet to keep their body healthy and clean, and some practice vegetarianism for religious or aesthetic purposes. Some vegetarians choose to give up dairy and egg products, while some give up fish and others do not. These days, many people are converting to vegetarianism for all sorts of reasons and the foods they eat are not as restricting as one might think.

Vegetables

Vegetarians subsist on more than just vegetables, but the term vegetables is such a broad term, a vegetarian is bound to eat them. There are leafy vegetables, such as collard greens or spinach, bulb vegetables, like onions and garlic, sprout vegetables, like alfalfa and broccoli, tubers, such as potatoes and yams, and root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, and turnips. Vegetables provide little protein and fat, but supply a herbivore with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Fruits

Fruits are a large part of the human diet, vegetarian or carnivorous. They are packed with fiber, vitamin C and natural sugars. Eating fruit regularly supposedly lowers risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. Fruits come in many varieties, apples through watermelons and all the delicious types in between.

Grains

Grains provide vegetarians with some of the fats and proteins they miss when abstaining from meat. Grains, such as rice, wheat, and barley, are large parts of the human diet all over the world.

Beans

Often served with grains, beans and other legumes help provide vegetarians with necessary amino acids. Beans come in many different varieties, such as soybeans, black beans, lentils and peas, so many different cultures use beans in their diets. With beans, vegetarians can make ethnic Indian food, ethnic Mexican food and many different kinds of Asian foods to put variety into their taste palates. Soybeans are also often made into tofu, the main meat substitute for vegetarians. Bean burgers and vegetarian chili are two popular American cuisine choices for herbivores.

References

• Vegetarian Guide: What Do Vegetarians Eat?