But these airlines keeps confusing me. Last week, while doing on-line checkin, they asked me on web about my diet. There were total 22 options. Once I checked on Asian Vegetarian meal and it had seafood. Next time I was cautious and options were Hindu meal, Vegetarian meal, Vegan meal, Raw vegetarian meal bla bla bla... Oh Gosh.Finally, I found myself fitting in Lacto-ovo-vegetarian meal plan. This meal plan does not include any animal flesh of any kind but includes dairy.
In many countries people see me as stranger - Vegetarian? what does that mean? This also includes my aid worker colleges and they often ask me since when i am vegetarian? what is the source of protein? At the same time I also come across many people from various countries are vegetarian (of them over 70% were females from Europe or Australia).
In this new age, vegetarianism has become the buzz word around the globe. More and more people are turning vegetarians. Celebrities are endorsing vegetarianism. What is this craze all about?
Let us revisit some of the more compelling reasons and freshen our perspective. Let me clarify here that vegetarian food means food from the plant kingdom. All dairy products are as much animal food as meat and eggs are. Even though in our culture we have always considered milk and milk products as vegetarian, we cannot deny the fact that these come from animals and are technically animal products.
During my discussions with them, I found people are vegetarian based on one or couple of Environmental Issues, Biological Issues, Health Issues, Economical issues, Ethical issues and Spiritual Issues. This way being vegetarian or vegetarianism becomes a fashion and health statement.
However, I am vegetarian because my family taught me to be vegetarian or did not taught me to eat meat. I come from a family where we have grown up in totally vegetarian environment - never even tasted meat; not even once.
This was from religious way of living life and not only people or family - many villages around my villages are vegetarian. First time i came across seeing people eating meat when I was 25 year old.
Religion, Ayurveda and Vegetarianism :
The tradition of vegetarianism comes from India’s religious background. The Manu-smriti, a Vedic guide for human behavior says, “having considered the origin of flesh foods and the cruelty of fettering and slaying corporeal beings, let man entirely abstain from eating flesh.” It goes on to say that eating meat “involves killing, and consequently leads to karmic bondage (bandha).”
The Mahabharata, another ancient Indian text, explains that a healthy vegetarian diet is sattvic, increasing purity of consciousness and longevity. Other references in Vedic literature refer to fruits, vegetables, grain, nuts and dairy products as fit for human consumption. And the Bhagavad Gita says that lovingly offering food to others also helps us to shed our karma.
Sattvic food is fresh, pure and vegetarian. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, whole grain breads, nuts, seeds and salads. Foods that have a naturally sweet taste are sattvic. This does not include refined sugar products, but refers to anything that has a sweet taste without any additives, such as grains (rice, wheat and barley), breads, honey and fruits. Milk, herbal teas, pure fruit or vegetable juices and water are also included in this group. Organically grown foods are preferred, as fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and preservatives are tamasic.
Mushrooms, onions, garlic and the excessive use of spices should be avoided, as they are rajasic and/or tamasic. Alcohol, products containing caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea, cola) and meat should be moderated or eliminated from the diet.
A vegetarian diet is preferred in Ayurveda, but it is not mandatory.
P.S: I am a total vegetarian and am not trying to advertise / promote non vegetarianism.
The Mahabharata, another ancient Indian text, explains that a healthy vegetarian diet is sattvic, increasing purity of consciousness and longevity. Other references in Vedic literature refer to fruits, vegetables, grain, nuts and dairy products as fit for human consumption. And the Bhagavad Gita says that lovingly offering food to others also helps us to shed our karma.
Sattvic food is fresh, pure and vegetarian. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, whole grain breads, nuts, seeds and salads. Foods that have a naturally sweet taste are sattvic. This does not include refined sugar products, but refers to anything that has a sweet taste without any additives, such as grains (rice, wheat and barley), breads, honey and fruits. Milk, herbal teas, pure fruit or vegetable juices and water are also included in this group. Organically grown foods are preferred, as fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and preservatives are tamasic.
Mushrooms, onions, garlic and the excessive use of spices should be avoided, as they are rajasic and/or tamasic. Alcohol, products containing caffeine (coffee, chocolate, tea, cola) and meat should be moderated or eliminated from the diet.
A vegetarian diet is preferred in Ayurveda, but it is not mandatory.
P.S: I am a total vegetarian and am not trying to advertise / promote non vegetarianism.
Hi Vikasbhai,
ReplyDeleteGood subject of vegetarianism. I travel to Canada/US and other parts of world and coming to conclusion that for some part of the world getting fresh vegetables are not possible but thanks to globalization now I can have fresh bannana in Canada/US.
However saying that in Gujarat and other parts it seems that the globalization is taking vegetables and grains out of vegetarians. Example being monsanto genetically modified seeds being pushed in to farming communities. Also seeing big superstores are pushing their brand of groceries and phasing out local farmers. I think for short term globalization things will change diet of lots of people and force people to eat soemthing that may not be proper food for them. Until globalization becoms an old idea and people will turn back to local economy.