WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY

October 1 is World Vegetarian Day on the National Day Calendar. The day kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month and is a day to provide education and awareness about vegetarian diets.

#WorldVegetarianDay

Most vegetarians abstain from eating meat. However, there are different types of vegetarian diets. The most common ones include:

Lacto-ovo vegetarian – doesn’t eat meat but does eat eggs and dairy products
Vegan – doesn’t eat meat products or any food that comes from animals
Raw vegan – doesn’t eat foods cooked above 115 degrees F.
Macrobiotic – eats only unprocessed vegan foods, including whole grains and fish occasionally
Pescatarian – the only meat they eat is fish
Flexitarian – eat mostly a vegetarian diet but meat on occasion

There are many reasons people choose to become vegetarians. Some don’t agree with eating meat from animals because they think it’s inhumane. Others become vegetarians for health reasons. It’s believed that vegetarian diets can reduce heart disease. Some believe this type of diet better helps to preserve the Earth.

There are about 355 million vegetarians in the world. OF all the countries, India has the most vegetarians. Mainly due to religious beliefs, nearly 40% of India’s population doesn’t eat meat. Other countries with high numbers of vegetarians include Israel, Taiwan, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATION #WorldVegetarianDay

Vegetarians use World Vegetarian Day to educate the public on how to eat a vegetarian diet. They also disseminate information discussing the benefits of becoming a vegetarian.

To participate in World Vegetarian Day, don’t eat any animal products.
Learn about the different kinds of vegetarian diets and the health benefits of eating a plant-based diet.
Feed your family a vegetarian meal or host a vegetarian potluck at work.
Commit to eating meat-free at least once a week. Many families incorporate “meatless Mondays” into their schedule.
Share your vegetarian recipes on social media with #WorldVegetarianDay

If you want something quick and easy, try these crispy baked black bean and sweet potato tacos:

Ingredients:

1 cup refried black beans
1 cup sweet potato puree
1 cup grated cheese
8 corn tortillas
Olive oil
Avocado salsa (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and brush with a small amount of olive oil. Warm tortillas in the microwave for 5 seconds. Spread about 1 tablespoon of refried beans on half of the tortilla and top with 1 tablespoon sweet potato and a sprinkling of cheese. Fold tortilla over and repeat with remaining ingredients. Brush the top of each taco with a small amount of olive oil and bake for about 10 minutes, flipping once. Let tacos cool and top with avocado salsa.