Top 5 myths about eating vegetarian

There are a lot of myths out there about food in general, here are 5 about going veg...

1) You won't get enough protein in
False- First of all, the standard protein recommendation is 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight. This is EASILY achieved with a vegetarian diet.
Here are some examples of grams of protein in the following: 
1 tofurky sausage- 29
3 tbsp. nutritional yeast- 16
3 oz. tofu- 10
1 cup cooked pasta- 8
1 cup soy milk- 7
2 tbsp. peanut butter- 7
1/2 cup kidney beans- 7
24 almonds- 6

Second of all, when was the last time you heard of a vegetarian being hospitalized for protein malnutrition??? To be honest, there are a lot more omnivores with nutrient "deficiencies" such vitamins, potassium and lack of healthy fats such monounsaturated fats. Many people are eating too much of non-nutrition dense foods that the body has to work very hard to process these foods and does not get the full benefit of healthy foods even when they are eaten.

It is important when ingesting a non-animal protein source that it is complete protein. For example: nuts with grains, beans with rice, pasta with lentils or tofu (soy). Remember, protein does not need to be overloaded and it should only account for less than 20% of total caloric intake for the day. Don't get me wrong, protein is important, but too much will lead to issues with the kidneys and liver (for omnivores and vegetarians alike).

2) There are not enough vegetarian food choices
False- This one is completely bogus! There are soooooo many food choices. There are a lot of fake meat substitutes if you are trying to transition to a more vegetarian way of life. After this transition there are so many foods to choose from such as tempeh, tofu, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, grains, oh ya and did I forget to mention all the FRUITS AND VEGGIES there are! Find TONS of great recipes at vegweb.

3) Vegetarian eating is healthy eating
False- Pop tarts, cheetos and oreos are all vegetarian; most potato chips are vegan. It is important to REPLACE healthy foods in the place of meat, not just REMOVE meat from the diet and add junk.

4) It is too expensive 

False- Tofu is about $2.00- $3.00 per lb. and a can of beans is about $ 1.00. Also for every highly processed item is that is left out of the grocery cart, a produce item can be purchased. To be honest, going vegetarian should actually SAVE you money. 

5) You have to eat vegetarian all the time to reap the benefits.

False- Though there is much scientific proven evidence showing the vast benefits of vegetarian eating on body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and overall health; it does NOT have to be the all or nothing approach. If you choose to only do 1-2 meals a day vegetarian, that is great too. For starters try meatless 1 day of the week, check Meatless Mondays for more info.