anos wr uealteader orpindexatice im ide 296-717-453 ab fe2047342601 HealthLEADER An Online Wellness Magazine produced by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Meatless Meals for a Week: A Challenge for Omnivores Written by: Brittany Kaczmarek | Updated: February 03, 2015 1 just have to get this out there: I am a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat, poultry or fish but I do enjoy eggs, cheese and other dairy products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts and soy products are a big part of my diet. The reaction I get when I tell someone I don’t eat meat is usually one of surprise: “How do you not eat meat?!?” I can imagine how hard it is for someone to understand how an individual doesn’t include meat in their diet. T wasn’t always a vegetarian; I used to enjoy raw sushi and taco night with my parents. But since being vegetarian, I haven't missed any of those things. There have been many benefits for me since I stopped eating meat, such as consuming higher amounts of fruits and vegetables. The average American consumes less than 2 cups of fruits and vegetables per day, whereas the recommended number is 3/2 to 5 cups per day. Fruits and vegetables are a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and are also low in calorie. Vegetarians typically consume higher amounts of fruits and vegetables due to the lack of meat consumption in their diet. A vegetarian diet may reduce an individual's risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and even some types of cancer. ‘The purpose of this article is not to encourage vegetarianism, but to challenge meat eaters to consider ways to include more fruits and vegetables in their diet. You'll find that this diet makes it easier to meet the recommendation of making half your plate fruits and vegetables at every meal. I have created a vegetarian meal plan including three meals and a snack lasting phew eakteader or gndexaricle rm Ids e336 187 AO53- 2605 :2047322601 rr